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Nuclear @ McMaster

9 Things You Didn’t Know About Nuclear Science

9 things you didn't know about nuclear science.

McMaster University’s Nuclear Operations & Facilities and the Canadian Nuclear Association challenge your nuclear science knowledge with these nine facts. See how many you know, and how many surprise you.

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Power-generating reactors do much more than generate electricity. Many Canadian reactors produce radioisotopes like Cobalt-60, which is used to sterilize medical devices, like gloves and syringes.
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Nuclear science creates life-saving medical interventions. McMaster University is one of the world’s leading producers of medical isotopes used to treat thousands of cancer patients every year.
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Nuclear science is used to make foods safer to eat. Gamma radiation is used to extend the shelf-life of fruits and vegetables by eliminating micro-organisms that cause illness.
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Nuclear technology helps us protect our waters. It’s used to trace and analyze water pollutants to their sources to protect our waters, fish, and aquatic life.
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Nuclear reactors can be small, but powerful. Small Modular Reactors could reduce GHG emissions in Canada by 14 Mt per year on average – the equivalent of taking over 3 million cars off the road.
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Nuclear energy generates minimal waste. If all the electricity you used in your lifetime came from nuclear energy, the spent fuel would fit in a single pop can.
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Nuclear is the most land-efficient means of clean energy production. Thanks to its small land footprint, nuclear has a very minimal impact on natural habitats.
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About 60 percent of Ontario’s power generation comes from nuclear energy. This is significant for a province with 14.7 million residents!
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Net Zero twenty fifty needs nuclear! As a form of clean energy, nuclear energy plays an essential role in reducing Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.

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