Nuclear energy is a very broad field that is compromised by many aspects of science, including physics and chemistry. It was discovered in the early 1900s. It is a widely used energy source in the United States due to the tremendous amount of energy that can be created from just two atoms. Nuclear fission, the most widely used form of nuclear power, creates incredible amounts of energy incredibly efficiently, and for this reason it is actually very popular. Nuclear power is hailed as environmentally friendly, but some say the radioactive waste and constant risk of problems pose too great a risk to the environment and people.1. A not-so-brief historyIn 1789, German chemist Martin Klaproth discovered uranium, named after Uranus. It wasn't until the late 1800s that radiation was discovered. It was during this time that scientists discovered that certain elements emit alpha, beta, and gamma radiation (“Overview of the History of Nuclear Energy”). Pierre and Marie Curie invented the term radioactivity in 1896 to designate the phenomenon of an element emitting alpha, beta and/or gamma waves. In 1911, it was discovered that naturally radioactive elements contain many isotopes with the same chemistry. James Chadwick discovered the neutron in 1932, the same year that Cockcroft and Walton discovered that bombarding atoms with accelerated protons caused nuclear transformations in the atoms. Two years later, Irène Curie and Frédéric Joliot discovered that these nuclear transformations created artificial isotopes. Enrico Fermi experimented with bombarding atoms with neutrons and, in 1935, discovered that this created even more artificial isotopes, leading to the creation of heavier and lighter elements. Otto Hans and Fritz Strassman discovered in 1938 that a certain... middle of paper ...... in addition. It is incredibly efficient in its energy production. Incidents involving meltdowns have been rare, with a total of three occurring since the introduction of nuclear fission as a viable form of electricity generation. All by-products from electricity production are environmentally friendly, with the exception of depleted uranium. Using it would actually save the government and the average citizen an incredible amount of money. Dangers are rare and many safety and precautions are implemented in nuclear power plants. Nuclear energy has the potential to completely replace the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation in the future. Overall, nuclear power is a very useful and viable form of electricity generation that should really be the subject of greater research and investment..