6. Nuclear energy is created through a mechanism called areactor. The power source is the heat produced by a controllednuclear fission chain reaction, either of uranium or plutonium. Thisreaction involves an element, such as uranium or plutonium, beingstruck by a neutron and splitting. The result of the fission of theselarge atoms is the creation of new, smaller atoms as by-products,radiation and more neutrons. Those neutrons speed out and strikeother uranium/plutonium atoms, creating a chain reaction. The chainreaction in a reaction is controlled by neutron moderators, which varydepending on the design of the reactor. This can be anything fromgraphite rods to simple water. Once the heat has been released, a nuclear reactor produceselectricity in exactly the same manner as any other thermal-basedpower plant. The heat converts water into steam, and the steam isused to turn the blades of a turbine, which runs the generator.