Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Nuclear Power02:36

Nuclear Power

9.3K
Controlled nuclear fission reactions are used to generate electricity. Any nuclear reactor that produces power via the fission of uranium or plutonium by bombardment with neutrons has six components: nuclear fuel consisting of fissionable material, a nuclear moderator, a neutron source, control rods, reactor coolant, and a shield and containment system.
Nuclear Fuels
Nuclear fuel consists of a fissile isotope, such as uranium-235, which must be present in sufficient quantity to provide a...
9.3K
Nuclear Stability03:18

Nuclear Stability

22.8K
Protons and neutrons, collectively called nucleons, are packed together tightly in a nucleus. With a radius of about 10−15 meters, a nucleus is quite small compared to the radius of the entire atom, which is about 10−10 meters. Nuclei are extremely dense compared to bulk matter, averaging 1.8 × 1014 grams per cubic centimeter. If the earth’s density were equal to the average nuclear density, the earth’s radius would be only about 200 meters.
To hold positively charged protons together...
22.8K
Nuclear Fission02:50

Nuclear Fission

12.2K
Many heavier elements with smaller binding energies per nucleon can decompose into more stable elements that have intermediate mass numbers and larger binding energies per nucleon—that is, mass numbers and binding energies per nucleon that are closer to the “peak” of the binding energy graph near 56. Sometimes neutrons are also produced. This decomposition of a large nucleus into smaller pieces is called fission. The breaking is rather random with the formation of a large...
12.2K
Nuclear Transmutation03:20

Nuclear Transmutation

20.4K
Nuclear transmutation is the conversion of one nuclide into another. It can occur by the radioactive decay of a nucleus, or the reaction of a nucleus with another particle. The first manmade nucleus was produced in Ernest Rutherford’s laboratory in 1919 by a transmutation reaction, the bombardment of one type of nuclei with other nuclei or with neutrons. Rutherford bombarded nitrogen-14 atoms with high-speed α particles from a natural radioactive isotope of radium and observed...
20.4K
Types of Radioactivity03:23

Types of Radioactivity

19.3K
The most common types of radioactivity are α decay, β decay, γ decay, neutron emission, and electron capture.
Alpha (α) decay is the emission of an α particle from the nucleus. For example, polonium-210 undergoes α decay:
19.3K
Radioactivity and Nuclear Equations03:18

Radioactivity and Nuclear Equations

26.8K
Nuclear chemistry is the study of reactions that involve changes in nuclear structure. The nucleus of an atom is composed of protons and, except for hydrogen, neutrons. The number of protons in the nucleus is called the atomic number (Z) of the element, and the sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons is the mass number (A). Atoms with the same atomic number but different mass numbers are isotopes of the same element.
A nuclide of an element has a specific number of protons and...
26.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Hesitancy and compulsory vaccination: are non-mandatory vaccines the victims? A study on Italian regions.

The European journal of health economics : HEPAC : health economics in prevention and care·2025
Same author

Pandemic knowledge and regulation effectiveness: Evidence from COVID-19.

Journal of comparative economics·2022
Same author

The 'Great Lockdown' and its determinants.

Economics letters·2020
Same author

COVID-19 Is a Multifaceted Challenging Pandemic Which Needs Urgent Public Health Interventions.

Microorganisms·2020
Same author

Electromyographic activity of hand muscles in a motor coordination game: effect of incentive scheme and its relation with social capital.

PloS one·2011

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Laser-heating and Radiance Spectrometry for the Study of Nuclear Materials in Conditions Simulating a Nuclear Power Plant Accident
09:18

Laser-heating and Radiance Spectrometry for the Study of Nuclear Materials in Conditions Simulating a Nuclear Power Plant Accident

Published on: December 14, 2017

10.9K

Nuclear phase-out: Can we catch up on CO2 emissions?

Luisa Loiacono1,2, Leonzio Rizzo1,3, Riccardo Secomandi1,3

  • 1Department of Economics and Management, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.

Plos One
|November 10, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Germany's nuclear phase-out initially increased fossil fuel emissions, particularly coal. However, the growth of renewable energy sources gradually offset this impact over thirteen years, leading to a disappearance of the emissions gap by 2023.

More Related Videos

Non-equilibrium Microwave Plasma for Efficient High Temperature Chemistry
07:17

Non-equilibrium Microwave Plasma for Efficient High Temperature Chemistry

Published on: August 1, 2017

13.1K
Measuring Carbon-based Contaminant Mineralization Using Combined CO2 Flux and Radiocarbon Analyses
11:19

Measuring Carbon-based Contaminant Mineralization Using Combined CO2 Flux and Radiocarbon Analyses

Published on: October 21, 2016

12.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Laser-heating and Radiance Spectrometry for the Study of Nuclear Materials in Conditions Simulating a Nuclear Power Plant Accident
09:18

Laser-heating and Radiance Spectrometry for the Study of Nuclear Materials in Conditions Simulating a Nuclear Power Plant Accident

Published on: December 14, 2017

10.9K
Non-equilibrium Microwave Plasma for Efficient High Temperature Chemistry
07:17

Non-equilibrium Microwave Plasma for Efficient High Temperature Chemistry

Published on: August 1, 2017

13.1K
Measuring Carbon-based Contaminant Mineralization Using Combined CO2 Flux and Radiocarbon Analyses
11:19

Measuring Carbon-based Contaminant Mineralization Using Combined CO2 Flux and Radiocarbon Analyses

Published on: October 21, 2016

12.3K

Area of Science:

  • Energy Policy
  • Environmental Science
  • Climate Change Studies

Background:

  • Nuclear energy is recognized as a low-carbon source, but safety concerns have led to phase-out programs in several nations, notably Germany post-Fukushima.
  • The transition away from nuclear power raises questions about energy security and the potential for increased reliance on fossil fuels versus renewable energy expansion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the impact of Germany's nuclear phase-out, initiated in 2010, on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel sources.
  • To assess whether the decline in nuclear capacity was offset by increased renewable energy generation or a return to fossil fuels.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a synthetic control method to model counterfactual CO2 emissions in Germany.
  • Analyzed the trajectory of CO2 emissions from coal, oil, and gas in Germany from 2010 to 2023.

Main Results:

  • Germany's nuclear phase-out initially led to a weaker reduction in fossil fuel emissions compared to a synthetic control, driven by increased coal reliance.
  • Over the thirteen-year period (2011-2023), the disparity in fossil-related CO2 emissions between Germany and its synthetic control progressively diminished.
  • By 2023, the emissions gap between Germany and its synthetic control had disappeared, indicating a mitigation of the initial impact.

Conclusions:

  • The nuclear phase-out initially contributed to elevated fossil fuel pollution in Germany in the short term.
  • The significant growth of renewable energy sources in Germany played a crucial role in mitigating the negative emissions impact of the nuclear phase-out over time.