Scientists say a newly discovered form of uranium could lead to nuclear power plants small enough to power an automobile. Researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory have created uranium nitride, a long-sought molecule that could provide cheaper and safer nuclear fuel. Smaller, cheaper and even portable nuclear power plants could come out of the discovery, researchers say, using uranium nitride as a next generation nuclear fuel. While uranium’s radiation can be deadly, the new molecule contains only depleted uranium. This makes it relatively harmless from a radiological standpoint and means it could be used in chemical and industrial applications.
