Normal fission involves breaking uranium or plutonium atoms up by hitting them with neutrons.

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According to papers filed with the Blue Ribbon Commission, the current research involves faster and simpler processes for separating uranium and plutonium from other fission products in spent fuel and from minor elements like americium and curium.

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Nuclear fission, generally fuelled by uranium or plutonium, heats up water which evaporates.

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Each fission reaction splits the nucleus of an atom of uranium-235 or plutonium-239 into two smaller atoms and releases a great deal of energy.

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