It either must be enriched—made more concentrated in a rare form of uranium (U-235)—or converted into plutonium (Pu-239). Heavy water can play a role in breeding weapons-grade plutonium from ...

that the periods which have been ascribed to elements beyond uranium are also due to light elements. From the chemical evidence, the two short periods (10 sec. and 40 sec.) so far ascribed to 239 ...

The very first stage of the nuclear program makes use of natural uranium to fuel the Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors to generate electricity. As a by-product, Plutonium-239 would be produced.

is harder to use for weapons purposes than uranium-235 or plutonium-239. This means there is less of a risk its wider use will pose a proliferation risk. The thorium fuel cycle also produces less ...