microreactor
MY-kroh-ree-ak-ter
Definition
A small-scale nuclear fission reactor designed to produce electricity or heat, typically generating significantly less power than conventional, utility-scale reactors.
Etymology
The word is a modern compound formed from the Greek prefix 'mikros' meaning 'small' and the noun 'reactor', derived from the Latin 'reactus' meaning 'to act or drive back'. It emerged in the late 20th century as nuclear engineering began exploring compact power systems.
In the news
The article uses microreactor to describe a specific, smaller class of nuclear technology that startups are developing to meet localized energy demands. These units are being marketed as a faster-to-deploy alternative to traditional large-scale nuclear power plants.
Nuclear energy startup funding is heating up
Read the full article ↗Axios