Written by Andr O. Hudson
Most people associate uranium with flashing green rods from science fiction, mushroom clouds, or Cold War standoffs. However, uranium is more than just a source of apocalyptic dread. It is also a remarkably ubiquitous substance that is essential to contemporary geopolitics, medicine, and energy.
The U.S. military strikes on Iranian locations thought to contain highly enriched uranium in June 2025 brought uranium back into the public eye and sparked intense discussions about nuclear proliferation. Iran’s 60% uranium enrichment has been featured in numerous headlines, but what does that actually mean?
I want to demystify this frequently misinterpreted ingredient because I’m a biochemist.
What is uranium?
Uranium is a metallic, radioactive element that is ranked 92nd on the periodic table.A natural process known as radioactivity occurs when some atoms, such as uranium, thorium, and radium, spontaneously disintegrate and release energy.
Uranium was first identified in 1789 by the German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaprothin, who named it after the recently found planet Uranus. Its potential was not realized, though, until the 20th century, when researchers learned that uranium atoms could divide through a process called nuclear fission. Large amounts of energy are released when an atom’s nucleus breaks into two or more nuclei, a process known as fission.
Uranium may be found practically anywhere. Rocks, earth, and water all contain it. Even very small levels of uranium can be found in plants and animals. The majority of it is located in the crust of the Earth, where it is mined and concentrated to produce more uranium-235, its most usable radioactive form.
The enrichment dilemma
The anisotope of uranium, uranium-235, is a variation of the element with the same fundamental makeup but a slightly different mass. Consider apples that come from the same tree. Despite having significantly variable weights, all of them are apples, regardless of how big or tiny they are. An isotope is essentially the same element with a different mass.
The majority of unprocessed uranium is uranium-238. Uranium-235, the isotope that permits the greatest amount of nuclear fission, makes up only around 0.7% of it. Thus, uranium-235 is concentrated through the enrichment process.
Since natural uranium lacks enough uranium-235 to function well in reactors or bombs, enrichment can increase uranium’s usefulness for the creation of nuclear weapons. There are typically three steps in the procedure.
First, the uranium must be transformed into uranium hexafluoride, a gas. The gas is then directed into a centrifuge, a device that spins rapidly, in the second step. The two isotopes split when uranium-235 spins more slowly than uranium-238 because it is slightly lighter.
It’s similar to how water is separated from lettuce in a salad spinner. The gas is spun through numerous centrifuges in succession until the uranium-235 is concentrated because one spin doesn’t really make a difference.
Uranium that is 3%–5% enriched, or that has 3%–5% uranium-235, can normally fuel nuclear power reactors and provide electricity. 90% or more uranium is referred to as weapons-grade uranium, while 20% enriched uranium-235 is regarded as highly enriched uranium.
Because it can sustain a rapid, uncontrollable chain reaction that generates a significant amount of energy in comparison to other isotopes, this high grade is useful in nuclear weapons.
Uranium s varied powers
Although uranium’s weapons potential makes for a lot of headlines, this material is also essential to modern living. Nearly 10% of the world’s electricity is generated from uranium at low enrichment levels.
Many nuclear power facilities in the United States generate carbon-free energy using uranium fuel. Additionally, uranium is used in various cancer treatments and diagnostic imaging systems to treat illnesses.
In naval technology, enriched uranium is necessary for nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines to function effectively and silently for many years.
The tale of Uranium is one of duality. This mineral, which is extracted from old rocks, has the power to either illuminate a city or erase it from the map. It’s not merely a holdover from science fiction or the Cold War. It is real, strong, and influencing everything from international diplomacy to global conflicts, from the electricity grid to cancer treatments.
Ultimately, the energy produced from the element is not the only source of power. It lies in the way individuals decide to use it.
At Rochester Institute of Technology, Andr O. Hudson teaches biochemistry and serves as dean of the college of science.
