Mmastodon ScienceSpace first seen 5 d ago, last 5 d ago, peak #1

Glowing plutonium-238 pellet radiates heat without burning

Original: This 3 cm (150 gr!) glowing sphere isn’t burning: it’s a plutonium-238 oxide pellet spontaneously at 1000 degrees ♨️☢️ U

A photograph of a 3 cm, 150-gram plutonium-238 oxide pellet glowing orange is circulating online. The pellet is not burning: radioactive decay alone keeps it at around 1000 degrees, releasing about 62 watts of heat. Unlike plutonium-239, it cannot sustain a chain reaction, and such pellets power radioisotope thermoelectric generators on spacecraft.

Why now: The striking image of a self-heating glowing pellet fascinates people and illustrates how space probes are powered.

plutonium-238radioisotope thermoelectric generator

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Evidence

• This 3 cm (150 gr!) glowing sphere isn’t burning: it’s a plutonium-238 oxide pellet spontaneously at 1000 degrees ♨️☢️ Unlike plutonium-239, which can sustain chain reactions, controlled radioactive decay of this pellet releases about 62 W of heat. Radioisotope thermoelectric… · simone_z · 21

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