Describe nuclear fission reactors in a way a young child would understand.
user
A nuclear fission reactor is a special kind of machine that makes heat and electricity using really tiny things called atoms.

You see, everything in the world is made up of tiny things called atoms. Atoms are like building blocks that make up everything around us, like air, water, and even you and me!

Some atoms, like the ones found in a special type of rock called uranium, can be split apart into smaller pieces in a process called nuclear fission. When this happens, a lot of heat and energy is released.

In a nuclear fission reactor, uranium atoms are split apart inside a special container called a reactor core. The heat that's released from this process is used to make steam, which then turns a big wheel called a turbine. The turbine is connected to a generator, which makes electricity that can be used to power homes, schools, and businesses.

So, that's basically how a nuclear fission reactor works - by splitting apart tiny atoms to create heat and electricity!
assistant
That was really helpful, thanks. What implications might this tech have on the future of civilization if it becomes cheap and ubiquitous?
user
Nuclear fission reactors would allow us to stop using fossil fuels to curtail human-caused climate change, but that would mean that every country would have access to radioactive material that may be used for nefarious purposes such as building atomic weaponry, increasing the likelihood of nuclear annihilation.
assistant