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A key premise of my book, “The Sun Within,” is that cells derive energy from nuclear reactions similar to those in stars. In stars, the fusion of lighter elements into heavier elements provides energy. Fusion occurs under conditions of intense heat and pressure in a star’s core. There, electrons are stripped away from the atomic nuclei. This creates a plasma—a sea of electrons in which are found fully ionized, bare atomic nuclei. These nuclei have strong positive charges owi

In physics, one joule, the standard measure of energy, is roughly what you need to lift up an apple up one meter against the force of gravity. Power is how fast energy is produced or consumed. One watt, the standard measure of power, represents the use of one joule in a second. A megawatt is a million watts. Canada could try to be an energy superpower, producing and consuming as much energy as possible, as quickly as possible. But why? This is like picking up the apple, pu

Nuclear reactions in the Sun are powerful sources of electromagnetic radiation. The Sun emits infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet rays, and even more powerful X-rays and gamma rays. Most of this radiation is filtered out by the atmosphere. What passes through—visible light—drives photosynthesis. Virtually no gamma radiation reaches the Earth’s surface from space. However, rocks containing uranium and thorium emit gamma rays. Although uranium and thorium decay pr

I turn 75 next month, and I’ve just published my first book, on atomic energy and life. I discuss these topics separately and, more importantly, the intersection between the two. When we eat a green plant we are taking in solar energy produced by nuclear fusion reactions in the Sun’s interior—hence the book title, “The Sun Within.” But if I’m right, and I’m pretty sure I am, there are nuclear reactions within us and other living organisms that are somewhat like those found i