Meet Oklo: Around 2 billion years ago, nature built Earth's only known self-sustaining nuclear reactor- no humans required
Two billion years ago, Gabon hosted Earth's only known natural nuclear reactor. This ancient reactor operated cyclically for hundreds of thousands of years. Groundwater moderated neutrons, enabling sustained nuclear fission reactions. Scientists discovered these isotopic anomalies in 1972, confirming past fission. The Oklo site now aids nuclear waste storage research and planetary science.
Two billion years ago, Gabon hosted Earth's only known natural nuclear reactor. This ancient reactor operated cyclically for hundreds of thousands of years. Groundwater moderated neutrons, enabling sustained nuclear fission reactions. Scientists discovered these isotopic anomalies in 1972, confirming past fission. The Oklo site now aids nuclear waste storage research and planetary science.
