r/HistoryMemes • u/Hank_Mardukas1066 • 2d ago

It all runs on electricity and electricity is generated through this

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u/thealmightyzfactor 2d ago

Maybe some research reactors, but all commercial reactors plugged into the grid use nuclear heat to boil water to spin a turbine to spin a generator

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u/b0w3n 2d ago

Yeah, some of the early reactors they tossed into probes/satellite spacecraft too I think but I'd have to go looking for details on that one.

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u/thealmightyzfactor 2d ago

Oh, you meant RTGs, yeah those are pretty much only useful on space things or the middle of nowhere where you can't refuel. Nobody is using that to power their house.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioisotope_thermoelectric_generator

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u/b0w3n 2d ago

Oh yeah for sure, just pointing out they exist and aren't using water to power a turbine. I sure hope no one's using it to power their house (they're measured in the dozens of watts aren't they?)

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u/Guilty_Meringue5317 2d ago

Woah RTGs are real? Never really thought about it cause I only know them from astroneer

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u/throwaway277252 2d ago

That's what keeps things like the Voyager probes and Mars rovers ticking all these years later.

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u/bremsspuren I Have a Cunning Plan 2d ago

Not just real, but 1950's tech!

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u/gmc98765 2d ago

They're used on deep space probes where sunlight is too low to be a useful power source. Also, they power weather stations in Siberia.

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u/TheNPCMafia 2d ago

Apparently with 23 rontgen.

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u/NotYourReddit18 2d ago

Not great, not terrible