Nuclear energy is released through fission, fusion, and radioactivity that occurs within an atom's nucleus. There are two types of nuclear energy: nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. Nuclear fission occurs when a nucleus splits after absorbing a particle, releasing energy. It can occur in a self-sustaining chain reaction, such as those that power nuclear reactors or occur in atomic bombs. Nuclear fusion occurs when two light atomic nuclei merge to form a heavier nucleus, as happens within stars like our Sun.