A small sample of thorium | Image: Wikipedia
Thorium was discovered in 1829 and named after Thor, the Scandinavian god of war.
It is found in nature, especially in India, Australia and the United States of America. It’s possible that thorium could be used as a main source of nuclear fuel, as it makes over 3 million times as much energy as coal, and 200 times as much energy as uranium. Scientists believe there is enough of it to power the world for thousands of years.
The Thorium Zone is a general science zone specifically for primary school students. You will meet five scientists all working in different areas.
One scientist is researching the possibility of life beyond Earth, one is working with a huge magnet to take pictures of the human brain to study disease and one is studying what bees eat.
One scientist is working out how to make plants stronger, and another is using computers to work out how to squeeze a star into a box.