Published by Mondadori in the Oscar Saggi Accademia series, Andrea Pola’s new book “Energia dal nucleo. Viaggio nel caveau dell’atomo, dalle basi scientifiche al nucleare per il futuro” will soon be available in bookshops. The book is an in-depth scientific and historical journey through the world of nuclear energy, focusing on today’s energy challenges and the search for sustainable solutions.

At a time when the question of energy sources is at the centre of the debate, amid technological development, geopolitical instability and the need to overcome dependence on fossil fuels, Andrea Pola explores the potential of nuclear power as a concrete alternative for the future. But what makes nuclear energy so important and interesting? How exactly does it work?

The author begins with a suggestive image: the atomic nucleus is compared to a “safe”, a secret place where the most precious energy is stored. Throughout the book, Pola explains the properties and structure of this ‘vault’ and takes the reader on a journey from Henri Becquerel’s discovery of radioactivity in 1897 to the modern challenges of nuclear fusion, focusing on key figures in the history of nuclear physics such as Marie Curie, Ernest Rutherford, Enrico Fermi and many others.

Energy from the Nucleus not only explains the scientific basis of complex phenomena such as nuclear fission and fusion, but also illustrates their practical applications, from energy production to diagnostic and therapeutic technologies in the medical field.

Writing in a clear and accessible style, despite the depth of the topics covered, Andrea Pola offers readers a unique and comprehensive view of the potential of nuclear power and invites them to reflect on its role in the future energy landscape. As the author says, “the atomic nucleus is a vault of knowledge to be shared”.

A work for all those who wish to advance the debate on the new frontiers of energy.

Andrea Pola is Full Professor of Nuclear Measurements and Instrumentation at the Department of Energy of Politecnico di Milano, Coordinator of the Master in Nuclear Engineering and Lecturer at the Laboratory of Radioactivity and Nuclear Physics. His research activity is dedicated to the study and development of radiation field measurement systems.