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A nuclear reactor generates heat by controlled nuclear fission. Primary coolant carries this heat away to make steam. If a reactor is not cooled, it will overheat. Even if it is shut down immediately, the radioactive fragments of fission in the core will still be undergoing radioactive decay. This will continue to generate a lot of what we call decay heat. This heat can be sufficient to melt the metal that forms the fuel elements if cooling is not maintained, and the result is a nuclear meltdown with various consequences.

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