ChernobylChernobyl was the greatest nuclear disaster of the 20th century. On April 26, 1986, one of four nuclear reactors located in the Soviet Union melted down and contaminated a large region of Eastern Europe. The meltdown, the result of human error, failure to follow safety precautions and the absence of a containment vessel, was barely contained by pouring sand and releasing huge quantities of deadly radioactive isotopes into the atmosphere. The resulting contamination killed or injured hundreds of thousands of people and devastated the environment. The effects of this accident are still felt today and will be for generations to come. Nuclear power has always been a controversial issue due to its inherent danger and the amount of waste produced by the plants. Once considered a relatively safe form of energy production, nuclear power has caused more problems than it has solved. Although they have reduced the amount of traditional natural resources (fossil fuels) used to produce electricity such as coal, wood and oil, nuclear power plants have become anachronisms. Their maintenance and security have become a problem of immense magnitude. As plants age and other technologies become available, what to do with these "eyesores" is a burning question for many government agencies and environmental groups. No one knows what to do about this problem, and in many parts of the world, another nuclear meltdown is an accident waiting to happen. Despite a wide range of safety measures, a rupture in a reactor pipe or a leak in a containment vessel could lead to another environmental disaster for the world. In addition to the potential dangers of accidents at power plants, nuclear waste is a persistent problem that is growing exponentially. Nuclear waste can remain radioactive for around 600 years and its disposal or storage is a huge problem. Everyone wants the energy produced by power plants, but no one wants to take responsibility for the waste. Until now, it is stored deep in the earth, but these storage areas are potentially dangerous and will eventually run out. Some have suggested sending the waste into space, but no one is sure of the repercussions. Nuclear power plants should be dismantled and replaced with safer sources of energy production..