Nuclear power revisited....

Hitherto, I thought that nuclear fission was unique to mankind. However, I recently learned that in a mining site in Gabon (West Africa), some two billion years ago, mother nature experimented briefly with nuclear fission employing uranium U235. Scientists in 1972 discovered trace elements characteristic to of a nuclear chain reaction.

Given that nuclear energy is 20% of our energy output, are we ready to give it up for more coals, fracking, petroleum, etc.

I heard on the radio the other night about using thorium instead of uranium. From my initial reading, this technology seems very promising:

1. compared to uranium, there are lots and lots of thorium

2. compared to uranium, less waste product

3. smaller containment unit

4. passive reactor design in case of plant blackout

Supposedly, China is building thorium reactors as speak.....