... is an isotope with 235 neutrons of the Uranium atom with the following characteristic:

When shooting at Uranium-235 with a slow neutron, it initially sticks to the atom and the very unstable Uranium-236 isotope results. This isotope quickly disintegrates into two new atoms, Krypton and Barium. This process is called induced fission. The disintegration releases energy from converting a little of the original mass (E=mc2) in the form of radiation (heat) along with 3 neutrons. These neutrons create new Uranium-236 isotopes, which also disintegrate and again release energy and neutrons...


... 1 - 3 - 9 - 27 - 81 - 243 - 729 - 2187 - 6561 - 19683 - 59049 - 177147 - 531441 - 1594323 ...


... a chain reaction which releases huge amounts of energy extremly fast if not controlled.

The Sombrero Galaxy (M104, NGC 4594)
Source: Hubblesite.org