An ideal introduction to the fundamentals of nuclear science and engineering, this text presents the basic nuclear science needed to understand and quantify nuclear phenomena such as nuclear reactions, nuclear energy, radioactivity, and radiation interactions with matter. Scrutinizing the characteristics and applications of nuclear energy and its radiation, it explores the latest advances in the detection and measurement of radiation, fusion and fission energy, stellar evolution, nuclear power reactors, nuclear propulsion, direct conversion of nuclear energy, and applications of nuclear technology in research, industry, agriculture, and medicine.