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A meltdown is a catastrophic failure in a nuclear reactor, where the reactor core becomes overheated and the nuclear fuel rods start to melt, potentially releasing radioactive materials. It can occur due to cooling system failure, insufficient coolant, or natural disasters affecting the cooling system. Most nuclear reactors use water as a cooling liquid, absorbing heat from the reactor core and maintaining a stable temperature. If the reactor core becomes overheated, there is a risk of a steam explosion, caused by the rapid increase in temperature and pressure, potentially releasing radioactive materials. Modern reactors have safety mechanisms in place to mitigate this risk, but it cannot be eliminated entirely.