On May 26, 1979, the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania suffered a partial meltdown, releasing radioactive gases into the atmosphere. While no immediate deaths occurred, the incident caused widespread panic and raised concerns about the safety of nuclear energy in the U.S. The failure was caused by a combination of mechanical failures and human error, and it led to long-lasting public fear of nuclear power. The event was pivotal in shaping U.S. nuclear policy, halting new nuclear plants and influencing regulations for existing ones. The cleanup took over a decade and cost billions of dollars.