The uranium fuel cycle refers to the series of processes involved in producing fuel for nuclear reactors. It begins with the mining of uranium ore, which is then processed to extract uranium concentrate, commonly known as yellowcake. This concentrate undergoes further enrichment to increase the proportion of Uranium-235, the isotope used in nuclear fission. Once enriched, the uranium is fabricated into fuel rods, which are used in nuclear reactors to generate electricity. After the fuel is used, it becomes spent nuclear fuel, which requires careful management and storage due to its radioactivity. The cycle can also include recycling spent fuel to recover usable materials.