system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How does nuclear power compare to that of others (solar, wind, coal, etc.)? I've heard a lot of talk recently about how it's the safest and most efficient, but I know absolutely nothing.
gpt
Other than solar, which is done using something called a photovoltaic cell, or other solar heat collection methods, power ultimately is generated by mechanically turning a generator. 

This is typically done by either mechanically connecting a generator to turbine blades, as in a wind turbine, or by connecting it to a water turbine, in the case of a hydroelectric power station, or in the case of coal, oil, gas, and nuclear, by heating water to turn it into steam, and drive a steam turbine. 

The only difference between all of these steam turbine types basically is how the heat is generated to create the steam. That's it. Heat from burning coal, oil, natural gas, or the heat from a sustained nuclear reaction. 

The reason they say nuclear power is so efficient is because it creates such a **lot** of heat from a tiny amount of fuel. The fuel in to energy out ratio for nuclear energy is many *many* times greater than any other fuel/heat based power station.