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Episode 133Oct 1, 2019

Nuclear, but better

Is nuclear power a viable green energy source? It’s more complicated than you think.

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A nuclear physicist checks the uranium refuel in the reactors of the Angra II nuclear plant in Angra dos Reis, Brazil, in 2006.
A nuclear physicist checks the uranium refuel in the reactors of the Angra II nuclear plant in Angra dos Reis, Brazil, in 2006.
Vanderlei Almeida/AFP/Getty Images

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This week, “none of us is as smart as all of us” is truer than ever.

After our episode a couple weeks ago about climate change and Big Tech, a few listeners reached out to say, “What about nuclear?” Specifically, what about expensive but potentially safer and more sustainable next-generation nuclear power? That lead to a spirited discussion on our Facebook group, and we knew we had to do a full episode.

We’re joined by Suzy Hobbs Baker, the creative director of the Fastest Path to Zero Initiative at the University of Michigan. She’ll walk us through the basics of how nuclear power works, its impact on the environment, its tricky economics and, yes, the image problems it can’t shake.

Plus: We’ll hear your feedback on our gig economy episode, and a huge thanks to everyone who donated during our fall fundraiser. Thanks to “Make Me Smart” listeners we crushed our goal, raising $73,810! And, most importantly, Kai Ryssdal drank a pumpkin spice latte.

Finally, we have an Explainathon coming up and we need your questions! Send your voice memos to makemesmart@marketplace.org!

The Team