Nuclear power, once the great hope for a clean way to meet the world’s energy needs, fell out of favor decades ago.
Brad Plumer, who covers technology and policy efforts to address global warming for The New York Times, explains how one company with a radical idea is now working to bring it back.
Guest: Brad Plumer, who covers technology and policy efforts ... Show More
Yesterday
For Mother’s Day, Classic Mom-isms
For Mother’s Day, we asked you about your “Mom mantras”: the oft-repeated mottos or go-to expressions that your moms have said over the years. In partnership with the Well desk, we received thousands of submissions, full of sayings that ranged from wise to funny to profound. In t ... Show More
29m 59s
Sep 2025
Everyone is talking (again!) about a coming revival in nuclear power. What needs to change to make it happen? | More from New York Climate Week
<p>At Climate Week NYC continues, the hottest topic is the question of how to meet growing demand for electricity while cutting emissions. In New York State, electricity use is expected to increase by 25% over the next 15 years. To meet that demand, the state plans to add tens of ... Show More
47m 50s
Apr 2024
Throwback/Encore Presentation: Dan Reicher's Rationally Optimistic Take on Progress and Potential in the Fight Against Climate Change
<p>One of our most popular episodes of 2023 is back, with this encore presentation, just in time for Earth Day! </p> <p>Dan Reicher's interest in and advocacy for environmental protection and clean energy began when he was a child and has continued throughout his life. In additi ... Show More
53m 39s
Aug 2025
Simon Goes Nuclear with nuclear energy influencer Isabelle Boemeke
“Nuclear” might make you wince—but the real problem isn’t the energy, it’s the branding. Safe, low-carbon, and scalable, nuclear could be a climate hero—if only we told the story right. Isabelle Boemeke is on a mission to change how we think about nuclear energy. A Brazilian mode ... Show More
1h 6m
Feb 2025
The Energy Story of the Moment: The Unstoppable Rise of Solar Vs. the Unmovable Demand for Global Fossil Fuels
Fans of green energy like me face some inconvenient truths about the global energy picture. First, coal sounds like a dirty technology that the rich world is moving on from. But nearly 9 billion tons of coal were burned last year—an all-time high. Second, "peak oil" is a predicti ... Show More
1h 10m