logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2020
53m 13s

Meltdown

NPR
About this episode
In the early hours of March 28, 1979, a system malfunction began what would become the worst nuclear accident in American history. What ensued punctured the public's belief in the safety of nuclear energy and became an awful study in the consequences of communication breakdown during a crisis. This week, the fallout of who and what to trust when a catastrophic event occurs.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Jul 9
The ongoing battle over asylum in America
The U.S. has long professed to be a country where people can seek refuge. That's the promise etched into the base of the Statue of Liberty. But it's never been that clear-cut. And in June, the Supreme Court passed two rulings that could make seeking safe haven in the U.S. even mo ... Show More
53m 40s
Jul 7
American history through song
There are many ways to look at and understand American history. In this series, we’ve shared stories about how this country was founded and how it continues to evolve over time. Today, a journey through American history, with the sounds of music. To access bonus episodes and list ... Show More
22m 18s
Jul 2
The story of July 4th is messier than you remember
Devastating compromises. Midnight rides. A nailbiter vote. Statue toppling riots… and the very real possibility of death. This July 4th, we're taking you inside the making of the Declaration of Independence and how, against all odds, a single document introduced the world to a ne ... Show More
34m 19s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2023
Three Mile Island: Nuclear Accident in Pennsylvania
<p>It's the worst accident in US commercial nuclear power history. In March 1979, the Unit 2 reactor at Three Mile Island nuclear generating station came half an hour from full meltdown. Two days later, an explosive bubble of hydrogen gas was found in the reactor.</p><br><p>To ta ... Show More
33m 10s
Sep 2023
The Hyatt Regency Skywalk Disaster
In 1981 America suffered the worst accidental structural collapse in its history. Listen in today to the tragic story of the fast-tracked building disaster that stills haunts Kansas City. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
40m 37s
May 2024
#140 The Fukushima Nuclear Disaster
📖 Episode Transcripts in Link Below ⬇️ Today we are going to talk about one of the worst nuclear disasters in history: the Fukushima nuclear accident. https://patreon.com/HistoryinSlowGerman?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_cont ... Show More
4m 43s
Apr 2022
Meltdown at Fukushima | Pressure | 2
Crippled by a tsunami of unprecedented scale, one of the reactors at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is in danger of melting down. To save it, workers must do the unthinkable: Vent radioactive steam into the atmosphere, to avoid a larger catastrophe as explosive gas ... Show More
45m 56s
Apr 2024
Encore: Meltdown at Fukushima | Pressure | 2
<p>Crippled by a tsunami of unprecedented scale, one of the reactors at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is in danger of melting down. To save it, workers must do the unthinkable: Vent radioactive steam into the atmosphere, to avoid a larger catastrophe as explosive ... Show More
42m 27s
May 2022
Meltdown at Fukushima | Collapse | 3
Now contending with multiple damaged reactors, engineers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan hatch a series of increasingly desperate plans to prevent a total meltdown. But several explosions and the loss of vital cooling pumps bring the entire plant to the brin ... Show More
44m 57s
Jul 2022
Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster - Part 2
Welcome to When It Goes Wrong, the podcast about disasters, accidents and when things fall apart. On this episode I discuss the the 1986 Chernobyl Disaster in which the reactor number 4 of the Chernobyl Power Plant suffered a full meltdown and explosion resulting in the worst nuc ... Show More
41m 43s
May 2024
Encore: Meltdown at Fukushima | Collapse | 3
Now contending with multiple damaged reactors, engineers at the Fukushima nuclear power plant hatch a series of increasingly desperate plans to prevent a total meltdown. But several explosions and the loss of vital cooling pumps bring the entire plant to the brink of chaos. As th ... Show More
45m 1s
Mar 2017
The New London School Explosion
<p>This was one of the worst disasters in Texas history, the worst school disaster in U.S. history, and it was a horrific tragedy that stemmed from a huge number of small decisions and moments.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetw ... Show More
30m 48s