The hottest Nuclear Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Science Topics

Reading List for 05/31/2025

Construction Physics • 8977 implied HN points • 31 May 25
🕹 Technology Energy Infrastructure Nuclear Automotive Environment
  1. Wind farms can create 'wind shadows' that harm energy production for neighboring turbines. This has led to competition among developers, often resulting in rushed planning and environmental neglect.
  2. Nuclear power could become cheaper if safety rules, like the 'As Low As Reasonably Achievable' policy, are reconsidered. Overly strict regulations can drive up costs and make nuclear energy less viable.
  3. Chinese car company BYD is cutting EV prices significantly, which is helping it gain market share. In contrast, GM is investing in traditional combustion engines due to slowing EV sales.

Every Three Hours Is A Chance To Make A New World: Notes from the Oklo Reactor

Welcome to Garbagetown • 575 implied HN points • 07 Oct 24
🔬 Science Nuclear Technology Education Environment History Research
  1. Learning something new can spark excitement and a desire to share that knowledge with others. It's fun to dive into unexpected topics that capture our interest.
  2. Exploring the intersection of science and storytelling can reveal the beauty and power of both. Stories can make complex scientific ideas more relatable and engaging.
  3. Taking a break from politics and focusing on other subjects can be refreshing. There's a vast world of knowledge and wonder beyond political discussions.

Visit to Bataan NPP, 2013-09

Gordian Knot News • 124 implied HN points • 11 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Energy Nuclear Infrastructure Environment Urban planning
  1. The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was nearly finished but never started due to political issues. It had been built during Marcos' regime but was halted after his overthrow.
  2. The plant has been neglected since the 1980s, meaning it suffers from damage and requires significant investment to be operational again. Some believe it could be revived in the future with the right leadership.
  3. Despite being outdated in some ways, the plant's control systems are considered reliable since they don't have software vulnerabilities. There's a discussion about improving monitoring without losing the existing analog system.

The Case for 2 mSv/day. 2.0.

Gordian Knot News • 139 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
🔬 Science Radiation Health Biology Environment Nuclear
  1. The historical dose limit for radiation exposure was set at 2 mSv per day, based on a time when no harmful effects were clearly detected. This suggests that at this level of exposure, there might not be significant health risks.
  2. Our body has a strong system for repairing DNA damage caused by radiation and natural processes. Most DNA issues are fixed quickly, which means low-level radiation may not lead to serious health problems.
  3. If we accept that 2 mSv per day is safe, it could change how we manage nuclear power. It may allow for safer operations and reduce unnecessary evacuations, ultimately making energy cheaper and more sustainable.

⚛ Atomic Amazon: The American nuclear revival takes another step forward

Faster, Please! • 913 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Energy Nuclear AI Environment Innovation
  1. Nuclear energy has remained a stable part of America's energy mix for decades, but the vision of it being the main power source faded after the 1970s. People once imagined a future where almost everything was powered by nuclear energy.
  2. Amazon is investing in new nuclear technology called small modular reactors. This move is aimed at meeting its growing energy needs, especially for its cloud services and to support its goal of being carbon neutral.
  3. The revival of nuclear energy could mean a shift in the way we think about power sources. Companies like Amazon are taking steps to explore innovative solutions to energy challenges.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Prime Time

Doomberg • 6766 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🔬 Science Energy Technology Policy Climate Nuclear
  1. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to significantly increase power demand, potentially impacting the journey towards electrifying everything.
  2. The nuclear industry is experiencing a resurgence as evidenced by Amazon's move to power a data center with nuclear energy, reflecting a larger trend of increasing nuclear capacity globally.
  3. There is growing concern about whether the uranium fuel supply chain can meet the demand created by the rapid pivot towards nuclear energy, highlighting the importance of understanding the nuclear fuel cycle.

All models are wrong, but some are tragically misleading

Gordian Knot News • 183 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🔬 Science Nuclear Radiation Health Environment Policy
  1. Evacuating people from the Fukushima area was delayed, and some evacuation decisions may not have been based on the actual risk levels involved. This led to unnecessary stress for many residents.
  2. A lot of the radiation exposure from the Fukushima disaster was less harmful than initially thought. Some areas had low radiation levels that people were advised to evacuate from, leading to disruption in their lives.
  3. Models predicting cancer risks from radiation exposure can be misleading. In some cases, the predicted health impacts did not match what real-life studies showed.

The Total Dose Cult

Gordian Knot News • 124 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🔬 Science Radiation Health Risk Assessment Nuclear Biology
  1. Total dose of radiation can be misleading. It's not just about how much radiation someone gets, but also how quickly they receive it.
  2. People exposed to radiation over a long time can have different health risks compared to those who are exposed quickly. The way their body processes radiation can vary.
  3. When discussing radiation harm, it's important to consider the rate at which people are exposed. This helps to get a clearer understanding of potential risks.

⚛☢ Here's what can end the nuclear renaissance, according to America's biggest bank

Faster, Please! • 456 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Energy Nuclear AI Environment Security
  1. Nuclear power is being considered more seriously because it can produce a lot of clean energy, which is important in addressing climate change.
  2. The need for energy security has increased, especially after events like the Russian invasion of Ukraine, making nuclear power a valuable option.
  3. Small modular reactors (SMRs) may solve key issues like high costs and slow construction times in the nuclear industry, potentially leading to a significant upgrade in energy capacity.

Gaining Steam

Doomberg • 9401 implied HN points • 06 May 23
🌍 World Politics Energy Nuclear Decarbonization Climate Government
  1. Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau expressed serious commitment to nuclear power for the country's future energy needs.
  2. Grassroots efforts led by groups like Canadians for Nuclear Energy have influenced political outcomes in favor of nuclear power.
  3. Support for nuclear energy is growing in the US as leaders recognize its necessity for significant decarbonization of the economy.

The Fukushima Workers, Part 2

Gordian Knot News • 95 implied HN points • 06 Nov 24
🔬 Science Radiation Nuclear Health Research Environmental
  1. The Fukushima workers faced very high radiation levels, especially near the damaged reactors, sometimes exceeding 100 mSv/h. Despite this, they showed remarkable bravery to manage the crisis.
  2. Research on the health of over 5,000 Fukushima workers found no significant health issues by the end of 2019. This suggests that the body's systems are good at repairing damage from radiation exposure.
  3. Distance from a radiation source is crucial for safety. Being more than 2 kilometers away from a nuclear release greatly reduces the risk of harm, similar to how staying a safe distance from fire keeps you safe.

Bulls and bears: a nuclear update

Everything is Light • 373 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Energy Nuclear Renewables Trade Policy
  1. Energy security is a global concern and nuclear energy is crucial for societal progress.
  2. Many countries are investing in expanding nuclear energy generation, with significant projects underway in Asia, Europe, and North America.
  3. Despite past reservations, some nations like Japan and Italy are reconsidering nuclear power, while others like Denmark and Singapore are exploring options.

A Brief History of Energy

Ulysses • 179 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🔬 Science Energy Nuclear Fusion Civilization
  1. Human civilization is driven by the type and availability of energy sources, dictating growth, quality of life, and societal scale.
  2. Energy originates from nuclear reactions and its evolution through fusion and fission have shaped both natural processes and human advancement.
  3. Fusion energy holds the potential to revolutionize energy production by offering a clean, abundant, and safe alternative to traditional sources.

Links for 2024-01-19

Axis of Ordinary • 78 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🔬 Science AI Technology Nuclear Climate Space
  1. Mark Zuckerberg aims to create artificial general intelligence with Meta having 600,000 GPUs by 2024
  2. Microsoft introduces new method to enhance LLM inference speed by 20 times
  3. Liquid-metal-based microelectrode arrays integrated with ultrathin retinal prosthesis for vision restoration

A History of Nukes in Space

Nathan’s Substack • 59 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Space Nuclear Satellites
  1. The history of nukes in space involves testing and speculation about potential nuclear threats, with past incidents including nuclear tests and the use of nuclear reactors in space.
  2. Treaties banning nuclear weapons in space exist, but enforcement is challenging as seen with Russia's violations of international treaties.
  3. Nuclear weapons and reactors in space can have significant impacts, from high-altitude EMP events disrupting electronics to the potential dangers of detonating a nuclear weapon in orbit.

The Gordian Knot News "A" List

Gordian Knot News • 168 implied HN points • 25 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Energy Regulation Nuclear Safety
  1. The Gordian Knot News focuses on the importance of cheap nuclear power for humanity's prosperity and environmental conservation.
  2. Understanding key features of radiation and where we went wrong in nuclear power are crucial to solving the issues in the industry.
  3. Proposing a new regulatory system and a radiation harm model are essential steps towards a better future for nuclear power.

The NRC at Three Mile Island

Gordian Knot News • 161 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
💾 History Disaster Regulation Media Government Nuclear
  1. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's actions at Three Mile Island turned a manageable incident into a national crisis.
  2. Despite widespread panic and media frenzy, the actual harm from Three Mile Island was significantly less than perceived.
  3. There were major errors and miscommunication by the NRC that escalated the situation, causing unnecessary fear and confusion.

Cheap nuclear is healthy nuclear

Gordian Knot News • 139 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
🔬 Science Nuclear Radiation Health Energy
  1. Engineers must balance desirable factors like performance and safety in their work.
  2. Our understanding of numbers and rational thinking is a relatively recent development.
  3. Low levels of radiation exposure from nuclear accidents may not cause measurable harm and nuclear energy can have health benefits compared to fossil fuels.

Atomic Energy! Can nuclear power our 100GW AI factories?

State of the Future • 29 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Energy Nuclear AI Engineering Infrastructure
  1. Nuclear energy might not fully power the future's huge AI data centers, but it could play a significant supporting role. It offers reliable and flexible energy, especially where renewable sources might struggle.
  2. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) could address the increasing energy demands for AI, but their high costs and complicated regulations are big hurdles. They might work well as part of a mix with other energy sources instead of being standalone options.
  3. The market for nuclear power is growing, driven by needs for cleaner energy and the specific power requirements of data centers. Big tech companies are already looking into using nuclear to meet their future energy demands.

What is nuclear's should-cost?

Gordian Knot News • 212 implied HN points • 04 May 23
🔬 Science Nuclear Energy Regulation Cost Analysis Risk Assessment
  1. Nuclear power can be more cost-effective than traditional sources like coal plants.
  2. Naive LCOE may not accurately represent the true cost of nuclear energy due to fluctuations in demand and the need for backup.
  3. Key challenges for nuclear power include regulatory risk, construction risk, and ensuring liability for unplanned outages and radiation releases.

Weekly Dose of Optimism #79

Not Boring by Packy McCormick • 94 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🔬 Science Nuclear Decarbonization Neuralink Drug Development Artificial Intelligence
  1. Biden administration to offer a $1.5 billion loan to restart a Michigan nuclear power plant, signaling support for the nuclear industry.
  2. Nat Bullard's Decarbonization presentation highlights climate change challenges, renewable energy growth, and investment opportunities in clean tech.
  3. Elon Musk's Neuralink achieves a milestone by implanting a brain interface, potentially advancing cognitive abilities and treating neurological disorders.

Russian crisis actors in Ukraine; China’s “Old Friend” Henry Kissinger visits; Russian nuclear saber-rattling; China’s Law on Foreign Relations; Cyber risks in solar equipment

Natto Thoughts • 39 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Russia China Nuclear Law
  1. Russian disinformation involved staged stories by crisis actors to justify invasion of Ukraine.
  2. Henry Kissinger's visit to China signals US efforts to improve relations and China's strategic messaging.
  3. The implementation of China's Law on Foreign Relations strengthens China's global influence and emphasizes China-centric order.

AI’s climate footprint, a nuclear renaissance, and the new climate subsidy wars 🔥

Climate Money • 19 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🌞 Climate & Environment AI Nuclear Data Centers Decarbonization Climate change
  1. Global electricity demand from data centers is set to double in the next two years due to AI's growth.
  2. Nuclear industry is experiencing a significant moment with uranium prices reaching a 16-year high.
  3. There is a new competitive landscape in the global climate technology space with Europe's entry leading to climate subsidy wars.

Atoms for Copper

Material World • 120 implied HN points • 07 May 23
🔬 Science Mining Innovation Nuclear Environmental Impact
  1. Copper is a vital metal in our daily lives, but it is becoming harder to obtain in high quantities due to diminishing natural resources.
  2. In the past, there were radical ideas, like using nuclear weapons for mining copper, but technological advancements in mining techniques eventually proved more effective.
  3. Innovation in mining methods has been a gradual process, leading to better extraction of metals like copper, making them more accessible and affordable over time.

Can Energy Security Trump Politics in Taiwan?

Taipology • 5 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Energy Taiwan Nuclear Decarbonization Security
  1. There are signs that Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party is internally aware of the country's need for atomic energy despite their anti-nuclear legacy.
  2. Taiwan's energy policy may soon shift towards extending the operation of existing nuclear power plants to address short-term energy needs, but a long-term solution will require new nuclear builds.
  3. Leadership, consensus, and a shift in policy are needed to elevate the conversation around nuclear energy in Taiwan as a national security and economic issue rather than a political one.

Weekend #70: Reflexive Control and Putin's Nuclear Threats

Phillips’s Newsletter • 1 HN point • 03 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Russia Ukraine Warfare Nuclear Propaganda
  1. Reflexive control is a strategic concept used by Russia to influence enemy decision-making by shaping their thought processes, even more critical than battlefield actions.
  2. Putin's deployment of nuclear threats as part of reflexive control tactics has successfully influenced Western countries like the USA and Germany in providing limited aid to Ukraine, despite numerous unfulfilled threats in the past.
  3. The recent high rate of Russian aircraft losses in Ukraine showcases a short-term risk strategy to target Ukrainian military weaknesses, indicating potential long-term consequences for Russia's airpower.

Aerially Separated Nuclear Aircraft

Tapa’s Substack • 0 implied HN points • 06 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Aerospace Nuclear Engineering Innovation Safety
  1. Nuclear aircraft need heavy shielding, which can make them less efficient. The idea is to separate the nuclear reactor from the passenger plane using a drone.
  2. The drone would beam power to the airplane using lasers, which could reduce the need for heavy shielding and keep passengers safer.
  3. This concept suggests that enough laser power can be delivered to make flying possible, but it's still just an idea and might not work out.

Proof the Greens put ideology over facts in the "Atomausstieg"

aukehoekstra • 0 implied HN points • 26 Apr 24
🌍 World Politics Energy Policy Climate Nuclear Government
  1. The nuclear power debate in Germany is politically charged comparable to significant topics like abortion in the US or Brexit in the UK.
  2. Existing nuclear power plants are viewed as safe and environmentally friendly, with calls to keep them open until coal plants are phased out to avoid worsening climate change.
  3. Politicians, like Habeck, should prioritize facts over ideology and avoid distorting the truth for political reasons, as seen in the 'Atomausstieg' situation.