Nuclear Explained

Digital technologies support operations and automation at facilities handling nuclear material or other radioactive material, potentially leading to increased operational efficiency, reduced labour costs, and better safety and security. However, digital innovations may also pose threats and risks, underscoring the need for robust computer security within a nuclear security regime. What does information and computer security look like in the nuclear world? What are the latest trends within the computer security community? How often do cyberattacks occur?

The ocean is both a source of oxygen and a sink for carbon dioxide (CO2). It absorbs about one fourth of all CO2 emissions. While this leaves less CO2 in the atmosphere and mitigates climate change, it makes the ocean more acidic. Ocean acidification has emerged as a global issue because of its effect on marine organisms, ecosystems and livelihoods. Guests:

Food safety is a critical aspect of public health and global food security. Since consumers cannot always see, taste or smell the threat of contaminated food, food safety laboratories backed by nuclear science serve as a line of defence to detect and prevent food hazards. And when it comes to the spices, seeds, fruits and vegetables that travel from distant origins to your local grocer, a small dose of radiation helps make it possible for food products to stay safe and fresh without spreading sickness or invasive pests. Guests:

Good nutrition is essential for good health and well-being. Nuclear techniques, including stable isotope techniques, play an important role in the development, monitoring and impact of interventions against malnutrition. Stable isotopes can be used, for example, to understand how the human body is composed or how much of an ingested nutrient is absorbed and metabolized. Guests:

What happens when seeds are exposed to microgravity, extreme low temperatures and cosmic radiation? The IAEA and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched seeds into space to find out. The experiment aims to enhance the development of crops that can withstand the effects of climate change and to increase food security on Earth.

Water is critical for human development and environmental and economic sustainability. Isotopic techniques are used to help assess the quantity, quality and sustainability of this precious resource. Isotope hydrology is a nuclear technique that uncovers how water moves through the land, ocean and atmosphere. This technique provides data to facilitate informed decision making to address water management challenges.

What does nuclear and radiation have to do in the fight against cancer? In this episode, experts explain the key role of radiation-based technologies in comprehensive cancer control. From diagnosing cancer patients with medical imaging to using life-saving radiation-based treatments, such as radiotherapy and image-guided procedures, nuclear medicine and radiation technologies improve many lives. Access to these tools is of vital importance, and the IAEA’s Rays of Hope initiative helps to establish and improve access to cancer care in countries that need it most. Guests:

Thirty-two countries operate nuclear power plants, which provide some 10 per cent of the world’s electricity and account for 25 per cent of all low-carbon electricity. How many more countries are interested in or embarking on nuclear power? And how does a country develop a nuclear power programme? In this episode, experts from the IAEA and nuclear newcomers – countries who are interested in or already in the process of introducing nuclear power – explain why countries are turning to nuclear power and discuss the process and challenges in developing a nuclear power programme.

Nuclear power is harnessed around the world today to produce low-carbon electricity. The convergence of the climate change and energy crises underlines the need for clean, safe and reliable energy sources. In this episode, guests talk about the role of nuclear power to achieve net zero goals and energy security. Guests:

For decades, fusion energy has been a distant dream offering the prospect of almost limitless clean energy. But now with burgeoning private sector involvement and major scientific breakthroughs occuring regularly, it seems like fusion's realization is getting closer than ever. In this episode, experts explain the science behind fusion and the challenges that must be overcome before this source of energy could be powering our homes. Guests:

Radiotherapy is one of the most widely used therapies for cancer treatment. With radiotherapy, nuclear radiation, also known as ionizing radiation, is applied to harm and destroy cancer tumour cells.

Nuclear technologies are helping countries around the world achieve development objectives, including many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. For instance, nuclear supports the zero hunger goal by facilitating the development of improved plant varieties: plants with higher yields and increased tolerance to the effects of climate change.

Underlying the use of nuclear power is safety. Experts in this episode discuss nuclear safety and how the 2011 accident at the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant ushered in a new era in power plant safety. Our guests discuss how safety is perceived and how the nuclear industry has improved and continues to improve the safety of its operations. Guests:

In the previous episode of Nuclear Explained, the basics of nuclear reactors and nuclear power were introduced. In this episode, advanced reactors, including small modular reactors (SMRs), are further discussed.

Nuclear reactors have been used to generate electricity for decades. The past, present and future of nuclear reactors and nuclear power is discussed in this episode, with guests: - Helmuth Boeck, Retired Professor from the Technical University of Vienna - Aline des Cloizeaux, Director of the Division of Nuclear Power at the IAEA - Ben Heard, Senior Consultant at Frazer Nash Consultancy in Australia The experts explain how a nuclear reactor generates electricity, as well as the advantages and challenges of nuclear power.

Zoonotic diseases, including COVID-19, and their relationship to nuclear, take centre stage in the first episode, with guests:

The IAEA’s new podcast, Nuclear Explained, reveals how nuclear is integrated in and benefits so many aspects of our daily lives. Complementing a series of explanatory articles, the podcast’s monthly episodes will feature interviews with top experts from around the world. Send us your questions and feedback to nuclearexplained AT iaea.org.