Topic: Reactors

Nuclear consultant Rod Adams reports on the successful launch of four new advanced nuclear reactors as of July 4th. The Reactor Pilot Program, bolstered by executive orders signed in May 2025, has accelerated approvals for companies like Aloe Atomics and Valar Atomics. Despite regulatory hurdles, many of these advanced energy firms remain headquartered in California.

President Trump signed an executive order, the "Genesis Project," placing the Department of Energy in charge of AI development. The move recognizes the massive energy requirements of AI data centers and aims to prevent an "AI bubble" from popping. The strategy involves deploying small nuclear reactors to ensure the U.S. maintains its lead in the global AI race.

NASA is fast-tracking plans to put a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030 to compete with similar efforts by Russia and China. In New York City, Reverend Manning has entered the mayoral race with a unique platform focused on banning "horse hair" (braids and extensions) in hospitals and restaurants for hygiene reasons.

There is a renewed global interest in thorium and small modular reactors (SMRs) to power massive AI data centers. Projects in Wyoming and Michigan are moving forward with federal support. The hosts speculate that the "AI boom" might be a front to gain public acceptance for nuclear energy, which could eventually lead to significantly lower energy prices.

Concerns are raised regarding a nuclear reactor in Missouri facing potential flooding and an electrical fire, with comparisons drawn to the Fukushima Daiichi disaster. Separately, a prediction is entered into the Red Book regarding Rick Perry's chances for the Republican nomination; while one host believes he has significant financial backing, the other predicts he will fail to secure the nomination.

French President Emmanuel Macron urged citizens to stop spreading panic regarding potential winter blackouts as France deals with the shutdown of 20 nuclear reactors. In the European Union, six countries including Germany and the Netherlands warned against lowering the gas price cap, fearing it would trigger higher prices. Australia is also attempting to cap coal and gas prices despite historical failures of such policies.

Local media coverage during the Texas freeze is criticized, with KLBJ cited as the only reliable source of information while NPR and local officials remained silent. Reports indicate that one of the state's two nuclear reactors went down due to a false signal, removing three gigawatts from the grid. Political figures including Governor Greg Abbott and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are accused of using the crisis to push conflicting agendas regarding the Green New Deal and fossil fuels.

A new initiative titled "Podcasting 2.0" is teased as a solution to payment and distribution issues within the industry. Separately, the importance of rigorous contract review is discussed, citing an instance where a major law firm provided a deficient employment agreement for a coding bootcamp graduate. The segment emphasizes the value of identifying missing indemnification and non-disparagement clauses in professional contracts.

The newly launched submarine USS Indiana features an S9G nuclear reactor designed to operate for 33 years without refueling. This technological advancement allows the vessel to remain powered for its entire service life. Despite the safety record of naval nuclear power, the IPCC continues to express concerns regarding the risks associated with nuclear energy.

The rise of for-profit coding boot camps is discussed as an alternative to four-year degrees, though the hosts question their high costs and focus on JavaScript. Inspired by this, they jokingly propose a "Dvorak Curry Podcast Boot Camp" that would charge $15,000 to teach students how to write newsletters and take checks. The segment touches on the intense 16-hour workdays required by top-tier Silicon Valley boot camps.

Transatomic Power, a startup featured on Fareed Zakaria's GPS, is developing a "waste-annihilating molten salt reactor" (WAMSR) that can generate electricity from existing nuclear waste. The design is claimed to be cheaper than conventional reactors and significantly reduces the lifespan of radioactive waste. Nuclear expert Rod Adams notes that such small-scale reactors face opposition from established fossil fuel interests.

A listener known as Sir Atomic Rod provides technical details on the size of nuclear cores used in 1960s-era submarines, noting they could fit under a desk and run for decades. The hosts argue that modern breeder reactor technology is "anti-science" to ignore, as these reactors can consume their own waste. They criticize the public's programmed fear of nuclear energy in favor of less efficient wind and solar power.

A discussion on the advancements in modern nuclear technology, including breeder reactors and small modular reactors used by the Navy. The segment features insights from "Atomic Rod" regarding the potential for nuclear energy to solve CO2 and energy resource issues.

Saudi Arabia and Russia signed an agreement in St. Petersburg to build up to 16 nuclear reactors under Russian supervision. This move is interpreted as a response to the potential nuclear deal with Iran, with Saudi officials indicating they will pursue nuclear weapons if Tehran does. The hosts suggest this could lead to a broader arms race and regional instability that benefits global arms manufacturers.

Rod Adams, a retired naval commander and publisher of Atomic Insights, reported a significant decline in attendance at the American Nuclear Society meeting. Despite being a carbon-free solution to global warming, nuclear power faces funding shortages and academic opposition. Stanford University reportedly refuses to hire professors interested in nuclear energy, focusing instead on 100% renewable models funded by fossil fuel interests.

A donor from Quantico requested anonymity while contributing to the show, and another listener shared nostalgia for 1997 Zip drive cartridges. Stuart Rushing, a producer in the nuclear industry, pointed out a media fact-checking failure regarding frozen broccoli and aphids. The hosts reiterate that executive producer credits are valuable for professional networking on sites like LinkedIn.

A startup called Transatomic Power is developing a Waste Annihilating Molten Salt Reactor (WAMSR) designed to generate electricity by consuming high-level nuclear waste. While the design could theoretically reduce waste volume to the size of a grapefruit, experts like Rod Adams note that such innovations face opposition from established fossil fuel interests.

The hosts critique Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s stance on ending oil dependence through decentralized wind and solar power. They argue that modern nuclear technologies, such as breeder reactors, are the safest and most efficient way to achieve energy independence without carbon pollution, despite public fear.

The hosts advocate for nuclear energy as the safest and cleanest power source, despite public fear. This transitions into a listener email from a nurse explaining that hospital pneumatic tube systems are not a risk for Ebola contamination due to strict vacuum-sealed protocols.

Rosatom has produced the first batch of mixed oxide fuel tablets for next-generation breeder reactors in the Krasnoyarsk region. This technology aims for a closed fuel cycle that produces no waste, potentially revolutionizing nuclear energy. The documentary "Pandora's Promise," now on Netflix, is recommended for its exploration of environmentalists who have converted to supporting nuclear power.