Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
If uranium in a nuclear power plant emits so much radiation it boils tons of water, how safe is it for workers? Given the huge facilities required and massive mining efforts, is nuclear truly carbon neutral? Is there enough uranium in the earth for nuclear energy to be a long term source of electricity? If we build more nuclear plants, will we retire fossil fuel sources of electricity or simply increase our electricity usage accordingly?
Jason Donev answers all these questions, and more, in our second conversation on nuclear energy.
References from our conversation:
world-nuclear-news.org/articles/what-is-the-budget-for-canadas-first-smr-project
energyeducation.ca/simulations/radiation_dose_calculator/index.html
xkcd.com/radiation
Prof. Jason Donev is tenured at the University of Calgary. He leads the world’s largest and most used energy resource for adults, EnergyEducation.ca. Prof. Donev works to help people understand nuclear power's role in providing reliable energy without emitting greenhouse gasses.
Podcast for Inquiry is hosted by Leslie Rosenblood and brought to you by the Centre for Inquiry Canada. Join today! Produced by Zack Dumont, Martin Zielinski, and Leslie Rosenblood. Support Podcast for Inquiry on Patreon: patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry. Send your thoughts and feedback to podcast@centreforinquiry.ca.
If uranium in a nuclear power plant emits so much radiation it boils tons of water, how safe is it for workers? Given the huge facilities required and massive mining efforts, is nuclear truly carbon neutral? Is there enough uranium in the earth for nuclear energy to be a long term source of electricity? If we build more nuclear plants, will we retire fossil fuel sources of electricity or simply increase our electricity usage accordingly?
Jason Donev answers all these questions, and more, in our second conversation on nuclear energy.
References from our conversation:
world-nuclear-news.org/articles/what-is-the-budget-for-canadas-first-smr-project
energyeducation.ca/simulations/radiation_dose_calculator/index.html
xkcd.com/radiation
Prof. Jason Donev is tenured at the University of Calgary. He leads the world’s largest and most used energy resource for adults, EnergyEducation.ca. Prof. Donev works to help people understand nuclear power's role in providing reliable energy without emitting greenhouse gasses.
Podcast for Inquiry is hosted by Leslie Rosenblood and brought to you by the Centre for Inquiry Canada. Join today! Produced by Zack Dumont, Martin Zielinski, and Leslie Rosenblood. Support Podcast for Inquiry on Patreon: patreon.com/PodcastforInquiry. Send your thoughts and feedback to podcast@centreforinquiry.ca.
