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Jul 21, 2026 - The Nuclear Comeback: What Will It Take To Power It?



Episode 4 explores how new fuels and materials could shape the future of nuclear energy, making it safer and more viable.
With Charles Oppenheimer, whose grandfather developed the atomic bomb, we explore how scientists in Oak Ridge are developing advanced fuels to make the next generation of reactors safer. But this future also depends on HALEU, a critical fuel in short supply.
As global energy demand soars, the episode also turns to fusion — the long-promised dream of limitless clean energy. Once seen as out of reach, fusion is moving closer thanks to breakthroughs in materials, from China`s record-breaking experiments to efforts in the UK to develop fusion steel that can withstand extreme conditions.
It also follows the race to secure the fuels that fusion will need: tritium, one of the rarest and expensive materials on Earth. Meanwhile, the ambitious pursuit of alternative fusion fuel, helium-3, is bringing some countries and startups to the Moon.

00:00 Meet Oppenheimer`s grandson
01:34 Oakridge: Birthplace of the atomic age
04:17 TRISO, a safer nuclear fuel
11:30 Producing HALEU Fuel for next-gen reactors
16:27 China`s fusion breakthrough: Super steel
21:53 UK`s fusion research
25:52 Producing rare tritium fuel for fusion
30:08 Japan`s fusion fuel cycle
34:38 China brings back lunar soil containing helium-3
37:24 Moon mining missions
42:41 Fuel for thought