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The Little Reactors that Could
Article

The Little Reactors that Could

Billed as safe and cheap, NuScale’s small reactors aim to revive the ailing nuclear industry and help save a warming planet.

Adrian Cho
Science, 2019
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Scientific
  • Eye Opening
  • Engaging

Recommendation

Is nuclear energy on its way out? The American company NuScale is developing small, modular reactors (SMRs). Multiple units can form a larger reactor that produces energy safely and economically. As solar and wind energy become more important, there is a pressing need for weather-independent energy generation. This article, by Science magazine staff writer Adrian Cho, conveys the excitement and hurdles in developing a new incarnation of a moribund technology. It pays scant attention, though, to the problem of how to dispose of spent nuclear fuel.

Take-Aways

  • Nuclear reactors offer carbon-free energy, but nuclear waste and large accidents have depressed the market for nuclear power plants.
  • Portland, Oregon company NuScale Power has designed a small, modular reactor, or SMR.
  • NuScale claims its reactor is safe because of its size, simple design and passive safety features.

About the Author

Adrian Cho has been a staff writer at Science since 2005. He covers physics, cosmology and science policy. He has a PhD in experimental particle physics from Cornell University.

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