S1E77: How safe and green is nuclear energy now that it's an option for S’pore: Green Pulse

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Nuclear energy is a controversial source of energy that is gaining prominence globally,  including in Singapore as a potential solution to tackling climate change. Nuclear is considered a clean form of energy as the generation process does not release any greenhouse gases, unlike the traditional mode of energy generation from burning fossil fuels.  But following the nuclear disasters in Chernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011, how safe is this form of energy now? In this episode, The Straits Times environment correspondent Audrey Tan and climate change editor David Fogarty discuss these questions with Dr Matthew Lloyd, a research fellow at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, who does research on materials that can be used in the nuclear process. Read the article here: https://str.sg/wBTR Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 01:13 How do nuclear reactions generate energy?  03:30 Why is nuclear energy considered clean, and how safe is it?  10:10 Why is nuclear fusion considered safer than fission? 13:35 How do small modular reactors contribute to safety of nuclear energy? 15:56 Are rising energy prices causing countries to warm to the idea of nuclear power? Produced by: Audrey Tan ([email protected]), David Fogarty ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim and Eden Soh Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Subscribe to Green Pulse Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV  Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Follow Audrey Tan on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLMB Read her stories: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.