Blog: In Nukes’ Shadow, Fearlessness and Fatalism

It bothers Gesha Witt that Germany is shutting down its nuclear plants.

Cancer Deaths in Chernobyl, Brazil Invests in Science

A new analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists provides new, higher numbers for radiation caused cancer deaths in the U.S. Brazil lures back Brazilian scientists working in the U.S. Court rulings may be influenced by whether or not judges are hungry, according to a new study. All in the latest World Science Podcast.

Radiation, Risk and the “Linear No-Threshold” Model

Earlier this month I posted about the longstanding debate over the ultimate death toll from the Chernobyl accident, and a new look at the data by a Union of Concerned Scientist physicist. Lisbeth Gronlund pored through scattered and hard-to-find data on the distribution of fallout from Chernobyl, crunched the numbers based on a statistical model of likely cancers at different exposure levels, and came up with an estimate of roughly 27,000 additional cancer deaths due to Chernobyl. This stands in stark contrast to a widely-quoted UN estimate of roughly 4,000, but also to estimates by Greenpeace and others of 90,000 or more cancer deaths [...]

Chernobyl cancer study surpasses UN estimates

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with physicist Lisbeth Gronlund of the Union of Concerned Scientists about her new study on the likely number of cancer deaths caused by Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident. Download MP3

Slideshow: Remembering Chernobyl after 25 years

Fukushima vs. Chernobyl–Comparison less useful than ever

Nowhere near Chernobyl. Except sort of. But really, much, much less bad. Or… maybe worse. If your head’s hurting right now trying to keep track of official evaluations of the scale of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, well, get in line for the aspirin. If not yet the iodine pills [...]

Fukushima likely not as bad as Chernobyl, but what does that mean?

For four weeks now, the world has watched with a surreal combination of horror and helplessness as the Japanese have struggled to regain control of their crippled nuclear reactors in Fukushima, staunch the flow of radioactivity, and evaluate the long-term impact of the disaster on human health, the environment, and communities near and far [...]

Tech Podcast: Revisiting past nuclear accidents

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

In this week’s Technology Podcast, look into past nuclear accidents at Chernobyl (pictured), Three Mile Island, and Tokaimura to understand the current events at Fukushima in Japan. We’ll try to give you some historical perspective on the breaking news. (Photo: Elena Filatova) Download MP3 (36:09)

Chernobyl, Abd-El Krim, Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This week’s history podcast showcases three unrelated but timely radio features. In light of the nuclear crisis in Japan, Brigid McCarthy reminds us what happened at Chernobyl in 1986. Gerry Hadden introduces us to a Berber hero in Morocco and explains where he fits in the contemporary political landscape. And Jason Margolis retells the story of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire a century ago and explains why it’s still relevant today.Download MP3

Remembering Chernobyl after 25 years

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The nuclear crisis unfolding in Japan is taking place exactly 25 years after the worlds worst nuclear accident in Chernobyl. Brigid McCarthy reminds us of the scale of that disaster. Download MP3

Slideshow: Chernobyl as a tourism site

Ukraine: building a nation

The World’s Jason Margolis spent 10 days in Ukraine and reports on the quest for Ukrainian identity, exploring the nation’s music, politics, history, and humor.