Our 5 Most-Read Nuclear Energy Stories of 2019

Ten years from now, what will we remember about 2019? In a year that saw tragic natural disasters and worldwide climate strikes, 2019 also brought us the first ever image of a black hole and Baby Yoda—the biggest, and perhaps least expected, internet sensation of the year.

It was a big year for nuclear energy as well, from significant bipartisan support for nuclear innovation, to state policy actions, to Congress funding nuclear energy programs at historic levels. Before 2020 gets old enough for us to forget our New Year’s resolutions, let’s take a look at the top stories you read and shared the most in 2019:

1. A Viewer's Guide to HBO's Chernobyl Miniseries
   
   In May, HBO debuted a five-part miniseries called “Chernobyl,” based on the 1986 nuclear accident in the Soviet Union. While the series served as a dramatized account of the accident, the show nonetheless fascinated readers and viewers who were eager to learn more about the real-life event. In advance of the show’s premiere, we published a story to explain the real event’s relevance to the nuclear industry outside the USSR (short answer: not much). “Chernobyl” series creator Craig Mazin even retweeted a link to our article expressing that he agreed the accident could never happen in the United States.
2. Why We Should Listen to Bill Gates on Nuclear Energy
   
   Many people are unaware that Bill Gates is an ardent supporter of nuclear carbon-free energy and helped launch TerraPower LLC, a nuclear reactor design company in 2006. To Gates, nuclear energy is not just a technology that can help us meet climate change goals; it also can be used to reduce global poverty, one of his primary missions with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
3. Why My First Trip to a Nuclear Plant Was So Memorable
   
   In February 2019, I, a relative newcomer to the nuclear industry, had the opportunity to tour Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station in York County, Pennsylvania, and write a blog about my experience. I already knew the difference between a boiling water and a pressurized water reactor and had developed a rudimentary grasp of the technology, but seeing it in person was a much different and awe-inspiring experience.
3. Nuclear 101: An Introduction to Nuclear Energy for the New Congress
   
   Even if you’re not a member of Congress, this article is still a helpful primer on nuclear energy. Bottom line? Nuclear energy generates nearly 20 percent of our nation’s electricity without emitting carbon and is a reliable, resilient energy source that boosts our national security. If nuclear 101 is your thing, check out our stories on how a reactor works and nuclear waste or you can read about more nuclear fundamentals. 
5. Andrew Yang Loves Thorium Nuclear Reactors, But What Are They?
   
   Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang mentioned thorium reactors at several Democratic debates, and the internet was abuzz with tweets and search queries for this particular type of nuclear reactor. In fact, the Google trends dashboard showed that interest in the search term “thorium reactor” spiked on dates when debates aired. But what is a thorium reactor? Although they are none in existence today, they are an example of an exciting advanced nuclear technology that could one day help accelerate a transition to a clean energy future.