“How Our Brains Work” in Perceptions of Nuclear Power
March 5, 2026
A new type of nuclear reactor—cooled by liquid sodium instead of water—has received a federal construction permit, the AP reports, reflecting the Trump administration’s push to advance commercial nuclear power. But challenges remain beyond technical success, as David Ropeik illustrates in Issues. Notably, many people simply fear nuclear energy, with various social, psychological, and neurological factors playing a role. This isn’t “right or wrong,” he notes. “It’s just who we are, how our brains work.” Starting from there, laypeople and policymakers alike can better “consider as thoroughly and openly as possible which choices will afford the greatest protection.”