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What if it Works?

What if it works?

Energy powers our homes, our cars, and our lives. But the kinds of energy we use—and the ways we use it—are rapidly changing our climate. We need new and clean energy, now. MIT Energy Initiative hosts Rob Stoner and Kara Miller talk with energy experts about the science, technology, and policies that can transform our energy systems and give us a more sustainable future. Hear from those testing new ideas and working on breakthroughs in labs, industry, and government—the ones who aren’t afraid to ask, “What if it works?”

Latest Episode

Adding nuclear to the mix with Jacopo Buongiorno

Nuclear power has been the topic of controversy over the years, despite its current contribution of nearly 20% of the electricity generated in the United States. Jacopo Buongiorno, a nuclear scientist at MIT, argues that you can’t get to a robust clean energy portfolio without nuclear and we have learned a lot more about making nuclear power safer. He provides a run-down of the benefits and risks associated with nuclear and the role it plays in achieving a clean energy mix.

March 12, 2025 - 43 min 24 sec

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Energy@MIT

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The Energy@MIT podcast ran from 2018 to 2021, publishing 40 episodes on energy topics including nuclear, solar, storage, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, with guests from academia, government, small startups, and large corporations. While the podcast is no longer being produced, the episode archive can be found below.