The Next Nuclear Plants Will Be Smaller and Safer
Are modular nuclear reactors popular science&#x27;s new flying car--one in every garage, arriving tomorrow?<p>Modular reactors have been on the horizon for at least 20-30 years. Large nuclear reactors aren&#x27;t viable because of the immensely costly regulatory burden imposed by a fearful, democratic population. To focus on reducing costs without considering the <i>reason</i> for those costs seems naive. The fear is irrational. The population won&#x27;t permit modular reactors anymore than they&#x27;d permit traditional reactors. Science, engineering, and reason don&#x27;t matter. Necessity may matter, but the oceans may need to start boiling before people&#x27;s fear of nuclear is overcome by other fears.