Why the U.S. Doesn’t Recycle Nuclear Fuel

Video Description

In this interview, Neil deGrasse Tyson speaks with Kathryn Huff, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy, about the current state and future potential of nuclear fuel recycling. They explore whether small modular reactors (SMRs) can repurpose spent nuclear fuel, and why countries like France lead in recycling while the U.S. lacks the infrastructure and political momentum. The conversation also addresses uranium mining, geopolitical risks in the uranium supply chain, and the potential to recycle radioactive byproducts like technetium for medical imaging and industrial uses. From 'Solving AI’s Energy Problem with Kathryn Huff': https://youtu.be/TPcemHez_4g?si=SMclKYbLCtd-f1um Get the StarTalk book, 'To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery' on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PL0NFn Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalk TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neildegrassetyson