NNSA releases “Sharing the Atom,” a podcast on the role of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in global civil nuclear commerce

NNSA’s Office of Nonproliferation and Arms Control (NPAC) in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) and Sound Made Public, released “Sharing the Atom: NPT Talk,” a podcast exploring the role of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in supporting and enabling civil nuclear commerce. As global interest in nuclear power development grows alongside demand for low-carbon emission energy sources, the NPT remains a critical foundation to ensure nuclear technologies are being shared and used safely, securely, and peacefully.

“Sharing the Atom” considers the role of the NPT, and how the treaty’s peaceful use commitments enable countries and their people to benefit from nuclear technologies while addressing the effects of climate change, encouraging sustainable development and energy insecurity, and mitigating other global challenges. The podcast tells the story of how world leaders came together to develop the NPT, a political and legal framework that enables countries to pursue nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes. Though seen by many as primarily a measure to stop the spread of nuclear weapons and to further the goal of nuclear disarmament, the treaty also allows for access to nuclear technologies for use in agriculture, energy, industry, and medicine.

Through interviews with a range of influential policymakers, historians, subject matter experts, and academics from around the world, the four episodes of “Sharing the Atom” take listeners on a journey from the discovery of nuclear fission to the development of global commitments to using that discovery for good.

The first episode examines efforts to promote and establish international nuclear cooperation from the end of World War II to the early 1960s, and the rationale underpinning those efforts. Episode 2 explores the creation of the NPT—the reasoning behind it, the considerations around it, and how the NPT enabled the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The third episode takes a closer look at the diverse impacts of nuclear science-based technologies enabled by the NPT, such as improved cancer diagnosis and treatments; safer, more effective agricultural practices; and more efficient industrial processes. While a significant and obvious use of peaceful nuclear technology is for nuclear power generation, these non-nuclear power uses of nuclear technology are critical to many other aspects of daily life. Finally, Episode 4 examines the continued relevance of the NPT as the foundation for peaceful nuclear cooperation in the 21st century.

You can listen to the podcast here, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.