We go deep inside the Chernobyl nuclear-power plant and the surrounding exclusion zone, recounting the history of the accident on April 26 1986, and speaking with plant workers who were on shift that day. A pre-eminent Chernobyl historian discusses the lessons learned and yet to be learned from the disaster. And we consider the science still being done at Chernobyl.

In 2024 “The Weekend Intelligence” went to Ukraine to consider the aftermath of the Russian invasion and occupation of Chernobyl, and then of the Zaporizhia nuclear-power plant. What we found was an industry that had no expectation that could even happen, and nothing of a plan when it did. Listen here.

Guests and host:

• Serhii Plokhy, historian, Harvard University
• Olena Pareniuk, radiobiologist, Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants
• Jim Smith, environmental scientist, University of Portsmouth
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• Chernobyl nuclear-power plant, history
• nuclear safety, nuclear-energy policy
• radiation exposure, radiobiology, radioecology

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We examine what our forecast model predicts so far—and consider what might change its confident prediction for one house of Congress and toss-up call for the other. Our correspondent sits down with Steve Reich, a pioneering classical composer who is nearing his 90th birthday. And the surprising reason why firstborns tend to have more-successful lives.

Additional music courtesy of Steve Reich (Nonesuch Records), Erik Hall (Western Vinyl)

Guests and host:

• Dan Rosenheck, data editor
• Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
• Ainslie Johnstone, data journalist
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• American elections, Congress, polling, gerrymandering
• Steve Reich, contemporary classical music
• birth order, statistics

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The decision of Anthropic, an AI giant, to keep its Mythos model sequestered surely makes for good press. But there seems to be more to it than that—and it might change the whole industry’s approach. Indian politicians are chasing female voters more than ever; we question the means and the outcomes. And next in our World Cup contender-country profiles: Senegal.

Guests and host:

• Alex Hern, AI writer
• Kira Huju, Asia correspondent
• Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent
• Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

• AI, Anthropic, Mythos
• India, women, politics
• World Cup, Senegal

Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.