In the 13th installment of The Atomic Exchange Podcast, co-hosts Dr. Goran Calic and Michael Tadrous dissect a newly published paper in Energy Policy titled “Atomic rivers. The (Un)sustainability of nuclear power in an age of climate change.”  The authors argue that nuclear plants relying on once-through cooling are environmentally unsustainable, legally problematic, and increasingly intermittent. But do the claims hold up? Goran and Michael break down why this study falls short—from its lack of quantitative analysis and misleading language to its sweeping conclusions based on narrow case studies. They explore the broader issue of bad science in energy policy, the dangers of taking academic research at face value, and the critical difference between presenting data and pushing a narrative. They also discuss why nuclear power is still one of the most reliable energy sources on the planet, how capacity factor data contradicts the study’s claims, and what needs to change in both academic publishing and public discourse to better inform decision-making. Tune in for a deep dive into thermal discharge, capacity myths, and the growing need for scientific literacy in climate and energy conversations.