Chernobyl 40 Years On: Legacy of the World’s Worst Nuclear Disaster

Episode 362 It’s been 40 years since the world’s worst nuclear disaster unfolded. Since the explosion at Chernobyl in 1986, the world has feared nuclear power - and the widespread damage it can do. But are we right to fear it? Though it’s left a lasting scar on the region, nuclear power is still safer than fossil fuels - which kill millions of people each year. So what will it take to change public opinion? We examine the lasting impact of nuclear fallout on Chernobyl - and how things have changed in the exclusion zone over four decades. Rowan Hooper is joined by New Scientist reporter Matt Sparkes, who shares news of his recent visit where he met the families who still live there. And Professor Jim Smith, author of Chernobyl: Catastrophe and Consequences, explains how the ecosystem and wildlife are thriving - and how he’s been making Atomik Brandy out of radioactive apples from the region. To read more about these stories, visit To buy Atomik drinks and help support communities in Ukraine affected by Chernobyl and the war, see Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Chernobyl 40 Years On: Legacy of the World’s Worst Nuclear Disaster is an episode from New Scientist Weekly by New Scientist.

This episode is 32:13 long.

This episode was published on Apr 23, 2026.

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