Naked Nuclear

Inside the BWRX-300 with Dr. John Zino | "We're just boiling water!"

June 1, 2026·37 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

What does it actually look like to spend nearly 40 years inside the nuclear industry, from submarine shielding to the Department of Energy to the cutting edge of small modular reactor design?Dr. John Zino is a Chief Consulting Engineer at GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy and an Associate Teaching Professor at NC State University. In this episode, he breaks down the BWRX-300 — a 10th-generation boiling water reactor that strips nuclear power down to its simplest form. No massive recirculation pumps. Natural circulation cooling. And the same proven fuel the industry has relied on for decades.We talk about why tech companies like Meta, Microsoft, and Google are suddenly interested in nuclear, how old coal sites are being converted for new reactors, and why the nuclear workforce could grow from 70,000 to half a million people in the next two decades. Plus why you don't need a PhD to build a career in nuclear.If you're a nuclear professional looking for a new opportunity, fill out our TALENT FORM here!Additional Resources: GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy: https://nuclear.gevernova.comBWRX-300 Overview: https://nuclear.gevernova.com/small-modular-reactorNC State Nuclear Engineering: https://www.ne.ncsu.eduOntario Power Generation — Darlington New Nuclear: https://www.opg.com/powering-ontario/nuclear-power/darlington-new-nuclearCape Fear Community College Nuclear Technology Program: https://cfcc.edu/directory/f77572817d963013b7cb18c1f2d2c994160a53d1/

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