~90% chance of a record-setting El Nino

The Strongest El Niño Ever

According to Dr. Zeke Hausfather, one of the world's leading climate scientists, based on the data we have so far and the analysis of that data by some 667 scientists evaluating global temperatures through some 14 different forecast models, not only is this year's El Niño likely to be the strongest ever recorded, it may even be the strongest by a truly "mind-blowing margins."

After all the scientists submit their models' estimates for what may happen during this year's El Niño event, the "multi-model" median stands at 3.6C, which is roughly 0.8C hotter than the prior world record of 2.75C. Previously, the largest jump up was only 0.5C. Thus, the models are, collectively, predicting weather outside of the bounds of anything previously ever observed with global temperatures. Which means that we are headed into entirely unknown territory as a planet, that even the scientists who have been watching the global temperature trends worsening for years and decade, have never seen in their lives.

What Dr. Hausfather finds remarkable is not just the magnitude of the projected heat level but also the trajectory of how quickly it is developing. What scientists are seeing in how 2026 global temperatures are progressing, as we enter the northern hemisphere's summer months, is that there is an explosive El Niño onset happening. As unusual as the present trajectory is towards El Niño intensity, in fact the 14 different models have unusually strong model prediction agreement. Given this, the models yield a ~91% chance of a record peak in the El Niño that make it highly likely to be the strongest El Niño ever observed.

This is all still a prediction but the patterns reported by the model are extremely disturbing and the signature of a climate pattern that is not good for humanity or the planet. We definitely need to be more organized around marshalling our response and preparing for a world with record high heat that impacts not just air temperature but also ocean warming. We can't respond fast enough to this threat and we are clearly going to miss the world's ambition to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030. But, even with our abject failure to meet our 2030 goals, the good news is that we might be able to meet our 2050 goals, if we can continue our current commercialization progress for next-generation nuclear, that can compete and win against fossil fuels.

References:

The Climate Brink, The Strongest El Niño Ever, by Dr. Zeke Hausfather, July 13, 2026.

July 6, 2026

Advanced nuclear ventures met & exceeded America’s reactor criticality goals!

Advanced nuclear meets the challenge of bringing three or more reactors to criticality by July 4th!

July 4, 2026

Our best protection from heat? Trees: nature’s biologic air conditioners

››

Trees and Weather

For many, celebrating July 4th brings out patriotic sentiments, a sense of marvel at our country's founding, its multi-century endurance and appreciation for the clear articulation of rights made by our founders as to the underlying and undeniably humanist principals of our democracy.

Among those in the nuclear industry, we are also celebrating the successful achievements of several innovative nascent criticality events among other sector advancements, marking the impending arrival of a new generation of advanced reactor designs, which some have taken to calling the "Golden Era of Nuclear Power."

These technical achievements are truly inspiring but the moment is overlaid by record-breaking heat conditions, reminding us of the frightening reality that climate change is here. It is already dishing out scorching heat, strained energy systems, devasted agricultural and forest areas, declining wildlife, hotter and more acidic oceans, extreme weather events and increasingly taking lives and/or destroying livelihoods.

For those suffering from extreme heat this July 4th weekend, as millions in Europe and the eastern coast of the U.S. currently are, there is both good news and bad news. The good news is that if you can get somewhere where there is air conditioning, you won't die from the 100+ ∘ F heat. Probably you'll feel quite comfortable, so long as your power stays on and your air-conditioner continues to work—even though the energy powering your air-conditioner (with a few exceptions) is simultaneously making the planet hotter.

The bad news is that humans appreciate mechanical air-conditioners that cool a room or a building a lot more than they appreciate nature's most perfectly evolved biologic form of air conditioner: trees and forests. It turns out, if we want better protection from the extreme heat that our emissions are causing, we need to protect forests from senseless destruction. Their enormous and yet under-appreciated capabilities for regulating temperature, moisture, air pressure and wind have developed over millions of years and they use exactly the same physics to cool the earth as your A/C works, though on a vastly different scale and with other added benefits.

Tragically, we have continued to devalue the importance of trees and forests—even many environmentalists see them just as a form of carbon storage—and so we have been destroying them at record levels. This is extremely shortsighted but the result of the fact that so few actually understand how complex and critical the role forests play, especially in a climate stressed world. If forests had had a founder like Elon Musk to make the global pitch to investors on how incredible tree technology really is and demand trillions of dollars in valuation for their services keeping earth inhabitable, the story might be different.

We don't. For now, the closest we have is Dr. Anastassia Makarieva of the non-profit, the Biotic Pump Greening Group, which is making the scientific, academic and social media case to help people understand how and why forests are such an important part of ensuring the livability of our planet. Reading Dr. Makarieva's substack, Biotic Pump & Biotic Regulation, will blow your mind with the descriptions of the physics involved in the mechanisms by which forests control wind, make rain, and cool the earth. But, in honor of the July 4th holidays, I'll save you hours of reading by condensing some of Dr. Makarieva's key points and explain why you should think of forests as planet Earth's continent-scale air-conditioners and rain-makers. Once you understand that, it become easy to understand that the fewer we have left, the hotter and drier it will get.

Dr. Makarieva has made the case that forests act as earth's biotic pump (which she describes as working a lot like a steam engine), helping to bring in warm air containing moisture that was evaporated from over the seas and help to wring the moisture out by causing clouds to form and stimulating pressure changes to allow rain to fall down while ejecting the heat out into the upper atmosphere, where the pressure differential causes the winds that push cold air out over the ocean again, where it sinks, warms, loads up on water and repeats the cycle again. Her concept of this atmospheric pumping action explains the essential physics underlying the processes that are actively controlled by the forests through transpiration, evaporation, condensation and other mechanisms, which run on the same core physics and principles — leveraging the physics of phase changes of water — to operate a form of planetary air-conditioning — at a wildly enormous scale.

An air conditioner is a form of reverse heat pump: refrigerant evaporates inside the unit, absorbing heat from room air (that's the cooling), then a compressor forces it to condense outside, dumping that heat outdoors. As a side effect, room air passing over the cold evaporator coil drops below its dew point, so water vapor condenses out and drains away — the air comes out both cooler and drier, which is why AC feels so much more comfortable than the same temperature at high humidity: dry air lets your sweat evaporate and carry heat away from your skin.

A forest does something structurally similar but runs as an open, self-powered loop rather than a closed mechanical one. Transpiration is the evaporator side: trees pump enormous volumes of water from soil to leaf and release it as vapor, and that phase change for the water absorbs latent heat right at the leaf/canopy surface — which is the literal, physical reason it's cooler under a tree, which is an evaporative-cooling effect (such as what an old-fashioned swamp cooler uses). The condenser side happens later and higher up: as that warm moist air rises and cools, the vapor condenses into clouds and rain, releasing the latent heat at altitude, where it's far easier for the planet to radiate it away to space.

In contrast, something Dr. Makarieva describes as the "Super Greenhouse Effect," explains why heat trapped near a humid surface can stop escaping altogether, thus generating truly staggering heat that the body cannot reject through sweat, and thus can often be fatal, such as the prolonged heat waves we are seeing now. Which is one of the many not well valued services provided by forests, which do the hard work of getting heat rising up and out into the upper atmosphere via cloud condensation, which explains why some regions are better protected from long, lingering heat waves and heat-related deaths than others.

Here's the elegant and magical part: what if a hightech founder told you that their technology required zero electricity to work and just pure solar energy? Would that make you want to invest? What if you could buy an air-conditioner whose refrigerant could keep circulating without needing any power? In Makarieva's biotic pump, condensation itself does that job. When water vapor condenses aloft, it removes molecules from the gas phase back to liquid, which falls as rain and causes local air pressure to quickly drop (a change we've all felt but didn't understand). That pressure drop is what then sucks in more moist and dense air horizontally from the ocean, which we experience as wind coming in from the ocean. This is what keeps the whole cycle running and keeps carrying moisture from the ocean inland. Forests don't need a compressor or electricity because the condensation event at large scale is the compressor — it's a self-sustaining engine powered by sunlight (as a source of heat), physics which makes warm air less dense, thus lighter, gravity (which makes cold dense air sink) and biology (in the form of healthy, natural and diverse forests, which have evolved a bag of tricks that we still barely understand but which can add extra transpiration moisture, spores or other particles into the air to juice the pressure and moisture content that ensures that rain happens overhead.

Forests don't just provide cool shade: they manage temperature like an airconditioner, but they also manage humidity and rain. An AC's whole comfort payoff comes from pulling heat out of a room, producing a little waste moisture in the process. A forest does the opposite at landscape scale: by keeping transpiration high, it keeps atmospheric moisture concentrated enough to fuel that condensation engine, which is precisely what lets it "trigger rain at the right time, in the right place, in the right quantity" (as Dr. Makarieva puts it) rather than just letting incoming moist wind pass over dry land with nothing to condense it. An AC discards the moisture it removes as waste. A forest's whole function is to control the moisture that keeps it alive and well, while maintaining enough moisture in the air that condensation and pressure differentials can keep the pump running.

Solving climate change is not a simple process. To stop increasing the forced warming of the atmospher, we must urgently transition away from carbon-emitting energy sources (both fossil fuels and biofuels), which is why the world is now working towards tripling or quadrupling nuclear power. But, because we already have too many large molecules in the atmosphere, we should try to prevent atmospheric warming where possible, by increasing global albedo (expanding areas that reflect solar photons back into space rather than allowing them to be absorbed (such as white roofs, grass, trees, forests and snowcover). Additionally, we must begin to remove the excess carbon and methane from the atmosphere and ocean, through direct air capture, carbon dioxide removal, and other methods that will lead to reduce GHGs that serve as atmospheric warming elements. That work must also be done by energy sources that don't emit carbon, which is another reason to support the expansion of nuclear power.

Which is why so many of us are celebrating the achievements of the last year in nuclear, which have brought the emerging generation of Gen IV nuclear designs to a new level of readiness. But between now and when we have seen substantial progress towards the above goals, we are in for increasing levels of heat and discomfort. We must work collaboratively to protect what's left of the earth's natural forests — now down to just about 8% of available land — and even begin to regenerate them as the planet's only source of live-saving natural air-conditioning. Without these forests, we'll experience the worst effects of the heating that our emissions have caused as if we were standing out in the field on a hot, sunny day without the protection of the shade of a tree.

By Valerie Gardner, Founder and Managing Partner of Nucleation Capital and life-long tree hugger.

References:

BBC, Tropical forests destroyed at fastest recorded rate last year, by Mark Poynting and Esme Stallard, May 20, 2025.

Columbia University, Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions, "Global Warming Has Accelerated: Are the United Nations and the Public Well-Informed?, published in Taylor & Francis, February 3, 2025 by James E. Hansen, Pushker Kharecha, Makiko Sato, George Tselioudis, Joseph Kelly, Susanne E. Bauer, Reto Ruedy, Eunbi Jeong, Qinjian Jin, Eric Rignot, Isabella Velicogna, Mark R. Schoeberl, Karina von Schuckmann, Joshua Amponsem, Junji Cao, Anton Keskinen, Jing Li, and Anni Pokela

Biotic Regulation and Biotic Pump Substack by Dr. Anatassia Makarieva, an atmospheric physicist, along with occasional guest authors.

Biotic Pump Greening Group, explaining the technological marvels that are trees and working to restore degraded forests to make sure that they and their functionality is repaired.

David Roberts' Volts Podcast: How to keep people cool without making the planet even hotter, June 24, 2026, with Ankit Kalanki, unpacking the the hidden world of AC refrigerants.

Published by Nucleation Capital in Air pollution, Brilliant thinkers, Carbon emissions, Climate change, Climate mayhem, Environmental support for nuclear, Extreme weather, Global emissions, Government support, Hydrologic cycle, Investor activity, NEWS, Rainforest protection, Solving climate, Women in Nuclear

April 10, 2026

California Nuclear: State of Play for CA’s Nuclear Moratorium()

Nucleation Capital will be participating in this SF Climate Week event for "fission futurists." Click the link to go to the invitation.

Published by Nucleation Capital in Advanced Nuclear, Air pollution, Carbon emissions, Climate change, Climate policy, Data centers & Digital Infra, Electrification, Energy abundance, Energy transition, Environmental support for nuclear, Fission, Government, NEWS, Nuclear-inclusive energy policy, Politicians supporting nuclear, Women in Nuclear

February 14, 2026

Pronuclear Advocates & Allies

About the Pronuclear Climate Movement

Pronuclear climate advocacy has been around for only about a decade but it has grown rapidly. It consists mostly of young people who understand the urgency of the climate crisis and recognize that nuclear energy is a way to help us transition away from fossil fuels. They believe we should protect existing nuclear plants providing large amounts of clean energy and build more. They have worked to save plants slated for premature closure, like Diablo Canyon in California and Palisades in Michigan. And they continue to work to save existing nuclear plants around the world, reform clean energy policies that exclude nuclear and favor renewables and educate the public about the benefits of nuclear. This is a reflection of growing support for nuclear power in general and a recognition that the goal of the climate movement is to prioritize retirenent of fossil fuel plants—whose massive volume of waste emissions is forcing the warming of our planet—not shut nuclear, whose waste hurts no one and is actually a valuable future energy resource.

The pronuclear movement consists of mostly smaller, independent groups that do grassroots organizing around a theme, such as working to prevent the closure of a local nuclear power plant. Fortunately, many of these groups are interconnected yielding suprisingly effective coordination when it matters. Many also have broader goals, such as the Climate Coalition, which aims to strengthen the climate movement overall by uniting climate activists of all stripes in support of an "all-of-the-above" nuclear-inclusive approach to clean energy. These groups can use your help.

How to Support the Pronuclear Climate Movement

For those who want to support nuclear power in addition to (or in lieu of) investing in next-generation technologies through Nucleation Capital, we provide the following recommendations:

Take Action in Support of Nuclear Power: We have launched a Pronuclear Advocacy Actions page. Please check this page to learn about ways that you can support pronuclear actions. If you are organizing an action in support or nuclear or know of one, please submit the information to add it to our action page.
Stop Supporting Anti-Nuclear Organization: Stop sending donations to the Sierra Club, NRDC, 350.org, Friends of the Earth, League of Conservation Voters, or Greenpeace. These large NGOs remain staunchly anti-nuclear and that is primarily what is dividing the climate movement.
Urge your NGO to Prioritize Climate: If you have been a member or supporter of an anti-nuclear environmental group, let them know you don't support their anti-nuclear positions—which are contrary to their supposed efforts to solve climate—and won't support them until they acknowledge the value of nuclear energy for combating carbon emissions.
Actively Support Pronuclear Groups: Throw your support behind one or more of the pronuclear nonprofits that are working hard to save existing power plants and to advocate for nuclear power. We have curated the following lists to help you find organizations or individuals to support.

Nucleation's Top 5 Pronuclear Organizations

1. CALIFORNIANS FOR GREEN NUCLEAR POWER

Californians for Green Nuclear Power, led by Dr. Gene Nelson, has been a driving force for political accountability and responsible energy decision-making in California. Shedding light on sweetheart backroom political deals being cut by Governor Jerry Brown that were contrary to the public interest, CGNP filed suits and/or petitioned to become a party to CPUC and FERC proceedings. CGNP's work as an intervenor has been instrumental in helping to save Diablo Canyon. CGNP's in depth research continues to pose obstacles to efforts to overturn the California legislature's extension approval are being filed. (Donations can be mailed to CGNP at 1375 East Grand Ave Ste 103 #523, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420-2421.)

2. MOTHERS FOR NUCLEAR

Mothers for Nuclear was created on Earth Day 2016 by the power team of San Luis Obispo-based Heather Hoff and Kristin Zaitz, two moms to better represent the voices of women and mothers in support of Diablo Canyon and nuclear energy in general. Coordination with Californians for Green Nuclear Power, Save Clean Energy and many other groups enabled Governor Newsom to respond to strong public pressure to save Diablo Canyon when appealing to the California Legislature. Progressive women remain predominantly opposed to nuclear power, but Mothers for Nuclear have begun to rebuild the social norm of women being pronuclear. (Donations can be made online. EIN: 81-3349003)

3. GENERATION ATOMIC

Generation Atomic was created by Eric Meyers to represent the voices of younger generations and empower them to express support for nuclear in every type of venue and forum where discussions of how solve climate change is happening. The group creates fun, engaging, public actions in an effort to safeguard our future by championing the cause for nuclear energy. Not only do they use research, communication and relationship-building to advocate for nuclear, their actions typically involve dancing, singing, inflatable costumes and humor to inspire, empower and engage youth and defang anti-nuclear wrath. Operatic nuclear arias, anyone? (Donations can be made online. EIN: 81-4500446)

4. THORIUM ENERGY ALLIANCE

Thorium Energy Alliance was started in 2006 by John Kutsch to bring together scientists and energy experts who believe that thorium should be recognized as a high-value nuclear fuel and not treated as waste. Thorium is far more abundant and less radioactive than uranium, yet was rejected early on in the development of nuclear fuel. This despite evidence that the use of thorium is feasible and can be highly cost-effective. TEA works to raise awareness about thorium and hosts conferences, posts videos and serves as a central organizing and educational entity for many nuclear advocates, which history was beautifully captured in the Frankie Fenton documentary film "Atomic Hope." (Donations of cash or cars can be made online.)

5. CLIMATE COALITION

Climate Coalition was founded in 2016 by Valerie Gardner and a group of technology-oriented climate activists who recognized how much stronger the climate movement would be if climate advocates were not fighting amongst themselves. Climate Coalition works to build unity between climate activists who support renewables and those that support nuclear, who are often ardently in opposition to each other. This internecine conflict is why global effort to transition to 100% clean energy systems are delayed everywhere. Join Climate Coalition to show your support of unity against carbon emissions. (Climate Coalition is looking for a new leader to take this group to the next level.)

MORE PRONUCLEAR GROUPS

There are many other worthy groups, so we've listed more of them below, followed by influencers, authors, podcasters and artists (alphabetically)

THINK TANKS & EXPERT NON-PROFITS (Alphabetical listing)

Anthropocene Institute, founded by Carl Page, bringing a pro-technology perspective and working to connect engineers, entrepreneurs, investors, institutions and thought-leaders to solve the world's greatest challenges. Helping to expand awareness of solid state nuclear activity and its potential to solve energy issues.

The Breakthrough Institute, Ted Nordhaus leads this global research think tank that identifies and promotes technological solutions and policies to environmental and human development challenges.

Campaign for a Green Nuclear Deal, Madison Hilly founded this group to serve as a nationwide advocate articulating a vision for nuclear power as the industrial heart of sustainable and enduring American prosperity that creates dignified, high-wage jobs, revives American industrial capability, and re-establishes the U.S. as the global leader of this critical technology.

Clean Air Task Force, led by Armond Cohen, analyzes and advocates for the technologies and policies needed to get to a zero-emissions, high-energy planet at an affordable cost, so the energy needs of all people are met efficiently without damaging the air we breathe or the atmosphere.

ClearPath, Rich Powell heads up this a center-right think tank whose mission is to develop and advance conservative policies that accelerate clean energy innovation and climate solutions.

Climate Protection & Restoration Initiative, Dr. James Hansen, Donn J. Viviani and other climate and legal experts, have sued the US EPA to demand its proactive enforcement of the Clean Air Act as already permitted by the existing statute against emitters of carbon dioxide pollution.

Doctors for Nuclear Energy, Dr. Chris Keefer leads an international, volunteer group of doctors that see nuclear energy as an irreplaceable part of the just transition to a low-carbon future.

ecoAmerica, founded and run by Bob Perkowitz, ecoAmerica moves society toward climate solutions by inspiring and empowering trusted national institutions and their millions of stakeholders in local communities across America to visibly act and advocate, with a commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Emergency Reactor, Zion Lights, a former Greenpeace activist, grew disenchanted with Greenpeace because of its antinuclear stance and founded this European-based group to provides accurate nuclear education and counterpoint to antinuclear myths.

Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) is the only non-profit, membership organization of local governments adjacent to or impacted by U.S. Department of Energy activities. We bring together local government officials to share information, establish policy positions, and promote community interests to address an increasingly complex set of constituent, environmental, regulatory, and economic development needs.

Energy Impact Center, Bret Kugelmass founded this group to offer strategic direction through a "first principles" analysis of global energy systems and focusing on areas of highest impact, through research, impactful communications and kick-starting real projects. Also, Bret is host and creator of the Titans of Nuclear Podcast.

Fastest Path to Zero, Dr. Todd Allen leads an interdisciplinary team of experts, including University of Michigan faculty, staff, and students, working to support communities as they plan and pursue ambitious climate goals, offering a variety of assessment, siting, reporting, and big data analytic tools combined with a passion for human-centered design and engagement, to help communities transform their energy systems while adapting to a changing climate.

Good Energy Collective, Dr. Jessica Lovering, Suzy Hobbs Baker, Dr. Rachel Slaybaugh launched this group to rethink nuclear policies from the ground up, in order to enable nuclear energy to help humanity reach ambitious climate goals. Using modern, socially-grounded and equitable approaches based upon progressive, democratic values, Good Energy Collective develops practical approaches to bring nuclear implementation and not just technology into the 21st century.

The Long Now, Stewart Brand founded this organization to foster long-term thinking to make mankind into a better ancestor and preserve possibilities for future generations, by imagining what our needs will be over a 10,000 year timescale, rather than just in the here and now.

Nuclear Alternative Project. Puerto Rico has been an energy deficient country since Hurricane Maria struck a few years back. In response, the Department of Energy has granted the Nuclear Alternative Project the responsibility of preparing Puerto Rico to possibly build advanced nuclear reactors, as an alternative energy option for Puerto Rico. Unlike wind and solar, nuclear power plants hold up well in hurricanes, which show no sign of abating especially as climate gets worse.

Nuclear Innovation Alliance, Judi Greenwald leads this donor-funded think tank and industry-adjacent team that aims to bring economically competitive zero-carbon energy to the world by supporting entrepreneurialism and accelerated innovation through policy analysis, research and education.

Nuclear New York, Dr. Dietmar Detering, Isuru Seneviratne and more, is an independent, non-partisan advocacy organization working towards a prosperous decarbonized future and nature conservation, advocating for the application of nuclear energy to meet the need for reliable, emission-free energy along with well paid meaningful work that underwrites vibrant, healthy, and prosperous communities in New York and beyond.

The Oppenheimer Project, Charles Oppenheimer and family, launched this group in tandem with the release of the film, "Oppenheimer," to use the legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer to promote thought-leadership, advocate for an expansion of nuclear energy free from the threats of proliferation or weaponization and to invest in the energy transition to carbon-free sources, including nuclear energy.

Radiant Energy Group, a think tank, research organization and corporate advisory founded by Mark Nelson and Richard Ollington, which provides leaders with the data, messaging and broader insights they need to create nuclear-inclusive roadmaps towards decarbonization. Recently published results of their global survey of public attitudes towards nuclear.

Rethinking Nuclear, Richard Steeves and others founded this group to help those taking a fresh look at why we need nuclear power and rethink positions based upon misinformation or misconceptions about the technology that are wrong.

Save Clean Energy, Isabelle Boemeke founded this group to cultivate and amplify the social media-based grassroots movement that she has developed to protect existing clean energy resources, while championing new clean infrastructure.

Stand Up for Nuclear, Paris Ortiz-Wines founded this team to serve as the international hub for global nuclear activism, providing resources, empowering action and helping individuals advocate for the protection and expansion of nuclear energy around the world.

TerraPraxis, Erik Ingersoll and Kirsty Gogan founded this organization to design and promote transformative strategies to address the most significant risks to the energy transition — mapping uncharted decarbonization territory, with a mission to accelerate scalable, innovative and equitable solutions for unsolved areas of the climate and energy challenge. Now focusing on the coal to nuclear transition.

Third Way, Josh Freed heads this national think tank that champions modern center-left ideas on a wide range of critical issues, from energy to agriculture.

WePlanet (previously RePlanet), founded by a group of European youths to broadly save the future and advocate for the prioritization of real, science-based solutions. They bravely tackle a number of big thorny issues, including the need to rethink and deploy advanced technologies for food production, nuclear power and GMOs.

INFLUENCERS, AUTHORS, PODCASTERS, ARTISTS and FILMS

Rod Adams, founder of Atomic Insights, launched in 1995 to engage in exploration and critical discussion of nuclear power and the nuclear industry by one of the partners of Nucleation Capital; and host of The Atomic Show: A long-running companion podcast series featuring Rod's interviews of and conversations with nuclear experts.
Meredith Angwin, wrote the first book explaining in lay terms the perils inherent in our power grid, “Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of our Electric Grid.” Previously, Angwin inspired and taught a generation of activists how to advocate for nuclear power in "Campaigning for Clean Air."

Mathijs Beckers, is an author and vlogger who runs the Nuclear Humanist YouTube channel. He is the author of "Highway to Dystopia: About spaceship Earth, Climate Change and more" as well as Climate Zero Hour, The Non-Solutions Project, and Science a la Carte. He is raising funds for his latest pronuclear project here.
Isabelle Boemeke, creator of the “Isodope” persona, an uber-stylish futuristic nuclear influencer featured in creative videos accessible by TicTok, Instagram and "X" tweets, which aim to educate the social media generation about nuclear energy. Ms. Boemeke is also the founder of Save Clean Energy, which led an initiative to send a letter to Governor Newsom urging him to save Diablo Canyon, signed by 79 scientific experts. She has also given a powerful pronuclear TED Talk.
Baba Brinkman, a science rapper, poet and performer, with the world's most extensive oeuvre of nuclear rap.
Robert Bryce, author, journalist and host of the Power Hungry Podcast, wrote "A Question of Power: Electricity and the Wealth of Nations," and produced the documentary Juice: How Electricity Explains the World. Bryce just released a new, 5-part documentary series called Juice: Power, Politics & the Grid, available for free on YouTube.

Gwyneth Cravens, author of "Power to Save the World: The Truth about Nuclear Energy."

Dietmar Detering, co-founder and chair of Nuclear New York, a nuclear strategist and expert helping to convene events and build support for nuclear energy.
Jack Devanney, author of the Substack: Gordion Knot News, dedicated to solving the twin problems of energy poverty and global warming.

Frankie Fenton, produced the documentary, Atomic Hope, which follows the birth, pains and growth of the pronuclear movement.

Valerie Gardner, founder and managing partner of Nucleation Capital, the first venture fund to provide a way for accredited investors to invest in nuclear innovation, co-founder of Climate Coalition, a non-profit advocacy group working to build a coalition of pronuclear and pro-renewable climate advocates to bring unity to and dispel competition between those seeking climate solutions but with differing notions and preferences as to what those are.
Joshua Goldstein and Staffan Qvist, wrote "A Bright Future: How Some Countries Have Solved Climate Change and the Rest Can Follow." This book was picked up and made into a powerful documentary by Oliver Stone, called Nuclear Now: Time to Look Again, in 2023.

Dr. Robert Hargraves, author of "Thorium, Energy Cheaper than Coal" and prolific tweeter.
Kyle Hill, produces a wonderfully accurate and entertaining series of Youtube videos, including "Is Nuclear Power 'Too Expensive?'"
Madison Hilly, nuclear influencer and speaker, Managing Director of Radiant Energy Group.
Heather Hoff, a co-founder of Mothers for Nuclear, is known to show up to official meetings to speak extremely articulately on behalf of saving nuclear power plants, with her young child in tow.

Dr. Chris Keefer, articulate Canadian nuclear advocate, founder of Doctors for Nuclear Energy and the Decouple podcast, focused on the challenge of decoupling energy production from carbon emissions.

D.J. LeClear, The Rad Guy, posts extensively with easy to understand explanations about nuclear power, radiation and waste issues.
Zion Lights, Everything is Light, has an engaging Substack covering her learning process about nuclear energy.

Gene Nelson, Californians for Green Nuclear Energy: Prolific researcher and author of detailed legal analyses, legal briefs and published OpEds submitted on behalf of CGNP as an intervenor in California CPUC actions revealing and critiquing efforts by those seeking to replace clean nuclear energy with dirty coal or gas, of the nefarious going on's—often behind "closed doors" or hidden in data reporting euphemisms—which have enabled efforts by PacifiCorp and others to sell coal power to California without it being acknowledged as such by CAISO.
Mark Nelson, Radiant Energy Group: Founder and preferred nuclear advocate in debates on nuclear energy, as well as a key influencer and consultant providing a range of strategic services to improve communications and engage key stakeholders.

Richard Ollington, Emys Energy: Experienced nuclear energy researcher and statistician providing strategic advice, research and data insights to turn "numbers into narratives" that help the world better understand the power and benefits of nuclear energy, to support informed decisions and lasting progress across the energy sector.

Carl Page, Anthropocene Institute: Articulate nuclear advocate, philanthropist and investor bringing a pro-technology perspective and working to connect engineers, entrepreneurs, investors, institutions and thought-leaders to solve the world's greatest challenges, including support for development of low energy nuclear reactors (LENR).
Emmet Penney, Nuclear Barbarians: Articulate nuclear author and podcaster interviewing a range of nuclear experts about the industry, its successes and challenges.

Staffan Qvist and Joshua Goldstein co-wrote "A Bright Future: How Some Countries Have Solved Climate Change and the Rest Can Follow." This book was picked up and made into a powerful documentary by Oliver Stone, called Nuclear Now: Time to Look Again, in 2023.

Dave Schumacher, produced The New Fire, a wonderful documentary about next-generation nuclear and some of the founders who have launched ventures.
Michael Seely, nuclear influencer, consultant and founder of AtomicBlender, a consultancy firm specializing in nuclear fuel and technology. Also posts educational videos at YouTube on the AtomicBlender channel.
Isuru Seneviratne, co-founder of Nuclear New York, is a data guru who has developed expertise in presenting energy data in a clear and compelling way that helps bring attention to the energy faux pas of those entrusted to do the right thing, specifically NYISO.
Oliver Stone, produced Nuclear Now: Time to Look Again, a 2023 documentary, based upon the Joshua Goldstein book, "A Bright Future."
Robert Stone, produced the highly influential 2013 documentary, Pandora’s Promise, arguably the first pronuclear documentary ever produced, which has subsequently inspired the pronuclear movement.

Nick Touran, Ph.D, P.E., What is Nuclear?: A technical blog that aims to enlighten the public about the capabilities of nuclear energy so that society may embrace it as an improvement in many aspects over current energy sources. Answers many common questions and concerns about nuclear power.

Dan Yurman, Neutron Bytes: Publishes posts and provides resources and references regarding advanced nuclear projects, expert resources and published literature about nuclearpower, and advocacy groups.

[Note: This Nuclear Advocacy page is a work in process and is neither comprehensive nor completely up to date (although we endeavor to update it as often as we can). Not included in this list are industry-supported and/or international professional and non-governmental organizations, such as the:

American Nuclear Society
Nuclear Energy Institute
Nuclear Innovation Alliance
U.S. Nuclear Industry Council
Nuclear Matters
International Atomic Energy Agency
World Nuclear Association
Women in Nuclear
North American Young Generation in Nuclear

If you have suggestions or corrections, please use our Contact page to provide that information and we will post it.]

Updated: March 4, 2026

Published by Valerie Gardner in Brilliant thinkers, Climate change, Climate policy, Energy abundance, Environmental support for nuclear, Fission, International support for nuclear, Investor activity, NEWS, Nuclear-inclusive energy policy, Nucleation communications, Philanthropic support for nuclear, Pro-nuclear campaign, Solving climate, Solving nuclear waste, Women in Nuclear, Zero emission energy

February 8, 2026

DOE Proposes Excluding Advanced Nuclear from NEPA Environmental Review ()

The DOE has proposed a NEPA categorical exclusion for advanced nuclear reactors, citing modern safety features, fuel design, and limited fission product inventories, and has opened a 30-day public comment period before determining whether the exclusion will be formally adopted into its NEPA implementing procedures...

Published by Nucleation Capital in Advanced Nuclear, Climate change, Climate policy, Department of Energy, Energy transition, Environmental support for nuclear, Government, Government support, LINKS, Nuclear-inclusive energy policy, Reduced ecosystem impacts, Solving climate

December 10, 2025

Gratitude in Greens and Blues

Understanding Biotic Regulation

The challenge of addressing climate change is extremely complex. Even reducing emissions from energy use—as deploying more nuclear will help us to do—doesn't ensure climate stability for future generations. Fortunately, there are things we can do now to better protect our current and future climate and, in appreciation of our investors, advisors and supporters, we are donating to a group whose insights around "biotic regulation" can make a big difference in how humanity fares.

It turns out that forests play a critical and pro-active role in climate change dynamics. Forests, and especially old-growth rainforests, can help to reduce the impacts of our planet's warming. The mounting levels of CO2 in the atmosphere are adding tremendous amounts of heat forcing: that is certain. What is less certain is how severely we'll feel those impacts. With healthy forests, we're much better off.

Emerging from the work of a group of atmospheric physicists, ecophysiologists, and biologists, is an awareness that, weather is not uniform and extreme weather events aren't being distributed equally. Forests, rather than being simply passive stores of carbon, are active participants in controlling weather, particularly the wind and hydrologic cycles. This means, where there are forests, the weather will be more regular, more temperature controlled and more normal.

How do trees and forests do this? They leverage physics, chemistry and their own biology to regulate weather. Through spreading canopies and networks of roots, trees collaborate in keeping the land cool and moist. This cooler air can generate cloud cover, which in turn generates rain and limits the penetration of sunlight, limiting heating impacts and droughts.

Trees can also use their ability to transpire—release moisture from leaves—to help increase the level of humidity in their vicinity, which can increase the air's moisture content and actually hasten rainfall. Clouds in turn reflect the sun's radiation back out into space, reducing heating in their areas despite the higher concentrations of CO2.

Forests, we have learned, have evolved on the planet for millions of years and they have adapted by being able to moderate their own climate. Trees use a number of physical mechanisms—rising warm air, denser cool air and the effects of condensation, to influence winds to suck moist dense cooler air from the seas onto the land and blow warmer air out to sea. Forests are not passive plants: rather, they can act as a massive biologic organism that can actually impact the physics in their environment to trigger rain. Not only is this good for them—giving them the fresh water they need—it is also vital to humanity.

Dr. Anastassia Makarieva, author of the Biotic Regulation substack, frequently discusses this complex blend of physical, chemical and biologic forces that form what she describes as a "biotic pump" that moves water from the ocean to the land. She has argued persuasively that forests play an active role. Further, that thinking that the primary value of forests is in their use as a store of carbon, is failing to recognize their vital function as a force that literally drives a large portion of the hydrological cycles of the planet. Dr. Makarieva’s writing helps readers recognize the problem of focusing climate efforts exclusively on the issue of carbon emissions and not paying attention to the proactive role of forests as a moderator of extreme weather and protecting them . . . from being actively leveled.

As important as nuclear power is to humanity's ability to reduce emissions, preserving forests is equally important as a way to better prevent extreme heating effects from causing damange to vital ecosystems and human systems. Protecting our natural forests and especially rainforests is key to lengthening the runway for maintaining cooler temperatures and ensuring there is continued rain—even as emissions drive higher global temperatures. Therefore, in addition to our usual year-end support of non-profit groups protecting our nuclear power assets (blue), this year we are donating to the Biotic Pump Greening Group (green), which is working to increase our understanding of the role that forests play in protecting their own ecosystems.

Learn more below:

BIOTIC PUMP GREENING GROUP

About

The Biotic Pump Greening Group Institute is a Brazilian-based non-profit scientific, technological, and innovation organization focused on promoting a paradigm shift in combating Climate Change, ecological restoration, and reforestation. Our core mission is to advance the study of the Biotic Pump Theory and develop innovative practices for ecosystem protection, contributing to the defense and preservation of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development. To achieve this, we support scientific research, design restoration projects, organize educational events, and foster scientific and political activism.

For more information, you can reach out to Carlos Nobre Camargo or Dr. Anatassia Makarieva. If you'd like an introduction, we'd be happy to make that.

Instituto BPGG - Biotic Pump Greening Group:

CNPJ: 59.958.061/0001‑09
Avenida Alfredo Ignacio Nogueira Penido, 335, Sala 706
São José dos Campos – SP
CEP: 12.246‑000
Banking information:

BRADESCO Bank Brazil
Swift: BBDEBRSP
Instituto BPGG - CNPJ 59958061/0001-09
Branch: 06012
Account: 000018678
Iban: BR78.6074.6948.0601.2000.0186.783C.1

Other Groups Working to Protect Rainforests

1. Restore established by Michael Kellett, which collaborated with the Biotic Pump team on organizing an "Embracing Nature's Complexity" conference in Munich in 2024.

2. Mongabay founded by Rhett Ayers Butler, one of the leading providers of ecological journalism, reporting on the state of forests, the often nefarious destruction being wrought on rainforests by corporations and the efforts and challenges of those who seek to protect them. Mongabay was the first big environmental news outlet that covered the biotic pump story, initially back in 2012, with more recent follow ups.

3. Amazon Watch, a 30-year old 501(c) organization, works together with and in support of the Amazon's Indigenous Peoples and allies calling for the Amazon to be free of oil, gas, mining, and all extraction and for the U.N. and Amazonian governments to protect the Amazon from deforestation for palm production or other destructive activities.

Groups We Support Working to Protect Nuclear

1. Mothers for Nuclear: Was started on Earth Day in 2016 by two moms who want to protect their children’s future on this planet. They were initially skeptical of nuclear, but through many years of questioning and working at California’s last remaining nuclear plant, they gradually changed their minds. Now they support nuclear as our largest and most hopeful source of clean energy, vital to addressing some of our world’s biggest challenges: climate change, air pollution, and energy poverty. Now, we have an organized way to share our stories and begin a dialogue with others who want to protect nature for future generations.

2. Stand Up for Nuclear: Works to advance nuclear energy worldwide by activating leaders, driving action, and fostering informed public engagement. Since 2019, Stand Up for Nuclear has grown the international movement, uniting citizens and organizations to champion nuclear energy as a key to securing our clean, abundant energy future. They strive to create a future where nuclear energy is embraced as a reliable and sustainable solution for a low-carbon world.

3. Californians for Green Nuclear Power: Is dedicated to promoting the peaceful use of safe, carbon-free nuclear power, and to keeping Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant open, so it can continue in its important role of generating clean energy for the benefit of California’s economy.

November 4, 2025

Illinois Lifts 30-Year Ban on Large Reactors ()

Following earlier approval for SMRs, Illinois lawmakers have now lifted the state’s 30-year moratorium on large-scale nuclear construction as part of a new clean energy bill advancing grid reliability and storage.

Published by Nuclea_Admin in Advanced Nuclear, Climate policy, Environmental support for nuclear, Government, Government support, LINKS, Nuclear competitiveness, Nuclear R&D, Nuclear-inclusive energy policy, Politicians supporting nuclear, Pronuclear States, Solving climate, US competitiveness

July 21, 2025

German Nuclear Lobby Says Six Reactors Could Restart Amid Energy Concerns ()

In a post-election shift, Germany’s nuclear lobby argues that up to six shuttered reactors could technically return to service, as the new government weighs options to reduce energy costs and import dependency. Operators remain opposed, but the public debate over nuclear’s role is reemerging...

Published by Nucleation Capital in Advanced Nuclear, Climate change, Climate Costs, Climate policy, Electrification, Energy transition, Environmental support for nuclear, Fission, Government support, International support for nuclear, LINKS, Nuclear R&D, Nuclear-inclusive energy policy, Politicians supporting nuclear, Solving climate

July 15, 2025

Progressive Support for Nuclear Power Gains Momentum ()

Valerie Gardner is quoted alongside other climate and nuclear advocates describing shifts in the level of acceptance of nuclear power and calling for more investment in clean, reliable energy.

Published by Nucleation Capital in Advanced Nuclear, Big Tech, Climate policy, Electrification, Energy transition, Environmental support for nuclear, Fission, Future of Energy, NEWS, Regulatory reform, Solving climate, US competitiveness, Venture capital support for nuclear

Older Posts ›