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Works in Progress ·Future-gazing

How P-hacking Built the World's Most Expensive Safety Regime

by Ben Southwood

Published 2026-06-30 14:36:40+00:00

How did a few statistical tricks end up writing the rules for global nuclear safety?

0:00 / 20:43 · Narrator Vindemiatrix

Context

The global fear of low-dose radiation has made nuclear plants incredibly expensive to build. But in an essay published on 30 June 2026, Alex Chalmers and Ben Southwood look at the actual studies holding up these regulations, and find that the numbers quickly fall apart. The writing remains sharp today because it targets a blind spot the broader energy debate usually skips over. It asks what happens when the safety rules restricting such a powerful energy source are built on random noise.

Show notes

An examination of the scientific evidence behind global nuclear safety regulations, focusing on the claim that low doses of radiation cause cancer. By reviewing historical exposure cases, including contaminated apartments in Taiwan and data from nuclear workers, the authors show how researchers have used flawed statistics to link low-level radiation to health risks. The analysis outlines how weak data has shaped the strict rules governing nuclear power.

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