Discovery Channel, as part of a new partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has launched Good To Know, a new educational videos series explaining how nuclear science can help solve global issues. The films will be shown in more than 30 countries, reaching 44 million households across the entire Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

This first tranche of five short films, made by the IAEA video team in conjunction with the Warner Bros Discovery editorial team, will explain in simple terms how radiation can safely be used to solve some of the world’s most pressing global challenges including:

  • Microplastics in the ocean (filmed in Monaco/Global)
  • The growing cancer burden (filmed in India)
  • Food insecurity (filmed in Austria/Global)
  • Water scarcity in the face of climate change (filmed in Austria/Costa Rica)
  • Industrial contamination (filmed in Czech Republic)

Each film is around one minute long and will play as part of Discovery’s Good To Know series both on television and online.

Future films will investigate how nuclear science can help development, particularly in the light of climate change, for example, by measuring how coastal regions sequester carbon; how the oceans are becoming more acidic; or how pest insects can be controlled without chemicals. The films will also provide details on key IAEA programmes to battle plastic pollution, drought and hunger.

The films are made in conjunction with the IAEA’s 12 nuclear sciences and applications laboratories, which develop and share nuclear techniques with countries around the world.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said: “People may know us as the nuclear watchdog, helping enhance safety, security and safeguards in places like Fukushima, Iran, Ukraine. But not enough people know of the amazing potential nuclear science has to make tangible differences in people’s lives – helping farmers grow better crops, cancer patients get better treatment, governments understand and protect key natural areas. As the terrible effects of climate change become more obvious to people around the world, it is important for the public to also know there is hope. Science, as always, offers solutions to many of our main challenges.”