INTERNACIONAL
A 40 años de Chernobyl, los errores humanos y las fallas de la URSS que desembocaron en la peor catástrofe nuclear de la historia

Hace 40 años, una prueba de seguridad mal hecha en el reactor número 4 de la central nuclear de Chernobyl provocó la peor catástrofe nuclear de la historia. Durante un ensayo inapropiado a baja potencia se produjo una pérdida de control que derivó en una explosión y un incendio que destruyeron por completo el edificio del reactor y liberaron grandes cantidades de radiación a la atmósfera.
Al ignorar medidas básicas de seguridad, el combustible de uranio se sobrecalentó, se fundió y atravesó las barreras de protección. Lo que parecía una prueba técnica terminó en un desastre que afectó a millones de personas y convirtió a Pripyat en una ciudad fantasma. Pero Chernobyl no fue un accidente aislado: fue el resultado de una cadena de fallas que expuso errores humanos, problemas de diseño y un sistema sin control real.
Leé también: Ucrania denunció que un ataque ruso dañó el escudo protector que cubre el reactor nuclear de Chernobyl
Desde aquel 26 de abril de 1986, Chernobyl es una advertencia global. No solo por la magnitud de la tragedia, sino porque obligó a cambiar para siempre la forma en la que el mundo controla la energía nuclear. Hoy, los especialistas coinciden en que un episodio idéntico sería mucho más difícil, aunque el riesgo nunca desaparece por completo.
Un contexto político y técnico que marcó el desastre
“Hubo una combinación letal entre fallas técnicas y humanas en Chernobyl, pero lo más importante fue el contexto”, explicó a TN Julián Gadano, sociólogo y director del Programa de Estudios de Energía Nuclear e Innovación de la Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero (UNTREF).
Todo ocurrió dentro de una Unión Soviética en crisis, con un régimen autoritario, en descomposición política y con graves problemas económicos. “En ese contexto fue posible tomar decisiones totalmente enfrentadas a la seguridad. Nadie podía decir que no”, señaló. Pripyat quedó vacía después de la explosión en la central nuclear de Chernobyl y se convirtió en una ciudad fantasma. (Foto: Freepik)
En la misma línea, Darío Jinchuk, consultor senior en energía nuclear y no proliferación, explicó que esa noche los operadores realizaron una prueba sin respetar los protocolos establecidos y desactivaron sistemas automáticos clave, entre ellos el de refrigeración de emergencia y otros mecanismos de protección, para evitar que el experimento se detuviera. El objetivo era comprobar cuánto tiempo podían funcionar las bombas ante una parada de emergencia sin energía externa.
Un reactor que tenía fallas desde su origen
Según Jinchuk, el RBMK-1000 tenía varias características que lo hacían especialmente vulnerable. Una de las más graves era el llamado coeficiente de vacío positivo, que hacía que cuando aumentaba la temperatura y se formaba vapor, también aumentara la reacción nuclear.
En lugar de estabilizarse, el reactor se volvía más inestable. Esa retroalimentación positiva podía descontrolar todo en segundos.
Leé también: Misterio en Chernobyl: aparecieron perros con pelaje “completamente azul” en la zona de exclusión
A eso se sumaba un defecto crítico en las barras de control, que debían frenar la reacción pero primero aumentaban la potencia. “Era como si al apretar el freno de un auto, primero acelerara”, explicó Jinchuk.
Gadano agregó que el diseño del RBMK respondía a una lógica militar adaptada luego a la generación eléctrica, en línea con la política soviética de maximizar la inversión. Además, las barras tenían grafito en la punta, lo que en ciertas condiciones provocaba un efecto contrario al esperado: al ser insertadas, generaban primero un aumento brusco de potencia. “Ahí se produjo el descontrol total”, remarcó. Interior de la central nuclear de Chernóbil tras la explosión del reactor número 4. (Foto: Freepik)
Otro problema era la velocidad: las barras tardaban unos 20 segundos en entrar completamente al núcleo, mientras que en los reactores occidentales lo hacían en dos segundos o menos.
La combinación de estos factores provocó una subida de potencia incontrolable que terminó en dos explosiones y la destrucción total del reactor.
La ausencia de una barrera que agravó todo
Otro punto crítico fue la falta de un edificio de contención. A diferencia de los reactores occidentales, Chernobyl no tenía una estructura de hormigón armado y acero diseñada para contener explosiones internas o fugas radiactivas.
“Esto permitió la liberación masiva de radionúclidos como el yodo-131 y el cesio-137, que se dispersaron a gran distancia”, detalló Jinchuk. En la misma línea, Gadano fue más gráfico al describir la estructura del reactor: “Era algo parecido a un galpón”, lo que ayudó a que la explosión tuviera ese nivel de impacto y liberación radiactiva.

La explosión del reactor 4 en Chernobyl desató el peor desastre nuclear de la historia. (Foto: Freepik)
Sin esa barrera física, el accidente pasó de ser un problema industrial a una crisis ambiental y sanitaria internacional.
El secreto soviético también fue parte del desastre
Chernobyl expuso también las fallas del sistema de control soviético. “No existía un organismo regulador independiente. El mismo sistema operaba y se controlaba a sí mismo”, explicó Jinchuk a TN.
La opacidad, el autoritarismo y la imposibilidad de cuestionar órdenes agravaron la situación. “Hoy eso es imposible en cualquier sistema nuclear del mundo”, señaló Gadano.
Los operadores tampoco contaban con información completa sobre los riesgos del reactor. Durante horas, además, las autoridades minimizaron lo ocurrido, lo que retrasó la respuesta.
Cómo cambió el control nuclear después de 1986
Tras el desastre, la industria nuclear mundial cambió por completo. Se fortaleció el rol del Organismo Internacional de Energía Atómica (OIEA) y se creó la Asociación Mundial de Operadores Nucleares (WANO) para mejorar la cooperación y el intercambio de información.
El cambio fue profundo. “Hoy es inconcebible un accidente como el de Chernobyl”, afirmó Gadano. Se consolidó la lógica de defensa en profundidad, con múltiples barreras físicas, sistemas redundantes y protocolos para evitar que una sola falla derive en una tragedia.
También se incorporaron sistemas de seguridad pasiva, que funcionan sin intervención humana ni electricidad.
Leé también: A 36 años del accidente nuclear de Chernobyl: el drama que se vivió durante la explosión
Los reactores de generación III y III+ incorporan mejoras clave: coeficiente de reactividad negativo, edificios de contención robustos, sistemas de enfriamiento pasivo e instrumentación digital avanzada.
Además, ya existen diseños de cuarta generación y reactores modulares pequeños con estándares aún más altos de seguridad. “Un evento idéntico al de Chernobyl es altamente improbable”, aseguró Jinchuk. Vista general de la central nuclear de Chernóbil, en medio de la invasión de Rusia a Ucrania, en Pripyat. (Foto: Reuters)
Eso igualmente no significa que el riesgo desapareció. Hoy las principales amenazas están vinculadas a eventos externos extremos como terremotos, tsunamis o conflictos armados, como Fukushima en 2011 o Zaporiyia en la guerra de Ucrania.
También continúan siendo desafíos la gestión de residuos, la ciberseguridad y la proliferación nuclear.
“La seguridad es mucho mayor, pero requiere vigilancia constante”, concluyó Jinchuk.
Redacción: Lola Blasco
Sumario, energia nuclear, Chernobyl
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Bondi’s replacement saddled with Epstein baggage as he awaits grueling confirmation battle

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Former Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed that Todd Blanche, who at the time was second in command at the Justice Department, was put in charge of the release of the millions of documents from the Epstein files during her closed-door hearing before Congress late last month.
«As the head of a large department with broad responsibilities, I did not lead every aspect of this effort nor conduct that document review myself,» Bondi said during the hearing. «I delegated that oversight over this process to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.»
The House Oversight Committee released its transcript from Bondi’s May 29 hearing just a day after President Donald Trump announced he intended to nominate Blanche as his permanent attorney general nominee, potentially complicating Blanche’s confirmation as senators on both sides of the political aisle have heavily criticized the files’ rollout.
Blanche has been serving as Acting Attorney General since April 2, when Trump announced Bondi’s dismissal.
LAPSED EPSTEIN DEADLINE UNDERSCORES CHALLENGE OF REVIEWING TROVES OF FILES IN 30 DAYS
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche arrives to a House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building on June 2, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The release of the transcript, which placed responsibility for the Epstein files rollout squarely on Blanche’s shoulders, comes just days after Blanche announced during a hearing that the Justice Department will be eliminating its controversial Anti-Weaponization Fund, which was created to compensate alleged victims of politicized prosecution and labeled a «slush fund» for Trump and his supporters by critics. The Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files and the Anti-Weaponization Fund, both overseen by Blanche, has drawn concern from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
Bondi’s testimony revealed that Blanche had been her point man on the Epstein files and was tasked with briefing her on the release of the Epstein files.
The former attorney general found herself in hot water last July following a joint release by the Justice Department and FBI finding that there was no evidence that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who is alleged to have hundreds of underage victims, had kept a client list.
BONDI SAYS EPSTEIN CLIENT LIST ‘SITTING ON MY DESK RIGHT NOW’, AND IS REVIEWING JFK, MLK FILES

Then-U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Feb. 11, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
The joint statement, which Bondi said during May’s hearing was penned by Blanche and not her, comes after months of the Trump administration teasing the release of the Epstein files. In February 2025, Fox News’ John Roberts asked Bondi about the release of Epstein’s «client list,» which Bondi responded by saying that it was «sitting on her desk.» Bondi and the White House clarified after the fact that she was referring to the files as a whole and not Epstein’s «client list.»
Members of Congress asked Bondi why Blanche interviewed Epstein’s co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, who was in prison, weeks after the joint memo release. Bondi replied by saying Blanche «was leading the Epstein matter and the release of everything from the beginning.»
Once Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November 2025, Bondi stated Blanche oversaw the release of millions of documents, which entailed overseeing the redaction process, including its protocols and guidelines, determining which documents were privileged and making corrections to redactions.

Rep. Thomas Massie speaks alongside Reps. Ro Khanna and Marjorie Taylor Greene during a news conference on the Epstein Files Transparency Act outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 18, 2025. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)
DOJ’S EPSTEIN DISCLOSURE DRAWS FIRE FOR WEBSITE GLITCHES, MISSING DOCUMENTS, REDACTIONS
«He was in charge of the process and the entire release of the Epstein files,» Bondi said.
But the Justice Department faced scrutiny over failures to redact all identifiable information from some of Epstein’s victims, allegations that some redactions were heavy-handed and that some documents were completely missing, prompting a bipartisan group of senators to send a letter in March requesting that the Government Accountability Office lead an investigation into the Justice Department’s redaction process.
«Not only has DOJ withheld files, but those records that were disclosed are largely information that was already public,» the letter stated. «Even those records are so heavily redacted that there are serious questions as to whether the Department is properly applying the limited exceptions for redaction that are permitted under the Act. Moreover, several records appear to have been removed, without explanation, from the files the Department did release.»
SENATE REPUBLICAN DEMANDS STATE, FEDERAL COURTS ‘IMMEDIATELY UNSEAL ALL’ EPSTEIN DOCS
However, Bondi said during the hearing that she was not blaming Blanche and that the error rate for the redaction was 1%, which was what Blanche had told her.
«He managed this investigation — and it was a Herculean task — with very little error,» Bondi said during the hearing. «And Todd did an excellent job, in my opinion, and is doing an excellent job as our Attorney General.»
Following her closed-door testimony, Bondi pushed back on allegations from Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., that she is pushing the blame of the Epstein Files rollouts on Blanche.
«NOT TRUE,» Bondi posted on X. «I praised Acting AG Blanche’s management of this Herculean task. I said his ethics are beyond reproach and that he is an incredible Attorney General.»
A White House spokesperson said that Blanche was doing an «excellent job» and will continue to perform well.
«Todd Blanche is an American patriot who fearlessly fought on behalf of President Trump against the Democrats’ illegal and unprecedented lawfare campaign,» said Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman. «The President’s entire team at the Department of Justice is doing a great job advocating for sanity, law and order, and policies that keep Americans safe.»
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Blanche’s nomination is also expected to face scrutiny from Democrats who have questioned whether the former Trump defense attorney can serve as an independent attorney general. Last month, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., launched a Senate Judiciary Committee inquiry based on allegations that Blanche disregarded ethics guidance advising him to recuse himself from matters at the Justice Department involving Trump, who he previously served as a personal lawyer to.
Fox News Digital reached out to Senate Judiciary Committee leadership and the Justice Department for comment.
attorney general, jeffrey epstein, pam bondi, ghislaine maxwell, justice department, politics
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Elecciones en Perú: crece el temor de que un resultado apretado impida determinar el ganador y dispare un conflicto

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Trump expands TrumpRx prescription drug discount program to more than 800 medications

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President Donald Trump on Friday announced a major expansion of his administration’s initiative aimed at helping Americans access discounted prescription medications.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said the government-backed website TrumpRx.gov has added 160 prescription drugs, bringing the total number of discounted medications available through the program to more than 800.
«I am pleased to announce that TrumpRx.gov is adding another 160 Prescription Drugs, at highly discounted prices, for a new total of over 800 of the most commonly-used Prescription Drugs,» Trump wrote.
«TrumpRx.gov will now provide clear, transparent, and DISCOUNTED offerings for FOUR OUT OF FIVE of every prescription filled by Americans,» he added.
TRUMP ENDS BIDEN’S DRUG PRICE NIGHTMARE — AMERICANS GET REAL RELIEF WITH TRUMPRX
President Donald Trump announced an expansion of the TrumpRx program, which the administration says will provide discounted pricing on more than 800 prescription drugs. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)
Trump unveiled the initiative in February, arguing that Americans have long paid more for prescription drugs than consumers in many other countries.
The website was launched after the administration finalized agreements with 16 major pharmaceutical companies under so-called «most-favored-nation» pricing arrangements.
Under the agreements, participating drugmakers received tariff-related exemptions while agreeing to lower prices for certain medications and extend discounted pricing to eligible cash-paying consumers through TrumpRx, according to the administration.
MARK CUBAN SHOOTS DOWN PRESIDENTIAL BID AS HE TEAMS UP WITH TRUMP ADMIN TO CUT HEALTHCARE COSTS

Shelves with prescription drugs inside a pharmacy in Los Angeles, California, US, on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Companies including Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are participating in the program and have agreed to reduce prices on popular GLP-1 weight-loss medications.
Administration officials have also highlighted discounts on a range of other products, including inhalers, HIV treatments, diabetes medications and fertility drugs.
TrumpRx.gov allows users to search for discounted medications, view estimated savings and generate coupons for participating prescriptions.
SOARING MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES TARGETED IN TRUMP’S NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER

The Trump administration launched TrumpRx.gov, a website designed to direct patients to drugmakers’ websites. (Trump RX)
Trump said the initiative builds on efforts from his first term to reduce prescription drug costs.
«I was proud to make History during my First Term when we lowered Drug Prices, even if by a tiny percentage, because this amounted to a HUGE change compared to other presidents only raising Drug Prices, endlessly and significantly, every year,» Trump wrote.
«Then, during my Second Term, I decided to go BIG with Most Favored Nations Pricing — That is to say, we pay no more or, ideally, less than any other Country for the same exact Drug,» he continued. «Now we are cutting Prices, and cutting them by a LOT, sometimes by 400 or 500 or 600 Percent!»
HERE’S HOW TRUMP’S TARIFFS ON CHINA COULD IMPACT DRUG PRICING AND OTHER HEALTHCARE COSTS

President Donald Trump speaks about TrumpRx in the South Court Auditorium of the Old Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus in Washington on Feb. 5, 2026, as Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz listens. (AP Images)
Trump also claimed the program has generated significant savings for consumers.
«These Most Favored Nations Deals have already, in fact, saved American Patients over 400 Million Dollars since the launch of TrumpRx.gov,» he said.
The president further argued that tariffs played a key role in securing the pricing agreements.
«Of course, Most Favored Nations would not be possible without my use of TARIFFS, which are getting other Countries to ‘pay up’ instead of relying on American Patients getting ripped off, as they were for decades until I ordered an immediate ‘stop’ to this very unfair and, frankly, foolish situation,» Trump wrote.
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«This is all great news, and I have instructed my Administration to secure more Most Favored Nations Deals, more Partnerships, and Lower Prices for every American Patient,» he added.
Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey contributed to this report.
health care, administration, donald trump, drugs, medications
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