> Absolutely. We had safer designs decades ago (and even better ideas[2] today), but upgrading to these safer designs has been hindered at every step by radiophobic activists and "not in my backyard" politics. So we're stuck with minor revisions (if any) to reactors designs from the 50s-70s.
There are still countries investing in nuclear energy, like China, and I suppose these new reactors are made to the latest norms of safety.
> I suppose these new reactors are made to the latest norms of safety
They are, the Chinese are buying reactors like the AP1000 which is quite possibly the safest production-level certified reactor ever designed by humanity (and no I'm not a Westinghouse employee, I've just had a nuke "interest" for about thirty years).
Its almost comical in some sad ways... I've read reasonable predictions that in a decade the entire Chinese national "fleet" will have a total aggregate incident rate for an entire country below some individual antique American reactors. Absolutely tragic.
There are still countries investing in nuclear energy, like China, and I suppose these new reactors are made to the latest norms of safety.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_China