"But the new year is also a chance to look back at recent turmoil and instability in federally funded scientific research, the wholesale dismissal of evidence in policymaking, andin spite of these thingsthe perseverance of people working in the scientific enterprise. We celebrate the fact-checkers in the field of knowledge and you, our readers, who continue to trust us to bring you what's real, what's factual and what's amazing in our world."
"This drive results largely from the energy requirements of the artificial-intelligence boom. Demand for nuclear power has largely been flat in this century, eclipsed by interest in wind, solar and natural gas. Moves in Congressnotably, a 2024 law streamlining reactor licensingand actions by both the Biden and Trump administrations to push exports and arrange financing aim to reverse the trend. Advanced technology demonstrations supported by the U.S. Department of Energy may start to come to fruition."
The U.S. is preparing a renewed push to expand nuclear power in 2026, driven largely by projected energy demands from artificial-intelligence growth. Nuclear generation has been largely flat this century, trailing wind, solar and natural gas. A 2024 law that streamlines reactor licensing, along with executive actions to promote exports and financing, aims to accelerate deployment. Department of Energy support could bring advanced reactor demonstrations into operation. Loosened export regulations and technology favoritism create unresolved questions about reactor safety, long-term nuclear-waste disposal, and the risks of nuclear proliferation amid uncertain AI-driven demand projections.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]