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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Economist or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Big tech companies are helping to revive nuclear energy, recognizing its potential to provide the clean and stable power needed for growing AI and data demands
• Decades after disasters like Three Mile Island, nuclear power is gaining renewed attention as a reliable energy source for high-tech industries
🔭 The context: In 1979, a partial meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in the U.S. caused widespread fear and resistance to nuclear power
• Today, technological advancements and the urgent need for carbon-free energy are shifting the narrative, especially as AI's energy consumption skyrockets
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Nuclear energy offers a low-carbon, dependable power source crucial for meeting global climate goals while supporting the energy-intensive needs of digital technologies
⏭️ What's next: With growing investment from tech giants, nuclear energy could see a resurgence, though public perception and regulatory hurdles will need to be addressed to fully unlock its potential
💬 One quote: “Nuclear nightmare,” read a Time magazine headline in 1979, reflecting past fears that have long stalled nuclear’s development
📈 One stat: The Three Mile Island accident in 1979 resulted in the release of approximately 43,000 curies of radioactive krypton gas into the atmosphere, though no significant health effects were reported among the population
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