25% of global energy now supplied by nuclear power plants

Plus: Transatlantic partnership formed to build Starlab, the successor to ISS [Blueprint]( 💡 You might be surprised to learn nuclear reactors now generate 1 in 4 watts of global electricity. Led by new plants in the United Arab Emirates, China and elsewhere, nuclear hit a new milestone amid rising energy demand and grid instability. While the world waits for commercial fusion, next-generation reactors offer safe, emissions-free nuclear power. Jump to [today’s Must Read]( to learn how fission continues to light the path toward a clean energy future. Also today, we have help for anyone in the IT industry who feels like they're drowning in alphabet soup. You can't become an IT pro until you've mastered a litany of acronyms, abbreviations, and flashy buzzwords that commonly feature in discussions of modern technology. The [IT Acronyms Cheat Sheet]( will help IT practitioners sort through the reams of acronyms, portmanteaus, and other tricky terms they have to understand to do their jobs effectively. Good morning. I’m Tim, an Editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. What else is new today? VIDEO OF THE DAY [Is Nikola Tesla Overrated?]( How Gotland-Class Submarines transform NATO's approach to China and Russia The Gotland-class submarines have achieved a legendary status in the world of naval warfare due to their groundbreaking technological innovations. SUPPORT INTERESTING ENGINEERING Invest in science and engineering Insider access to exclusive content, featuring riveting stories that take you right to the heart of the action. Engage with our thriving online community, dive into captivating science discoveries, and stay informed with our enlightening weekly premium newsletters. With IE+, quality reporting is more than just news - and it is Ad-Free. [SUBSCRIBE]( Must Read New UAE nuclear reactor pushes global nuclear power contribution to 25% ⚛️ Nuclear power hit a new milestone, providing 25% of global electricity needs thanks to reactors like the United Arab Emirate’s Barakah plant. This underscores nuclear’s growing role in the ongoing transition away from fossil fuels. The World Nuclear Association (WNA) reports nuclear generation exceeded 2,500 terawatt-hours for the sixth consecutive year, amid rising demand. Outages in France and Germany caused a slight dip in Europe’s output, but new reactors in China, South Korea, and the UAE helped pick up slack. With the need to achieve climate goals becoming more urgent, the WNA advocates expanding nuclear power capacity, noting its reliability and lack of emissions. The Barakah plant highlights how next-generation reactors offer a realistic way to arrive at a future of clean energy. [Read More]( HOT TOPICS - 👀 [LK-99 superconductor: Chinese researchers demonstrate magnetic levitation as proof]( in a four-day process, the superconductor, known as LK-99, may hold transformative potential akin to transistors in the past. - ☄️ [Bronze Age iron weapon made from a meteorite found in Switzerland]( This iron artifact's extraterrestrial origin was determined by its peculiar element makeup. - ⬡ [Newly discovered giant viruses look like stars, turtles, and perfume bottles]( There are endless numbers of viruses in our environment but none of them look as bizarre and unique as these newly discovered virus-like particles. - ✨ [Intense light tests show a method used by cooks created life on Earth]( The UK’s synchrotron, which peers into atomic structures, reveals a striking “chemical fingerprint” similarity between a culinary reaction and global seabed sediments. - 🥩 [Cultivated meat may soon reach European plates]( Israel's Aleph Farms becomes the first cultivated meat company to submit safety info for approval in Europe. [Culture]( 💬 Meta to launch AI-powered chatbots with ‘personas’ in September The company has been developing an artificial conversation entity that mimics different personalities, including one that impersonates Abraham Lincoln and another that provides travel advice in the laid-back style of a surfer. [Read More]( [Science]( 🐳 This huge ancient whale may be the biggest animal ever discovered The 39 million-year-old fossil remains belonged to Perucetus colossus, a large prehistoric whale species from the middle Eocene epoch. The size and weight of its partially-fossilized skeleton, including 13 vertebrae, four ribs, and one hip bone, led to the conclusion that it was the heaviest ancient creature. Click below to see an artist’s impression of this immense sea beast. [Read More]( [Innovation]( 🛰 Starlab: New transatlantic partnership formed to build ISS successor American aerospace firm Voyager Space and Europe’s Airbus Defence and Space have joined forces to establish a transatlantic venture to build the next-generation, privately operated space station Starlab as a successor to NASA’s International Space Station. Previously, Interesting Engineering reported on Hilton’s involvement in designing [Starlab’s astronaut living facilities.]( [Read More]( QUESTION OF THE DAY Would you like to stay in an orbital space hotel? [Yes, it's a dream of mine]( [Yes, but out of my budget]( [No, they'll never exist]( [No, I prefer Earth]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS 66 percent of you need more evidence in support of LK-99’s room temperature and ambient pressure superconducting properties, but it’s too good to be true according to 13 percent. 66% Need more evidence 13% Too good to be true 12% Yes 9% No “Today marks a major step forward for the future of commercial space destinations. We are proud to have NASA’s trust to build the replacement for the ISS, a partnership that expands Starlab’s ecosystem to global space agencies, and a team that is mission driven and dedicated to reimagining the future.” Matthew Kuta, president of Voyager Space ENGINEER'S ARSENAL [Pneumatic Heavy Duty Twin Hammer]( [$129.95]( [WORKPRO Home Tool Kit]( [$116.99]( [TEXALAN Heavy Duty Guillotine Paper Cutter]( [$220.99]( [LIRUXVN Metal Geometry Set]( [$217.95]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Could a gene switch off anxiety?]( [premium] - [Taiwan simulates Chinese airport attack for defense]( - [New undersea cable tech is like 'a powerful telescope for earthquakes']( - [Meet Qibbot: World's fastest human-controlled fighting bot]( - [This electric-assisted quad cycle has a top speed of 28 mph]( - [San Francisco startup brews beer after recycling water from the showers]( - [Is deep sea mining worth it?]( [premium] - [Meet history's most famous short-sleepers]( [premium] - [Webb reveals unseen objects in galaxy cluster 'El Gordo']( - Einstein cross spotted: [Here's why we see it]( Need help with advertising? Reach 150,000 engineering and tech professionals. [Contact us](mailto:sales@interestingengineering.com?subject=Newsletter Sponsorship) what else? For the week’s top engineering stories, subscribe to [Vital Component]( For expert advice on engineering careers, subscribe to [Engineer Pros]( © Copyright 2023 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 530 Fifth Ave, 9th floor New York, NY 10036, USA All Rights Reserved You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage your e-mail preferences [here.]( Unsubscribe from our emails [here.]( See our full [privacy policy]( or [terms of conditions](.