Smart nuclear reactors: US lab harnesses AI to enhance efficiency

Plus: xAI launch Grok chatbot, biochip perfectly mimics human retina, new chip material 10 times stronger than Kevlar. Artificial intelligence could give nuclear power a new lease on life. American scientists have demonstrated how machine learning can prevent disasters and transform operations at advanced fission reactors. These AI systems act as smart monitoring tools to detect problems in real-time. They analyze data from sensors to identify issues like dangerous coolant leaks faster than humans can. This research paves the way for greater safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in next-generation atomic energy systems. With climate change accelerating, nuclear’s future may be smarter than many expected. Jump to today’s [Must Read]( to to learn more about how AI-enabled nuclear reactors could provide clean, reliable electricity for years to come. ⚡️ Also today, excitement around AI has soared since ChatGPT’s launch, but as today’s story illustrates, it’s just one facet of a much more fundamental change. In this [issue of Perspectives]( ThoughtWorks domain specialists explain how to shape strategies for a new age of AI. Good morning. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. What else will this week bring? VIDEO OF THE DAY [Is Nikola Tesla Overrated?]( Battling the Great Pacific Garbage Patch Discover how “Jenny,” the innovative fishnet barrier system, is combating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and accelerating ocean cleanup efforts. 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]( HOT TOPICS - 🪨 [Smithsonian shows off a piece of asteroid Bennu]( The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., unveiled the first display of a sample from Bennu. - 🏙 [An urban oasis: Seoul set to be home to award winning green skyscraper]( ODA Architecture’s Terrarium Cheong-Dam is set to become a reality and create a more meaningful urban environment. - 👨‍🚀 [NASA open to keeping ISS beyond 2030 if no viable replacements]( The ISS is a joint project of NASA and its Western partners have all agreed to operate the station until 2030. Russia, the other partner, has only committed to 2028. - 👩‍💻 [New field study finds AI will not put people out of work]( The technology will transform the employment sector but will likely leave few workers behind. - 🚀 [China’s youngest space crew blasts off to Tiangong station]( This is the sixth human-crewed mission to the Tiangong since it became fully functional last year. Must Read [☢️ US nuclear lab applies AI to improve reactor efficiency and safety]( Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have shown how machine learning (ML) can transform operations at advanced nuclear fission reactors. The team developed an AI model to continuously monitor a sodium-cooled fast reactor. This type of Generation IV reactor offers carbon-free electricity generation but maintaining the purity of its high-temperature liquid sodium coolant is a challenge. The AI model analyzes data from numerous sensors to detect anomalies in real-time. In testing, it identified an induced anomaly in just three minutes. The research demonstrates ML’s potential to significantly improve safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness for next-generation nuclear systems. The work was done using Argonne's one-of-a-kind Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop facility. The researchers plan to further develop the AI to reduce false alarms and detect real anomalies amid sensor noise. Click below to discover more about AI-powered nuclear reactors. [[Read More]( [Innovation]( [💠Microchip material 10 times stronger than Kevlar created]( Researchers developed an ultra-strong material called amorphous silicon carbide. With a yield strength 10 times higher than Kevlar, it could enable highly sensitive microchips and other applications requiring extreme resilience. Remarkably, this structure derives its unmatched durability from an irregular atomic pattern rather than rigid alignment. Learn more about the super-strong microchip material. [[Read More]( [Health]( [👁 Biochip mimics human retina to enable advanced implants]( Researchers created an intelligent biochip that recreates the retina’s visual information processing using organic electronics. This biocompatible chip should enable advanced retinal implants in the future because it will be better at interfacing with biological systems. Plus, its ion-based signaling also potentially allows applications in artificial neural networks. Learn more about the human-like biochip. [[Read More]( [Culture]( [❎ Elon Musk's xAI Unveils Grok AI Chatbot]( xAI, Elon Musk's AI startup, announced Grok — a witty, rebellious chatbot. Powered by the efficient Grok-1 language model, it can answer questions using real-time knowledge and perform various tasks. Still in an early beta version with limited access to users, Grok shows promise as a research assistant. xAI aims to develop AI that benefits humanity through innovations in reasoning, safety, and more. Click below to learn how to join the waitlist to try Grok for yourself. [[Read More]( QUESTION OF THE DAY Will you join the waitlist to try xAI’s “witty, rebellious” Grok chatbot? [I'm already on the list]( [I'll sign up soon]( [I don't use X, won't use xAI]( [I don't use AI chatbots]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS On Saturday, our poll asked about the most exciting aspect of China’s ambitious plan for robotics. Most of you are looking forward to the social impact these automata will have. 35% Social impacts of helpful humanoid robots 34% Robots that can think and innovate by 2027 23% Creation of a domestic robotics industry 8% Development of lifelike robots by 2025 “To grasp what this means, imagine trying to stretch a piece of duct tape until it breaks. Now if you’d want to simulate the tensile stress equivalent to 10 GPa, you'd need to hang about ten medium-sized cars end-to-end off that strip before it breaks.” Richard Norte, on the strength of the new chip material developed at Delft University of Technology THE ACCESSORY CORNER [DreamBee Car Charger]( [$56.99]( [COSLAKE Car Vacuum Cleaner]( [$69.99]( [Fyzeoty Car Organizer]( [$54.99]( [Weatherbeater Floor Liners]( [$89.99]( AND ANOTHER THING - [NASA delays lunar rover contract for future Artemis missions]( - [Apple’s M3 chips: the result of a $1 billion project]( - [US tests kamikaze drone-boats in the seas of the Middle East]( - [Colombia makes urgent plan to cull fearless Escobar cocaine hippos]( - [Butterflies’ ability to see UV light can help scientists detect cancer]( - [Energy efficient particle collider concept could revolutionize physics]( - [Into the unknown: How Sun dimming to save ice is both bold and risky]( [premium] - [WormGPT: Dark web’s new AI weapon for cyberattacks]( - [Salinization: a global environmental threat caused by human activities]( - [Scientists are creating an artificial airglow in the sky for four days]( - [A blood-hungry tick is invading Ohio leaving cows dead in its wake]( Need help with advertising? 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