⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #7

A curated selection of pro-progress and anti-progress news items from the week that was

Up Wing Things

⚡ The most advanced nuclear facility in the world is under construction in Kemmerer, Wyoming. TerraPower, a company initially founded by Bill Gates, has broken ground for a new nuclear power plant whose design boasts stronger safety measures with more consistent temperatures than any existing plant. Gates says that the NRC has accepted the construction permit application, and in the meantime, the company will continue to build the non-nuclear parts of the plant. He hopes to begin construction on the nuclear aspect in 2026.

Gates:

The design was far safer than any existing plant, with the temperatures held under control by the laws of physics instead of human operators who can make mistakes. It would have a shorter construction timeline and be cheaper to operate. And it would be reliable, providing dependable power throughout the day and night. As I looked at the plans for this new reactor, I saw how rethinking nuclear power could overcome the barriers that had hindered it—and revolutionize how we generate power in the U.S. and around the world. (GatesNotes)

⚕️ The effort to treat Alzheimer’s has made a step in the right direction. An FDA committee  met Monday to discuss donanemab, which has shown promising results in delaying the symptoms of dementia. The drug targets the protein amyloid, which, at abnormal levels, can disrupt cell function. Once amyloid is reduced, patients can experience another few months of clear thinking. The disease is still too complex to be cured by one drug, but the use of donanemab represents progress and is worth pursuing as a treatment. (WSJ Opinion)