Humanities’ biological threat; nuclear renaissance in Michigan; Libyan political turmoil and oil; election roundup; China's semiconductor export controls spike prices
Ad Astra Podcast
August 27 2024
Good morning citizens of America. This is the Ad Astra Citizen Journal, daily brief for August 27, 2024 AD. I'm here to bring you the latest news headlines from around the world. Let's dive into today's top stories. In today's pod, we're tracking humanity's ongoing battle against biological threats, the revival of nuclear power in Michigan, the impact of Libyan political turmoil on global oil prices, a roundup of key election developments, and China's grip on the global semiconductor supply chain. Humanities biological threat. At the end of the last decade, COVID-19 put the entire world to the test. It became a global adversary, probing our defenses against new pathogens, and unfortunately, the world fell short. COVID-19 spread to every corner of the Earth, from the most isolated tribes to the most advanced societies. Despite the draconian lockdowns and the rapid development of vaccines, the virus continued to spread, leaving nearly three quarters of Americans infected by the end of 2022. This failure is a stark reminder of the growing number of biological threats we face, some emerging from nature, like avian flu, and others potentially from scientific advances. With the rise of artificial intelligence, it's now easier than ever to engineer deadly pathogens. Should one of these synthetic viruses escape a lab, the consequences could be catastrophic, potentially surpassing the devastation of the Black Death. The need to protect against these threats is as urgent as addressing nuclear weapons or climate change. Moving on to Michigan, where we're witnessing a nuclear renaissance. Just two years after being decommissioned, the Palisades nuclear power plant is set to power up again. This historic decision comes as a response to the soaring demand for electricity, driven by AI server farms, and the growing emphasis on green energy. With nearly $2 billion in state and federal funding, Palisades will become the first decommissioned nuclear plant to be put back into operation. As the demand for clean and reliable energy grows, nuclear power is making a comeback. Strictor emissions, laws, and financial support for green energy are tipping the balance in favor of nuclear. Last year, new reactors were fired up in Georgia, and Bill Gates has broken ground on a next-gen nuclear plant in Wyoming. The nuclear energy sector is poised for significant growth in the years ahead. In global news, Libyan political turmoil has sent ripples through the oil market. On Monday, oil prices saw a 3% jump following reports of a shutdown in Libyan production due to political conflicts between the country's two governments. Brent crude futures settled at $81.43 a barrel, marking the highest price in almost two weeks. However, this increase is modest compared to historical events, thanks to a more resilient global oil market. For instance, the 1973 Yom Kipper War saw oil prices soar by 458 percent, adjusted to 2023 values, and the 1979 Iranian revolution led to a 354 percent increase. The rise of U.S. shale production has provided a stable supply base, reducing the world's reliance on Middle Eastern oil and helping to cushion global prices against geopolitical shocks. Next up, our election roundup. The 2024 presidential race continues to heat up with major developments over the weekend. On the issue of abortion, Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance stated that he expects Donald Trump would veto a federal abortion ban if it reached his desk, a position that has stirred disappointment among some anti-abortion advocates. Meanwhile, former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard made headlines by formally endorsing Donald Trump, praising his experience as commander-in-chief. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has come forward, criticizing the Biden administration for pressuring Facebook to censor COVID-related content in 2021. Zuckerberg vowed to reject any future governmental attempts to influence the platform's content moderation and signal to shift away from his earlier involvement in state election efforts. Lastly, China's export controls on semiconductor raw materials are sending shockwaves through the global supply chain. Beijing's restrictions on germanium and gallium exports have led to nearly double the prices of these crucial minerals in Europe over the past year. These materials are vital for semiconductor applications and military hardware, and China's dominance in their production is causing significant concern in the West. The export curves highlight the geopolitical tension between China and the U.S., as Beijing responds to American-led controls on advanced chip sales. With China producing the vast majority of the world's supply of these critical materials, the global tech industry faces an uncertain future. On this day in 1883, the volcano Krakatoa erupted one of the most powerful volcanic events in recorded history. The eruption caused massive tsunamis, claimed 36,000 lives, affected global weather patterns for years, and is believed to have produced the loudest sound in human history. It serves as a reminder of nature's immense power and the long-lasting impact of such events. That's all for today's brief. Join us again tomorrow for more news and updates. This show is produced by Greg Loving, wishing you a great day ahead. Please follow and rate us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other listeners find it. Stay informed and add astrophorous. [Music] [BLANK_AUDIO]