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Study on Robotic Elderly Care, Canada's Future in the Second Nuclear Revolution, and Pentagon Invests in Domestic Semiconductor Manufacturing [11-14-2024]

Canada's Potential As a Global Uranium Supplier and the Implications of Nuclear Energy Expansion

Canada is poised to become a significant player in the global uranium market, with the potential to surpass China and Russia as the leading uranium supplier. The Athabasca Basin in Canada is rich in high-grade uranium, and the country has the capability to extract and enrich uranium from its own mines, positioning itself as a one-stop supplier. As the demand for clean energy rises and countries look to invest in nuclear energy to meet their net-zero emission goals, Canada's expertise in nuclear fuel supply could prove crucial. However, while nuclear fission technology presents a scalable and cost-effective solution for low-carbon energy, there are lingering concerns related to the operational risks of nuclear power plants and the economic viability of nuclear projects.

Source: https://interestingengineering.com/energy/uranium-nuclear-fuel-supply-canada


Pentagon Invests $160 Million to Boost Semiconductor Manufacturing

The Department of Defense announced another investment of 160 million from the Biden administration’s CHIPS and Science Act into the Microelectronics Commons, a network of technology hubs meant to spur domestic semiconductor development. The funding will primarily go towards building infrastructure, supporting operations, accelerating workforce development, and enabling the hubs to share access to critical electronic design services and cloud computing tools. This investment reflects the strategic priority of advancing domestic semiconductor manufacturing to strengthen America's military systems and reduce reliance on foreign sources.

Source: https://breakingdefense.com/2024/11/pentagon-invests-another-160-million-from-chips-act-to-boost-semiconductor-manufacturing/


Men more willing than women to accept robot care in old age, Oxford study finds

A new study from the University of Oxford and University of Melbourne reveals that men are much more likely to support the idea of being cared for in their homes by a robot when they are infirm or elderly, than women. The study draws on data from 28 European countries. It finds that individuals differ substantially in their comfort with using technology to fulfill their care needs, with local context and personal factors shaping attitudes towards being cared for by robots. The research emphasizes the need for policymakers to evaluate the opportunity costs of any adult care technologies against human care provision, stressing that technology should not be an inevitability, and any investment into technological solutions needs to be evaluated against investing in support for paid or unpaid carers.

Source: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2024-11-14-men-more-willing-women-accept-robot-care-old-age-oxford-study-finds


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