Nuclear fusion

• Is it helpful in guiding scientists towards the discoveries that will advance our understanding to the next level?
• After all, good science relies on asking good questions.
• Arguably, the question “What is the theory of everything?” reminds us that good science doesn’t have to start with the best questions.
• We take turns, and the more we play, the quicker we seem to figure out which card has been chosen.
• The same is true of asking “What is the theory of everything?”: the goodness of a scientific question is not immutable.

Why a ‘theory of everything’?

• The model, which is written in a mathematical language called quantum field theory, describes how elementary particles move around and interact with one another.
• It explains why fundamental particles known as the W and Z bosons, which transmit the weak force, acquire a mass.
• The Higgs mechanism also explains why, at higher energies, these two forces start to behave as a single “electroweak” force.
• Now, if electromagnetism and the weak force combine in this way, why not all the forces in the Standard Model?
• The “theory” refers to the existence of some common mathematical framework that describes all of the “everything”.

Better questions

• They were motivated by better questions about what a theory of all the fundamental forces needs to explain and what it might look like, questions like: Why is there a huge discrepancy between the energy scales of the Standard Model and quantum gravity?
• Instead, these new questions have been reached by building on what has been learnt from developing and studying possible “Theories of Everything”, like string theory.
• And these new questions are good questions.
• The exciting thing is that they still may not be the best questions, and having them to guide us doesn’t necessarily mean that we know where we will end up.

• Also following on their Seed round investment are Congruent Ventures, Grantham Foundation and Clear Path.
• Avalanche Energy has been designing, building and testing micro-fusion reactors that are small enough to fit on a desk since 2021.
• This new round of funding will allow us to scale up to run more tests at a faster pace that will ultimately enable us to deliver energy producing micro-fusion reactors."
• In May 2022 , the Defense Innovation Unit awarded a prototype contract to Avalanche Energy to demonstrate the next generation of nuclear propulsion and power generation for spacecraft.

• MarketVector Indexes™ (“MarketVector”) announces the licensing of the MarketVector™ Global Uranium and Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Index (ticker: MVNUCL) to underlie the VanEck Uranium and Nuclear Technologies UCITS ETF.
• The index includes companies that generate at least 50% of their revenue from uranium which consists of uranium mining or mining projects; or nuclear energy infrastructure, including projects related to the development and commercialization of nuclear fusion technology or molten salt nuclear reactor research.
• It may also include construction, engineering and maintenance of nuclear power facilities and nuclear reactors, equipment and technology; or services to the nuclear power industry.
• This index also comprises exchange-listed funds that track the spot price of uranium and investments in physical uranium.

• SCHOTT , the international technology group with a long-standing tradition of inventing specialty glass, has appointed Chris Cassidy as President of SCHOTT North America in addition to his role as President of SCHOTT Pharma USA.
• View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230105005807/en/
  Chris Cassidy, President of SCHOTT North America (Photo: Business Wire)
  Cassidy brings more than 30 years of experience to his new role.
• He first joined SCHOTT North America in 2014 as Vice President of the business unit Pharmaceutical Systems.
• With Chris as our new North America President, SCHOTT has an opportunity to drive long-term growth in this key region,” said Dr. Heinz Kaiser, Member of the SCHOTT Management Board.