DOE Selects Reactor Projects for New Demonstration Program
On Oct. 13, the Department of Energy announced awards of $80 million each for two nuclear reactor development projects, funding the first year of new cost-sharing partnerships that aim to demonstrate working prototypes. One of the recipients is TerraPower, a venture backed by Microsoft founder Bill Gates that is developing a reactor design known as Natrium, which uses molten salt as a coolant and aims to be more economical than traditional nuclear power plants. The other recipient is X-energy, which is developing a reactor called Xe-100 that is cooled by helium gas and fueled by TRISO (TRi-structural ISOtropic) fuel pellets that are designed to make meltdowns impossible and enable refueling without a plant shutdown. Congress created the demonstration program through last years appropriations legislation and, while the Trump administration has proposed discontinuing the awards, DOE anticipates it will spend a total of $3.2 billion on them over the next seven years if the funding is made available. The department also expects to make smaller awards in December to between two and five reactor development projects for reducing technical risks, and to at least two early-stage reactor concept development projects. Through its Project Pele, the Defense Department is also funding the development of three TRISO-based designs for mobile nuclear reactors, including one proposed by X-energy, and may eventually support one of the projects through to a prototype demonstration.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Oct. 17 that Chinese government representatives have privately warned U.S. officials that Americans in China may be detained in response to recent arrests of scientists with ties to Chinas military. This summer, the Department of Justice charged three visiting researchers and one graduate student with visa fraud, alleging they lied about their connections to the Chinese military on visa applications. It also charged a visiting researcher for destroying a hard drive, arguing the act interfered with an investigation into possible transfer of sensitive software to Chinas National University of Defense Technology. The department did not confirm the threats to the Journal, but stated, We are aware that the Chinese government has, in other instances, detained American, Canadian, and other individuals without legal basis to retaliate against lawful prosecutions and to exert pressure on their governments, with a callous disregard of the individuals involved. In 2018, China arrested two Canadian citizens shortly after Canada detained the chief financial officer of the telecommunications company Huawei, whom the U.S. had charged with evading sanctions against Iran.
The American Physical Society announced last week it has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the State Department seeking details on therecent revocation of more than 1,000 visas held by Chinese students and researchers. A May 2020 proclamation by President Trump empowered the department to cancel visas for certain Chinese graduate students and researchers deemed to have current or past ties to an unnamed set of institutions affiliated with the Chinese military. APS states that no administration officials they met with could or were willing to provide any details, such as: an example of a case of student espionage involving university basic research; the number of students the administration claims have engaged in or are charged with espionage; or, an estimate of the impact to the U.S. of the alleged espionage that would form the basis for the proclamation. The FOIA request seeks all internal policy documents related to the proclamation, the names of institutions it applies to, and the names of the U.S. institutions the visa holders were planning to attend, among other details. The request argues, Lacking any public explanation, the denial of visas will only contribute to the growing view that the United States is unwelcoming to foreigners and thereby diminish the ability of the United States to attract top talent, as the APS has seen in its annual survey of international students. (APS is an AIP Member Society.)
The White House published a National Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technologies last week that outlines general steps the U.S. is taking to bolster the National Security Innovation Base and protect technology advantage, such as fostering public-private partnerships and expanding export controls. The strategy also lists 20 broad types of critical and emerging technologies that are identified as priorities across the government. The list overlaps with the White Houses Industries of the Future framework and includes additional items such as energy technologies and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear mitigation technologies. In a statement on the strategy, the Commerce Department highlighted its implementation of multilateral export controls on certain emerging technologies pursuant to the Export Control Reform Act of 2018. The latest set, published this month, applies to hybrid additive manufacturing/computer numerically controlled tools; computational lithography software designed for the fabrication of extreme ultraviolet masks; technology for finishing wafers for five nanometer integrated circuit production; digital forensics tools that circumvent authentication or authorization controls on a computer and extract raw data; software for monitoring and analysis of communications and metadata acquired from a telecommunications service provider via a handover interface; and sub-orbital spacecraft.
On Oct. 15, the National Academies announced that its newly established National Science, Technology, and Security Roundtable will be led by MIT Vice President for Research Maria Zuber, former National Intelligence Council Chair John Gannon, and former Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair Richard Meserve. The roundtable will serve as a forum for representatives of the scientific community, federal science agencies, the intelligence community, and law enforcement officials to discuss concerns and activities related to securing research against exploitation by foreign governments. Congress mandated its creation through the Securing American Science and Technology Act, enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020. The National Academies has long played a role in advising the government on research security matters, such as through the 1982 Corson report and the 2009 report Beyond Fortress America.
In its quarterly tranche of recommendations released last week, the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence proposes a set of broad STEM workforce development initiatives as well as more targeted efforts in microelectronics, quantum computing, and biotechnology. Among its 66 recommendations are for Congress to provide the National Science Foundation with $8 billion over five years to fund 25,000 STEM undergraduate scholarships, 5,000 STEM graduate fellowships, and 500 postdoctoral positions. It also proposes creating a National Microelectronics Scholar Program modeled on the Department of Defenses SMART scholarship-for-service program. For quantum computing, the commission recommends providing researchers with access to quantum computers through a national cloud computing infrastructure and incentivizing domestic manufacturing of component materials through tax credits and loan guarantees. The commission also calls for the White House to create a Technology Competitiveness Council chaired by the vice president to focus government attention on technological innovation.
Among the 97 recommendations released last week by the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress is a proposal to reconstitute the long-defunct Office of Technology Assessment as a Congressional Technology and Innovation Lab. The committee explains the new entity would go beyond the mandate of the original OTA by proactively studying and testing new technologies rather than waiting for directives to study technologies. It adds that the lab would employ nonpartisan experts, visiting professors, and graduate students to provide fresh perspectives to members of Congress and their staff. In recent years, there has been a renewed push within Congress to revive OTA, though House appropriators backed away from the idea this year, instead favoring continued expansion of the Government Accountability Offices Science, Technology, Assessment, and Analytics team.
The United Kingdom-based scientific journal Nature officially endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Oct. 14.Having previously published a news article reviewing ways that President Trump has damaged science, the journal's editorsfurther evaluateTrumps record on issues connected to science and criticizes his divisive approach to politics more generally. TheyargueBiden would chart a starkly different course on matters such as the pandemic, climate change, environmental regulation, and immigration, and urge, Joe Biden must be given an opportunity to restore trust in truth, in evidence, in science and in other institutions of democracy, heal a divided nation, and begin the urgent task of rebuilding the United States reputation in the world. While some scientific publications have broken longstanding positions of neutrality to weigh in on this years election, Nature previously backed Hillary Clinton in 2016, when it referred to Trump as a demagogue not fit for high office, and in 2008 it issued a more measured endorsement of Barack Obama.
More than 1,000 current and former officers of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Epidemiology Intelligence Service fellowship programsigned a letter published this month that proteststhe ominous politicization and silencing of the agency. Representing more than a quarter of the people who have participated in the program throughout its nearly 70 year history, the letter adds to the mounting criticism of how the Trump administration has sought control over CDCs pandemic-response efforts. This past week, the Associated Press reported that in June the Trump administration assigned two appointees to the agencys headquarters tasked with keeping an eye on CDC Director Robert Redfield, according to a half-dozen CDC and administration officials. The assignment was made during the same period that the chief spokesperson and a science adviser at the agencys parent department sought to exert control over CDC messaging and scientific products. Both those individuals departed the department last month under a cloud of scandal.
During her nomination hearing last week to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Amy Coney Barrett declined to explain her personal views on climate change when pressed by Democratic senators. In one exchange, vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) asked Barrett if she believes smoking causes cancer and whether coronavirus is infectious before then asking if she believes climate change is occurring. Barrett agreed that the coronavirus is infectious and smoking causes cancer, but declined to provide a direct response on climate change, stating, I will not express a view on a matter of public policy, especially one that is politically controversial because thats inconsistent with the judicial role. Harris observed that Barretts appointment to the court could have implications for climate policy, noting Justice Ginsberg voted in favor of the landmark 5-to-4 Massachusetts v. EPA case, which enabled the government to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.
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The Week of October 19, 2020 - FYI: Science Policy News
- The Quantum Computer Revolution Is Closer Than You May Think - National Review [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2017]
- Time Crystals Could be the Key to the First Quantum Computer - TrendinTech [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2017]
- quantum computing - WIRED UK [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2017]
- Chinese scientists build world's first quantum computing machine - India Today [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2017]
- Here's How We Can Achieve Mass-Produced Quantum Computers - ScienceAlert [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2017]
- D-Wave partners with U of T to move quantum computing along - Financial Post [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2017]
- Team develops first blockchain that can't be hacked by quantum computer - Siliconrepublic.com [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2017]
- Telstra just wants a quantum computer to offer as-a-service - ZDNet [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2017]
- Research collaborative pursues advanced quantum computing - Phys.Org [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2017]
- Quantum Computing Market Forecast 2017-2022 | Market ... [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2017]
- Quantum Computing Is Real, and D-Wave Just Open ... - WIRED [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2017]
- FinDEVr London: Preparing for the Dark Side of Quantum Computing - GlobeNewswire (press release) [Last Updated On: June 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 9th, 2017]
- Purdue, Microsoft to Collaborate on Quantum Computer - Photonics.com [Last Updated On: June 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 9th, 2017]
- Scientists May Have Found a Way to Combat Quantum Computer Blockchain Hacking - Futurism [Last Updated On: June 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 9th, 2017]
- Microsoft and Purdue work on scalable topological quantum computer - Next Big Future [Last Updated On: June 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 12th, 2017]
- HYPRES Expands Efforts in Quantum Computing with Launch of European Subsidiary SeeQC - Business Wire (press release) [Last Updated On: June 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 12th, 2017]
- From the Abacus to Supercomputers to Quantum Computers - Duke Today [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2017]
- Accenture, Biogen, 1QBit Launch Quantum Computing App to ... - HIT Consultant [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2017]
- The US and China "Quantum Computing Arms Race" Will Change Long-Held Dynamics in Commerce, Intelligence ... - PR Newswire (press release) [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2017]
- Quantum Computing Technologies markets will reach $10.7 billion by 2024 - PR Newswire (press release) [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2017]
- A Hybrid of Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Is Spawning New Ventures - IEEE Spectrum [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2017]
- KPN CISO details Quantum computing attack dangers - Mobile World Live [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2017]
- Get ahead in quantum computing AND attract Goldman Sachs - eFinancialCareers [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2017]
- Accenture, 1QBit partner for drug discovery through quantum ... - ZDNet [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2017]
- Toward optical quantum computing - MIT News [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2017]
- Quantum computing, the machines of tomorrow | The Japan Times - The Japan Times [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2017]
- Its time to decide how quantum computing will help your ... [Last Updated On: June 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 18th, 2017]
- Israel Enters Quantum Computer Race, Placing Encryption at Ever-Greater Risk - Sputnik International [Last Updated On: June 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 20th, 2017]
- Prototype device enables photon-photon interactions at room ... - Phys.Org [Last Updated On: June 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 20th, 2017]
- Dow and 1QBit Announce Collaboration Agreement on Quantum Computing - Business Wire (press release) [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2017]
- Imperfect crystals may be perfect storage method for quantum computing - Digital Trends [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2017]
- Dow Chemical, 1QBit Ink Quantum Computing Development Deal - Zacks.com [Last Updated On: June 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 22nd, 2017]
- Google on track for quantum computer breakthrough by end of 2017 - New Scientist [Last Updated On: June 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 22nd, 2017]
- USC to lead project to build super-speedy quantum computers - USC News [Last Updated On: June 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 24th, 2017]
- The Quantum Computer Factory That's Taking on Google and IBM ... - WIRED [Last Updated On: June 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 24th, 2017]
- The weird science of quantum computing, communications and encryption - C4ISR & Networks [Last Updated On: June 27th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 27th, 2017]
- Multi-coloured photons in 100 dimensions may make quantum ... - Cosmos [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2017]
- Global Quantum Computing Market Growth at a CAGR of 35.12 ... - PR Newswire (press release) [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2017]
- Qudits: The Real Future of Quantum Computing? - IEEE Spectrum - IEEE Spectrum [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2017]
- New method could enable more stable and scalable quantum ... - Phys.Org [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2017]
- Quantum computers are about to get real | Science News - Science News Magazine [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2017]
- Quantum Computing - Scientific American [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2017]
- Australia's ambitious plan to win the quantum race - ZDNet [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2017]
- How quantum mechanics can change computing - The Conversation - The Conversation US [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2017]
- UNSW joins with government and business to keep quantum computing technology in Australia - The Australian Financial Review [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2017]
- UNSW launches Australia's first hardware quantum computing company with investments from federal and NSW ... - OpenGov Asia [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2017]
- Finns chill out quantum computers with qubit refrigerator to cut out errors - ZDNet [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2017]
- Hype and cash are muddying public understanding of quantum ... - The Conversation AU [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2017]
- IEEE Approves Standards Project for Quantum Computing ... - insideHPC [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2017]
- Silicon Quantum Computing launched to commercialise UNSW ... - ZDNet [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2017]
- The Era of Quantum Computing Is Here. Outlook: Cloudy ... [Last Updated On: January 30th, 2018] [Originally Added On: January 30th, 2018]
- The Era of Quantum Computing Is Here. Outlook: Cloudy | WIRED [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2018] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2018]
- Quantum computing in the NISQ era and beyond [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2018] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2018]
- What is quantum computing? - Definition from WhatIs.com [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2018] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2018]
- Quantum computers - WIRED UK [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2018] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2018]
- Is Quantum Computing an Existential Threat to Blockchain ... [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2018] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2018]
- What is Quantum Computing? Webopedia Definition [Last Updated On: March 25th, 2018] [Originally Added On: March 25th, 2018]
- Quantum Computing Explained - WIRED UK [Last Updated On: April 15th, 2018] [Originally Added On: April 15th, 2018]
- Quantum computing: A simple introduction - Explain that Stuff [Last Updated On: June 2nd, 2018] [Originally Added On: June 2nd, 2018]
- What are quantum computers and how do they work? WIRED ... [Last Updated On: June 22nd, 2018] [Originally Added On: June 22nd, 2018]
- How Quantum Computers Work [Last Updated On: July 22nd, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 22nd, 2018]
- The reality of quantum computing could be just three years ... [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2018] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2018]
- The 3 Types of Quantum Computers and Their Applications [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2018] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2018]
- Quantum Computing - VLAB [Last Updated On: January 27th, 2019] [Originally Added On: January 27th, 2019]
- Quantum Computing | Centre for Quantum Computation and ... [Last Updated On: January 27th, 2019] [Originally Added On: January 27th, 2019]
- Microsofts quantum computing network takes a giant leap ... [Last Updated On: March 7th, 2019] [Originally Added On: March 7th, 2019]
- IBM hits quantum computing milestone, may see 'Quantum ... [Last Updated On: March 7th, 2019] [Originally Added On: March 7th, 2019]
- Quantum technology - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: March 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: March 13th, 2019]
- Quantum Computing | D-Wave Systems [Last Updated On: April 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 18th, 2019]
- Microsoft will open-source parts of Q#, the programming ... [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2019] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2019]
- What Is Quantum Computing? The Complete WIRED Guide | WIRED [Last Updated On: May 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: May 8th, 2019]
- The five pillars of Edge Computing -- and what is Edge computing anyway? - Information Age [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2019]
- Moore's Law Is Dying. This Brain-Inspired Analogue Chip Is a Glimpse of What's Next - Singularity Hub [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2019]
- Experts Gather at Fermilab for International Workshop on Cryogenic Electronics for Quantum Systems - Quantaneo, the Quantum Computing Source [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2019]
- Princeton announces initiative to propel innovations in quantum science and technology - Princeton University [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2019]
- Detecting Environmental 'Noise' That Can Damage The Quantum State of Qubits - In Compliance [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2019]
- Quantum Computing beginning talks with clients on its quantum asset allocation application - Proactive Investors USA & Canada [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2019]
- What is quantum computing? The next era of computational evolution, explained - Digital Trends [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2019]
- IT sees the Emergence of Quantum Computing as a Looming Threat to Keeping Valuable Information Confidential - Quantaneo, the Quantum Computing Source [Last Updated On: October 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 23rd, 2019]
- More wrong answers get quantum computers to find the right one - Futurity: Research News [Last Updated On: October 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 23rd, 2019]