Fusion energy can potentially meet all of our energy needs. It’s just a simple matter to make the process work sustainably. We’re still talking about seconds of production, but the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) device recently set a world record by maintaining the plasma at a superhigh 180 million degrees Fahren for 20 seconds – almost double the time of the second best attempt so far.
The ultimate goal of KSTAR is to run five minutes uninterrupted at this temperature by 2025, which will be another important step in making fusion reactors scientific, not science fiction. Today we also have Tesla updates, iCloud woes and more scientific breakthroughs.
-Mat Smith
This could lead to net emissions for air travel.
Nominated for the most unlikely science headline this year, Oxford University scientists have successfully turned CO2 into jet fuel. The technique effectively reverses the process of burning fuel. The team heated a mixture of citric acid, hydrogen and an iron-manganese-potassium catalyst to convert CO2 into a liquid fuel capable of propelling aircraft.
The approach is inexpensive, uncomplicated and uses everyday materials. In fact, it is cheaper than processes used to convert hydrogen and water into fuel. However, the investigations speak to industrial partners and see no major scientific barriers. With this conversion process, airlines can maintain their existing aircraft and remain carbon neutral until they are ready for environmentally friendly propulsion. It’s like a hybrid energy plane, but it does.
Read on.
Outside, however, is completely valid.
BuzzFeed News reports that Bumble took photos of artist Cali Rockowitz wearing a bralette due to a policy that bans swimwear and lingerie photos when inside. Apparently a bikini top or a shirtless look is fine as long as the shots are taken outside. And no, apparently you can not edit the photos to expire an outside shot.
A spokesman said BuzzFeed the policy came into effect in 2016 after both complaints from users and research. Shirtless bathroom selfies were the ‘most skipped’. Users have pointed out the contradiction – men post indoor selfies, so why can women with bras and swimsuits not? Bumble has not yet fully clarified its policy.
Read on.
That annoying holiday activation.
You’re not alone if you’ve had trouble getting your newly gifted iPad or Apple Watch up and running over the weekend – or you’ve set up to help a family member. On Christmas Day, Apple warned about issues with the iCloud account and sign-in. The company did not say much in the warning, but he told one Twitter user that ‘high capacity“Create problems.
Apple managed to master the issue at 26:35 Eastern on December 26, or just under 36 hours after it started.
Read on.
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