Links for 2022-03-24
“If we want to avoid possible looming stagflation, we must turn away from boomer clown policies and act now to increase the productive capacity of the economy.” https://www.city-journal.org/remove-barriers-to-productivity-to-stave-off-stagflation
"We argue that the European embargo on Russian oil and gas is the fastest way to end the war by stopping Putin’s ability to finance it. Any other policy option is more costly and dangerous. It is not just a humanitarian, but also an economic imperative for Europe." https://www.dropbox.com/s/wmptre3vkfkqysf/Guriev%20Itskhoki.pdf
The UK May Build a £16 Billion Solar Power Station in Space: “... which is then wirelessly transmitted to Earth through high-frequency radio waves. A ground antenna, called a rectenna, is used to convert the radio waves into electricity, which is then delivered to the power grid.” https://singularityhub.com/2022/03/18/a-solar-power-station-in-space-heres-how-it-would-work-and-its-potential-benefits/
Hanford “B” Reactor was built in a a little over a year during WWII https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanford_Site#Construction
In the 1990s/2000s it took Korea and Japan about 4-5 years, on average, to build new plants. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2016/10/123_215869.html
Christer Dahlgren, Manager at GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy is asked if he could build a reactor in 2 years time: "Why does it take more than a month (to demonstrate that a reactor is safe)?" His reply: "It doesn't, to an engineer, NRC committee are political electives" https://youtu.be/CotYXZplprE?t=3343
Fracking could help Europe generate plentiful, cheap gas, substantially reducing the continent's reliance on Russian imports. This would make Europe more independent, blow a hole into Putin's warchest, create huge economic benefits, and reduce emissions. https://financialpost.com/fp-finance/opinion-fracking-nuclear-and-research-are-europes-best-energy-bets
How Geothermal Plants Could Unlock Vast Supplies of Lithium in the American West https://singularityhub.com/2022/03/23/how-geothermal-plants-could-solve-americas-lithium-supply-crunch-boost-ev-battery-industry/
War in Ukraine pushes the case for decentralized wireless networks https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-03-13/mesh-networks-could-replace-ukraine-s-damaged-cell-service
FDA-Approved Drug May Help Revive Vision in People With Progressive Blinding Disorders https://scitechdaily.com/fda-approved-drug-may-help-revive-vision-in-people-with-progressive-blinding-disorders/
Omicron isn't a very worrisome virus, especially if you are vaccinated. But what happens if you catch it every year for the rest of your life?
Even mild virus diseases can cause bad side effects, such as myocarditis, or have long-term effects, such as multiple sclerosis. Some viruses, such as the Zika virus, can even cause birth defects.
The cumulative probability of eventually suffering a bad side effect is worrisome given Omicron's extreme contagiousness.
Suppose a longevity therapy would transform your body into a healthy and youthful state.
From today onwards, your body will not age anymore. You will not get cancer and your body will not suffer from cardiovascular or neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, you will be immune to any naturally occurring viruses, bacteria, or fungi.
Everything else stays the same. You can still die in a car crash. You will die when someone stabs you in the heart or shoots you in the head etc.
How many additional years do you expect to live?