"Pragmatic optimism" is a good way to put it. I feel the same way about fusion power; for the first time in my life, it seems like the skepticism is starting to take a back seat. That's exciting!
I have no idea if we'll have room temp superconductors or boundless free energy in my lifetime, but after a few cynical decades, things are really beginning to look truly optimistic.
I'm new to the superconductor fan club too, but the rising popularity and importance of hardware/materials innovations feels like more than just a one-time thing! Ex: semiconductors, EV batteries, AR/VR hardware constraints... loving it.
Absolutely love this newsletter, would love to see more of this instead of the thousands of AI gimmick newsletters. Would you be able to share a list of some twitter users / newsletters that you read often?
The US can't make enough shells to supply Ukraine with even 1/3rd of Russia's artillery usage. There was exactly 1 gunpowder plant supplying the entire US military - and it blew up. Ditto bullets (burned down). There are 5 plants making artillery shells but they collectively constitute a single outfit because all 5 are making parts of each shell produced - and the US has ramped from 18000 to 30000 shells per month vs. Ukraine consuming 5K-6K per day vs. Russia's 20K per day. US warships cannot collectively fully load out on anti-ship missiles. Stinger production has been ended pretty much since 2002 - they're calling back 70 year olds to restart the production line.
So wiz-bang software is lovely, but it seems more basic block and tackling work is needed.
As for superconductors: there seems to be a massive retraction effort going on over the Rochester "superconductor". Another one of those situations where a real room temperature superconductor would be awesome but the most likely outcome is another perpetual motion scam.
"Pragmatic optimism" is a good way to put it. I feel the same way about fusion power; for the first time in my life, it seems like the skepticism is starting to take a back seat. That's exciting!
I have no idea if we'll have room temp superconductors or boundless free energy in my lifetime, but after a few cynical decades, things are really beginning to look truly optimistic.
Great one!!!
I love this weekly email. It’s the only article I ALWAYS read.
Any thoughts on a podcast version(s). Maybe a recap like this email or a deep dive on one or two optimistic stories?
This is the best ever. Really great to keep up with what is going on in this world today and the new world tomorrow.
Thank you
I'm new to the superconductor fan club too, but the rising popularity and importance of hardware/materials innovations feels like more than just a one-time thing! Ex: semiconductors, EV batteries, AR/VR hardware constraints... loving it.
Absolutely love this newsletter, would love to see more of this instead of the thousands of AI gimmick newsletters. Would you be able to share a list of some twitter users / newsletters that you read often?
Re: Anduril
The US can't make enough shells to supply Ukraine with even 1/3rd of Russia's artillery usage. There was exactly 1 gunpowder plant supplying the entire US military - and it blew up. Ditto bullets (burned down). There are 5 plants making artillery shells but they collectively constitute a single outfit because all 5 are making parts of each shell produced - and the US has ramped from 18000 to 30000 shells per month vs. Ukraine consuming 5K-6K per day vs. Russia's 20K per day. US warships cannot collectively fully load out on anti-ship missiles. Stinger production has been ended pretty much since 2002 - they're calling back 70 year olds to restart the production line.
So wiz-bang software is lovely, but it seems more basic block and tackling work is needed.
As for superconductors: there seems to be a massive retraction effort going on over the Rochester "superconductor". Another one of those situations where a real room temperature superconductor would be awesome but the most likely outcome is another perpetual motion scam.