☢️ US' TikTok ban, world's 1st commercial nuclear fusion power plant, top 7 EV tech stories of 2024

The Supreme Court announced on Wednesday that it will hear TikTok’s challenge against a law banning the platform’s domestic operations due to national security concerns.

The case is scheduled for oral arguments on January 10.

This development follows TikTok’s emergency appeal to the Supreme Court on Monday, seeking a delay in implementing a law that would prohibit the app nationwide unless it divests from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. Delve deeper into our Must-Read.

🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on jobs.interestingengineering.com:

> Systems Security Engineer
> Data Engineer/ Data Analyst

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MUST-READ

🤳🏽 TikTok ban debate heads to US Supreme Court, oral arguments set for Jan 10

US President Joe Biden signed a bill in April that included a ban on the country’s popular social media platform TikTok. The signature comes after the US Senate approved the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act with a 79-18 majority on April 23.

In its emergency application, TikTok stated, “Fear-mongering about national security cannot obscure the threat that the Act itself poses to all Americans.” Lawmakers passed this law in April as part of a comprehensive foreign aid package, citing worries over ByteDance’s connections to the Chinese government.

The law demands that any app with ties to a designated foreign adversary must sever those connections or face penalties, including a potential ban in the US.

🚘 Top 7 must-read EV stories of 2024 — Interesting Engineering

The year 2024 marked significant advancements in electric vehicle (EV) technology, driven by innovations in battery development, charging infrastructure, and integration with renewable energy.

Solid-state batteries took a major leap forward, with several automakers announcing prototypes and pilot production facilities. These batteries promise higher energy density, faster charging times, and improved safety compared to traditional lithium-ion cells.

Companies like Toyota and QuantumScape unveiled solid-state battery-powered EV models with ranges exceeding 600 miles on a single charge, setting a new standard for the industry.

⚡️ US: World’s 1st commercial 400MW nuclear fusion plant to power 150,000 homes

Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), a fusion energy startup spun out of MIT, has announced that it will build the world’s first grid-scale commercial fusion power plant at the James River Industrial Park in Chesterfield County, Virginia.

The plant, known as ARC, is expected to be operational in the early 2030s, potentially revolutionizing the energy landscape.

“This is a historic moment. In the early 2030s, all eyes will be on the Richmond region and more specifically Chesterfield County, Virginia, as the birthplace of commercial fusion energy,” said Bob Mumgaard, CEO and co-founder of CFS.

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