The high cost of building nuclear power plants has long been a discussion point among experts, but a recent podcast featuring Jigar Shah, head of the Department of Energy (DOE) loans program, suggests a possible solution. Shah believes that creating a basic design that can be copied where appropriate may help to reduce costs by leveraging economies of scale. France has already adopted this method with its 56 reactors, which are all based on three basic designs. This approach allowed for quick design, testing, and construction of the plants, bringing 56 reactors online in 15 years. In contrast, the US has struggled to build and commission even a single reactor in the same timeframe. The French experience shows that mass production can significantly reduce costs.

Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian has been praised by readers and critics alike as an important work of literature due to its themes of morality, determinism, causality and the exploration of violence. While the novel may be complex and hard to understand at first, it is full of meaning that can be unpacked upon further analysis. The epilogue in particular has been a subject for debate amongst readers as it speaks to manifest destiny and the banality of evil.

In the ever-crowded world of online content aggregation, it takes more than just a good idea to stand out. That’s the message being given to the creator of Non.io, a new platform that aims to unseat Reddit as the go-to spot for user-generated content. While the hard work is applauded, the platform lacks a “hook” that would make it exceptional, according to one commentator. Without this, and with an upfront subscription model, the platform is likely to be “dead in the water,” they warn.

The Pros and Cons of Forcing Mobile Users into Mobile Apps Forcing mobile browser users into mobile apps might seem like a good idea, but is it really the best way to gain traction for companies? While some may argue that it is, others believe that it is a flawed strategy that could actually harm the company in question. Those in favor of mobile apps argue that they offer marketing benefits, such as displaying the company’s logo on the user’s home screen. Additionally, they believe that mobile apps provide better push notifications and offer features that are not available on the web, such as the ability to use the accelerometer. However, critics point out that users who have already been attracted to the web experience may prefer to stay there, rather than being forced into a “walled garden” where the app store takes a chunk of the company’s revenue and may dictate the app’s styling.

The world of hard drive technology is constantly evolving, with newer advancements promising to improve storage capacities and performance. One such technology that has been making waves of late is Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR), which promises to increase hard drive storage capacities by as much as 10 times. However, as with any new technology, there are concerns about how to effectively use HAMR drives in storage pools and backup applications without running into issues. One journalist wrote about their own experience, saying they had not been able to learn about HAMR’s pros and cons in real-world use yet. They expressed concerns about the lack of information available on file systems and cache setups required to take full advantage of HAMR drives.