A Nuclear Power Plant in Your Backyard & Other Tech Breakthroughs

Each week my team and I review dozens of science and tech advancements that are transforming the world...

Below, I’m sharing my top 4 breakthroughs in tech, science, and longevity that are currently on my mind—"what they are” and “why they're important.”

My goal is to offer you an antidote to all the pessimistic news you’re bombarded with every day. 

If you find this valuable, please share it with your family and friends! Remember that we are living during the most extraordinary time ever.

A Micro Nuclear Power Plant in Your Backyard

What It Is: China has demonstrated the first full-scale meltdown-proof reactor, revolutionizing nuclear safety. While modern reactors are safer, meltdown risks persist when cooling systems fail. Now, researchers at Tsinghua University have proven a game-changing design: the 200-megawatt HTR-PM. This reactor uses "pebble" fuel instead of rods, allowing passive cooling. In a groundbreaking test, they cut power to a live plant—and it cooled naturally in 35 hours! This "inherently safe" design could transform the nuclear industry, providing clean energy without meltdown fears.

Why It Matters: AI is power-hungry. It’s predicted that AI will require 100% of the U.S. energy production by 2030. While China has been rapidly scaling its energy production (see chart below), the U.S. energy output has been flat. China's meltdown-proof nuclear reactor marks a pivotal moment for clean energy and is likely the approach the U.S. will need to meet both its AI objectives as well as its climate goals. This breakthrough directly addresses our greatest nuclear concern, clearing the path for safer, more widespread adoption. It exemplifies how technology can overcome our most daunting challenges and create abundance. This is ultimately the type of energy power plant I’m happy to have in my backyard.

Meta's Llama 3.1: A Giant Leap in Open-Source AI

What It Is: This week Meta released Llama 3.1, its newest 405 billion parameter *open-source model*. Of particular note, Llama 3.1 is outperforming OpenAI’s GPT-4o model and Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Sonnet model on several benchmarks. Llama 3.1 is also multilingual having been trained on Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Thai, French and Hindi. It has a longer context window of 128,000 tokens and is able to generate high-quality synthetic data for training other language models. CEO Mark Zuckerberg predicts Meta AI will surpass ChatGPT in usage by year-end.

Why It Matters: This demonstrates that the race between “closed LLMs” like GPT-4 and Gemini versus “open-source LLMs” like Llama 3.1 and Grok is heating up. Outperforming proprietary models while being freely accessible, it's set to accelerate global AI innovation. This 405 billion parameter powerhouse democratizes cutting-edge tech, enabling developers worldwide to build transformative solutions. Zuckerberg argues that open-source AI models, improving faster than proprietary ones, will dominate the field—much like Linux in operating systems. This shift could mark an inflection point where developers primarily use open-source AI. Llama 3.1's release signifies a major step towards democratizing AI technology, potentially accelerating innovation and accessibility in the field.

SearchGPT: OpenAI's Bold Move into AI-Powered Search

What It Is: OpenAI's SearchGPT is a new, perhaps more powerful approach to “Googling” something. The prototype aims to use generative AI to provide conversational answers and curated links. While exact numbers are undisclosed, this move signifies OpenAI's expansion beyond chatbots, directly challenging Google's search dominance. As AI reshapes the search landscape, SearchGPT could redefine how we interact with information, promising faster, more intuitive results for users and new opportunities for content creators.

Why It Matters: Wow! The OpenAI-MSFT vs. Google war is heating up. OpenAI's SearchGPT could revolutionize how we access information, making it faster and more intuitive. By leveraging publisher partnerships and advanced AI, OpenAI is poised to challenge Google's dominance. Have no doubt that Google will respond with its own answer to SearchGPT. It is unlikely that Google’s hegemony will be easily displaced. The bottom line is that the way we (the users) will access knowledge and information is accelerating. Exciting times ahead!

25% Lifespan Extension Treatment

What It Is: Groundbreaking research reveals a new anti-aging therapy that increased mice lifespans by 25%. Blocking the inflammation-promoting protein IL-11 in middle age boosted metabolism, reduced muscle wasting and frailty, and lowered cancer risks. The therapy not only extended life but also improved healthspan. IL-11 blockers, already in clinical trials for cancer and tissue scarring, show promise for future use in elderly humans. This exciting development offers hope for a healthier, longer life for all.

Why It Matters: The decade ahead is the start of a healthcare revolution driven by converging tech like AI, gene therapies, and cellular medicines. I get excited by announcements like this one because they demonstrate that we still have large levers to pull to optimize healthspan. With IL-11 blockers already in human trials, we're potentially on the cusp of a game-changing therapy that could redefine aging. Unlike previous studies, this breakthrough worked in both male and female mice, potentially adding 20 years to human lifespans—from 77.5 to 97 years. This is what we call a “bridge-two intervention,” where bridge-one is sleep, diet, exercise and not dying from something stupid. 

Live Abundantly, 

Peter H. Diamandis, MD