China's 'Artificial Sun' Achieves New Fusion Record of 100m-Degree Plasma for 1,066 Sec

China's Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), often referred to as the "artificial sun," has made history by maintaining a high-confinement plasma at a scorching temperature of over 100 million degrees Celsius for an impressive 1,066 seconds. This remarkable feat, announced by China Media Group, positions EAST at the forefront of fusion research.

Credit: VCG

Located in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, EAST's breakthrough in steady-state high-confinement mode (H-mode) showcases its capability for stable operation in future fusion reactors. The H-mode effectively reduces turbulence at the plasma edge, leading to enhanced energy confinement and a doubling of the confinement time compared to the low-confinement mode (L-mode).

The significance of EAST's sustained H-mode operation at extreme temperatures lies in the valuable data and experience it provides for the advancement of practical fusion energy. By simulating the fusion reactions that power the Sun using hydrogen and deuterium gases as fuel, EAST plays a crucial role in developing industrial-scale reactors for clean and sustainable energy generation.

EAST's cutting-edge design incorporates superconducting magnets, ultra-high vacuum systems, and precision control mechanisms to handle ultra-strong magnetic fields and large electric currents. With close to a million components working in harmony, EAST has amassed around 2,000 patents, underscoring its technological sophistication.

Since its inception in 2006, EAST has conducted over 150,000 plasma experiments, continually pushing the boundaries of long-pulse, high-confinement mode operations. The recent milestone of sustaining H-mode for 1,066 seconds builds upon previous achievements, including 30 seconds in 2012, 60 seconds in 2016, 101 seconds in 2017, and 403 seconds in 2023.

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• China's EAST achieves a new fusion record by maintaining high-confinement plasma at over 100 million degrees Celsius for 1,066 seconds.

• The breakthrough in steady-state high-confinement mode (H-mode) demonstrates potential for stable operation in future fusion reactors.

• EAST's advanced design and sustained operation provide valuable insights for the development of clean and sustainable fusion energy.

Source: CGTN

Alibaba Cloud Expands AI Models and Tools for Global Developers

Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing services and artificial intelligence (AI) arm of Alibaba Group Holding, has introduced an extended range of AI models and development tools for international developers, as part of its efforts to expand into global markets. The company unveiled new products at its annual developer summit in Indonesia, including large language models (LLMs) like the Qwen 2.5 series and multimodal AI models such as the Qwen-VL series and Tongyi Wanxiang, now accessible to developers worldwide through APIs on its GenAI development platform, Model Studio.

Credit: Shutterstock

LLMs, the technology behind services like ChatGPT, are now available for developers to utilise through APIs, enabling them to streamline app development without starting from scratch. Guo Dongliang, vice-president of international business at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, expressed the company's commitment to providing value to global developers through advanced AI models, improved cloud infrastructure, and accessible support programmes.

Alibaba Cloud's recent move aligns with its broader strategy to increase investments overseas and enhance its cloud infrastructure offerings in key global markets. The company aims to collaborate with 100 ecosystem partners by 2025 to develop cutting-edge AI and cloud-computing solutions for businesses across various industries worldwide. At the developer summit, Alibaba Cloud highlighted the expanded availability of its Tongyi Lingma programming tool, powered by the Qwen 2.5-coder model, offering features like code completion, debugging assistance, and code snippet search to boost developers' productivity and creativity.

Moreover, a range of new AI development tools have been introduced on Model Studio for global developers, including Workflow to simplify complex tasks into subtasks and Agent to facilitate collaborative planning and execution tasks. As part of its increased focus on Southeast Asia, South Korea, and Mexico, Alibaba Cloud closed its data centres in Australia and India last year to concentrate on operations in other regions. The cloud unit's revenue, a crucial growth driver for Alibaba, surged by 7% to 29.6 billion yuan (US$4 billion) in the September quarter last year, marking its fastest quarterly growth in the past two years.

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• Alibaba Cloud expands suite of AI models and tools for global developers

• New products include large language models and multimodal AI models accessible via APIs

• Company aims to collaborate with 100 ecosystem partners by 2025 for innovative solutions

Source: SCMP

Algae Farming in Iceland: A Glimpse into the Future of Food Production

Iceland's Vaxa Technologies has established a cutting-edge indoor farm near the country's largest geothermal power station. This innovative facility utilises energy and resources from the power plant to cultivate microalgae, a futuristic crop with vast potential.

Credit: VAXA

General manager Kristinn Haflidason describes this venture as a revolutionary approach to food production. While seaweed has been a traditional food source, microalgae is gaining traction for its nutritional richness and sustainability. Vaxa's site, just 35 minutes from Reykjavik, produces microalgae for human consumption and as feed for fish and shrimp farming.

Credit: VAXA

The unique integration of algae cultivation with a geothermal power station at Vaxa's plant results in a slightly negative carbon footprint. This setup, as highlighted by food technology consultant Asger Munch Smidt-Jensen, requires renewable energy, CO2, and nutrients to ensure a climate-friendly operation. The facility's use of LED lights and machine learning to control growth conditions is a testament to its advanced technology.

Vaxa's facility can yield up to 150 metric tonnes of algae annually, rich in essential nutrients like protein, omega-3s, and vitamin B12. This method of microalgae cultivation holds promise in addressing global food insecurity. The market for microalgae is projected to reach US$25.4 billion (£20.5 billion) by 2033, indicating a growing interest in this sustainable food source.

Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Other companies are also exploring the potential of microalgae, with Danish start-up Algiecel experimenting with portable modules to capture CO2 emissions while producing food and feed. Microalgae is not only a food source but is also finding applications in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and even as a plastic alternative.

Despite the investment and research, challenges remain before microalgae can become a mainstream dietary component. Texture and taste issues need to be addressed, as highlighted by experts like Malene Lihme Olsen from Copenhagen University. However, the nutritional value and sustainability of microalgae make it a promising candidate for future food production.

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• Vaxa Technologies in Iceland harnesses energy from a geothermal power station to cultivate microalgae.

• Microalgae is rich in essential nutrients and holds promise in addressing global food insecurity.

• The market for microalgae is projected to reach US$25.4 billion by 2033.

Source: BBC