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Kellogg embarks on new future, finalizing split into two businesses
https://www.fooddive.com/news/kellogg-embarks-on-new-future-finalizing-split-into-two-businesses/695335/
Sixteen months after the separation was announced, the snacking and North American cereal businesses — Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co — are trading separately on the New York Stock Exchange.
Today, Kellogg’s cereal business began trading on the New York Stock Exchange as WK Kellogg Co. The company’s broad snacks division is now trading under the name Kellanova. The split was first announced sixteen months ago.
WK Kellogg Co, began trading under the ticker symbol “KLG” while Kellanova trades under “K.” Stocks for both companies dropped today upon the announcement of the completed split, MarketWatch reported.
In a statement, Kellanova CEO Steve Cahillane said the new company name signifies a new era of ambition for the company.
“We are starting from a position of strength that is rooted in a century-old legacy as we embark on a journey to achieve our vision of becoming the world’s best performing snacks-led powerhouse,” Cahillane said.
Kellanova, which now houses snacks like Cheez-It, Rice Krispies Treats and Pringles, projects its net sales to reach between $13.4-$13.6 billion in its 2024 fiscal year. In an interview with Food Dive last year, Cahillane said the decision to focus solely on snacks will help it to grow its presence worldwide, allowing the company to better compete with giants of the category like Mondelez International and Hershey. M&A opportunities will also be a key focus, the CEO said in March.
Despite the name change, snacking and cereal products from both Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co will continue to emblazon the well-known “Kellogg’s” logo.
The split was first announced in June 2022, with Kellogg originally intending to create three separate businesses. Plans for a designated plant-based foods company were nixed earlier this year because of declining sales in the sector. Plant-based brands like MorningStar Farms now remain under Kellanova.
WK Kellogg Co is adopting the North American cereal portfolio of iconic brands — such as Froot Loops, Corn Flakes and Rice Krispies — at a time of stagnation for the staple breakfast item, while international cereal sales will continue to be handled by Kellanova.
Kellogg embarks on new future, finalizing split into two businesses
https://www.fooddive.com/news/kellogg-embarks-on-new-future-finalizing-split-into-two-businesses/695335/
Sixteen months after the separation was announced, the snacking and North American cereal businesses — Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co — are trading separately on the New York Stock Exchange.
Today, Kellogg’s cereal business began trading on the New York Stock Exchange as WK Kellogg Co. The company’s broad snacks division is now trading under the name Kellanova. The split was first announced sixteen months ago.
WK Kellogg Co, began trading under the ticker symbol “KLG” while Kellanova trades under “K.” Stocks for both companies dropped today upon the announcement of the completed split, MarketWatch reported.
In a statement, Kellanova CEO Steve Cahillane said the new company name signifies a new era of ambition for the company.
“We are starting from a position of strength that is rooted in a century-old legacy as we embark on a journey to achieve our vision of becoming the world’s best performing snacks-led powerhouse,” Cahillane said.
Kellanova, which now houses snacks like Cheez-It, Rice Krispies Treats and Pringles, projects its net sales to reach between $13.4-$13.6 billion in its 2024 fiscal year. In an interview with Food Dive last year, Cahillane said the decision to focus solely on snacks will help it to grow its presence worldwide, allowing the company to better compete with giants of the category like Mondelez International and Hershey. M&A opportunities will also be a key focus, the CEO said in March.
Despite the name change, snacking and cereal products from both Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co will continue to emblazon the well-known “Kellogg’s” logo.
The split was first announced in June 2022, with Kellogg originally intending to create three separate businesses. Plans for a designated plant-based foods company were nixed earlier this year because of declining sales in the sector. Plant-based brands like MorningStar Farms now remain under Kellanova.
WK Kellogg Co is adopting the North American cereal portfolio of iconic brands — such as Froot Loops, Corn Flakes and Rice Krispies — at a time of stagnation for the staple breakfast item, while international cereal sales will continue to be handled by Kellanova.
Good luck with the eyes Flobewan.
gfp You are more into this than me, so I ask, what is the best place right now in an individual company, not a fund, to invest in nuclear today? In your opinion, won't sue you if wrong, lol.
Harry Connick Jr. - It Had to Be You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UnQOfPwZfs&ab_channel=harryconnickjrVEVO
Small Nuclear Reactors: The Answer To Big Tech's Energy Crisis?
https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Nuclear-Power/Small-Nuclear-Reactors-The-Answer-To-Big-Techs-Energy-Crisis.html
Microsoft hints at its nuclear plans by posting a job for a "Principal Program Manager Nuclear Technology" to explore integrating SMRs into its operations.
Small Nuclear Reactors offer quick deployment, reduced costs, and enhanced safety features, with over 80 designs under global development.
Challenges like sourcing materials for SMR development, particularly from politically complex regions, may delay their commercial rollout.
Microsoft could be the first of several companies to prepare to use small nuclear reactor (SMR) technology for its high energy consumption, as AI and other technologies become more widely used. There has been great enthusiasm around the potential of SMRs, which could be built faster and at a much lower cost than a traditional nuclear reactor. This month, Microsoft posted a job opportunity for a “Principal Program Manager Nuclear Technology,” suggesting its interest in using SMRs in the future, to support its energy-intensive operations. As companies begin to use a vast range of digital technologies in their day-to-day operations, their energy consumption could increase substantially, making the use of low-carbon nuclear power increasingly attractive.
SMRs are advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit, equivalent to around one-third the generating capacity of a traditional nuclear reactor. SMRs are much smaller than traditional reactors and are modular, making it simpler for them to be assembled in factories and transported to site. Because of their smaller size, it is possible to install an SMR on sites that are not suitable for bigger reactors. They are also significantly cheaper and faster to build than conventional nuclear reactors and can be constructed incrementally to meet the growing energy demand of a site.
There are strong safety margins included in SMR production, meaning that the potential for the unsafe release of radioactivity to the environment is significantly reduced. These systems can be shut down automatically, without human assistance, in the case of a malfunction. At present, there are over 80 commercial SMR designs under development worldwide, aimed at responding to a range of needs. Although companies are still trepidatious about investing in SMRs as their economic competitiveness in use has yet to be proven. As energy companies begin to roll out SMRs within the next decade there will be a greater understanding of their applicability and the costs involved.
Despite still being in the development stage, Microsoft appears to be one of the first companies to demonstrate its interest in SMRs. As companies continue to digitalise operations and conduct high-energy operations, they will need an increasing amount of energy to power their activities. For example, AI researchers suggest that training a “single large language deep learning model” such as OpenAI’s GPT-4 creates around 300 tonnes of CO2. The average person is responsible for creating around 5 tonnes of CO2 a year, showing just how significant this is.
Microsoft now appears to be drawing up a roadmap for the use of SMR to power its computation needs. This month, the company posted a job description to hire a nuclear technology expert to lead the company’s technical assessment for integrating small modular nuclear reactors and microreactors “to power the datacentres that the Microsoft Cloud and AI reside on.” The post reads that Microsoft is seeking a “principal program manager for nuclear technology”, who “will be responsible for maturing and implementing a global Small Modular Reactor (SMR) and microreactor energy strategy.”
This is not the first time the tech giant has shown interest in nuclear power. In May, Microsoft signed a power purchase agreement with Helion, a nuclear fusion start-up, to purchase electricity from it starting in 2028. And Bill Gates, Microsoft’s co-founder, is the chairman of the board of Terrapower, a company that is currently developing SMR technology. Although there has been no suggestion that Terrapower will provide Microsoft with any nuclear reactors.
Microsoft is showing an early interest in integrating nuclear power into operations. But, as more companies are using energy-intensive technologies, they will require vast amounts of energy to power their activities. Meanwhile, governments worldwide are putting increasing pressure on companies to decarbonise operations, with some introducing carbon taxes and others encouraging the use of clean energy sources through financial incentives. Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, can take years to develop, and acquiring a stable clean energy source also means investment in battery technology. However, as the use of SMRs becomes more commonplace, their fast manufacturing time and small land footprint will likely appeal to companies looking for alternative clean energy sources.
Despite the optimism around SMR technology, a commercial rollout is likely still a long way off due to recent difficulties in acquiring the materials needed to develop these reactors. Many SMRs under production at present will run on uranium at enrichments as high as 15 to 19.75 percent, known as high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). However, this is currently only commercially available from Russia, with which many governments and private companies have cut ties following the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year. Chris Levesque, the CEO of TerraPower, explained “It has become clear that domestic and allied HALEU manufacturing options will not reach commercial capacity in time to meet the proposed 2028 in-service date for the Natrium demonstration plant.”
There has been a rise in the popularity of SMR technology, thanks to its small size and relatively low-cost and fast manufacturing potential. While the commercial rollout of SMRs is still far off, it could provide the vast amounts of low-carbon energy required to meet the world’s growing electricity needs. And tech companies, such as Microsoft, will likely be some of the first to invest in SMR technology as they look to meet their rising computation needs while striving to decarbonise operations.
By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com
Small Nuclear Reactors: The Answer To Big Tech's Energy Crisis?
https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Nuclear-Power/Small-Nuclear-Reactors-The-Answer-To-Big-Techs-Energy-Crisis.html
Microsoft hints at its nuclear plans by posting a job for a "Principal Program Manager Nuclear Technology" to explore integrating SMRs into its operations.
Small Nuclear Reactors offer quick deployment, reduced costs, and enhanced safety features, with over 80 designs under global development.
Challenges like sourcing materials for SMR development, particularly from politically complex regions, may delay their commercial rollout.
Microsoft could be the first of several companies to prepare to use small nuclear reactor (SMR) technology for its high energy consumption, as AI and other technologies become more widely used. There has been great enthusiasm around the potential of SMRs, which could be built faster and at a much lower cost than a traditional nuclear reactor. This month, Microsoft posted a job opportunity for a “Principal Program Manager Nuclear Technology,” suggesting its interest in using SMRs in the future, to support its energy-intensive operations. As companies begin to use a vast range of digital technologies in their day-to-day operations, their energy consumption could increase substantially, making the use of low-carbon nuclear power increasingly attractive.
SMRs are advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit, equivalent to around one-third the generating capacity of a traditional nuclear reactor. SMRs are much smaller than traditional reactors and are modular, making it simpler for them to be assembled in factories and transported to site. Because of their smaller size, it is possible to install an SMR on sites that are not suitable for bigger reactors. They are also significantly cheaper and faster to build than conventional nuclear reactors and can be constructed incrementally to meet the growing energy demand of a site.
There are strong safety margins included in SMR production, meaning that the potential for the unsafe release of radioactivity to the environment is significantly reduced. These systems can be shut down automatically, without human assistance, in the case of a malfunction. At present, there are over 80 commercial SMR designs under development worldwide, aimed at responding to a range of needs. Although companies are still trepidatious about investing in SMRs as their economic competitiveness in use has yet to be proven. As energy companies begin to roll out SMRs within the next decade there will be a greater understanding of their applicability and the costs involved.
Despite still being in the development stage, Microsoft appears to be one of the first companies to demonstrate its interest in SMRs. As companies continue to digitalise operations and conduct high-energy operations, they will need an increasing amount of energy to power their activities. For example, AI researchers suggest that training a “single large language deep learning model” such as OpenAI’s GPT-4 creates around 300 tonnes of CO2. The average person is responsible for creating around 5 tonnes of CO2 a year, showing just how significant this is.
Microsoft now appears to be drawing up a roadmap for the use of SMR to power its computation needs. This month, the company posted a job description to hire a nuclear technology expert to lead the company’s technical assessment for integrating small modular nuclear reactors and microreactors “to power the datacentres that the Microsoft Cloud and AI reside on.” The post reads that Microsoft is seeking a “principal program manager for nuclear technology”, who “will be responsible for maturing and implementing a global Small Modular Reactor (SMR) and microreactor energy strategy.”
This is not the first time the tech giant has shown interest in nuclear power. In May, Microsoft signed a power purchase agreement with Helion, a nuclear fusion start-up, to purchase electricity from it starting in 2028. And Bill Gates, Microsoft’s co-founder, is the chairman of the board of Terrapower, a company that is currently developing SMR technology. Although there has been no suggestion that Terrapower will provide Microsoft with any nuclear reactors.
Microsoft is showing an early interest in integrating nuclear power into operations. But, as more companies are using energy-intensive technologies, they will require vast amounts of energy to power their activities. Meanwhile, governments worldwide are putting increasing pressure on companies to decarbonise operations, with some introducing carbon taxes and others encouraging the use of clean energy sources through financial incentives. Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, can take years to develop, and acquiring a stable clean energy source also means investment in battery technology. However, as the use of SMRs becomes more commonplace, their fast manufacturing time and small land footprint will likely appeal to companies looking for alternative clean energy sources.
Despite the optimism around SMR technology, a commercial rollout is likely still a long way off due to recent difficulties in acquiring the materials needed to develop these reactors. Many SMRs under production at present will run on uranium at enrichments as high as 15 to 19.75 percent, known as high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). However, this is currently only commercially available from Russia, with which many governments and private companies have cut ties following the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year. Chris Levesque, the CEO of TerraPower, explained “It has become clear that domestic and allied HALEU manufacturing options will not reach commercial capacity in time to meet the proposed 2028 in-service date for the Natrium demonstration plant.”
There has been a rise in the popularity of SMR technology, thanks to its small size and relatively low-cost and fast manufacturing potential. While the commercial rollout of SMRs is still far off, it could provide the vast amounts of low-carbon energy required to meet the world’s growing electricity needs. And tech companies, such as Microsoft, will likely be some of the first to invest in SMR technology as they look to meet their rising computation needs while striving to decarbonise operations.
By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com
Duran Duran - Ordinary World (Official Music Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqIACCH20JU&ab_channel=DuranDuranVEVO
URA made a 52 week intraday high.
https://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=URA&p=D&yr=1&mn=0&dy=0&id=p78831159970
I always liked this lost in the "Forrest" song>>>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLpsDamWdIM&ab_channel=DidoVEVO
Ford Pauses Work on $3.5 Billion Battery Plant
https://www.voanews.com/a/ford-pauses-work-on-3-5-billion-battery-plant/7284008.html
NEW YORK —
Ford is halting work on a major battery plant in the northern U.S. state of Michigan, the automaker said Monday, just seven months after launching the project with a Chinese partner.
The stoppage, which a Ford representative confirmed to AFP, comes as the company faces a major strike along with both of the other "Big Three" U.S. automakers, Stellantis and General Motors.
The Ford spokesperson insisted the decision about the $3.5 billion battery plant had not been related to the ongoing strike, but rather the site's future economic viability.
"We're pausing work and limiting spending on construction on the Marshall project until we're confident about our ability to competitively operate the plant," the spokesperson said.
"We haven't made any final decision about the planned investment there," he added.
In February, Ford announced the project in Marshall, Michigan, as a way to diversify its battery profile away from its current exclusive use of nickel cobalt manganese (NCM), which are costly to produce because of raw material scarcity.
Ford said it would work with the Chinese company Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. to manufacture lithium iron phosphate batteries beginning in 2026 at the Marshall plant.
Several Republican officials had voiced opposition to the plant due to the partnership with a Chinese company.
The technology involves less-expensive raw materials and can tolerate more frequent and faster charging than NCM batteries, the company said at the time.
The auto giant said it is targeting annual global output of 600,000 electric vehicles by end-2023 and 2 million by the end of 2026.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, touted the announcement in February as "another win for Michigan," citing the addition of 2,500 new manufacturing jobs.
President Joe Biden on Tuesday is set to visit Michigan to join a UAW picket line in support of striking workers at the Detroit Three automakers.
Marilynt, I resemble that remark.😋
Good show Tree, women really get excited about their birthdays. Us men just want a beer and ............. you know.
Agree, new coaching might not even help.
The Vikings can still get in the playoffs mathematically as a wild card.????
Nice to be "regular" here. At my age I can get "irregular" without warning, anyplace else.💩
They have a "thumb up" tab here at iHub, where is the "thumbs down",. LOL
Every morning is a guud morning at the FUN House
"thorium" Never heard of it.
Investing in thorium can be tough, as it’s not yet used for nuclear power generation. Companies like Flibe Energy, which is focused on thorium reactors, are still private.
https://www.energyandcapital.com/resources/thorium-investing/51975#:~:text=Investing%20in%20thorium%20can%20be,add%20to%20your%20portfolio...
Take a look at the word thorium.
What do you see?
Those familiar with Norse mythology or the Marvel comic books might notice the root of the word is Thor, the name of the god of thunder. Thor is known for his strength and power, wielding a hammer and controlling the lightning and thunder.
The name alone implies a superhuman power, a superior energy. And the element doesn't disappoint...
Thorium is a radioactive chemical element that can be found in soil and rocks. In its purest form, it appears as a silver metal, but when heated in the air, it becomes like a white light, like lightning.
Thorium is currently used in things such as light bulbs and camera lenses. It can create a high-quality refractive glass, and its high melting point can allow ceramics to resist high temperatures.
But light bulbs and ceramics aren’t what have the energy industry watching closely...
Heat resistance is.
You see, thorium’s ultra-high melting point can be useful in more than just ceramics. Heat resistance is something scientists and energy specialists alike have been trying desperately to achieve with nuclear energy.
One of the biggest issues with nuclear plants is the meltdowns that can occur if the uranium is not cooled properly. We saw that tragically exhibited in Japan in 2011, when an earthquake and tsunami caused a series of meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. The fact that the only other disaster of that caliber was the 1986 Chernobyl disaster has done little to ease the minds of world governments and energy companies. This simply highlighted the tragedy that can come along with it.
Which is why thorium’s properties have become so coveted. If the material were virtually meltdown-proof, the clean energy possibilities would be endless.
There is only one problem: Thorium is unable to sustain a nuclear reaction on its own.
Thorium in Nuclear Energy
Thorium’s inability to sustain a nuclear chain reaction causes a problem, but it’s not one without a solution.
The material can actually prove quite effective when combined with a fissile material — one that is able to sustain a nuclear reaction.
These materials include uranium-233 (which is actually an isotope of thorium), enriched uranium (U-235), and plutonium (Pu-239).
The use of thorium in a nuclear reaction significantly lowers the waste produced; of the waste that does occur, radioactively decaying elements are lowered as well. Combined with weapons-grade uranium, for instance, one University of Oslo researcher found that thorium can aid in reducing radioactive waste by up to 95%.
And the safety of a thorium reactor compared to one using uranium is much higher. As mentioned before, thorium’s high melting point makes a nuclear meltdown much less likely.
But thorium can’t be used in just any nuclear reactor. Only seven types are safe for thorium reactions, including heavy water reactors, high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, boiling (light) water reactors, pressurized (light) water reactors, fast neutron reactors, molten salt reactors, and accelerator driven reactors. Molten salt reactors and accelerator driven reactors are still conceptual, though the other five have all been operational at some point.
The liquid-fluoride thorium reactor (LFTR), a type of molten salt reactor, is being touted by many as the best solution to thorium-powered nuclear energy. In these types of reactors, thorium and uranium fluorides are combined into a salt mixture that’s heated to a molten substance, which is then used to fuel the reactor.
These reactors have the potential to become self-sustainable, as they will be able to produce U-233 (the thorium isotope).
Flibe Energy, a company started by nuclear technologist and former NASA aerospace engineer Kirk Sorensen, is conducting research on LFTR technology with a view to eventually incorporate these reactors not just into electrical energy generation, but also into fields as vastly different as desalination, cancer treatment, and deep space exploration.
Creating the Nuclear Reaction
Still, the fissile material that enables a thorium reactions is actually fairly difficult to supply...
For years, the U.S. has had a steady stream of U-235 coming in, but that runs out this year.
Following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the Lisbon Protocol in 1992, the U.S. and Russia arrived at the U.S.-Russian Highly Enriched Uranium Agreement, or what came to be known as the “Megatons to Megawatts Program.”
Under the terms of the 1993 agreement, Russia would dismantle Soviet nuclear warheads and convert 500 tonnes of highly-enriched uranium to low-enriched uranium, which would be sold to the U.S. for use in nuclear reactors.
By 2013, ten years after the start of the program, all 500 tonnes would be converted. As a result, the U.S.’s steady supply of uranium came to a halt in 2013.
But for thorium, it might not be as bad as it seems. After all, U-235 isn’t the only fissile material that could be combined with thorium for a nuclear reaction...
U-233, an isotope of thorium, can react with thorium for a nuclear reaction. And this is the focus of the LFTRs, as it could lead to self-sufficiency of these reactors with the recycled waste.
It’s not easy. Thermal breeding, as the process is called, requires the reactor to produce more fissile material than it consumes, and it requires a highly specialized type of reactor.
Regular nuclear reactors are unable to breed to the point where it is unnecessary to add more of the fissile material. But many LFTRs are being designed as breeding reactors. While regularly adding thorium to these reactors would be necessary, adding U-233 would not. Enough fissile material would be created in the reactions to sustain it on its own.
Investing in Thorium
Investing in thorium can be tough, as it’s not yet used for nuclear power generation. Companies like Flibe Energy, which is focused on thorium reactors, are still private.
Uranium Mining Companies
Several uranium miners, like Cameco Corp. (NYSE: CCJ) and Unity Energy Corp. (UTY.V), are mining uranium in areas that also have concentrations of thorium.
Though neither company has reported on significant mining of thorium, both are well-positioned to profit should the demand for the metal skyrocket.
As thorium reactor testing continues in nations like Norway and India, and major investors like Bill Gates (whose company TerraPower has also begun testing thorium reactors) get involved, attention to the metal will only grow...
Research on these reactors will lead to implementation, and that will lead to profits for the well-positioned investor.
Thorium is the key nuclear fuel of the future. Keep a close eye on this one.
"thorium" Never heard of it.
Investing in thorium can be tough, as it’s not yet used for nuclear power generation. Companies like Flibe Energy, which is focused on thorium reactors, are still private.
https://www.energyandcapital.com/resources/thorium-investing/51975#:~:text=Investing%20in%20thorium%20can%20be,add%20to%20your%20portfolio...
Take a look at the word thorium.
What do you see?
Those familiar with Norse mythology or the Marvel comic books might notice the root of the word is Thor, the name of the god of thunder. Thor is known for his strength and power, wielding a hammer and controlling the lightning and thunder.
The name alone implies a superhuman power, a superior energy. And the element doesn't disappoint...
Thorium is a radioactive chemical element that can be found in soil and rocks. In its purest form, it appears as a silver metal, but when heated in the air, it becomes like a white light, like lightning.
Thorium is currently used in things such as light bulbs and camera lenses. It can create a high-quality refractive glass, and its high melting point can allow ceramics to resist high temperatures.
But light bulbs and ceramics aren’t what have the energy industry watching closely...
Heat resistance is.
You see, thorium’s ultra-high melting point can be useful in more than just ceramics. Heat resistance is something scientists and energy specialists alike have been trying desperately to achieve with nuclear energy.
One of the biggest issues with nuclear plants is the meltdowns that can occur if the uranium is not cooled properly. We saw that tragically exhibited in Japan in 2011, when an earthquake and tsunami caused a series of meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. The fact that the only other disaster of that caliber was the 1986 Chernobyl disaster has done little to ease the minds of world governments and energy companies. This simply highlighted the tragedy that can come along with it.
Which is why thorium’s properties have become so coveted. If the material were virtually meltdown-proof, the clean energy possibilities would be endless.
There is only one problem: Thorium is unable to sustain a nuclear reaction on its own.
Thorium in Nuclear Energy
Thorium’s inability to sustain a nuclear chain reaction causes a problem, but it’s not one without a solution.
The material can actually prove quite effective when combined with a fissile material — one that is able to sustain a nuclear reaction.
These materials include uranium-233 (which is actually an isotope of thorium), enriched uranium (U-235), and plutonium (Pu-239).
The use of thorium in a nuclear reaction significantly lowers the waste produced; of the waste that does occur, radioactively decaying elements are lowered as well. Combined with weapons-grade uranium, for instance, one University of Oslo researcher found that thorium can aid in reducing radioactive waste by up to 95%.
And the safety of a thorium reactor compared to one using uranium is much higher. As mentioned before, thorium’s high melting point makes a nuclear meltdown much less likely.
But thorium can’t be used in just any nuclear reactor. Only seven types are safe for thorium reactions, including heavy water reactors, high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, boiling (light) water reactors, pressurized (light) water reactors, fast neutron reactors, molten salt reactors, and accelerator driven reactors. Molten salt reactors and accelerator driven reactors are still conceptual, though the other five have all been operational at some point.
The liquid-fluoride thorium reactor (LFTR), a type of molten salt reactor, is being touted by many as the best solution to thorium-powered nuclear energy. In these types of reactors, thorium and uranium fluorides are combined into a salt mixture that’s heated to a molten substance, which is then used to fuel the reactor.
These reactors have the potential to become self-sustainable, as they will be able to produce U-233 (the thorium isotope).
Flibe Energy, a company started by nuclear technologist and former NASA aerospace engineer Kirk Sorensen, is conducting research on LFTR technology with a view to eventually incorporate these reactors not just into electrical energy generation, but also into fields as vastly different as desalination, cancer treatment, and deep space exploration.
Creating the Nuclear Reaction
Still, the fissile material that enables a thorium reactions is actually fairly difficult to supply...
For years, the U.S. has had a steady stream of U-235 coming in, but that runs out this year.
Following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the Lisbon Protocol in 1992, the U.S. and Russia arrived at the U.S.-Russian Highly Enriched Uranium Agreement, or what came to be known as the “Megatons to Megawatts Program.”
Under the terms of the 1993 agreement, Russia would dismantle Soviet nuclear warheads and convert 500 tonnes of highly-enriched uranium to low-enriched uranium, which would be sold to the U.S. for use in nuclear reactors.
By 2013, ten years after the start of the program, all 500 tonnes would be converted. As a result, the U.S.’s steady supply of uranium came to a halt in 2013.
But for thorium, it might not be as bad as it seems. After all, U-235 isn’t the only fissile material that could be combined with thorium for a nuclear reaction...
U-233, an isotope of thorium, can react with thorium for a nuclear reaction. And this is the focus of the LFTRs, as it could lead to self-sufficiency of these reactors with the recycled waste.
It’s not easy. Thermal breeding, as the process is called, requires the reactor to produce more fissile material than it consumes, and it requires a highly specialized type of reactor.
Regular nuclear reactors are unable to breed to the point where it is unnecessary to add more of the fissile material. But many LFTRs are being designed as breeding reactors. While regularly adding thorium to these reactors would be necessary, adding U-233 would not. Enough fissile material would be created in the reactions to sustain it on its own.
Investing in Thorium
Investing in thorium can be tough, as it’s not yet used for nuclear power generation. Companies like Flibe Energy, which is focused on thorium reactors, are still private.
Uranium Mining Companies
Several uranium miners, like Cameco Corp. (NYSE: CCJ) and Unity Energy Corp. (UTY.V), are mining uranium in areas that also have concentrations of thorium.
Though neither company has reported on significant mining of thorium, both are well-positioned to profit should the demand for the metal skyrocket.
As thorium reactor testing continues in nations like Norway and India, and major investors like Bill Gates (whose company TerraPower has also begun testing thorium reactors) get involved, attention to the metal will only grow...
Research on these reactors will lead to implementation, and that will lead to profits for the well-positioned investor.
Thorium is the key nuclear fuel of the future. Keep a close eye on this one.
I used to be a Vikings fan until K.C. beat them in the Superbowl. The fact they are 0 and 3 this year reminds me of the pain.
Uranium Investors Bet Big On Nuclear Renaissance
https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Nuclear-Power/Uranium-Investors-Bet-Big-On-Nuclear-Renaissance.html
Summary>>>>>
Dozens of governments and influential bodies that were formerly opposed to nuclear energy are now openly embracing and hailing it as a necessary player in the global electrification and decarbonization drive.
Uranium markets have lately been on a roll after prices for yellowcake gained more than 20% YTD.
Global uranium production dropped by 25% from 2016 to 2020 amid low prices before recovering slightly to 49,355 metric tons last year.
Uranium Investors Bet Big On Nuclear Renaissance
https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Nuclear-Power/Uranium-Investors-Bet-Big-On-Nuclear-Renaissance.html
Summary>>>>>
Dozens of governments and influential bodies that were formerly opposed to nuclear energy are now openly embracing and hailing it as a necessary player in the global electrification and decarbonization drive.
Uranium markets have lately been on a roll after prices for yellowcake gained more than 20% YTD.
Global uranium production dropped by 25% from 2016 to 2020 amid low prices before recovering slightly to 49,355 metric tons last year.
The Eagles- Peaceful Easy Feeling (live) HD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE192tnCD3Q&ab_channel=andyd
Collective Soul - The World I Know (Live performance with Lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNI9TmPUe1k&ab_channel=darksidemty
And this cash interest rates is partly why stocks are struggling. This stock "bubble" was caused by bank interest rates going to "Fuck you" from inflation plus 1% in the past.
Every stock I was touting in May is down. I did make out on WEAT, but lost on LAND, DBA, NEM and CDE. Glad i gout out of all of them when I did, especially CDE, who had a good day Friday, after a terrible day Thursday, so, a wash, not a buy signal.. Buying nothing. Getting bank interest again. 4.5% on everything over $25,000. Annuities , I read too much bad about the fine print details. The reason stocks have done so well is no interest like this since early this year. It has been a scam and still is, as it is below the so called real rate of inflation.
Good night
I think TSCO will be a good play, but not for my favorite reasons. Like Bayer, Target, Disney and others they came out WOKE to satisfy the big Deep State money. Going WOKE in farm country makes as much sense as selling ice cubes in Alaska. They like paid their dues.
https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2022/tractor-supply-makes-case-investing-bipoc-lgbtq-and-women-farmers/742681
I like to see the stock break above the major moving averages before I'd buy.
https://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=TSCO&p=D&yr=5&mn=0&dy=0&id=p38102136601
A bigger concern for American jobs is foreign countries---- year old story, below but if the union gets it's way, bye bye American jobs>>>>>
GM Factory Workers in Mexico Get a 25-Cent Raise to $3.25 an Hour
https://jalopnik.com/gm-factory-workers-in-mexico-get-a-25-cent-raise-to-3-1848932879
After much negotiation, General Motors has given workers at its largest factory in Mexico a raise that comes out to 25 cents an hour, on average. This bumps up the average factory worker’s pay from $3 an hour to $3.25 for many at the GM Silao plant, where the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra are made.
SINTTIA, the labor union representing Silao’s 6,500 workers, said the new contract guarantees an 8.5-percent pay raise (link in Spanish.) That number falls short of the 19.2-percent raise workers asked for, but it is higher than GM’s 3.5-percent counteroffer.
The 8.5-percent increase is slightly higher than inflation in Mexico, which hit 7.68 percent in April according to Bloomberg. SINTTIA had cited inflation in the country as the main reason behind its double-digit request, and GM can now say it did more than just counter inflation — even if it’s by less than one percentage point.
With this latest raise, the average pay for GM factory workers making trucks in Mexico will go from around $25 to $27 per day. That’s in contrast to GM workers in the U.S., who make anywhere from $18 to $32 per hour.
But the new labor contract is nonetheless being hailed as a landmark because it includes provisions that older contracts lacked. Among these are performance bonuses of $79 issued every quarter, along with incentives that decrease workers’ taxable income. And to sweeten the deal, there’s now a guarantee that workers will get the day off on December 24th, for Christmas Eve.
The new contract also includes a commitment to safeguard against workplace harassment and sexual assault, but it stops short of codifying protocols for the response when such violations occur.
SINTTIA says the incentives, bonuses and salary bump add up to a 13.8-percent global raise for workers; whatever math the labor union uses to come to that conclusion is beyond me. But I am happy for these workers who will finally get the day off on Christmas Eve while earning two more dollars per day as they build GM’s most profitable pickup trucks.
A terrible time to buy a new car and worse time for auto workers to strike? Thinking about buying a new EV? In 5 years the technology improvements could make the value of your used EV almost nothing. Thinking of buying aa gas using auto? In 5 years gas could be $25 a gallon and again the trade in value many be near nothing. In the face of this auto unions go on strike? When more people catch on that this is not the best time to buy any new car, the few that could have been sold now might not have much demand and no catch up sales into a period of declining sales. Union greed will destroy itself here, IMO.
Van, Someone Like You , love this one. Van's been a long time success, thank God
Into the Mystic | Van Morrison | Lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ59spYH9mk&ab_channel=MeganSmith
Mick Sterling Presents Feelin' Alright - My girlfriends brother is the piano player. The band is maybe the top local performing band in Minnesota and her brother is one of the best know pianists in the state. I have seen many of their performances where they cover one band, and cover maybe 15 of them throughout the year.
On the side, watch the old singer grab his nuts and the blonde taking photos of the crowd on their cameras. They are having fun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B3uH1P4LoI&ab_channel=JimMcAlister
My buddy>>>>>>>
Probably posted this a while back
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRyGzlf6SpQ&ab_channel=IbramAdly
Dyan Cannon Interview - Carson Tonight Show
This is hilarious. This one of 3 YouTubes with Dyan on theTonight Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUYXeRHus9w&ab_channel=JohnnyCarson
Joe Walsh & Vince Gill 9/21/19 “Rocky Mountain Way” at Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas,TX
w/The Eagles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBw0tisqHuc&ab_channel=GregoryM
Artists Of Then, Now & Forever - Forever Country
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9gAXwYZtfk&ab_channel=CMAVEVO
Housing Starts Plunged In August As Renter-Nation Collapses
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/housing-starts-plunged-august-renter-nation-collapses
Snippet:
If yesterday's plunge in the NAHB sentiment survey is anything to go by, this morning's starts and permits data should be a shitshow (expectations were for a modest MoM decline in both for August).
So, I am in my Lifetime Fitness hot tub over the weekend. I am sitting between 2 jets and another on my ankle on a lower jet.. I start chatting with a Senior lady next to me on my right. I move over a bit closer and face her so I can hear her better. I then go to put my left hand on the left jet and touch another older ladies leg. She had snuck in and was sitting on the edge of the hot tub with her leg on the jet. I apologized to her and told her I did not know she was there. She said, "THAT'S OK, AND, HERE I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE THE BEST THING THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME ALL DAY".
God bless her.
This is not a joke, it really happened to me.
I was happy to see Sahith Theegala get a win. He seems like a thankful humble person and I enjoy his youth exuberance on the course. And nice see see him get the in sort of his own backyard in front of a big local cheering section. Nick Taylor's Canadian Open win in his home country was nice too.