⚛️ Fusion-energy breakthrough
Hey Snackers,
All America wants for Christmas is… Santa Claus? Demand for costumed Clauses is said to be up 125% over prepandemic years, leading to a ho-ho-holiday shortage. Maybe Mrs. Claus can pinch-hit?
Stocks fell yesterday after the Fed announced it would raise rates by 50 basis points. Investors expected that, but were possibly disheartened by the Fed's suggestion that it'll keep raising rates longer than previously thought.
Scientists made a major breakthrough in nuclear fusion, but it'll take years to hit the grid
Sounds like the plot of "Iron Man"… actually real life. This week the US Department of Energy announced a milestone in the development of fusion energy. For the first time, scientists successfully used a nuclear-fusion reaction to generate 50% more energy than what was required for its creation — aka "net energy gain" — paving the way for sustainable clean power. Nuclear fusion (imagine: atoms fusing together) occurs naturally in the sun and releases 4M times more energy than burning oil, coal, or gas. Experts say it could unlock "virtually limitless" carbon-free power.
The nuclear evolution… has been a long time coming. For decades, scientists have researched ways to harness nuclear power (like the more familiar nuclear fission) in hopes of producing alternatives to fossil fuels. Now, investors are on course to have put $1B+ into fusion tech this year, driven partly by growing climate-change initiatives and Russia’s war on Ukraine, which disrupted global energy supplies. That's just a fraction of the $1.4T invested this year in clean energy, but the future’s bright:
- Atomic returns: The overall fusion market could be worth $40T down the road.
- Electric possibilities: Constellation Energy, which says it's the US's largest producer of clean, carbon-free energy, said net energy gain is a “game changer” and the biggest breakthrough in 30 years.
It’s a small short-term step for clean energy… but a giant long-term leap. Even with the net energy gain breakthrough, commercial nuclear-fusion tech (picture: electricity, heating homes) could be decades away. Legislation like President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act could help expedite the tech's development by offering tax credits for green-energy startups.
What else we’re Snackin’
- Yank: Customers are pulling their crypto from exchanges in record #s. Think: $1.5B last month, and billions in outflows this week alone. One possible reason: FTX's collapse and loss of funds spooked investors.
- Stream: Verizon says customers who use its new +play marketplace to sign up for streamers like AMC+ or NFL+ Premium will get a free year of Netflix. The partnership comes at a time of growing subscription fatigue.
- Hire: Workers laid off from tech mammoths like Meta (think: 11K+ employees cut last month) are quickly landing jobs elsewhere. The overall job market remains hot, even as tech makes headlines for big cuts.
- Fly: Delta said next year's expected earnings are double previous estimates. The carrier said demand remains strong (despite high ticket costs), even as other industries confront inflation and recession fears.
- Charge: Redwood Materials said it would spend $3.5B on a South Carolina site that'll supply battery components for 1M+ EVs annually. The industry's gotten a $15B boost in part from this year's Inflation Reduction Act.
Thursday
- November core retail sales report
- Earnings expected from Adobe and Jabil
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