Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has emerged as a key battleground in the federal assault on science. US government leaders have systematically ignored expert advice, reanimated baseless claims about the causal role of vaccines, forwarded thinly supported hypotheses blaming ASD on parental behavior, and promoted unsubstantiated treatments. This barrage comes at a time when the prospects for dramatic near-term advances in clinical translation, particularly for the severe end of the ASD spectrum, have never been greater.
Why China is betting on big nuclear reactors
It’s a tale of two nuclear industries.
In China, large reactors are coming together at a stunning pace. The country has nearly doubled its nuclear fleet since 2016, reaching nearly 60 gigawatts of total power capacity. The new facilities are nearly all gigawatt-scale pressurized-water reactors.
Meanwhile, the US has built just two reactors in that time—Unit 3 and Unit 4 at Plant Vogtle in Georgia. Smaller reactors are attracting a lot of excitement and investment, though. A microreactor developer just saw its reactor reach criticality in a new Department of Energy pilot program.
The world is racing to meet rising electricity demand, and many countries are interested in energy sources, like nuclear power, that don’t come with greenhouse-gas emissions. The key question: Which of these strategies will really pay off in terms of getting electrons on the grid quickly?
Today, the US and France are known as leaders in the nuclear industry. The US has the world’s largest fleet, with France coming in second. France is heavily dependent on nuclear for its grid—about two-thirds of the country’s power comes from nuclear reactors.
But they have hardly added any new reactors to their fleets in recent years. The US can point only to Vogtle, and France connected its latest reactor to the grid in December 2024—the first in over 20 years.
It’s incredibly difficult to build the massive projects that dominate the nuclear industry today. Up-front investment can run well into the billions, so investors need to wait decades to break even. Designs are complex and can often change during the regulatory process, tacking on cost and time.
Many are hoping that the key to turning things around in these countries could be smaller reactors.
The idea is that shrinking the footprint of a reactor cuts down the initial investment needed to prove out the new technology. The reactors could even be put together in a factory rather than being built on-site, allowing for a lower price over time.
These smaller reactors are the target of tons of interest and investment in the US, including a new Department of Energy pilot program. The department set a goal last year of having three test reactors reach criticality by July 4, 2026, the nation’s 250th anniversary. (Criticality is the point at which a reactor achieves a self-sustaining chain reaction that can release energy.)
Last week, California-based Antares hit the milestone with its Mark-0 reactor.
The company plans to eventually build microreactors, designed to produce between 100 kilowatts and 1 megawatt of electricity (large reactors on the grid today are at least 1,000 times that size). The core design is a sodium-cooled reactor, and it uses TRISO fuel, self-contained graphite-coated spheres of a more concentrated fuel than what most reactors use today.
But there is still a long way to go before it can actually produce power—the Mark-0 doesn’t have any power conversion or heat removal systems. The company plans to produce electricity in late 2027 and deploy in the field by 2028, CEO Jordan Bramble told the Associated Press.
The private sector is interested—and invested—too. Big Tech companies are throwing money at new reactors they hope can help power data centers.
But look to the other side of the globe, and others are sticking with the established blueprint: China is absolutely churning out large nuclear reactors. Construction started on six new reactors there in 2025, and two more got underway in the first five months of 2026. The country is on course to overtake both the US and the European Union in installed nuclear capacity by 2030.
The speed here is staggering. As of 2024, the average time to build a new reactor in China came in at between five and seven years. The global average is about nine years, and the two most recent reactors in the US took about 15 years.
One key to this speed is standardization: China has set up a uniform project management system to design, license, and build new reactors. They’re built in batches of six or more to take advantage of economies of scale.
It’s one of the ideas meant to give the edge to smaller reactors, but China is working to realize the same benefits for larger projects. A huge amount of government investment is certainly helping.
Larger reactors generally provide more electricity to the grid for a lower price, a key consideration in view of China’s steeply increasing electricity demand. While smaller reactors require less up-front investment than larger ones because of their size, they’ll actually be more expensive per unit of electricity produced.
That’s not to say China is exclusively focused on big reactors: the country is also expected to see its first operational small modular reactor, the Linglong-1, start sending power to the grid this year.
But looking ahead, it’ll be interesting to see if smaller reactors can help the West keep building new nuclear power. At the moment, with China’s quick progress, it’s looking as if bigger might just be better.
This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Review’s weekly climate newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, sign up here.
Govt pledges £20m to roll out AI X-ray tools across NHS by 2029
The government has announced £20 million of funding to expand AI chest X-ray tools to every NHS trust in England by 2029.
Usability, Relevance, and User Engagement of a Government-Sponsored and Community Co-Designed Digital Mental Health Website During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study on Latino/a/x Adults
Background: Latino/a/x adults have higher rates of unmet mental health needs than other racial and ethnic groups. One promising solution to help bridge this gap in care is digital mental health tools. Digital tools, such as self-help websites, have demonstrated the ability to enhance mental health literacy, reduce stigma, and improve mental health symptoms. Despite the potential benefits, engagement remains a critical challenge, and there has been a large oversight of unique considerations for Latino/a/x adults as end users. Objective: Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model and the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations, the study’s overarching objective is to characterize within-group variation of Latino/a/x adults’ engagement with a government-funded, prevention-focused mental health website that was co-designed with community partners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The Together for Wellness/Juntos Por Nuestro Bienestar (T4W/Juntos) website offered free digital mental health resources to help Californians cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. A pilot evaluation of the website involved baseline and 4-week follow-up surveys about demographics, behavioral health needs, and overall website user experience. This current subanalysis focused on a stratified sample of Latino/a/x adult participants (baseline N=131; baseline and follow-up n=68). The baseline sample was mostly female (106/130, 81.5%); 66.9% (87/130) preferred to use the website in English and 30% (39/130) preferred Spanish. Behavioral health needs were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-item scale, and a COVID-19 stressors checklist. We measured usability, comfort using the website, relevance of the website, and past-month use of resources. Data were analyzed using ordered and standard logistic regression methods. Results: Latino/a/x adults who preferred using the website in English (odds ratio [OR] 13.76, <.001) compared with Spanish were more comfortable using the website. Compared with adults aged 18‐30 years, adults aged 41‐50 years had significantly lower odds of agreeing that the website was easy to use. Sensitivity analyses revealed that participants who found the website easier to use (OR 2.22, =.001) and those with greater behavioral health needs (OR 1.22, =.045) were more likely to perceive the website’s topics as relevant. Participants with higher behavioral health needs at baseline were more likely to use the website and engage with resources for anxiety or stress at follow-up (OR 1.42, =.047). Conclusions: This study addresses gaps in understanding Latino/a/x adults’ experiences with a prevention-focused mental health website. The language-based disparity in comfort highlights the need to significantly improve the user experience for Latino/a/x Spanish speakers. Still, the website can be a helpful resource for Latino/a/x adults with high behavioral health needs, bridging a critical gap in support. A collaborative approach to developing resource-rich websites with trusted community organizations is vital for effectively reaching Latino/a/x communities and tailoring resources to address their unique needs.
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about U.S. pressure on European drug prices, longer shortages, and more
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the middle of the week. Congratulations on making it this far, and remember, there are only a few more days until the weekend arrives. So keep plugging away. After all, what are the alternatives? While you ponder the possibilities, we invite you to join us for a delightful cup of stimulation. Our choice today is maple cinnamon French toast, a pantry favorite. Remember that no prescription is required — so no need to reach for your abacus to calculate a co-pay or rebate. Meanwhile, here is the latest menu of tidbits to help you on your way. Have a wonderful day, and please do stay in touch. …
The number of prescription drug shortages in the U.S. fell by 23% last year, marking the second consecutive year of declines and the lowest level since 2017, according to a new analysis that otherwise found troubling signs about medicines that are in short supply, STAT says. For instance, the average drug shortage lasted 5.3 years, exceeding the 4.3 years seen in 2024 and greatly outpacing the average two-year shortage experienced in 2019. Moreover, nearly two-thirds of out-of-stock medicines were in short supply for more than three years, and 39% were unavailable for more than five years. Meanwhile, the 75 drugs that were in short supply last year spanned 130 therapeutic categories, indicating that shortages affected a wide range of diseases and patient populations.
In Europe, two divergent paths are emerging as countries grapple with what to do about drug prices, affecting pharma companies and patients across the continent — and testing the influence of the U.S., STAT explains. In the U.K., after a pressure campaign from both pharma companies and the Trump administration, the government has adopted more industry-friendly policies while also simply promising to spend more on medicines. Germany, another of the continent’s biggest markets, is headed in the opposite direction. Facing growing deficits in its health budget, the government has proposed moves that would cut spending and increase the fees the industry has to pay.
STAT+: As the U.S. looks on, European countries feel growing pressure on drug prices
LONDON — In Europe, two divergent paths are emerging as countries grapple with what to do about drug prices, affecting pharma companies and patients across the continent — and testing the influence of the U.S.
In the U.K., after a pressure campaign from both pharma companies and the Trump administration, the government has adopted more industry-friendly policies while also simply promising to spend more on medicines.
Germany, another of the continent’s biggest markets, is headed in the opposite direction. Facing growing deficits in its health budget, the government has proposed moves that would cut spending and increase the fees the industry has to pay.
STAT+: Trump’s health care affordability czar takes aim at hospitals
You know that 1980s Dolly Parton hit “9 to 5”? I wonder if RFK Jr. has heard it? He often works in his office from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the New York Times. Send news tips and ways to make a livin’ to John.Wilkerson@statnews.com or John_Wilkerson.07 on Signal.
Hidden alcohol study revealed
The federal government paid for a report on alcohol consumption. But it refused to publish the results, which show that even people who drink less than one alcoholic beverage a day are increasing their chances of developing a serious illness, Isabella Cueto reports.
The scientists who conducted the study believe the findings were suppressed because they are unfavorable to powerful special interests.
STAT+: Trump’s health care affordability czar touts Medicaid cuts to hospital leaders
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Hospital finance leaders rolled out the red carpet for the Trump administration’s new health care affordability czar at an industry conference on Monday. He promptly took the main stage to champion Medicaid cuts that threaten their bottom lines.
Casey Mulligan, appointed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the Department of Health and Human Services’ chief economist and chief regulatory officer in April, spent most of his speech at the Healthcare Financial Management Association’s conference praising the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s cuts to state-directed payments, which the government projects could save $510 billion over 10 years.
State-directed payments work by first taxing Medicaid providers like hospitals and nursing homes, using that money to obtain federal Medicaid match dollars, and then redistributing the money to providers, often giving them more than they paid in taxes. Since 2024, some providers have gotten reimbursed at much higher commercial rates. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will gradually trim those payments beginning in 2028 until they’re close to or on par with Medicare rates.
The Download: how the World Cup ball will fly and OpenAI’s “super app”
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.
Why this year’s World Cup ball may not fly as far
Much is new about this month’s FIFA World Cup tournament. It hosts more teams than ever before. It’s the first to occur in three different host countries.
And, like every World Cup for over half a century, it will employ a football with a brand-new design.
Through wind-tunnel experiments, researchers found that long-distance kicks with Adidas’s new Trionda ball might not travel as far as they did in the past. The payoff is a more predictable flight path, something players have not always enjoyed from World Cup balls.
Find out how a few grooves and seams can change the way the game is played.
—Jenna Ahart
The must-reads
I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
1 OpenAI plans to turn ChatGPT into a ‘super app’ before its IPO
The revamp would combine coding tools and AI agents. (Financial Times $)
+ The super app ambitions first emerged last year. (Fast Company)
+ OpenAI is also building a fully automated researcher. (MIT Technology Review)
2 Trump wants the US government to take a stake in AI companies
He will meet AI leaders to discuss the plan. (BBC)
+ Which would create “a partnership with the American public.” (Reuters $)
+ He wants a slice of the AI boom. (Axios)
3 Google has agreed to pay SpaceX $30 billion for AI computing power
The $920 million-a-month contract runs through June 2029. (NYT $)
+ Google will use about 110,000 Nvidia GPUs owned by SpaceX. (CNBC)
+ It comes days after Anthropic struck a SpaceX data center deal. (WSJ $)
4 AI is set to make everyday life more expensive
Its insatiable thirst for resources is likely to push up inflation. (WP $)
+ We did the math on AI’s energy footprint. (MIT Technology Review)
5 Europe is accelerating its withdrawal from US Big Tech
New analysis reveals dozens of moves to alternative providers. (Wired $) + Last week, the EU launched a “made in Europe” drive. (Reuters $)
6 ICE plans to give local police a new facial recognition app
It would allow them to verify a person’s immigration status. (404 Media)
+ Is the Pentagon allowed to surveil Americans with AI? (MIT Technology Review)
7 Silicon Valley’s lure is fading for India’s tech talent
Due to Trump’s immigration policies and AI-driven layoffs. (Rest of World)
8 ‘Recursive self-improvement’ has sparked fears of AI escaping control
Nobody is sure about the consequences of RSI. (The Economist $)
+ Here are five ways that AI is learning to improve itself. (MIT Technology Review)
9 Gene-edited embryos are getting closer, but a key safety gap remains
Current techniques still fail to edit every cell. (New Scientist $)
+ “Base-edited baby” is one of our 10 Breakthrough Technologies for 2026. (MIT Technology Review)
10 NASA astronauts will wear high-tech Prada underwear on their moon trips
Ventilation tubes are knitted into the garments. (The Verge)
Quote of the day
“Chat is dead.”
—A senior OpenAI employee tells the Financial Times why the company is shifting focus from chatbots to AI agents.
One More Thing
BETH HOECKEL
How AI is helping historians better understand our past
The digitization of historical records is making it possible to study the past in new ways. Historians are now using machine learning—particularly deep neural networks—to analyze everything from centuries-old astronomy textbooks to ancient Greek inscriptions.
The technology is helping researchers uncover new patterns in the historical record. But it also introduces risks, including the possibility that machine learning will slip bias or outright falsifications into our understanding of the past.
Read the full story on how AI is transforming the study of history.
—Moira Donovan
We can still have nice things
A place for comfort, fun, and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line.)
+ Take a tour of extinct everyday objects to travel back to pre-smartphone life.
+ This a cappella cover of “I Want To Know What Love Is” nails the power-ballad drama.
+ Korea’s ingenious “one-a-day” banana packs are designed so each one ripens sequentially.
+ Casino dialogue has been synced over Looney Tunes footage in this unexpectedly perfect mashup.
STAT+: What stripping civil service protections for thousands of federal workers will mean for HHS
Thousands of Health and Human Services Department staff who shape policy, including on public health, federal health insurance programs, and health data privacy, have had their employment status changed to a designation that makes it easier for them to be fired, and thus makes them more vulnerable to political pressure from the White House.
The reclassification of roughly 8,000 employees across the federal government, outlined in an executive order President Trump issued late Wednesday, also impacts some National Institutes of Health workers who oversee grant funding.
On the whole, health policy experts said, the shift toward a more politicized workforce is part of a broader goal of the Trump administration to shift power away from Congress and toward the executive branch. The policy, known as “Schedule F,” dates back to Trump’s first administration and would create a new class of federal employees that are not political appointees but could be fired at will.