China’s Artificial Sun Has Set a New World Record

Good morning. China's artificial sun has set a new record. This is huge because they managed to keep their artificial sun running for over 1,200 seconds (20 mins). It burned six times hotter than the sun, breaking the record of the previous 400 seconds.

This week’s 'Under the Radar' pick is Dryad, a Berlin startup. It is tackling, one of the world's biggest environmental challenges: Wildfires.

TODAY IN THE BOT BOX

• Today In People, Money, & Markets

• China’s artificial sun has set a new world record

• Under the Radar: We are now fighting wildfire

• 5 Tools for Entrepreneurs and Techies

• Debunking Myth: Student loans are always a good?

PEOPLE, MONEY, & MARKET (NEWS)

What’s trending on socials today

🏅 It’s official: Elon Musk and his DOGE team can access the US treasury payment system. It processes over $6 trillion a year. It holds millions of Americans' personal data, including Social Security and tax refunds. Critics worry about the misuse of these sensitive, mission-critical systems.

📈 AI Dough:  After the Deepseek boom, Microsoft and Meta invested in AI to stay competitive. Meta will spend $60 to $65 billion on AI infrastructure. Microsoft announced it will stick to its plan to spend $80 billion on AI data centers this fiscal year. Both companies' CEOs praise China's DeepSeek for its real innovations. They also believe that investing in AI is crucial for future growth.

OpenAI drops o3-mini: Now, both Pro subscribers and casual users can try its latest reasoning model. It solves complex math and science questions by "thinking through" them first.

💰 Funding: UVeye, which uses AI to speed up vehicle inspections, raised $191M in a Series D extension. Its total capital is now $380.5 million. The startup is building a vision-based model to "MRI cars." It will quickly find issues for clients like Amazon and CarMax.

THE DEEP DIVE

China’s Artificial Sun Has Set a New World Record

China's artificial sun has set a new record.

This could change how countries produce and consume energy.

This is huge because they managed to keep their artificial sun running for over 1,200 seconds (20 mins). It burned six times hotter than the sun, breaking the record of the previous 400 seconds. Here's how they did it. 

• The East reactor heats a special gas to hotter than our sun's core. It uses powerful magnets to keep it floating. Nothing on Earth can touch something that hot. Unlike nuclear fission, which splits atoms to release energy, fusion combines atoms. This happens in stars.

• This is huge. It brings us closer to creating unlimited fusion energy. It could power entire cities without producing harmful waste.

• The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is a fusion research project. It involves seven members: China (9.1%), the EU (45.6%), India (9.1%), Japan (9.1%), South Korea (9.1%), Russia (9.1%), and the U.S. (9.1%).

Behind the scenes: Many countries including the USA have a 9% stake in this project with the EU holding the largest share. All aim to develop a Fusion reactor. They want to advance their nuclear programs to meet their energy needs..

UNDER THE RADAR

We Are Now Fighting Wildfire

This week’s 'Under the Radar' pick is Dryad, a Berlin startup. It is tackling, one of the world's biggest environmental challenges: Wildfires. Dryad uses AI sensors and IoT networks to change how we manage fire risks. This creates a new niche in the environmental tech sector.

• In October 2024, the company got $6.3 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). It will use the money to revolutionize wildfire management. It will develop new detection and suppression technologies.

• Why it matters: Dryad's AI sensor network and drone system, Florian, will change the game. By detecting fires at their earliest stages, Dryad saves lives and forests. It also creates new opportunities in climate tech. That's why Dryad's technology could be key to a sustainable future.

5 STARTUPS TO WATCH

Tools for Entrepreneurs and Techies

✅ Jasper: A tool that helps entrepreneurs and marketers build AI apps. It's a purpose-built AI that ties workflows to real business results.

✅ Wepost: This AI tool automates your social media workflow. It creates, publishes, and analyzes content. So, you can focus on building your brand.

✅ Genaimo: An AI partner for 3D animation. It simplifies workflows to bring your creative visions to life.

✅ QuickSearchPlus: Say goodbye to endless tabs! QuickSearchPlus organizes, summarizes, and secures your AI-powered browsing for ultimate productivity. Click, search, done!

✅ Infuzu: Use a single platform that combines the best AI models. It will find the best one for every request.

DEBUNKING MONEY MYTH 

Myth of the week: Student loans are always a good investment

Many believe borrowing for college is always wise. A degree, they think, guarantees a good job. But that’s not always true.

While education can open doors, not all degrees lead to high-paying careers. If you take out a big loan for a degree that doesn’t help you earn enough, repaying it can become a struggle.

For example, a computer science graduate who spends $50,000 on their degree might get an $80,000-a-year job. That would make it easier to pay off their loan. In contrast, a person who invests in a film studies degree may earn only $30,000 a year. This makes paying back loans much more difficult.

The Smart Approach:

1. Check salary expectations: Research the average salary for jobs in your field before taking out loans.

2. Consider lower-cost options: Community colleges, scholarships, and online courses can help.

3. Think about job demand: Some careers have more job openings than others. A degree in healthcare or tech may offer more job opportunities than one in a crowded field.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK