Committee explores nuclear solutions to AI demand
House Science, Space and Technology Committee lawmakers will meet this week to discuss how nuclear energy could help meet a projected surge in demand from artificial intelligence operations.
The Energy Subcommittee hearing — to be led by Chair Randy Weber (R-Texas) — continues Republicans' early focus and significant concern regarding supply and demand in the 119th Congress. They believe baseload energy sources, such as nuclear and fossil fuels, need to be built at a rapid pace to offset a surge in intermittent, renewable energy generation that could put grid reliability at risk.
Indeed, transmission providers are forecasting an 8.2 percent growth in electricity load over the next five years primarily due to AI data center proliferation. That's equivalent to hooking up nearly 50 million homes to the grid by 2029.
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But whether nuclear energy can actually meet that demand remains a point of debate among energy and policy experts.
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Associated Press
19 minutes ago
- Associated Press
National Guard troops have temporarily detained civilians in LA protests, commander says
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CNET
20 minutes ago
- CNET
Get a Free Marvel Rivals Future Foundation Skin and Hawkeye Skin in Season 2.5
Marvel Rivals season 2.5 is moving the Hellfire Gala afterparty to space -- our heroes are heading to the sentient planet Arakko to prevent Ultron's planet-exterminating plans from coming to fruition. Stopping a robot army is going to require a whole new wardrobe's worth of battle gear. Luckily for you, there are many ways to unlock some free skins in the hit hero shooter right now -- including a new seasonal pass that unlocks a free Mister Fantastic skin. This Combat Chest event is the debut of a secondary battle pass system in Marvel Rivals, and it's a fairly standard experience-based reward. Free-to-play gamers will be able to unlock sprays, emotes and other odds and ends but the big ticket item is the Mister Fantastic Future Foundation skin. Outside of the latest event, there are still other ways to earn free skins right now. Whether you're getting used to the new suite of team-up abilities or you're getting in more playtime on the latest addition to the Strategist roster by beaming down enemies with Ultron, season 2.5 has introduced a slate of free skins that you can use to deck out your favorite characters. Here's what you should know about the Combat Chest, the Cerebro Database Part 2 event and the rest of the free skin lineup at the beginning of Marvel Rivals season 2.5. The Combat Chest is a new type of battle pass -- it's a more traditional experience-based progression system. NetEase Games/Screenshot by CNET Get the Mister Fantastic Future Foundation skin during the first ever Combat Chest event A new type of experience-based battle pass launched at the beginning of season 2.5. The Combat Chest is a smaller, half-season battle pass that rewards consistent playtime over challenge completion. 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Mister Fantastic Future Foundation: Complete 18 tiers of the current Combat Chest battle pass by July 11 to unlock this skin. Complete 18 tiers of the current Combat Chest battle pass by July 11 to unlock this skin. Emma Frost Will of Galacta: To claim this skin, you'll need to link a Twitch account to your Marvel Rivals account and then watch four hours of livestreams from streamers participating in the drop campaign. If you're unsure about which channels are partnered with Marvel Rivals, look for the mention of "Drops" in the stream title. This skin is only available until Friday, June 27. To claim this skin, you'll need to link a Twitch account to your Marvel Rivals account and then watch four hours of livestreams from streamers participating in the drop campaign. If you're unsure about which channels are partnered with Marvel Rivals, look for the mention of "Drops" in the stream title. This skin is only available until Friday, June 27. Emma Frost Golden Diamond: Reach Gold rank or higher in competitive mode in season 2. You must play at least 10 competitive matches to be eligible to receive the skin. Reach Gold rank or higher in competitive mode in season 2. You must play at least 10 competitive matches to be eligible to receive the skin. Ultron Golden Ultron: Reach Gold rank or higher in competitive mode in season 2.5. You must play at least 10 competitive matches to be eligible to receive the skin. Reach Gold rank or higher in competitive mode in season 2.5. You must play at least 10 competitive matches to be eligible to receive the skin. Magik Retro X-Uniform: Reach page 3 in the season 2 battle pass by July 11. Reach page 3 in the season 2 battle pass by July 11. Iron Fist Immortal Weapon of Agamotto: Reach page 9 in the season 2 battle pass by July 11. Four of the currently available free skins are not time-gated although they are locked behind achievements or platform exclusivity. Here are the Marvel Rivals skins you can unlock at any time: Spider-Man Scarlet Spider: This skin is available to PS Plus subscribers who play the game on the PS5. It can be found on the PSN Store under Marvel Rivals DLC. This skin is available to PS Plus subscribers who play the game on the PS5. It can be found on the PSN Store under Marvel Rivals DLC. Peni Parker Ven#m: Like the Scarlet Spider skin, this Ven#m skin is available for PS Plus subscribers and can be found in the PSN Store. This skin is also available in the Marvel Rivals in-game store, where it can be purchased with units. Like the Scarlet Spider skin, this Ven#m skin is available for PS Plus subscribers and can be found in the PSN Store. This skin is also available in the Marvel Rivals in-game store, where it can be purchased with units. Storm Ivory Breeze: Earn 200 Achievement Points in the Heroic Journey achievement section. Earn 200 Achievement Points in the Heroic Journey achievement section. Star-Lord Jovial Star: Earn 400 Achievement Points in the Heroic Journey achievement section. A classic X-Man look for Magik is available free on the Season 2 battle pass. NetEase Games/Screenshot by CNET How can I get more free Marvel Rivals skins? There are many ways to get skins in Marvel Rivals. Sometimes the developer issues special codes to unlock them while others require completing challenges. There are also some made available by watching streams on Twitch and many skins are "free" for progressing through the Marvel Rivals Battle Pass, which costs 990 Lattice, or about $10. You can also earn skins through regularly playing the game, as a free skin is frequently awarded with the completion of seasonal events. Players who reach gold rank or higher in competition also receive a free skin as a reward for their performance. Live events like Cerebro Database include free skins as a completion reward. What free skins used to be available in Marvel Rivals? 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Venom Cyan Clash: This skin was an exclusive reward for Closed Beta players, rewarded upon logging in for the first time in season 0. This skin was an exclusive reward for Closed Beta players, rewarded upon logging in for the first time in season 0. Magneto Will of Galacta: This skin was unlocked as a Twitch drop during season 0. The skin rotated out of availability on Dec. 31, 2024. This skin was unlocked as a Twitch drop during season 0. The skin rotated out of availability on Dec. 31, 2024. Moon Knight Golden Moonlight: This skin was available as a competitive reward for any players who reached Gold or higher in Competitive mode in season 0. This skin was available as a competitive reward for any players who reached Gold or higher in Competitive mode in season 0. Jeff the Shark Cuddly Fuzzlefin: This skin was a reward for the season 0 Winter Celebration event. This skin was a reward for the season 0 Winter Celebration event. Hela Empress of the Cosmos: This skin was a free reward from the season 0 battle pass. The season 0 battle pass was briefly available for purchase again during season 2, temporarily reintroducing this skin to the game. Season 1 free skins Hela Will of Galacta: This skin was unlocked as a Twitch drop during season 1. The skin rotated out of availability on Jan. 25, 2025. This skin was unlocked as a Twitch drop during season 1. The skin rotated out of availability on Jan. 25, 2025. Adam Warlock Will of Galacta: This skin was unlocked as a Twitch drop during season 1. The skin rotated out of availability on April 4, 2025. This skin was unlocked as a Twitch drop during season 1. The skin rotated out of availability on April 4, 2025. Winter Soldier Revolution: Available via a promo code sent to moviegoers who saw Captain America: Brave New World in participating Regal theaters during opening weekend. Also available to buy in the in-game shop. Available via a promo code sent to moviegoers who saw Captain America: Brave New World in participating Regal theaters during opening weekend. Also available to buy in the in-game shop. Invisible Woman Blood Shield: This skin was available as a competitive reward for any players who reached Gold or higher in Competitive mode in season 1. This skin was available as a competitive reward for any players who reached Gold or higher in Competitive mode in season 1. Human Torch Blood Blaze: This skin was available as a competitive reward for any players who reached Gold or higher in Competitive mode in season 1.5. This skin was available as a competitive reward for any players who reached Gold or higher in Competitive mode in season 1.5. Thor Reborn From Ragnarok: This skin was a reward for the season 1 Midnight Features Part 1 event. This skin was a reward for the season 1 Midnight Features Part 1 event. Groot Carved Traveler: This skin was a reward for the season 1 Midnight Features Part 2 event. This skin was a reward for the season 1 Midnight Features Part 2 event. Black Widow Mrs. Barnes: This skin was a reward for the season 1 Galacta's Cosmic Adventure event. It can be bought now in the in-game shop. This skin was a reward for the season 1 Galacta's Cosmic Adventure event. It can be bought now in the in-game shop. Peni Parker Blue Tarantula: This skin was a free reward from the season 1 battle pass. This skin was a free reward from the season 1 battle pass. Scarlet Witch Emporium Matron: This skin was a free reward from the season 1 battle pass. Season 2 free skins
21 minutes ago
Members of the Fulbright scholarship board resign, accusing Trump of meddling
All 12 members of the board overseeing the prestigious Fulbright scholarships on Wednesday resigned in protest of what they call the Trump administration's meddling with the selection of award recipients, according to a statement. A statement published online by the board members said the administration usurped the board's authority by denying awards to 'a substantial number of people' who already had been chosen. Another 1,200 award recipients who were already approved to come to the U.S. are undergoing an unauthorized review process that could lead to their rejection, the board members said. 'To continue to serve after the Administration has consistently ignored the Board's request that they follow the law would risk legitimizing actions we believe are unlawful and damage the integrity of this storied program and America's credibility abroad,' the statement reads. Congress established the Fulbright program nearly 80 years ago to promote international exchange and American diplomacy. The highly selective program awards about 9,000 scholarships annually in the U.S. and in more than 160 other countries to students, scholars, and professionals in a range of fields. A message seeking comment was left with the State Department, which runs the scholarship program. The resignations were first reported by The New York Times. The intervention from the Trump administration undermined the program's merit-based selection process and its insulation from political influence, the board members wrote. 'We believe these actions not only contradict the statute but are antithetical to the Fulbright mission and the values, including free speech and academic freedom, that Congress specified in the statute,' the statement said. 'It is our sincere hope that Congress, the courts, and future Fulbright Boards will prevent the administration's efforts to degrade, dismantle, or even eliminate one of our nation's most respected and valuable programs.' Award recipients are selected in a yearlong process by nonpartisan staff at the State Department. The recipients who had their awards canceled are in fields including biology, engineering, medical sciences, and history, the board members said. The announcement comes as the Trump administration ratchets up scrutiny of international students on several fronts. The administration has expanded the grounds for revoking foreign students' legal status, and recently paused scheduling of new interviews for student visas as it increases vetting of their social media activity. The government also has moved to block foreign students from attending Harvard as it pressures the Ivy League school to adopt a series of reforms. ___ standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
