1w ago

Billionaire Peter Thiel backing first privately developed US uranium enrichment facility in Paducah

www.wkms.org

Technology @lemmy.world

Basic Glitch @sh.itjust.works

6d ago

Billionaire Peter Thiel backing first privately developed US uranium enrichment facility in Paducah

www.wkms.org /energy/2025-07-25/billionaire-peter-thiel-backing-first-privately-developed-us-uranium-enrichment-facility-in-paducah

News @lemmy.world

Basic Glitch @sh.itjust.works

6d ago

Billionaire Peter Thiel backing first privately developed US uranium enrichment facility in Paducah

www.wkms.org /energy/2025-07-25/billionaire-peter-thiel-backing-first-privately-developed-us-uranium-enrichment-facility-in-paducah

broligarchywatch @moist.catsweat.com

klu9 @piefed.social

1w ago

Why is a tech billionaire backing a privately-owned uranium enrichment facility?

www.wkms.org /energy/2025-07-25/billionaire-peter-thiel-backing-first-privately-developed-us-uranium-enrichment-facility-in-paducah

16 comments

Wait, the hyper-libertarian technocrat who supports authoritarian independent tech billionaire owned/run “utopias” suddenly needs a private nuclear enrichment facility… the guy who wasn’t sure the “human race should endure” …that guy?
I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.
Oh a private nuclear weapon? Owned by Peter “humanity shouldn’t survive” Theil?
Sure. Of course.
- LOL, hell no. Not even the Trump administration would allow a private concern to enrich weapon grade uranium.
  Or, if you want a cynical take, no administration is going to give up their monopoly on ultraviolence.
  
  I mean - that's what the story says is happening.
To power his fascist takeover
Sounds like a national security threat to be honest.
How is that legal?
- He owns the vice president. That's how.
- Why wouldn't it be? Everyone here assumes he going to try for weapon's grade material. Think any government would allow competition in that space?
  In any case, there's a shitload of tech and tooling that goes into a multi-stage thermonuclear weapon. I think they'd notice him sneaking all that into the plant.
Make nukes or improve nuclear energy? or both?
- Probably for nuclear power for ai
- Energy, presumably to power AI.
The article doesn’t make it clear what their goal is. Nuclear power plants only require enrichment to about 5% uranium-235. Nuclear weapons require in excess of 90%. So my guess is this would be strictly limited to the former.
- Oh, your guess, huh? Better assume honesty and give the benefit of the doubt to technofascists.
lol this is how you get those movie plots about random guys getting their hands on nukes.

16 comments