What's Happening

International

Israel Says Its Military Killed the Leader of Hamas — What Does It Mean for the War?

What's going on: Yesterday, Israel’s foreign minister said that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas. Sinwar is considered the mastermind behind the militant group’s Oct. 7, 2023 attack, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in the capture of about 250 hostages. As one of Israel’s most-wanted men and top military targets, Sinwar eluded Israeli forces for more than a year. But according to Israeli officials, on Wednesday, an IDF squad encountered Sinwar and other Hamas fighters in southern Gaza, leading to an exchange of gunfire. Israeli officials said they used DNA testing to confirm Sinwar’s identity. After being asked whether Sinwar’s death marked the beginning of the end of Hamas, a senior Hamas official told NBC News that the organization would become stronger. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sinwar’s death marked “an important moment in the war.”

What it means: The Israel-Hamas war has raged for over a year, killing more than 42,000 Palestinians, plunging the territory into a humanitarian crisis, and threatening to push the Middle East into a wider regional war. Now that the IDF says it has killed Sinwar, many are hopeful that Israel might scale back its military operations in Gaza. Netanyahu has framed this moment as an opportunity to bring home the remaining 101 hostages — at least a third of whom are feared to be dead, according to Israeli officials. Although cease-fire talks between Hamas and Israel have stalled in recent weeks, The New York Times reports that the militant group could be more inclined to negotiate with Israel after the deaths of Sinwar and other Hamas leaders. However, it’s not clear what comes next for the region, as Netanyahu said the war isn’t over, and Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah shows no sign of ending.

Related: UN Peacekeepers Face Challenges Along the Israel-Lebanon Border (NBC)

Technology

AI Needs a Whole Lot of Energy — Is Nuclear the Answer?

What's going on: The tech industry is going nuclear. (No, it’s not fuming.) Earlier this week, Google and Amazon made separate but similar announcements: They’re investing in small nuclear reactors to help power their AI dreams. Right now, one of the companies’ core issues is keeping up with the mounting energy demands of AI data centers. So, how much electricity does AI actually use? The New Yorker reported ChatGPT uses more than half a million-kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity daily. To put that into perspective, the average US household uses about 29 kWh per day. Think about that the next time you ask a chatbot to help write your emails.

What it means: The rapid growth of data centers, driven in part by ChatGPT and similar AI models, has led utility companies to burn more fossil fuels (the primary contributor to climate change). The International Energy Agency estimates that data centers will more than double their 2022 electricity consumption, exceeding 1,000 terawatt hours by 2026 — about the same as Japan’s annual electricity use. While nuclear power is a carbon-free energy source, critics say it generates radioactive waste, which can harm the environment and pose significant security risks. Still, tech companies are betting on small nuclear reactors, which are cheaper to build and produce about a third of the power of a regular reactor, as a more sustainable and climate-friendly solution to power AI. Now, that’s watts up. 

Related: A Winner of the AI Boom? This Caribbean Island (CNN)

Health

Placentas Can Offer Healing Benefits — Why Are They Being Thrown Away?

What's going on: Among the examples of what the female body is capable of, Marcella Townsend’s story stands out. After surviving a propane explosion at her mother’s house in 2021, Townsend’s face became unrecognizable. That is until surgeons used a graft made out of a human placenta — yes, the organ that forms in the womb during pregnancy — to heal the 47-year-old’s burnt skin. Research has found that, even after it exits the body, the placenta is packed with stem cells and important proteins. The organ can help promote speedy skin and tissue regrowth, heal chronic wounds (like diabetic ulcers), and even restore vision. In an interview with The New York Times, Townsend said her face healed to look “exactly like it did before.” Now, Townsend’s story is putting a spotlight on the regenerative powers of placentas and why some in the medical community are pushing to stop their disposal.

What it means: For over a century, doctors have been aware of the organ’s benefits, yet most of the roughly 3.5 million placentas delivered in the US each year are treated as medical waste. Truly, what a loss. One doctor told the NYT her research suggests more women would be open to donating the organ after birth if they knew it was an option. Some hospitals accept them to help treat patients’ chronic and surgical wounds, but there isn’t much of a structured donation pipeline for placentas like there is for kidney donors. Concerns about disease transmission during the AIDS epidemic also put placenta donations largely out of practice. Meanwhile, the potential for placental grafts hasn’t gone under the FDA’s radar. The agency told the NYT that it’s committed to delivering a “development pathway” for products aimed at repairing damaged tissues and organs.

Related: From the Kardashians to Chrissy Teigan, Celebs Are Eating Their Placentas. But, Are There Any Benefits From It? (The Guardian)