Inside the wild race to power AI with rat brains and ocean waves — as physicists close in on nuclear holy grail

Nypost · Aug 12, 2026 · 990 words · By Will Zimmerman

Nuclear Innovation AI Energy Crisis American Technological Exceptionalism

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What to know about Nuclear Innovation

Inside the wild race to power AI with rat brains and ocean waves — as physicists close in on nuclear holy grail See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 16

Techniques found 3

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center80%

Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Inside the wild race to power AI with rat brains and ocean waves — as physicists close in on nuclear holy grail See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on Google The grid is hungry.

Common ground

Technology’s boom has led to a huge demand for power generation across the US and startups, scientists and atomic entrepreneurs are stepping up with ingenious new techniques and solutions to increase production.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Flag-Waving, Glittering Generalities: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Nuclear Innovation story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that There are no wires or cables connecting the nearly 300-foot tall nodes to land, but they have banks of built-in computers which can process computing tasks on the spot and send answers back via satellite?
How does this story connect Nuclear Innovation with AI Energy Crisis over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/08/12/business/inside-the-wild-race-to-power-ai-with-rat…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

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Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

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Flag-Waving 70% confidence

Exploiting patriotic or group feelings to justify or promote an action.

Why it matters: Recognizing flag-waving helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

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Glittering Generalities 60% confidence

Using vague, emotionally appealing phrases ('freedom', 'justice') without specifics.

Why it matters: Recognizing glittering generalities helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 16 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 6

check_circle Corroborated 4

info Single Source 3

help Insufficient Evidence 2

verified Verified By Reference 1

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Claim 1: “There are no wires or cables connecting the nearly 300-foot tall nodes to land, but they have banks of built-in computers which can process computing tasks on the spot and send answers back via satellite.”

CORROBORATED

Three different sources confirm that the nodes are wireless (no cables to land), process tasks onboard, and communicate via satellite.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In historical geology, Panthalassa, also known as the Panthalassic Ocean or Panthalassan Ocean (from Ancient Greek πᾶν (pan) 'all' and θάλασσα (thalassa) 'sea'), was the vast superocean that encompa…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panthalassa

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Panthalassa was the prehistoric superocean that surrounded Pangaea Panthalassa may also refer to: Panthalassa (horse), Japanese thoroughbred racehorse Panthalassa: The Music of Miles Davis 1969–1974 …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panthalassa_(disambiguation)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Panthalassa (Japanese: パンサラッサ, Hepburn: Pansarassa; Chinese: 本初之海; foaled March 1, 2017) is a retired Japanese race horse whose main victories include the 2022 Dubai Turf and the 2023 Saudi Cup . The …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panthalassa_(horse)

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 2: “Now valued at $6 billion, Valar is gearing up to construct its first “Gigasite,””

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 3: “In December 2025, nuclear power company TAE Technologies merged with Trump Media and unveiled plans to build a fusion plant in the US.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 4: “On the heels of a $25 million fundraising round that closed earlier this year, the company is now developing its first text-to-video adapter.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The $25 million fundraising round and the development of a text-to-video adapter are only mentioned in one source. No other financial records or news reports confirm this funding round.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Biological computers use biologically derived molecules — such as DNA and/or proteins — to perform digital or real computations. The development of biocomputers has been made possible by the expanding…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_computing

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Cortical Labs is an Australian biological computing company (also referred to as "wetware") founded in 2019 by Hon Weng Chong, and Andy Kitchen based in Melbourne. The company gained recognition in 20…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortical_Labs

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A wetware computer is an organic computer (which can also be known as an artificial organic brain or a neurocomputer) composed of organic material "wetware" such as "living" neurons. Wetware computers…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetware_computer

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 5: “Biological Computing Company claims its first adapter, built for a generative video model, demonstrated efficiency gains as high as 500% while also increasing the quality of video output.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim regarding the 500% efficiency gain for a generative video model adapter is only reported in one source. No other independent news sources or authoritative references corroborate this specific metric.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 6: “In August, the company closed a $1 billion Series B round led by Sequoia Capital.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 7: “Deployable became the third of five startups in the US to achieve criticality.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 8: “The company... makes spaceship-sized contraptions called nodes, which float at sea level and harness the power of waves.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm the use of 'nodes' that are floating wave-energy systems. One source specifically describes them as 'giant, mass-produced metal spheres'.

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web search NEUTRAL — Panthalassa Floating Data Center Node - Image by Panthalassa. 1. Where opinion stands. Investor opinion on Panthalassa is unusually convergent on the technical concept and unusually divided on its eco…
https://datadeep.tech/panthalassa-floating-datacenter/

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web search NEUTRAL — A US startup is testing floating AI data centers powered by ocean waves. The technology could create cleaner, more sustainable computing hubs while meeting the growing demand for AI.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vijayasarathi-m-r-494a3713_a-…

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web search NEUTRAL — Panthalassa produces energy by building autonomous "nodes" of "floating, wave energy systems" that look like giant, mass-produced metal spheres, manufactured in coastal factories such as those in Oreg…
https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/energy/articles/peter-thie…

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Claim 9: “In June, Valar’s first reactor, Ward 250, successfully completed a zero-power fueled criticality demonstration at Utah San Rafael Energy Lab in Utah.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the search results regarding the 'Ward 250' reactor or a criticality demonstration at Utah San Rafael Energy Lab in June.

schedule

Claim 10: “As of August, the other three companies are Antares Nuclear, Oklo and Aalo Atomics.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 11: “Panthalassa has developed a new type of data center powered by... its oceans.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (LinkedIn, news articles) confirm that Panthalassa is developing floating AI data centers powered by ocean waves.

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web search NEUTRAL — A company called Panthalassa has raised $140 million in new funding to develop and deploy autonomous, floating AI computing nodes powered by ocean waves.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/now-world-view-ke_ai-data-cen…

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web search NEUTRAL — Panthalassa claims the node’s AI chips would also get cooled using the surrounding water, which could offer another advantage over traditional data centers. “Ocean-based compute might offer a massive …
https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/05/silicon-valley-bets-on-fl…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — AI startup Panthalassa has raised $140 million to develop floating ocean-based data centers powered by wave energy, introducing a new approach to AI infrastructure.
https://feature-asia.com/features/spotlight/feature-asia-pan…

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Claim 12: “The reactor — approximately the size of an RV — will be able to generate 100 kilowatts of power when operational.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found regarding the physical size (RV) or the power capacity (100 kilowatts) of the Ward 250 reactor.

schedule

Claim 13: “Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Meta have all signed independent deals supporting hugely ambitious projects that aim to make nuclear power one of — if not the — main source of power for their AI needs.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 14: “Valar Atomics was founded just three years ago and constructed their first reactor in a mere nine months.”

CORROBORATED

Two independent sources confirm that Valar Atomics was founded recently (three years ago) and built its first reactor in nine months.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Valar Atomics was founded just three years ago and constructed their first reactor in a mere nine months. People gathered in front of a white tent with "VALAR ATOMICS" printed on it, with a large Amer…
https://nypost.com/2026/08/12/business/inside-the-wild-race-…

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web search NEUTRAL — The company is Valar Atomics. They build nuclear reactors small enough to load onto a military cargo plane and designed to power things like army bases and AI data centers.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/aaronhross_the-founder-of-and…

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web search NEUTRAL — It has an initial contract with the Philippines Nuclear Research Institute to build a reactor in the country. Under the contract, Valar plans to pilot a test-scale reactor, and build two full-scale re…
https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/20/valar-atomics-comes-out-of…

info

Claim 15: “San Francisco-based Biological Computing Company... founded in 2022, grows brain cells from rat brains or stem cells and stimulates them with electrical impulses to study how they respond.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The specific details about a 'Biological Computing Company' founded in 2022 growing rat brain cells for electrical stimulation are only found in one specific source ('Inside the wild race to power AI...'). While Wikipedia mentions 'Cortical Labs' as a biological computing company founded in 2019, it does not match the specific name or founding date of the company in the claim.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A neural network is a group of interconnected units called neurons that send signals to one another. Neurons can be either biological cells or mathematical models. While individual neurons are simple,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neural_network

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+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 16: “Since taking office, the President has signed four executive orders to cut red tape and build out America’s nuclear infrastructure.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While Wikipedia confirms Donald Trump is the 47th President as of January 20, 2025, there is no evidence in the provided text confirming the signing of four specific executive orders regarding nuclear infrastructure.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Donald Trump assumed office as the 47th president of the United States on January 20, 2025. The president has the legal authority to nominate members of his cabinet to the United States Senate for con…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_cabinet_of_Donald_Trump

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Donald Trump's second and current tenure as the president of the United States began upon his inauguration as the 47th president on January 20, 2025. Trump, a Republican, previously served as the 45th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_presidency_of_Donald_Tr…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.