Four US microreactors hit criticality just in time for July 4, marking a symbolic win for nuclear power. That’s when a reactor sustains a chain reaction — a key step, though not yet grid-ready. Meanwhile, China plans to let its top AI firms like Alibaba and ByteDance buy Nvidia H200 chips, reversing earlier hesitation. NATO is building a network of sensors, drones, satellites, and AI to detect Russian attackers. Meta patented an AI device that records users to analyze emotions, ostensibly for workout plans. And a study shows parents’ phone addictions can damage bonds with kids, causing lifelong insecurity. Also: Ivy League students suspected of AI cheating saw test scores drop from 96% to 48% when retested in person. Why it matters: These stories highlight how AI and energy tech are reshaping everything from geopolitics and defense to parenting and education — forcing us to rethink trust, privacy, and progress.