European Leadership Transition Brings New Obstacles for Major Tech Companies

**The Evolving Terrain of EU Tech Regulation: Fresh Faces, Persistent Challenges**

Over the last five years, the European Union (EU) has adopted a stringent approach towards Big Tech, implementing an array of regulations to rein in the influence of American tech behemoths such as Apple, Google, Meta, and TikTok. Leading this regulatory initiative was Thierry Breton, the outspoken EU Commissioner for the Internal Market, who became emblematic of Europe’s mounting irritation with Silicon Valley.

Breton’s time in office was defined by his confrontational and vocal tactics. He gained a reputation for directly challenging tech leaders, frequently leveraging social media to underline his alerts. Whether it was calling out Apple for “squeezing” its rivals out of the industry or reminding Elon Musk of the repercussions of spreading harmful content on X (previously Twitter), Breton made it abundantly clear that the EU was determined to hold Big Tech to account.

Nevertheless, in an unexpected development, Breton has recently stepped down from his role, citing internal negotiations between EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron. His exit signifies the conclusion of a chapter, yet it does not indicate the halting of the EU’s regulatory ambitions. In fact, the leadership baton has been handed to a new cadre of officials, including Finnish politician Henna Virkkunen, who will assume Breton’s responsibilities under a newly elevated designation: Executive Vice President for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy.

### A Refined Strategy for Big Tech Regulation

Henna Virkkunen’s appointment signals a potential transformation in the EU’s strategy toward regulating Big Tech. While Breton was characterized by his assertive demeanor, Virkkunen is anticipated to take a more calculated and less adversarial stance. As noted by Umberto Gambini, a former adviser at the EU Parliament, “Her approach will definitely be less harsh and perhaps less visible on X than Breton. This could provide a chance to refresh and reboot the relationships.”

Virkkunen’s new title embodies a wider transformation in the EU’s focus. Whereas Breton concentrated on the internal market and the enforcement of regulations like the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Virkkunen’s portfolio will cover a broader spectrum of topics, including tech sovereignty and security. This modification implies that the EU is increasingly alarmed about its dependency on external technologies, especially in vital sectors such as semiconductors and raw materials.

This redirection in focus was underscored in a recent report from economist and former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, who cautioned that Europe risks becoming “vulnerable to coercion” internationally if it does not secure its supply chains for essential technologies. Consequently, Virkkunen’s responsibilities will encompass not only the enforcement of current tech regulations but also the geopolitical and security ramifications of Europe’s technology dependencies.

### The Legacy of Thierry Breton and Margrethe Vestager

Breton’s resignation is not the sole significant shift in the EU’s regulatory framework. Margrethe Vestager, another key player in the battle against Big Tech, has also left her position. Vestager, who has been the EU’s antitrust chief for ten years, established herself as one of the world’s most influential regulators. She played a crucial role in cases such as the one that compelled Apple to pay $14.4 billion in back taxes to Ireland, a verdict that Apple CEO Tim Cook famously criticized as “total political crap.”

Vestager’s exit marks the conclusion of a notable period in EU antitrust regulation, but her influence will continue to affect the regulatory scene. She will be succeeded by Spanish politician Teresa Ribera, whose responsibilities will encompass competition as well as Europe’s environmental transition. Ribera’s emphasis on sustainability hints that Big Tech may no longer be the primary focus for the EU’s competition regulators, as the bloc redirects its efforts towards climate-related initiatives.

### Challenges in Enforcement Ahead

Despite these leadership shifts, the EU’s regulatory apparatus remains vigorous. The regulations enacted over the past five years, including the DSA and DMA, still await enforcement. Numerous high-profile investigations are ongoing, targeting companies like Apple, Google, and Meta for potential violations of the DMA. Under the DSA, platforms such as TikTok, Meta, AliExpress, and X are also under scrutiny for their management of harmful content and user safety.

One of the most scrutinized cases involves Elon Musk’s X, which faces allegations of promoting harmful content. J. Scott Marcus, a senior fellow at the think tank Bruegel, cautions that Musk’s operations are likely to conflict with the DSA, irrespective of who leads the enforcement efforts. “The nature of the confrontation may become somewhat more civil, but the issues are unlikely to dissipate,” Marcus observes.

### The Future for Big Tech in Europe

As the EU embarks on a new chapter of tech regulation, the emphasis is shifting from crafting new legislation to enforcing existing ones. Although the leadership has changed, the hurdles facing Big

“Transforming Plastics into Gas Through Vaporization for Recycling Purposes”

### An Advancement in Plastic Recycling: Converting Polyolefins into Valuable Chemicals

Our planet is grappling with an escalating plastic dilemma, with landfills and oceans increasingly overwhelmed by refuse that requires decades, if not centuries, to decompose. Among the primary culprits are **polypropylene** and **polyethylene**, two categories of plastics that are omnipresent in daily life. These substances are present in everything from food packaging and plastic bags to car bumpers and toys. Although they are recyclable, the recycling process for these plastics is frequently ineffective, expensive, and detrimental to the environment, resulting in considerable emissions of greenhouse gases such as methane.

Nevertheless, a recent breakthrough by researchers at the **University of California, Berkeley** presents an encouraging solution. They have devised an innovative method to effectively recycle these persistent plastics, transforming them into valuable chemicals that can be utilized to produce new plastics. This technique has the potential to revolutionize plastic waste management and significantly decrease our dependence on fossil fuels.

### The Issue with Polyolefins

Polypropylene and polyethylene are classified as **polyolefins**, which are polymers formed through the polymerization of ethylene and propylene—raw materials primarily sourced from fossil fuels. These plastics pose particular challenges for recycling due to their molecular structure, which features lengthy chains of single carbon-carbon bonds that are notoriously difficult to decompose. In contrast, most other polymers contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond, making them simpler to break down.

While it is possible to recycle polypropylene and polyethylene technically, the procedure is often inefficient and costly. Additionally, it frequently leads to methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. Considering the vast quantities of these plastics in circulation, discovering a more effective recycling process is essential.

### A Novel Recycling Approach: Isomerizing Ethenolysis

The research team at UC Berkeley has created a recycling technique known as **isomerizing ethenolysis**, which employs catalysts to disassemble the long polymer chains of polypropylene and polyethylene into smaller molecules. These smaller molecules, primarily **propylene** and **isobutylene**, are gases at ambient temperature and can be reused to create new plastics.

The method consists of two crucial phases:

1. **Disrupting the Polymer Chains**: The initial phase employs a catalyst composed of **sodium on alumina** to sever the long polymer chains into shorter ones. This stage also generates carbon-carbon double bonds at the ends of the chains, enhancing their reactivity and facilitating further breakdown.

2. **Olefin Metathesis**: The subsequent phase involves exposing the fragmented chains to a stream of **ethylene gas** while incorporating a catalyst made from **tungsten oxide on silica**. This interaction results in the rupture of the carbon-carbon bonds, transforming the polymers into propylene and isobutylene.

According to the researchers, the ethylene gas is vital for this reaction. “The ethylene is essential to this reaction, as it acts as a co-reactant,” noted **R.J. Conk**, one of the authors of the study. “The broken links then react with ethylene, which eliminates the links from the chain. Without ethylene, the reaction cannot proceed.”

### Exceptional Selectivity and Valuable Byproducts

One of the most encouraging facets of this method is its **high selectivity**, indicating that it yields a significant amount of the sought-after products—propylene and isobutylene. Both of these chemicals are in substantial demand:

– **Propylene** is a crucial raw material within the chemical industry, utilized in the production of a wide array of products, including plastics, textiles, and chemicals.
– **Isobutylene** is a monomer used in manufacturing various polymers, including synthetic rubber, and serves as a gasoline additive.

By transforming waste plastics into these valuable chemicals, this technique could aid in lessening the need for fossil fuel-derived raw materials, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

### Recycling Mixed Plastics

A significant hurdle in plastic recycling is that plastics are often combined in waste streams, complicating efficient recycling. To tackle this, the researchers applied their method to a blend of polypropylene and polyethylene. The outcomes were promising: the process effectively converted the mixture into propylene and isobutylene, yielding slightly more propylene than isobutylene.

The team also tested the method on actual plastic waste, including a centrifuge and a bread bag, both containing remnants of other polymers. Although the yield of propylene and isobutylene was somewhat lower than with pure polypropylene and polyethylene, the results remained promising.

However, when the researchers introduced additional types of plastics, such as **PET** (polyethylene terephthalate) and **PVC** (polyvinyl chloride), the yield decreased significantly. This implies that for the method to be viable on a larger scale, contaminants will need to be minimized.

### Expanding for the Future

While this innovative recycling approach shows considerable potential, it will require significant scaling to effectuate a meaningful impact on global plastic waste.

NASA’s Strategy for Deorbiting the ISS Encounters Possible Obstacles from Russia

### The Prospects of the International Space Station: Charting a Course Through Turbulence and Global Strains

The International Space Station (ISS) has for years represented a hallmark of global collaboration, especially between the United States and Russia. Nevertheless, recent geopolitical friction, notably following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has overshadowed the future of this joint space initiative. In spite of these hurdles, the ISS continues its operations, with both NASA and Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency, adhering to their obligations to the station—at least for the time being.

#### A Chaotic Phase for the ISS Alliance

Just over two years ago, the outlook for the ISS became uncertain when Dmitry Rogozin, the former head of Roscosmos, made divisive remarks hinting that Russia might withdraw from the space station due to Western sanctions linked to the Ukraine situation. Rogozin, recognized for his dramatic social media antics, frequently used the ISS to negotiate, issuing ambiguous threats about Russia’s potential exit from the program. However, in July 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Rogozin and appointed Yuri Borisov, a former deputy prime minister, indicating a change in strategy.

Although the ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to strain relations between Russia and Western nations, the ISS has remained one of the few domains where collaboration endures. In 2022, Russia officially prolonged its engagement with the ISS until 2028, while NASA and additional space agencies, including those from Europe, Japan, and Canada, have committed to keeping the station functioning until 2030.

#### The 2028-2030 Gap: A Point of Anxiety

The two-year discrepancy between Russia’s commitment (ending in 2028) and the plans of other ISS partners (extending to 2030) raises concerns among NASA officials. This unpredictability has led NASA to adopt precautionary steps. In June 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX a contract to design a deorbit vehicle based on the Dragon spacecraft. This vehicle would guide the ISS, which weighs in excess of 450 tons, toward a controlled reentry over a remote oceanic area when its operational period concludes.

Robyn Gatens, the director of the ISS program at NASA Headquarters, recognized the ambiguity during a recent session of NASA’s advisory council. “We do face that uncertainty, from 2028 to 2030, with Roscosmos,” she stated. “We anticipate updates from them in the coming year or two regarding their future plans, hoping that those will also extend to 2030.”

#### Russia’s Space Program: A Vital Dependence on the ISS

Russia’s choice to extend its involvement in the ISS through 2028 was strategic. The Russian space program relies heavily on the ISS for its human spaceflight endeavors. Should Russia depart from the program in 2028, it would encounter vast challenges. The nation currently lacks its own space station in low-Earth orbit, and the likelihood of developing one within four years is minimal. Without the ISS, Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft, which currently transports astronauts to and from the station, would lack a destination.

While Russia has been strengthening ties with China in space exploration, China’s Tiangong space station is not reachable from Russia’s launch facilities, complicating Russia’s options further. This places Roscosmos in a vulnerable position, with its future in human spaceflight intricately linked to the ISS.

#### The Interconnectedness of the US and Russian Components

The ISS represents an incredible feat of international engineering, with various parts of the station operated by different nations. The US and Russian sections of the ISS are notably interlinked. The US segment produces the majority of the station’s power and manages its orientation without consuming rocket fuel. Conversely, Russia maintains the station’s altitude and navigates it to evade space debris. Although Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo vessel has shown it can boost the station’s orbit, Russia’s contribution remains essential.

Should Russia opt to exit the ISS program prematurely, it would pose significant operational challenges for both NASA and its international collaborators. As Ken Bowersox, NASA’s associate administrator for space operations, remarked, “Much hinges on what happens after the Russian team decides they won’t continue past 2028. Is that a definitive cutoff, where they shut everything down and stop providing any propulsion? Or could they still offer propulsion, requiring us to provide some alternative support?”

#### The Final Chapter for the ISS: Preparation for Deorbit

Assuming the ISS functions as anticipated until 2030, NASA is already strategizing for its eventual deorbit. The final deorbit maneuver could occur in early 2031, with NASA targeting to have the deorbit vehicle ready for deployment by 2029. This will facilitate a controlled reentry for the station, ensuring it