Interesting. The ways electrical grids are going to need to atomize for resilience in the next decade is going to be cool. I mean, stressful as we deal with people shooting at substations and balloon EMPs or whatever, but EVs are grid storage. We have the tech to build more decentralized grids which will also push for less dependance on centralized services. It's scary, but I think the challenge will be interesting and it kind of gives me more hope than it does worry.
Sure. But people are taking shots at transformers and our grid is vulnerable to attacks. Also if you live in Texas the state is doing a good job making people invest in more atomized power solutions. Balloon EMP or not, I think there's a lot to be gained from more dynamic smart grid stuff. Even if we just use "Chinese EMP balloon" as a thought experiment, I think a lot can be gained from solving for it.
I think China is actually unironically going to launch a surprise hypersonic missile attack on the pacific fleet in pearl harbour in the hopes of delaying the americans long enough for them to seize enough islands to sue for peace.
You'd think after the last go they'd have learned what happens to asian countries that try this, but apparently not. It's literally the exact same situation that Japan was in. They're scared of trade embargoes so they decide to invade asia... which then leads to less trade because they're at war. Then they get nuked.
The missiles will wear "I bought McDonald's at the Great Wall" T-shirts before spouting hobgoblins of the mind conspiracy theories about ironic surprise missile attacks like the neighborhood kook. Ironic!
Obvious fear mongering from a right-wing "newspaper" but it's interesting to consider how it might be possible to detect if was carrying something radioactive.
