Reading List 10/31/26

Welcome to the reading list, a weekly roundup of news and links related to buildings, infrastructure, and industrial technology. This week, we explore space fiber optic cable manufacturing, nuclear district heating, Spain's high-speed rail crash, China's spaceplane, and more. Approximately two-thirds of the content is paywalled, so consider subscribing for full access.

In Hong Kong, an independent committee's report on a major apartment complex fire last year suggests the blaze was likely ignited by a lit cigarette. The report also identifies flammable foam boards and scaffolding nets as factors that accelerated the fire.

Bloomberg Philanthropies aims to replicate successful housing initiatives in Atlanta, Austin, and San Diego across other US metro areas. Meanwhile, space-based data centers are gaining attention as launch costs decrease, potentially unlocking new possibilities from cheaper access to space.

The US aluminum industry struggles despite high demand, largely due to heavy reliance on Canadian production. Canada supplies around 70% of US aluminum imports due to abundant hydropower, which keeps electricity prices stable compared to the US.

Anduril, a defense startup, is striving to manufacture a laptop in the US. The Wall Street Journal reports that the US explosives manufacturing sector faces challenges, with Holston Army Ammunition Plant producing only about 3% of its peak output in 1944 due to recent explosions and pollution violations.

China's automotive industry is experiencing a decline in domestic sales, with a 22% drop compared to the previous year. This decline contributes to the surge in exports from Chinese manufacturers.

A First Energy analysis estimates that each 1 GW of data center demand necessitates approximately $250 million in transmission upgrades. Exxon reveals that around 10% of global refining capacity is currently offline, primarily due to disruptions in Russian and Middle Eastern refineries.