Its mai tais and pu-pu platters almost single-handedly evoke the excitement of growing up in New York in the '60s.

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Given a start with some other fissile material (U-233, U-235 or Pu-239) as a driver, a breeding cycle similar to but more efficient than that with U-238 and plutonium (in normal, slow neutron reactors) can be set up. (The driver fuels provide all the neutrons initially, but are progressively supplemented by U-233 as it forms from the thorium.) However, there are also features of the neutron economy which counter this advantage.

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Until recently, the U.S. had been running out of Pu-238 as none had been produced domestically since 1988.

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Finally, a 1 kW electric radioisotope power supply running on Plutonium 238 (Pu-238) would kick in to power an ion thruster engine.

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China's biggest state-owned lender by assets, set up a fund for customers to invest in high-end pu'er tea, marketing it as a low-risk investment.

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Aside from funding hurdles, this potential mission and others like it will depend on a steady supply of Pu-238 for propulsion and to power its onboard systems.

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People with Down syndrome are not flying planes across the globe to hang out over pu-erh and discuss the finer points of Western culture in a language all their own.

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But Yonghao Pu, UBS Chief Investment Strategist for Asia-Pacific, says more stimulus is not as simple as it sounds.

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