- The Blueprint
- Posts
- ⛰ Aquellum: Neom’s futuristic city within a mountain
⛰ Aquellum: Neom’s futuristic city within a mountain
CES 2024:💧WaterCube, wildlife spotting AI binoculars, and all the latest
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f2d27f82-8cbf-41b7-97bd-5dfe866e2e6f/bbbbb.png?t=1702047801)
Saudi Arabia’s visionary NEOM initiative has pulled the curtain back on another spectacular project: Aquellum, a concealed subterranean luxury community nestled inside soaring 1,475-foot mountains near the Gulf of Aqaba.
Aquellum promises to redefine avant-garde living by embedding futuristic urban design in a setting of natural grandeur. Residents and visitors can expect nothing less than a feast for the senses, while creators get to channel their inspiration in development hub called “The Generator”, with everywhere linked by an omnidirectional transit system.
Jump to today’s Must Read for a glimpse of the project’s awe-inspiring vision.
🎪 We’re reporting from CES 2024 in Las Vegas throughout this week, and we’ll bring you all the most exciting product launches, smartest innovations, and latest trends that will drive the tech narrative this year.
🚨 If you enjoy The Blueprint, you’ll love Vital Component, our essential roundup of the top engineering, science, and tech news delivered every Sunday.
Good morning. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE.
This is the Blueprint. Let’s get into it!
Reading time: 5 minutes
VIDEO OF THE DAY
WaterCube 100: Revolutionizing fresh water access
The WaterCube 100, developed by Genesis Systems, efficiently produces over 100 gallons of fresh water daily from the air. Our very own Cory had the opportunity to experience this innovation firsthand at CES 2024.
IE+ SUPPORT INTERESTING ENGINEERING
Invest In Science And Engineering
Insider access to exclusive content, featuring riveting stories that take you right to the heart of the action. Engage with our thriving online community, dive into captivating science discoveries, and stay informed with our enlightening weekly premium newsletters. With IE+, quality reporting is more than just news - and it is Ad-Free.
👀 Seven futuristic technologies that made appearances at CES 2024 From digital haptic touch gloves to domestic moisture farms, here are seven futuristic technologies that appeared at CES.
✨ What makes Verge’s TS ultra such an exceptional electric motorcycle? Our team got to learn more about the Verge TS Ultra, an electric motorcycles with a unique design and exceptional performance..
🍻 Meet Exobrew, the smart device that revolutionizes home brewing Exobrew uses a one-vessel system that combines brewing, fermenting, and tapping in a single device..
MUST READ
Saudi Arabia's NEOM has announced Aquellum, a hidden luxury community set within towering coastal mountains. Accessible only by an underground water route, the village is encased in a 100-meter-high subterranean atrium integrating hotels, apartments, shops and leisure spaces. Visitors will traverse curved boulevards linking amenities using compact pod lifts to reach landscaped rooftop gardens.
Aquellum aligns with NEOM's conservation and innovation priorities. Its high-tech sustainable infrastructure aims to stimulate human potential without compromising vital mountain habitats. As NEOM's latest venture fusing technology with nature, Aquellum provides a model for balancing human development and environmental wellbeing through thoughtful design. Click below to learn more and see inside.
Legendary optics maker Swarovski’s anniversary smart binoculars debuted at CES 2024. Offering real-time recognition of over 9,000 animals, the $4,800 gadget snaps photos that are relayed to a mobile app for sharing discoveries. It even applies arrow markers to help guide friends to specimens you find. See how precision optics can achieve a new level of functionality through artificial intelligence.
A representative for the joint Sony Honda Mobility (SHM) venture developing the upcoming Afeela electric vehicle brought its prototype onstage at CES 2024 by a PlayStation 5 controller. SHM's new EV model is due to launch in 2026, with preordering expected in 2025. Click below to watch this unexpected spectacle.
JOB ALERT
In this section you’ll find the latest jobs as featured on: jobs.interestingengineering.com
Java AWS Engineer at Sainsburys Manchester (UK) | |
![]() | Senior Software Engineer - Cloud Engineering Infrastructure at Oracle United States |
Engines Project Engineer III (R38555) at Blue Origin, LLC Huntsville | |
![]() | Software Engineer - Rendering Engine, PICO at ByteDance San Jose (US) $194,000 - $355,000 a year |
Group Head of Enterprise and Application Architecture at BES Group & Manchester (UK) £80,000 a year |
Question of the DayHave you been impressed by the various NEOM projects taking shape in Saudi Arabia? |
YESTERDAY'S RESULTS
We asked you about drone soccer, and whether you’d like to watch this innovative new sport. Here are the results:
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Definitely, it sounds exciting (9%)
🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ Maybe, I'll check it out (40%)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Watch it? I want to play (4%)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I'll stick to regular soccer (47%)
THINGS WE LOVE
Sponsored by INTERNXT
AND ANOTHER THING
Need help with advertising? Reach 150,000 engineering and tech professionals. Contact us
what else?
⚙️ To explore the wonders of mechanical engineering, get your Mechanical
🔷 For all the week’s top engineering stories, subscribe to the Vital Component
🛩️ For the latest on propulsion, satellites, aeronautics, and more, subscribe to Aerospace
🧑🏻🔧 For expert advice on engineering careers, subscribe to Engineer Pros
🧠 New: To get the latest AI news every Monday, subscribe to AI Logs
🎬 For a weekly round-up of our best science, tech & engineering videos, subscribe to IE Originals
For our weekly premium newsletter and an ad-free experience, sign up for IE+