🚢 Baltimore bridge crash, China's powerful catapult, 49 galaxies

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in the U.S. has collapsed after it was struck by a large ship in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Divers and rescue teams are working in frigid conditions after several vehicles, including a large tractor-trailer, have been reported to have fallen into the Patapsco River.

Two people have so far been rescued from the waters, with one found in a severe condition. Reports had suggested that as many as 20 people could be in the water. For more on the story, have a look at today's Must Read.

🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on jobs.interestingengineering.com:

> Engineer III - Linux & Cloud
> Firmware Engineer

🎙 New podcast Voice of the Future: offline AI communication with Emmanuel Chaligné

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MUST READ

🚢 Cargo vessel crashes into Baltimore bridge, cars drown, rescue on

A viral video circulating on social media captured a startling moment: a large boat barreling directly toward a support column of the Baltimore bridge before crashing into it.

Further investigation reveals that the vessel involved in the incident is the DALI, a container ship flying the Singapore flag. The impact caused a significant portion of the bridge to collapse into the water, triggering further damage to nearby sections.

We know this mammoth ship measures nearly 1,000 feet (300 meters) in length and departed from the Port Breeze terminal around 12:45 am ET. According to ship tracking data, the DALI initially set course toward the Francis Scott Key Bridge but came to a halt 45 minutes later. Its intended destination was Colombo, Sri Lanka.

🪖 ‘China’s new EV-based catapult can fire a 30-ton plane in 2.1 seconds

Chinese researchers have allegedly developed a new, powerful Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) using technology found in electric vehicles (EVs).

The catapult can launch a 30-tonne projectile from 0 to 230 feet/s (0 to 70 m/s) in around 2.1 seconds. Developed by a team of scientists and engineers in Beijing, the new system could slash the cost of aircraft carrier EMALS catapults.

Better yet, it can handle roughly twice the weight of China’s most advanced stealth aircraft, the J-20, according to sources. The scientists claim that this new catapult can launch large fixed-wing planes into the sky with just 328 feet (100 meters) of runway. This would make it a viable option for many Chinese warships’ decks.

🌌 ‘Gold nuggets in night sky’: Astronomers find 49 new galaxies in 3 hrs

In three hours, you can read up to 100 pages, or you can find 49 new galaxies. That is, an international team of astronomers discovered 49 new gas-rich galaxies using the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa.

Lead researcher Dr Glowacki sees the 49 new galaxies as valuable as gold nuggets in our night sky. Many galaxies are near each other, forming galaxy groups, with several identified in one observation. For example, three galaxies are directly connected by their gas.

According to him, these three are particularly interesting, as by studying the galaxies at other wavelengths of light, they discovered the central galaxy is forming many stars.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> A recent study on the International Space Station (ISS) has found that astronauts have a surprising ability to orient themselves and precisely evaluate the distance traveled in the absence of gravity’s power. (More)

> A large-scale experiment has been taking place in Antarctica to solve one of the greatest enigmas in physics: the existence of quantum gravity. IceCube Neutrino Observatory consists of thousands of sensors covering vast areas to monitor neutrinos. (More)

> Students reveal that a supermassive black hole is not living up to expectations in a new study using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory. (More)

ENERGY

> South Korean engineers have developed a two-liter engine that operates solely on hydrogen, marking a significant milestone in the automotive industry’s journey toward sustainability. (More)

> A Stadler FLIRT H2 train has set a new world record that the Guinness World Records organization has recognized by traveling 1,741.7 miles without refueling or recharging. (More)

> Alcoholic drinks giant Diageo will replace natural gas-fired heat with Rondo Energy’s Heat Batteries at its production sites in Kentucky and Illinois. (More)

INNOVATION

> Boeing has filed a lawsuit against Virgin Galactic, accusing Sir Richard Branson’s space tourism firm of unlawfully retaining trade secrets. The two had a partnership in 2022, which has since come to an end. (More)

> Researchers at Aston University have achieved an internet data transmission speed that is a staggering 4.5 million times faster than the average home broadband. (More)

> Elon Musk shares Tesla’s new autopilot system (FSD V12.3.1) being tested at night. The controversial autopilot system has garnered positive user feedback, citing significant performance improvements. (More)

VIDEO

> Here, IE runs you through the recent collapse of The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore into the Patapsco River after being struck by a container ship. Currently, rescue operations are underway for those who fell into the river. It is now believed the ship lost propulsion. (More)

> This video discusses how thieves made off with 1 million dollars worth of e-bikes from Bitrix, pulling off the heist in a mere seven minutes. Among the stolen goods was the highly coveted Juggernaut FS St model. (More)

> Learn how to capture the magic of a total solar eclipse with these NASA-approved photography tips. IE runs you through how to prioritize safety with solar viewing glasses, utilize any camera with a tripod for stability, and more. (More)

IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS

Hey there! Yesterday, we threw out a brain teaser on our socials: “How much water is in the bottle?

The answer is: Box 1:(2.1) Box 2:(5.9) Box 3:(10) Box 4:(0.9)

Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on Instagram and Facebook! 

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