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  • 🛩️ Boeing admits fraud in 737 Max crash case, Elon Musk to build unmatched AI supercomputer, is China going to spy on US from Cuba?

🛩️ Boeing admits fraud in 737 Max crash case, Elon Musk to build unmatched AI supercomputer, is China going to spy on US from Cuba?

Plus: World's first CNG-powered motorcycle launched

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Boeing has announced it will plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge related to the 737 Max crashes, following a near-catastrophic incident in January that led the Justice Department to revisit a 2021 settlement that had previously protected the company from prosecution.

The plea deal, disclosed in a Sunday night filing, awaits approval from a federal judge. Under the terms of the agreement, Boeing will pay a $243.6 million fine, matching the amount paid in the 2021 settlement. For more on this development, check out today’s Must-Read.

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

> Analytics Platform Engineer
> Senior Software Engineer

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MUST READ

Boeing confirmed that it has reached a preliminary agreement with the Department of Justice on the terms of a resolution, which is subject to the finalization and approval of specific details.

“We can confirm that we have reached an agreement in principle on terms of a resolution with the Justice Department, subject to the memorialization and approval of specific terms,” Boeing stated.

Boeing’s safety record came under intense scrutiny following the near-identical crashes of the 737 Max aircraft operated by Lion Air in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines in March 2019.

Tesla is expanding its Texas Gigafactory to house a cutting-edge AI supercomputer cluster. The expansion project, which is nearing completion, will incorporate 50,000 Nvidia GPUs alongside Tesla’s proprietary AI hardware and is expected to advance Tesla’s Full Self Driving.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk estimates the Gigafactory supercomputer to initially draw 130 megawatts upon deployment, and potentially scale up to 500 megawatts.

Remarkably, this is not Musk’s only foray into supercomputing. Parallel to this project is another multi-billion dollar supercomputer cluster for xAI, the billionaire’s artificial intelligence startup.

Recent satellite images of Cuba reveal upgraded intelligence installations at four military bases. The images suggested the possibility of Beijing establishing a network of facilities that could potentially be used to spy on the US.

The images were captured between March and April and presented in a report by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The material has revealed new or recent construction at three sites close to Havana, along with activity at a previously undisclosed location near the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Scientists have traced the second known living species of the vampire squid. They found it swimming in deep waters off Hainan Island in China. (More)

> Scientists have successfully engineered a mouse model that has a complete and functional human immune system. The model is reported to also have a human-like gut microbiome capable of generating specific antibody responses. (More)

> Analysis shows hippos get all four feet off the ground at once up to 15% of the time when they are running at full pelt. (More)

ENERGY

> Researchers have engineered an inverted perovskite solar cell using a novel high-entropy hybrid perovskite material, which has yielded an improvement in stability, without compromising efficiency. (More)

> Researchers have explored a new material based on rock silicates, which can replace lithium in electric car batteries in the future. The material can help develop new kinds of energy storage devices, which could be more affordable and non-sensitive to moisture. (More)

> Indian company Bajaj Auto has launched the world's first CNG-powered motorcycle, the Bajaj Freedom 125, allowing riders to switch between petrol and CNG with a button. (More)

INNOVATION

> A team of researchers in China has developed a robotic dog aimed at helping visually impaired people with navigation. (More)

> An MIT team has developed a new robot designed to automate the task of bagging items at grocery stores. (More)

> A start-up in Albania, backed by a mining industry billionaire, is farming plants to harvest carbon-neutral nickel from the soil while simultaneously removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. (More)

VIDEO

> A new scientific process can make diamonds in under three hours – and at standard pressure. A South Korean institute has made diamonds from ordinary metals and heated carbon. (More)

> Scientists at Caltech are harnessing the natural abilities of jellyfish, equipping them with advanced technology to explore marine environments, particularly the deep ocean, which remains largely unexplored. (More)

IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS

In yesterday’s quiz, we asked you, Which ball will hit the ground first?

The answer is: B

The time it takes to hit the ground is not affected by the weight of the objects (neglecting air resistance all objects accelerate at 9.81m/s2), but taking into account air resistance, which will slow the basketball down slightly more than the baseball, the baseball should land first.

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

FROM THE WEB

> Paralyzed driver Robert Wickens tests Formula E car with hand controls

> Artificial intelligence systems can now create remarkably accurate reconstructions of what someone is looking at based on recordings of their brain activity

> Research has revealed the tunes of modern chart-toppers are less complex than those of the past

> Archeologists unearthed a treasure from antiquity during an excavation of the Bulgarian city Heraclea Sintica this week

> China scientist defies terror threats to help Pakistan farmers boost rice yields

> The Columbus Zoo has welcomed the birth of a critically endangered western lowland baby gorilla, according to zoo officials

Additional Reads


⚙️ Mechanical:Explore the wonders of mechanical engineering.

🛩️ Aerospace: The latest on propulsion, satellites, aeronautics, and more.

🧑🏻‍🔧 Engineer Pros: The latest in engineering news, career updates, and insider knowledge.

🧠 AI Logs: Insights into the intricacies and developments within the realm of artificial intelligence.

🎬 IE Originals: Weekly round-up of our best science, tech & engineering videos.

🟩 Sustainability: Uncover green innovations and the latest trends shaping a sustainable future for the tech industry.

Electrical: From AI to smart grids, our newsletter energizes you on emerging tech.

🎓 IE Academy: Master your field and take your career to the next level with IE Academy


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