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  • 🛰️ Building space factories, world's tiniest crab goes viral, worst natural disaster in US history?

🛰️ Building space factories, world's tiniest crab goes viral, worst natural disaster in US history?

Plus: Ex-UK spy chief issues grave warning against dependence on China’s wind turbines

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In a few years from now, space stations could work like factories — thanks to advancements in 3D print technology. With these printers, anything needed in orbit could be 3D printed on the spot.

Researchers from the University of Glasgow have developed a new 3D printing system that can overcome the challenges of zero gravity and the vacuum of space.

To test their invention, the team took their prototype on a series of flights aboard the “vomit comet” – an aircraft that simulates weightlessness. It is called so due to flights’ effect on passengers as it simulates microgravity by performing sharp ascents and descents. Delve deeper into our Must-Read.

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The researchers believe that successful 3D printing in space could lead to orbital factories, which could produce innovative equipment, such as antennas.

“Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, is capable of producing remarkably complex materials quickly and at low cost. Putting that technology in space and printing what we need for assembly in orbit would be fantastically useful,” said Dr Gilles Bailet.

Currently, all space-bound equipment is manufactured on Earth and launched into orbit by rockets. This method faces limitations in terms of mass and volume. Moreover, the launch process itself can be risky as sometimes it may damage expensive payloads due to mechanical stress.

A rare sight from the deep: a baby king crab surfaced, and it’s the cutest thing ever, so it broke the internet.

NOAA Fisheries shared a video on X, probably knowing full well it would be a massive hit, of a baby Neolithodes agassizii, colloquially known as the “king crab,” on Wednesday.

Called the “official mascot of 2025,” the most loveable crustacean on the planet covered in spikes blew up the internet, amassing a whopping 10.4 million views in less than a week.

California is grappling with a devastating series of wildfires, threatening lives and livelihoods across the state. Governor Gavin Newsom has warned that these fires could be among the worst natural disasters in U.S. history in terms of cost and scale.

The economic toll is staggering, with preliminary estimates of losses reaching hundreds of billions of dollars. Reportedly, the overall financial losses are projected to reach $250 billion.

The wildfire situation in Los Angeles, California, remains critical. Firefighters are battling three major blazes: the Palisades, the Eaton, and the Hurst fires. These infernos have claimed at least 24 lives — with many still missing.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Chinese researchers have simulated a space operation to approach and potentially target the Starlink satellite constellation. (More)

> A hidden danger may exist beneath Antarctica that could accelerate ice melt, a new study says. Antarctica is a geologically active region with a complex network of volcanoes — many of which remain hidden beneath the ice, making them highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change. (More)

> A vascular ‘fingerprint’ on the light-sensitive tissue layer at the back of the eye—the retina—can predict a person’s risk of stroke as accurately as traditional risk factors alone, but without the need for multiple invasive lab tests, finds new research. (More)

ENERGY

> A Japanese research team has created a quasi-solid-state lithium-ion battery (LIB) that is non-flammable, overcoming the drawbacks of traditional batteries. (More)

> The former head of MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove, has issued a grave warning about the UK’s deepening ties with China. He warned that the growing reliance on China could leave the UK vulnerable, as Chinese industries answer directly to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). (More)

> The UK is planning special districts for constructing data centers (DCs) and will explore dedicating nuclear energy to the sites as part of a Labour government project to boost technology growth and the ecosystem for artificial intelligence (AI). (More)

INNOVATION

> Researchers have developed a method to convert industrial waste into a key material essential for battery production. (More)

> An innovation that could douse wildfires quickly has been proposed. A firm called FireDome has come up with an innovative wildfire defense mechanism that, as per its claims, is eco-friendly and can also be quite effective in controlling the spread of blazes. (More)

> Cement production is the second-largest industrial contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, but its carbon footprint could be dramatically reduced with a new low-cost, scalable approach demonstrated at the University of Michigan. (More)

VIDEO

> Bodyfriend’s AI-powered chair redefines relaxation with zero-gravity, full-body massage, and advanced wellness features. (More)

> Amage unveiled Tomo, a humanoid robot capable of playing the piano, at CES 2025. Powered by advanced AI and automation, Tomo demonstrates the remarkable progress in humanoid robotics. With its musical precision, this innovation raises the question: could robots soon perform for live audiences? (More)

FROM THE WEB

> World's largest ice maze opens with Guinness World Record certification

> Chinese rice tastes better than it did 16 years ago, research team finds

> Smart robot helps out astronauts on China's Tiangong space station 

> Exploring quinone-based carbon capture: A promising path to safer CO2 removal

> A taller, heavier, smarter version of SpaceX’s Starship is almost ready to fly

> 161 years ago, a New Zealand sheep farmer predicted AI doom

Additional Reads


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🧠 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.

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