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đŸ›©ïž China begins testing world’s largest seaplane, ‘Game of Thrones’ helps crack facial recognition code, AI-powered robotic exoskeleton enables paraplegic athlete carry Olympic flame

Plus: Hong Kong creates ‘world’s best’ speed suit for Paris Olympics cycling champs

In Coordination with ABB

China has commenced flight certification tests for the world’s largest amphibious aircraft, the AG600, marking a significant milestone in its aviation and maritime capabilities.

The AG600, developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), is primarily designed for maritime patrols and search and rescue operations.

According to AVIC, this aircraft is crucial for China because it can reach any location in the South China Sea within four hours from Hainan. For more on this development, check out today’s Must-Read.

đŸ”„Today’s job of the day as featured on jobs.interestingengineering.com:

> Senior Network Security Engineer - IT Information Security 4681
> Principal HPC software engineer

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MUST READ

According to the state news agency CGTN, the Airworthiness Certification Center of the Aviation Administration of China issued the Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) for the first model of the AG600 large amphibious aircraft family.

The aircraft’s configuration, condition, and expected airworthiness and safety performance have met the TIA requirements. It also provides a solid foundation for the AG600 aircraft to obtain airworthiness certification, as stated by AVIC.

Before receiving the TIA, four aircraft with AG600 were dispatched to conduct airworthiness compliance flight tests. The large amphibious aircraft family, with plate number 1, is being developed as crucial advanced aeronautical equipment to enhance China’s emergency rescue capabilities.

Deep within our minds lies a complex network responsible for one of our most fundamental abilities: recognizing faces.

The University of York’s psychology department conducted a new study to better understand how the brain processes and identifies faces. This study uses the iconic TV series Game of Thrones to shed light on this fascinating mystery.

“We chose to show participants footage from Game of Thrones because the series captivated people around the world with its strong characters and their deeply nuanced personalities,” said Kira Noad, lead author of the study and PhD student.

For the first time, an athlete using a robotic exoskeleton has carried the Olympic flame. Kevin Piette, a French para-athlete, carried the flame in front of the Temple of Hera in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Tuesday.

Around 11 years ago, an accident left the French tennis star paraplegic. But he returned to the game as a para-athlete.

Now, a clip of the para-Olympic tennis star is going viral on social media platforms, amassing millions of views.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Heat-sensitive tree species in Brazil are migrating to higher altitudes in a bid to escape the intensifying effects of climate change, according to a new study published this month. (More)

> Researchers have found that the serrated edges of Komodo dragons’ teeth are tipped with iron. This discovery sheds light on how Komodo dragons maintain their razor-sharp teeth and may offer insights into how dinosaurs, such as Tyrannosaurus rex, killed and consumed their prey. (More)

> Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), an team of astronomers imaged a new exoplanet that orbits a star in the nearby triple system Epsilon Indi. The planet is a cold super-Jupiter exhibiting a temperature of around 0 degrees Celsius. (More)

ENERGY

> For a sustainable future, clean and efficient hydrogen production is crucial. A research team from Spain is making significant strides in this field by developing novel materials that utilize microwave radiation to generate hydrogen from water. (More)

> The Gemini Solar + Storage project in Nevada – the US's largest co-located solar + battery energy storage system – is now operational. (More)

> Shanghai will boast three times more offshore wind capacity than currently powers Germany, after the Chinese government reportedly approved a massive 29GW build-out to help supply the city. (More)

INNOVATION

> Scientists at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology are creating a winning formula for speed. They have developed a cutting-edge aerodynamic suit for the city’s cyclists, hailed as the “Savile Row” of sportswear. (More)

> A robot that can help prevent the growth of weeds on farms without the use of harmful herbicides has been created by researchers. (More)

> The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that it has developed a four-legged robot designed to jam the wireless transmissions of smart home devices. (More)

VIDEO

> The future of robotics is in biomimicry – copying designs already perfected by nature. From Festo’s BionicBee to Boston Dynamics’ Spot, nature is inspiring cutting-edge technology and these animal-inspired robots are revolutionizing industries. (More)

> Fossil bones found in Argentina of a large armadillo relative with cut marks suggestive of butchering indicate humans were present in southern South America some 21,000 years ago, according to researchers, earlier than previously thought. (More)

IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS

In yesterday’s quiz, we asked you, Which figure is a rotation of the given object?

The answer is: C

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FROM THE WEB

> Many drylands are getting greener because of increased CO2 in the air — a trend that recent studies indicate will continue

> More than 5,000 satellites had to alter their position to avoid deorbiting or crashing into each other during the May solar storms

> In a new study, elderly lab mice given an anti-aging drug were referred to as "supermodel grannies" because they looked so youthful

> A research team's new technique could help scientists worldwide identify novel targets for cancer therapies

> Murals in an 8th-century Chinese tomb show signs of Western influence, particularly the inclusion of a blond figure

> A clay tablet engraved with what appears to be one of the world's oldest known sales receipts has been discovered by archaeologists in southern TĂŒrkiye

Additional Reads


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