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☀️ China developing 2x as much wind and solar power as rest of the world, Samsung launches Galaxy Ring with AI bling, Taylor Swift's eating disorder conversations said to boost body positivity among Swifties

Plus: Musk challenged? Teen aces SpaceX-like vertical rocket landing in 3 yrs

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China continues to lead the world in renewable energy growth, as per a new report from the Global Energy Monitor (GEM), a San Francisco–based non-governmental organization.

According to the findings published on Thursday, China has 180 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale solar power and 15GW of wind power currently under construction.

This reportedly brings the nation’s total wind and solar capacity under construction to a staggering 339GW, nearly twice as much as the rest of the world combined. By comparison, the United States has only 40GW under construction. For more on this development, check out today’s Must-Read.

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

> Game Engineering, Programming & Tech Art - Talent Community
> Machining Engineer

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MUST READ

The researchers focused on solar farms with a capacity of 20 megawatts (MW) or more, which directly feed into the power grid. This methodology means the actual volume of solar power in China could be significantly higher, considering that small-scale solar farms contribute around 40% of the country’s solar capacity.

This highlights China’s leading role in global renewable energy production. Meanwhile, the U.S. is growing more worried about China’s excess capacity and market dumping, especially in the solar industry.

The scale of China’s renewable energy expansion is remarkable. Between March 2023 and March 2024, China installed more solar power than it had in the previous three years combined and more than the rest of the world combined for 2023.

Taylor Swift’s journey with body image issues, disordered eating, and objectification has not only shaped her life but also had a significant impact on her fans.

A new study from the University of Vermont shows that Swift’s honesty about her struggles has had a positive impact on her fans’ views on these issues.

The study analyzed the top 200 TikTok and Reddit posts, encompassing over 8,300 online comments related to Taylor Swift, eating disorders, and body image.

At its highly anticipated Unpacked event on July 10, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Ring, a revolutionary wearable designed to redefine health and fitness tracking.

“The latest additions to our wearables portfolio integrate Samsung’s most advanced technologies and innovations, enabling you to take control of your health and wellness with preventative healthcare solutions,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics.

The company hopes to capitalize on the growing interest in health and fitness tracking with its smart rings.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Researchers assembled the genome and 3D chromosomal structures of a 52,000-year-old woolly mammoth, the first time ever done in ancient DNA sampling, according to a press release. (More)

> The vertical landing of a rocket has been a challenging task for major space-related companies. However, a teenager’s model rocket has successfully performed the SpaceX-like feat only three years after the first attempt. (More)

> Researchers in Australia are building a "living seed bank" to protect the continent’s last remaining fragments of rainforest from climate change. (More)

ENERGY

> The world’s first “hydrogen apartment” block has been unveiled in Ulsan, South Korea. The 437-household Yuldong-With-U complex gets 100% of its heat and electricity from hydrogen fuel cells. (More)

> The California Energy Commission (CEC) on Wednesday approved its final strategic plan that charts a path to achieving the US west coast state’s interim goal of 2-5GW of floating offshore wind capacity by 2030. (More)

> Dutch company developing innovative ocean energy technology, Equinox Ocean Turbines, has closed its seed funding round, raising €2.4 million. (More)

INNOVATION

> Chinese scientists have unveiled a major breakthrough in the sphere of drone technology. They have created an ultra-strong carbon fiber hull suitable for large-scale production of high-performance underwater drones. (More)

> A new high-performance quantum chip built by Oxford Ionics has broken previous records in the quantum computing domain. Error correction was not used during the process, and the chip can also be manufactured at existing semiconductor fabs. (More)

> South Korea is the first country in the world to deploy weapons that target drones by burning down engines with beams of light for 10 to 20 seconds. (More)

VIDEO

> Researchers have created the world’s first functional graphene semiconductor. Graphene could replace silicon, allow for smaller, faster electronics, and change semiconductor technology in the next 50 years. (More)

> Europe’s largest 3D-printed building, towering at 55m long, 11m wide, and 9m tall, was created by just two workers and one giant robot in 140 hours! (More)

IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS

In yesterday’s quiz, we asked you, How much force is required to move the weight?

The answer is: 16.66 kg

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

FROM THE WEB

> Nearly 90% Amazon India workers don’t get time for bathroom breaks, survey finds

> Research on 26,000 people found those who stay up late scored better on intelligence, reasoning, and memory tests

> Algorithms used by universities to predict student success may be racially biased, says study

> A new nasally-administered antibody therapy could present a new way forward in treating degenerative brain conditions

> A Bronze and Iron Age burial ground for children that was unearthed in Norway was used for 600 years, and archaeologists aren't sure why

Additional Reads


⚙️ Mechanical:Explore the wonders of mechanical engineering.

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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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