🛢️China discovers oil, natural gas reserve, 3.5 billion-year-old impact crater, world’s first ‘flying 3D printer’

We’re Live: Lexicon Podcast with Robert Hairstans

The newest Lexicon episode is out! Can timber revolutionize the way we build? Join Professor Robert Hairstans as he explores how sustainable timber solutions are reshaping construction, from net zero housing to AI-driven offsite manufacturing.

🎧️ Tune in now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website!

China’s state-owned oil and gas company has announced a major hydrocarbon discovery breakthrough in exploring Paleozoic buried hills in the Beibu Gulf Basin.

The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) claims to be the largest offshore producer of petroleum and natural gas.

The breakthrough came after drilling was done to a total depth of about 15,879 feet (4,840 meters) in an area with an average water depth of about 121 feet (37 meters).

The company’s exploration initiative struck upon a crude oil and natural gas pay zone of 928 feet (283 meters). Let's take a closer look at this Must Read

Reading Time: 4 mins

Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? Subscribe here.

MUST-READ

🛢️ 800 barrels per day: China discovers major oil, natural gas reserve

As per CNOOC, the Weizhou 10-5 oil and gas field is located in the Beibu Gulf of the South China Sea. The discovery marks a major breakthrough in natural gas exploration in the granite buried hills in the Beibu Gulf Basin.

The results of the test conducted by the company indicate that the well can produce approximately 13.2 million cubic feet of natural gas and about 800 barrels of crude oil per day, as per a press release by the company.

The Weixinan Sag in the Beibu Gulf Basin is one of the most explored sags offshore China.

☄️ 3.5 billion-year-old meteorite impact crater discovered in Australia

Our planet’s earliest history is being rewritten thanks to a stunning new discovery that sheds light on Earth’s fiery youth.

Researchers from Curtin University have found the world’s oldest known meteorite impact crater, hidden within the ancient rocks of the North Pole Dome in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

The rocks held proof of a major meteorite impact that occurred 3.5 billion years ago. A meteorite is a piece of space rock that has made it to Earth’s surface.

🖨️ Video: World’s first ‘flying 3D printer’ soars 100 feet high

A team of YouTubers has taken 3D printing to new heights—literally. Chad Kapper and Josh Bixler of Flite Test may have created the world’s first 3D printer that can fly.

Their experiment involved the Elegoo Centauri Carbon, a high-performance printer mounted onto a custom RC plane. The goal was to see if the printer could function while airborne.

The team launched the RC plane with the Centauri Carbon securely attached. The aircraft stayed in the air for nearly a minute, reaching an altitude of 100 feet and covering 1,200 feet in total distance.

Love what you're reading, but too many emails? Sign up to IE+ to get Blueprint Weekly, our exclusive weekly premium newsletter that gives all the insights you love in a more digestible weekly format– plus, enjoy an Ad-Free experience on our website. Try IE+ today for just $1 in the first month. Subscribe here

HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Your next bite of tomatoes and eggplants might be bigger and more flavorful than before – thanks to a new study by scientists at the Johns Hopkins University. (More)

> Scientists are developing cartilage implants using cells from a surprising source: the patient’s own nasal septum. (More)

> A newly discovered, long-necked dinosaur is revealing secrets of a bygone era. (More)

ENERGY

> Scientists have achieved a breakthrough in organic solar cells (OSCs), bringing the technology closer to commercial viability. (More)

> A massive solar project is underway at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington State. This development marks a significant step in repurposing the site. (More)

> Korean researchers have developed advanced Ni-rich cathodes that improve all-solid-state battery performance, offering longer lifespans and greater energy efficiency. (More)

INNOVATION

> A San Diego-based firm has achieved a major milestone in the development of unmanned combat air vehicles. (More)

> A US clinical-stage biotechnology company has introduced the first bipedal humanoid robot in its AI-driven, fully automated drug discovery lab. (More)

> Scientists have taken a giant leap forward in particle physics by creating an electron beam with five times more peak current than any similar beam ever produced. (More)

VIDEO

> Introducing the BYD Lingyuan system—a groundbreaking integration of automotive and drone technology. (More)

> Firefly’s Blue Ghost lands flawlessly on the Moon at Mare Crisium, making history as the first issue-free private landing. (More)

FROM THE WEB

> Revealed: Israeli military creating ChatGPT-like tool using vast collection of Palestinian surveillance data

> Deep-sea mining tech advances – but doubts remain

> Vast network of canals found underneath world’s first city

> The secret of how Greenland sharks can live for centuries without getting cancer

> Japan launches non-nuclear submarine as aversion over atomic bombings lingers