🛩️ China, Russia bombers spotted near Alaska, North Korean hackers target global defense for nuclear gains, Paris Olympics prepares to put a brake on cycling cheaters

INTERESTING ENGINEERING SHOP

NORAD, the joint command of the United States and Canada, intercepted two Chinese and two Russian bombers that were operating near the state of Alaska in international airspace on Wednesday.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is a bi-national US and Canadian organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning and control for North America.

The two Russian TU-95 and two PRC H-6 military aircraft were found operating in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). For more on this development, check out today’s Must-Read.

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

> Network Engineer 
> Staff/Sr. Staff DevOps Engineer

Reading Time: 4 mins

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

MUST READ

🛩️ In a military first, China, Russia bombers spotted near Alaska, NORAD alerts

NORAD clarified that the Russian and PRC aircraft had remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace.

The command also stated that this act was not being seen as a threat, but it would continue to monitor all activities near North America and “meet presence with presence.”

However, multiple reports indicate that this is the first time that a Chinese aircraft of any type has operated near North America. Russian aircraft, on the other hand, have been found flying in and around these zones multiple times in the past, too.

🚴🏼‍♀️ ‘Motor doping’: Paris Olympics prepares to put a brake on cycling cheaters

With the Paris Olympics set to kick off on July 26, both officials and athletes are bracing for a high-stakes showdown against doping. Yet, it’s not just conventional drugs that are under scrutiny.

In a high-tech twist, “motor doping” — the use of hidden electric motors in bicycles — has emerged as a pressing issue. Recent dramatic events, including a French cycling official leaping onto the hood of a van in a high-speed chase, highlight the lengths to which some will go to combat this modern form of cheating.

This incident unfolded at the Routes de l’Oise cycling competition in May, where the van was suspected to be carrying evidence of a covert electric motor.

🦹🏽‍♂️ Cyber warfare: North Korean hackers target global defense for nuclear gains

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in collaboration with South Korea and the UK, has issued a cybersecurity advisory to raise awareness about cyber espionage activities linked to the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB) 3rd Bureau of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The RGB 3rd Bureau, which is located in Pyongyang and Sinuiju, includes a DPRK state-sponsored cyber group publicly known as Andariel, Onyx Sleet (formerly PLUTONIUM), DarkSeoul, Silent Chollima, and Stonefly/Clasiopa.

RGB’s 3rd Bureau actors finance their espionage activities by carrying out ransomware operations against US healthcare organizations.

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

> A team of Australian scientists is genetically engineering black soldier flies with an aim to enhance the species’ ability to consume humanity’s organic waste while simultaneously producing valuable compounds for various industrial applications. (More)

> Researchers are working on new nature-based solutions to help in skin and bone repair, and the new method involves the use of silkworms and even shrimps. With silkworms, scientists are hoping that they can be used to regenerate human tissue. (More)

> The prospect of actually resolving the event horizon of black holes feels like the stuff of science fiction, yet it is a reality. Already, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has resolved the horizon of the black holes at the center of the Milky Way and M87. (More)

ENERGY

> In a groundbreaking discovery, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) suggests that old soda cans and seawater could be the key to revolutionizing fuel production and creating a sustainable source of clean energy. (More)

> Scientists in China have developed an organic material to extract uranium from seawater. The material is said to be cost-effective and has “exceptional uranium adsorption capability.” (More)

> MIT researchers identified materials that may do a good job of conducting protons without the need for ultrahigh temperatures. These materials could enable clean-energy tech, such as more efficient and durable fuel cells to produce clean electricity from hydrogen. (More)

INNOVATION

> Scientists have developed a new technology to convert banana waste into textile fibers. The waste left over from producing the banana textile will further be employed to produce renewable energy. (More)

> PsiQuantum is planning to build the biggest quantum computing facility in the US. The fault-tolerant quantum computing facility will be established at the former US Steel South Works property in Chicago. (More)

> A research team affiliated with UNIST has unveiled biosensor technology that uses light to quickly and accurately detect trace amounts of proteins. This breakthrough has significant implications for preventing the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19. (More)

VIDEO

> London’s Natural History Museum has opened its revamped urban garden to the public. The 5-acre site hosts 25 sensors gathering environmental DNA and acoustic data to help monitor, understand, and protect urban nature. (More)

> Virginia Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton used an artificial intelligence (AI) program to address the House on Thursday. A year ago, the lawmaker was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, which makes it difficult for her to speak. (More)

IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS

In yesterday’s quiz, we asked you, What is the correct position for parking?

The answer is: A

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

FROM THE WEB

> Aeon – a major Japanese supermarket chain – has implemented a new AI system that evaluates and seeks to "standardize" employee smiles

> A bronze cannon was found on the shipwreck of a warship that was destroyed by a gunpowder explosion in 1665

> A new class of antibiotics is offering real hope of a response to the problem of antimicrobial resistance

> Why do birds fly in a "V" formation?

> Researchers say these sharks with a 'sassy walk' could tell us more about the effects of climate change