💸 China’s cheap AI model, supersonic jet breaks sound barrier, mouse from 2 dads

A new artificial intelligence player has sent shockwaves through Wall Street. DeepSeek R1, a low-cost AI model developed in China, has prompted a major sell-off that wiped off US$1 trillion from technology and energy stocks.

NVIDIA, the world’s most valuable company until Monday, lost $600 billion in market value as its stock plummeted 18 percent, the biggest drop in US stock market history. Let's take a closer look at this Must Read. 

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

> RedHat Openshift Engineer
> Cloud Engineer - AI Trainer

Reading Time: 4 mins

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

MUST-READ

💸 China’s DeepSeek sends US AI giants in deep shock, $1 trillion lost

Fears about US leadership in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector came true earlier this week. DeepSeek, a little-known AI research lab based in China, has challenged Silicon Valley’s assumptions about economics and technical AI-building methods.

While the likes of OpenAI, Meta, Google, and Microsoft have poured in billions to develop their models, DeepSeek’s innovative approach has achieved industry-leading results at a fraction of the cost.

In a matter of weeks, the company’s chatbot app has superseded OpenAI’s ChatGPT on the App Store.

✈️ Beyond Mach 1: World’s first independent supersonic jet XB-1 breaks sound barrier

The XB-1, a prototype supersonic aircraft developed by Boom Supersonic, has achieved its first successful supersonic flight.

This momentous event marks a critical leap forward in the pursuit of faster, more efficient air travel and poses exciting implications for the future of commercial aviation.

Taking off from the Mojave Air and Space Port in California, the XB-1, affectionately referred to as “Baby Boom,” soared into the skies under the command of experienced chief test pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg.

🐁 Scientists gene-engineer mouse from 2 dads that lives to adulthood

A team of stem cell scientists successfully spawned mice from two male parents that reached adulthood, a significant step, but they still have to figure out the mechanics of gene modification.

In a new study published in Cell Stem Cell, investigators from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) overcame significant challenges that have hindered the advancement of unisexual reproduction in mammals.

Efforts in the past may have developed embryos, but they stopped growing.  

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

> Molecular biologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst are pioneering a method to extract critical minerals such as nickel using plants to transition to clean energy. (More)

> Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has partnered with the Carnegie Institution for Science to perform laboratory experiments that recreate the conditions of Saturn’s moon Titan in a tiny vial. (More)

> A new study suggests the Moon is more geologically active than previously believed. (More)

ENERGY

> A Chinese research team has introduced a soluble catalyst to the electrolyte of lithium-air batteries to enhance lifespan. (More)

> The Western Green Energy Hub (WGEH), touted to be the world’s largest renewable energy project, has begun its first round of public consultation. (More)

> The world’s first-ever ‘wall-of-turbines’ took a major step towards becoming a reality after Norwegian technology incubator Enova granted the concept 1.2 billion kroner (US$107 million) funding to build the first demonstrator site. (More)

INNOVATION

> Taking a cue from nature’s evolutionary path from water to land, the Organic Robotics Lab and the Archer Group at Cornell Engineering have made a fascinating development in modular robotics. (More)

> France-based microreactor developer Naarea has formed a strategic partnership with Phoenix Manufacture – a French company specializing in precision engineering – to mass produce an XAMR molten salt fast microreactor. (More)

> Researchers are working to create bionic limbs that provide users with a natural sense of feeling. (More)

VIDEO

> Ever wonder where military planes go to retire? The world’s largest boneyard, AMARG in Arizona, holds thousands of aircraft across 2,600 acres—some scrapped, others preserved for future use. (More)

> DeepSeek R1 rivals ChatGPT 4o, raising questions about its impact on AI and Donald Trump’s US tech plans. (More)

FROM THE WEB

> Historic wooden shipwreck appears on beach then disappears days later

> The Ocean Surface Is Warming Over 400% Faster Than in The 1980s

> Penta-Ocean to build 'world's largest' heavylift vessel for XXL monopiles

> New glowing molecule, invented by AI, would have taken 500 million years to evolve in nature, scientists say

> Urine-based test detects aggressive prostate cancer

> China built out record amount of wind and solar power in 2024