• The Blueprint
  • Posts
  • China's CCTV surveillance for Moon base, Europa exudes 1,000 tons of oxygen and Knotting laser beams

China's CCTV surveillance for Moon base, Europa exudes 1,000 tons of oxygen and Knotting laser beams

Plus: Italy to serve as central hub for European Union’s Iris2

Reportedly, China is planning to establish a surveillance system akin to its terrestrial "Skynet" network on the Moon, safeguarding its Lunar interests. This lunar Skynet initiative aims to deploy millions of sensors and cameras for continuous monitoring of a prospective Chinese lunar base. The primary objective behind this initiative is to scrutinize foreign activities around the lunar base and identify any suspicious behavior for necessary intervention. For more on this story, check out today’s Must Read. 

👀 Have you subscribed to one of our latest newsletters —AI Logs? Delivered directly to your inbox every Wednesday, stay up to date on all things artificial intelligence when you subscribe for free now.

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

> Principal Engineer, Ads Platform Engineering - Netflix

> Senior Software Engineer, Rocket Engines - Blue Origin, LLC

Reading Time: 4 mins

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

MUST READ

📷 China plans Skynet-like CCTV surveillance system for the Moon

With China’s plans to devise a humongous Skynet-like surveillance system on its future Moon base. The Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Centre of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) noted in a paper published in Acta Optica Sinica on February 22 that the development and operation of this optical surveillance system for the International Lunar Research Station can leverage the successful strategies implemented in China's Skynet project.

The country installed over 600 million surveillance cameras, about one camera for every two adult citizens, creating the world’s largest video surveillance network, officially referred to as Tianwang. The cameras cover nearly every part of the country.

Now China is planning a system that will comprise cameras weighing nearly 3.5 ounces (100 grams) apiece and will be coordinated by artificial intelligence (AI). These AI-enabled chips will be “capable of identifying, locating, tracking and aiming at suspicious targets independently.”

🌕 Jupiter’s icy moon produces 1,000 tons of oxygen daily, NASA discovers

NASA’s Juno spacecraft sheds new light on the potential habitability of Jupiter’s moon Europa. The data revealed that Europa churns out 1,000 tons of oxygen daily, a quantity ample enough to sustain a million humans for a day.

Juno, equipped with the Jovian Auroral Distributions Experiment (JADE) instrument, gathered crucial data during its close flyby of Europa in September 2022, just 220 miles away. The instrument scrutinized hydrogen emissions from Europa's icy surface, finding that Europa generates approximately 26 pounds of oxygen per second.

Scientists speculate that some portion of this oxygen may seep into Europa's subsurface ocean, potentially serving as a source of metabolic energy vital for supporting life.

🪢 Knotting laser beams surprisingly possible show Caltech scientists

Researchers from California Institute of Technology successfully illustrated tying knots inside lasers. Typically, laser consists of straight lines, be it practical applications like a supermarket scanner or a fictional application like a lightsaber. It rarely deviates from red and green colors, perhaps blue.

Now, scientists are confident that many lasers with practical applications can be designed in different colors and sizes. The scientists successfully introduced specific couplings to these resonant light pulses, improving their topological robustness. They enhanced resonant light pulses by introducing specific couplings, making them more robust.

This robustness allowed the laser pulses to withstand imperfections and disturbances, akin to tying a knot inside the lasers. This tech could lead to the development of advanced sensors and computing hardware.

IE+ Love what you're reading? Join our vibrant online community, explore fascinating scientific breakthroughs, get special discounts and stay in the know with our exclusive weekly premium newsletter. Upgrade to IE+ for quality reporting beyond the headlines – plus, enjoy an Ad-Free experience. Try IE+ today for just $1 in the first month. Subscribe here

HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Immunologist Paul Morgan in an aim to develop drugs to help long COVID patients at his research lab in Cardiff University, identified potential treatments for symptoms like brain fog and fatigue, but further clinical trials are necessary. (More)

> Adolfo Urso, Italy’s industry minister on Monday said that a space centre in the city would host the main control centre for the European Union’s satellite constellation at the Fucino Space Centre, located close to L’Aquila in Italy. It is known to be one of the largest and most significant space centres in the world open for civilian use. (More)

> Satellite–MethaneSAT tasked to orbit Earth 15 times a day has been launched to track down leaks of potent greenhouse gas. It will capture unprecedented amounts of data on methane emissions from human and natural sources. (More)

ENERGY

> FT reported, OPEC+ extended oil production cuts to July, delaying the issue of how long Saudi Arabia will sustain reduced output. These cuts began in November 2022 despite US opposition, reduced global supply by 5.3 million barrels/day. (More)

> Singapore's Temasek Holdings has shortlisted energy giants Shell and Saudi Aramco among a handful of companies to purchase most of the assets of liquefied natural gas (LNG) trading firm Pavilion Energy, sources with knowledge of the matter revealed.  (More)

> A prototype of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is currently under construction in Spain and promises a round-the-clock supply of renewable energy even in remote tropical islands that have conventionally relied on fossil fuels. When ready, the prototype will be deployed for a year-long test in the Canary Islands, Spain. (More)

INNOVATION

> Scientists at Beijing’s Tsinghua University developed a new kind of computer chip called–an all-analog chip combining electronic and light computing (ACCEL) chip that is more efficient than NVIDIA’s A100 chip, one of the most commercially used AI chips in the world today. (More)

> Smart glasses employ sonar technology to determine the direction of your gaze. While traditional gaze-tracking devices typically utilize cameras, a novel system utilizes reflected sound waves to discern where an individual is looking, analyzing the contours of their eyeballs. (More)

> Apple’s new M3-equipped MacBook Air laptops are allegedly 60 percent faster than M1 MacBook Air in both models–the 13 and 15-inch support up to 18 hours of battery life. The devices can be preordered today and the shipping is set to begin on Friday, March 8. (More)

VIDEO

> This video takes a deep dive into the ethical dilemma surrounding autonomous weapons in modern warfare, unraveling the intricacies, benefits, challenges, and moral implications associated with entrusting machines with life-or-death decisions on the battlefield. (More)

> Chrysler has recently made headlines with the unveiling of its latest innovation, the Halcyon. This futuristic vehicle promises to revolutionize the automotive industry with its cutting-edge electric and autonomous driving technologies. (More)

> Stem cells, with their unique ability to renew and differentiate into various cell types, hold the key to unlocking groundbreaking medical treatments. This video explores the science behind these remarkable cells, from their discovery to their potential applications in regenerative medicine. (More)

THINGS WE LOVE

> Homedics Ultrasonic Humidifier: (Buy Now: $86.78)

> WILIT Bedside Table Lamp: (Buy Now: $49.99)

> SHOKZ Bluetooth Headphones: (Buy Now: $79.95)

> Google Pixel Buds Pro: (Buy Now: $193.95)

IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS

Hey there! Yesterday, we threw out a brain teaser on our socials: “What is the measurement of the tilted square’s area?”

The answer is: 135

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

FROM THE WEB

> Mars Perseverance rock sample orientation could solve ancient mystery

> Did the James Webb telescope ‘break the universe’? Maybe not

> Google launches $5m prize to find actual uses for quantum computers

> Scientists revealed 125-million-year-old genetic mystery of tomato

> NVIDIA on AI-steroids beats oil giant Aramco to be world’s 3rd rich firm

> Storks refine their migration routes as they learn from experience

> ‘Extraordinary’: Islamic and Jewish science merge in 11th-century astrolabe

Need help with advertising? Reach 150,000 engineering and tech professionals. Contact us

Additional Reads


⚙️ Mechanical:Explore the wonders of mechanical engineering.

🔷 Vital Component: All the week’s top engineering stories.

🛩️ Aerospace: The latest on propulsion, satellites, aeronautics, and more.

🧑🏻‍🔧 Engineer Pros: The latest in engineering news, career updates, and insider knowledge.

🧠 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.


Want to share your feedback? [email protected]