☄️ Dark matter detector repurposed, Shakespeare shocker, 3D-printed brain

Deciphering the secrets of the galaxies requires cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions. Now, a new advanced sensor may do the job.

Scientists at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory aim to map galaxies’ X-ray emissions with great precision using a proposed satellite mission known as the Line Emission Mapper (LEM). For more on their method, take a look at today's Must Read.

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

> Web and Automation Developer/Engineer
> Systems Engineer (Hybrid)

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MUST READ

☄️ X-ray eyes: Dark matter detector repurposed to study galaxy evolution

The superconducting transition edge sensors (TES) were initially designed to search for elusive dark matter. As per a press release, these thin film sensors are nanofabricated. Interestingly, the sensor would be able to function in incredibly low temperatures.

“We took a design that we used for a dark matter detector that’s optimized for really, really good energy resolution,” said Noah Kurinsky, a staff scientist at SLAC.

In terms of placement, the sensor will be situated behind the probe’s X-ray detector. It will function as a “background detector,” capturing and mapping the energy released by cosmic rays.

🎨 Shakespeare shocker: Sister emerges out of shadows to claim authorship

The analysis of digital copies of rare texts has revealed that a famous long-lost document was written by William Shakespeare’s largely unknown sister Joan and not by his father – as was previously thought.

The letter found by a bricklayer hidden in the rafters of the Shakespeare House in Stratford-upon-Avon in around 1770 appears to declare a radical devotion to the Catholic belief system.

One of the signs that the letter belongs to Joan is part of the letter in which St Winifred was mentioned as a patron saint. She was a seventh-century Welsh princess who survived being beheaded by a disgruntled suitor and went on to found a nunnery.

🧠 World’s first high-resolution ‘brain phantom’ 3D printed by researchers

Marking a significant advancement in medical technologies, a team of researchers from the Medical University of Vienna and Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) has 3D printed the world’s first high-resolution brain.

Modeled after the structure of brain fibers, the 3D-printed “brain phantom” can be imaged with a specialized form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) known as dMRI.

According to the study’s team, these brain models can help with the investigation of neurodegenerative illnesses like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view a nova outburst that only occurs roughly every 80 years could soon be approaching, as per NASA. It’s a star system located 3,000 light-years away from Earth. (More)

> Paleontologists have unearthed an extraordinary fossilized skull dating back 270 million years. They have identified the fossil as a “new species of proto-amphibian.” (More)

> An astronomer is set to use the most powerful telescope ever created to get a "game-changing" view of Saturn's northern lights. (More)

ENERGY

> A huge plume of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) from the latest eruption in Iceland is drifting across Europe, but it isn't expected to cause any significant harm. The plume moved across Ireland and the UK towards Scandinavia on March 20. (More)

> An EV trucking company is opening one of the biggest EV charging stations in the U.S. for freight trucks. The project will include 65 chargers and the ability to charge 200 vehicles a day. (More)

> Bakeries in Nigeria that use traditional open ovens fuelled by hardwood cut from local forests are contributing to rapid deforestation and climate change, according to a recent study. (More)

INNOVATION

> Despite a huge selection of alternative plant milk from almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk, soya milk to even hazelnut milk, researchers tapped into a source unheard of before– bamboo. (More)

> Since 2023, Voyager 1, located 24 billion kilometers away, has suffered from a malfunction in one of its onboard computers. Recently, it took 22 hours and 30 minutes for the ground team to send orders to the probe. (More)

> Meet the Asteroid watch. It was crafted from a meteorite from the Asteroid Belt that landed in Argentina. It’s boasting a $1.1 million price tag thanks to its unique origins. (More)

VIDEO

> Here, IE journeys through Elon Musk's big dreams — at least those related to space! A mega Starship cruising through the cosmos to explore other star systems! What's your cosmic take on this stellar ride? (More)

> There was an exciting breakthrough earlier this week: scientists use Nobel-awarded genetic scissors, CRISPR-Cas, to cut out HIV from cells. This video runs you through the method and how it could pave the way for a potential HIV cure. (More)

> Here, IE takes a look at a new member of the construction squad. This cement-smoothing machine doesn’t just work hard; it works smart, ensuring every surface is flawlessly flat. (More)

IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS

Hey there! Yesterday, we threw out a brain teaser on our socials: “What is the area shaded in yellow?

The answer is: 14cm²

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