🚆Fastest high-speed train prototype tested, feather-light car heat shield, cooking oil used to recycle lithium batteries

China is moving closer to operating what may become the world’s fastest high-speed train.

According to the Ministry of Transport, the CR450 prototypes have achieved test speeds of 450 kilometers per hour (281 miles per hour). The prototypes are expected to run at an operational speed of around 400 kilometers (248.5 miles) per hour.

Once commercial service begins, the CR450 could surpass China’s CR400 model, which debuted in 2017 and currently runs at 350 kilometers (217 miles) per hour. Let's take a closer look at this Must Read.

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🚆 World's fastest high-speed train prototype tested at 280 mph in China

In a recent CCTV video, the CR450 is shown undergoing comprehensive tests and evaluations. Engineers at the Locomotive and Vehicle Research Institute of the China Academy of Railway Sciences (CARS) have been particularly focused on “weight control,” ensuring that any reductions in mass do not compromise structural integrity.

Sensors have been installed on the tracks to achieve the necessary balance, transmitting real-time weight data from each wheel to a monitoring system.

Researchers are also enclosing the entire bogie area beneath the train for the first time to minimize air resistance, a critical factor at very high speeds.

🪶 Feather-light car heat shield is 100 times lighter, withstands 1832°F

Researchers have created a new feather-light insulation material, capable of withstanding temperatures exceeding 1000°C (1832°F). The development comes from Aegis FibreTech, a newly formed spin-out company of the University of Birmingham.

This new insulation material aims to deliver increased efficiency and safety benefits to vehicles, including electric cars and those used in motorsport.

It is specifically engineered for high-temperature environments, such as those found around engines and exhaust systems in vehicles.

🔋 Breakthrough tech uses cooking oil to recycle dead lithium batteries

Scientists at the University of Leicester in the UK have devised a simple technique using water and cooking oil to extract valuable metals and recycle spent lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.

The approach allows for room temperature purification of valuable metals in a matter of minutes, a press release said.

In our bid to move away from fossil fuels and switch to greener means of transportation and energy, humanity has bet heavily on lithium-ion batteries that can store large amounts of energy.

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