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šŸ¦œ Heatwave slaps Pakistan with 125Ā°F and kills birds and monkeys in Mexico, Chinese firm rivals Starlink with 10k-satellite constellation, new tech to cut radioactive waste by 80%

Plus: Killer hornets threaten the already endangered bees in the US

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Temperatures soared above 125.6 degrees Fahrenheit (52 degrees Celsius) in Pakistanā€™s southern province of Sindh on May 27, marking the highest reading of the summer. Record-breaking temperatures across South and Southeast Asia have been reported, causing widespread disruption and even loss of life.

The international scientific community is urging governments to take immediate action to mitigate the effects of climate change. The concerning trend of increasing temperatures extends beyond Asia. The United States has also experienced unusual heat spikes, with Philadelphia hitting 90 degrees Fahrenheit in April for the first time in 15 years.

Mexico reported 157 heat-related deaths among howler monkeys. An animal park noted over 100 deaths among parrots, bats, and others due to dehydration. For more on this development, check out todayā€™s Must-Read.

šŸ”„Todayā€™s job of the day as featured on jobs.interestingengineering.com:

> Software Engineer
> Senior Software Engineer

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MUST READ

šŸ¦œ Heatwave slaps Pakistan with 125Ā°F, kills birds and monkeys in Mexico

Mohenjo Daro, a town in Sindh famous for its ancient archaeological sites, has been one of the hardest hit. Over the past 24 hours, temperatures have reached an astounding 125.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

Bangladesh, Myanmar, and other Southeast Asian nations are also experiencing unprecedented heat. In the Philippines, schools have been shut down, and in Thailand, 30 deaths have been attributed to heat stroke this year alone.

A heat dome over southern Mexico and Central America led to scorching temperatures nationwide. Heat-related deaths among howler monkeys are attributed to various factors, including high temperatures, drought, and habitat loss.

šŸ›°ļø China firm plans 10,000-satellite swarm to fight Elon Muskā€™s space power

Move over, Starlink; thereā€™s a new player in town. A Chinese company plans to launch a constellation of 10,000 satellites to compete with Elon Muskā€™s massive Starlink project.

Shanghaiā€™s Lanjian Hongqing Technology Company or Hongqing Technology, associated with private rocket maker Landspace, is entering the scene with its Honghu-3 constellation.

As per SpaceNews, the firm filed plans for the satellite network with the International Telecommunication Union on May 24 to deploy this constellation across 160 orbital planes.

ā˜¢ļø Breakthrough Swiss tech cuts 80% of radioactive waste in nuclear plants

A former CERN scientist working at the private nuclear fission company Transmutex has developed a new approach that could radically cut down the radioactivity of nuclear waste by as much as 80 percent.

Transmutex relies on the transmutation of elementsā€”the conversion of an element into its isotope or another element altogether. Using a particle accelerator, the researchers propose using a slightly radioactive element such as thorium and transmuting it into an isotope of uranium.

The accelerator is connected to a nuclear fission plant, where the newly generated uranium can be processed immediately. However, unlike its uranium counterpart, which is used in nuclear power plants today, this uranium does not produce plutonium or other highly radioactive waste.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> The yellow-legged hornet has been identified as posing a grave threat to honeybee populations, capable of decimating colonies by preying on them and intimidating foragers from leaving the hive, leading to a decline in honey production and agricultural productivity. (More)

> In an effort to ā€˜hindcastā€™ past volcanic eruptions, volcanologists recently discovered a new type of volcanic eruption mechanism at KÄ«lauea volcano in Hawaii by analyzing a series of 12 explosive eruptions that occurred in 2018. (More)

> Every year 750,000 deaths linked to drug-resistant superbugs could be prevented through better access to clean water and sanitation, infection control and childhood vaccinations, research suggests. (More)

ENERGY

> Researchers have used a genetic learning algorithm to identify optimal pitch profiles for the blades of vertical-axis wind turbines, which have a much higher energy potential than conventional turbines. (More)

> In an industry first, Rio Tinto and BHP will collaborate on the testing of large battery-electric haul truck technology in the Pilbara, Western Australia, to accelerate the potential for its future deployment. (More)

> Colorado counties' halts on large solar energy projects are slowing progress toward state's climate goals. (More)

INNOVATION

> Researchers have developed a robot that uses bio-inspired grippers to scale tricky surfaces like rocks. The design offers fully passive grippers and wrist joints that enable secure grasping while reducing both mass and complexity. (More)

> The ASTRA Bridge, developed by the Federal Roads Office of the Swiss government, is a nifty solution that lets you drive over ongoing road repairs on highways instead of taking diversions. (More)

> A five-year-old boy born without a left hand is believed to have become the youngest in the world to receive a bionic hero arm. (More)

VIDEO

> Online inventors have created a working version of the ā€œstillsuitā€ from Dune. (More)

> A new Peruvian device is aiming to tackle the largest outbreak of dengue fever in the country in recent history. (More)

> Volocopter will fly its electric helicopter taxi, the VoloCity, during the Paris Olympic Games. But how green is such individualized transport? (More)

IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS

In yesterdayā€™s quiz, we asked, Can you find the height of the red bar using the information below?

The answer is: We know that (green object height)/(shadow height)=2/2=1. In order to solve the problem, letā€™s assume that the length of the red barā€™s shadow on the wall is 4M. The shadow of that bar would also would be 4, the total length of the red barā€™s shadow is 10, and since we know the object height and length of shadow is equal, the height of the red bar=10M

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

FROM THE WEB

> Scientists have recruited an unusual ally in their efforts to help children overcome profound deafnessā€”computer games

> Flights take off for the new Bark airline, where you can pay $6,000 to travel with your dog

> Researchers have found evidence of the oldest known platypus and a new species, dubbed ā€˜echidnapusā€™, which has a platypus-like anatomy

> A single-engine Cessna plane lost power and flew dangerously close to rooftops of houses near Sydneyā€™s Bankstown airport

> The German Society for Nature Photography has announced the winners of the 2024 Nature Photographer of the Year, whoā€™ve captured the beauty of nature ā€“ everything from the wildest panorama to the creepiest of creepy-crawlies

> Eating more fruits and vegetables may lead to optimal sleep duration, a recent study suggests

Additional Reads


āš™ļø Mechanical:Explore the wonders of mechanical engineering.

šŸ›©ļø Aerospace: The latest on propulsion, satellites, aeronautics, and more.

šŸ§‘šŸ»ā€šŸ”§ Engineer Pros: The latest in engineering news, career updates, and insider knowledge.

šŸ§  AI Logs: Insights into the intricacies and developments within the realm of artificial intelligence.

šŸŽ¬ IE Originals:Weekly round-up of our best science, tech & engineering videos.

šŸŸ© Sustainability: Uncover green innovations and the latest trends shaping a sustainable future for the tech industry.

āš”Electrical: From AI to smart grids, our newsletter energizes you on emerging tech.

šŸŽ“ IE Academy: Master your field and take your career to the next level with IE Academy


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