- The Blueprint
- Posts
- 👁️ A new color becomes visible to the human eye, ISS at risk, Pumas arrive in Ukraine
👁️ A new color becomes visible to the human eye, ISS at risk, Pumas arrive in Ukraine
Plus: The AI revolution: ending droughts, one algorithm at a time


Can artificial intelligence help solve one of the world’s toughest climate challenges? This week, award-winning AI expert Joseph Ayoade joins us to break down how cloud computing, predictive models, and machine learning are being used to manage drought and optimize water use in real time.
🎧️ Tune in now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website!
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a method to break a human limit and unlock a color previously unseen by human eyes.
Aptly called “Oz,” the technique activates thousands of retinal cone cells, which triggers the ability to perceive a new color: a “highly saturated blue-green color.” Beyond the cool effect, it could help address visual deficiencies.
Oz represents a new class of experimental platform for vision science and neuroscience, which strives for complete control of the first neural layer to the brain. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.
Reading Time: 4 mins

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

Unlike traditional color reproduction, the Oz technique does not manipulate the light spectrum emitted to stimulate the retinal cone cells in our eyes.
The methods currently employed trigger an overlap due to the sensitivity of these cells to different wavelengths and intensities of light, restricting the range of colors the eye can perceive.
By focusing on a specific type of cone cell, the Oz technique effectively bypasses the overlap and enables participants to see a new color outside the normal spectrum. And the team overcame the limitations by employing “spatial metamerism.”

The International Space Station (ISS) has reached “the riskiest period of its existence.”
Cracks aboard the space station have been a long-running concern. Over the years, air leaks have hindered operations, and funny enough, the source of a leak was found thanks to floating tea leaves.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk recently recommended that NASA deorbit the station sooner. The station “served its purpose,” he said. Could it be the end of its 26 year run? What about the risk that debris poses to the public?

This is just from Ukraine: Italian-made Puma 6x6 armored personnel carriers (APCs) have entered the battlefield. No one knows how they got there, though.
The wheeled, light-armored vehicle produced by Italian defense consortium Iveco Oto Melara was designed for reconnaissance and fast-assault missions. It can carry a two-man crew and six to eight infantry soldiers.
Though the donor has not been announced or even mentioned, a pattern in past deliveries and logistics may suggest who it is.
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
> China has discovered two high-purity quartz deposits, one near Qinling, Henan province, a critical component in manufacturing photovoltaic cells and semiconductor chips. (More)
> Rice University researchers have uncovered a new mechanism through which matter enables ultrastrong coupling between different light modes. (More)
> 4 billion tons yearly: UK starts sucking carbon from sea with floating solar power. (More)

ENERGY
> German energy giant backs UK startup’s affordable polymer-based battery to power homes. (More)
> China’s solid-state EV battery breakthrough shows stable performance over 1,200 hours. (More)
> Flexible solar cell efficiency record smashed by Chinese scientists at 24.6 percent. (More)

INNOVATION
> The AI revolution: ending droughts, one algorithm at a time. (More)
> Scientists double thermoelectric efficiency with new hybrid materials. (More)
> Colossal 125,000-ton UK ships to get Swiss wind-powered wings, hybrid engines. (More)

VIDEO
> Puma, CV90, Bradley – NATO’s War Horses. (More)
> Robot Mine-Clearing Tank. (More)
FROM THE WEB

> Climate change may make it harder to spot submarines.
> A gas clump in the Milky Way’s neighborhood might be a ‘dark galaxy.’
> Groundbreaking study uncovers how our brain learns.
> 'Useless' female organ discovered over a century ago may actually support ovaries, study finds.
> Let’s learn about the carbon cycle.
> Don’t rush promising stem-cell therapies.
Additional Reads
⚙️ Mechanical:Explore the wonders of mechanical engineering.
🛩️ 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.
🎓 IE Academy: Master your field and take your career to the next level with IE Academy
Want to share your feedback? [email protected]