🫨 New York hit by earthquake, Space batteries, 'Sun blocker' tests

Yesterday (April 5), a 4.8-magnitude earthquake hit the New York City region. However, some sources claimed to have picked it up as a magnitude of 5.5. In both cases, the quake is the strongest to be felt by the state since 2011.

It shook buildings and surprised residents, as the region rarely experiences earthquakes of this size. For more on the details, check out today’s Must-Read.

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

> Software Engineer II (Machine Configuration)
> Web and Automation Developer/Engineer

🎙 New podcast The science behind Wi-Fi motion sensing with Dr. Taj Manku

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MUST READ

🫨 4.8 magnitude earthquake hits New York region, strongest since 2011

An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 is significant but not devastating —  in fact, roughly half a million occur worldwide every year. That’s because it’s on the lower end of the Richter scale, with earthquake power increasing as the scale increases.

Earthquakes over the Richter scale of 8.0 are considered great earthquakes that can and will devastate cities near the epicenter. For example, back in 2023, one of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria had a magnitude of roughly 7.8 and devasted some cities and towns in the region.

The last significant earthquake the New York City region experienced was a 5.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Virginia in 2011. That earthquake prompted evacuations in New York City, including City Hall, and caused damage in Washington. It was the strongest for the region since 1897.

🔋 Hong Kong tycoon wants to use space battery tech on Earth

Peter Lee, the Hong Kong-based tycoon, wants to use battery technology used in space back on Earth. To facilitate this, the business tycoon’s family office founded a new startup, EnerVenue, and has plans to scale up the technology at its factories in China and the U.S.

Countries have been ramping up investments in renewable energy infrastructure to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. According to the International Energy Agency, investments in energy storage are now at over US$35 billion, up from $20 billion just two years ago.

Lee’s EnerVenue is considering nickel and hydrogen batteries—a technology used to store energy in space—as a viable solution to the problem.

🌤️ US tests 1st cloud-powered ‘sun blocker’ tech to fight global warming

Recently, U.S. researchers conducted the first outdoor test of a cloud-brightening technique that deflects sunlight and may temporarily cool the planet. They aim to assess the efficiency of their technology in the San Francisco Bay Area.

This innovative geoengineering method is called marine cloud brightening, and it may allow clouds over the ocean to bounce more sun rays’ away from our planet. Simply put, they’d be amplifying clouds’ natural ability to reflect sunlight back into space.

The Earth’s soaring temperature levels have pushed scientists to explore various alternatives, including techniques to deliberately slow the planet’s warming.

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HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

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ENERGY

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INNOVATION

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VIDEO

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> Boston Dynamics’ robotic creation, Spot, has embarked on a new mission within the industrial sector to enhance safety and efficiency at Chevron’s operational sites. (More)

> The US is home to the world's most formidable air forces, the US Air Force and Navy Aviation, unrivaled in aerial combat with advanced aircraft like the Boeing EA-18G Growler, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, F-22 Raptor, and F-15EX Eagle II. (More)

IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS

Hey there! Yesterday, we threw out a brain teaser on our socials: “Can you add 1 line to make the equation true?

The answer is: 545+5+5=555 (Put a diagonal line to the first plus sign to turn it into a 4)

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

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