🪞 Saudi cuts 'The Line,' Illegal Starlink in Russia, Cosmic sneeze

Saudi Arabia’s 'The Line' project, which was set to consist of two parallel-running skyscrapers taller than the Empire State Building, has been previously reported by Interesting Engineering. However, we now know this is to be cut short — quite drastically— from 105 miles (170 kilometers) to 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers).

With its mirror finish that helps the structure blend into the arid environment, The Line project is quite the view. Better yet, an entire city is designed to be contained within the two parallel running structures. Find out more about this engineering marvel in today’s Must-Read.

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

> Chief Engineer, Manufacturing Operations
> Mechanical & Physical Engineer - Core Engine Calibration Engineer

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

Reading Time: 4 mins

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

MUST READ

🪞 Neom: The Line project cut by 104 miles amid Saudi budget concerns

Neom’s ‘The Line’ project had plans to house up to 1.5 million people by the end of the decade. The futuristic city aims to be self-sufficient, with facilities for growing food and high-speed transportation contained within the mirrored walls.

However, people familiar with the developments have now told Bloomberg that plans for the city are being scaled back. Only a mile and a half (2.4 kilometers) of the city will actually be built by 2030.

Anonymous sources told the media outlet that the project’s resident capacity has now been scaled down to a mere 300,000. The plans for the 105-mile-long city are still in place, though, and the project intends to complete it someday.

🛰️ Pentagon and SpaceX work to prevent illegal Russian Starlink use in Ukraine

SpaceX’s Starlink terminals provide high-speed internet by connecting to the company’s thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit. Now, SpaceX is working with the Pentagon and Kyiv to prevent Russia from using its terminals illegally.

In recent months, reports have emerged that Russian forces have acquired Starlink terminals and they are using them to aid in their invasion. Since the start of the war, SpaceX has donated many Starlink terminals to Ukraine to help keep civilians connected.

Additionally, a recent report claimed that paramilitary forces in Sudan had acquired Starlink terminals via the black market. Officials from the opposing sides have reportedly asked SpaceX to intervene, though the terminals are thought to still be active. The news highlights SpaceX and Elon Musk’s immense power on the global stage. 

🌟 Cosmic ‘achoo!’: Baby star’s sneezing fits seen 450 light-years away

All is not calm in the cosmic cradle. Astronomers have caught a baby star in the act of sneezing tremendous bursts of energy and stellar material into the surrounding space.

Kyushu University researchers used an ALMA radio telescope to peer into the stellar nursery 450 light-years away from Earth. The ALMA array comprises 66 high-precision radio telescopes placed 5,000 meters above sea level in northern Chile.

Interestingly, the researchers have described these high-speed plumes as similar to “sneezes”. Their observations indicated that a newborn star’s protostellar disk emits magnetic flux, dust, and gas sneezes. This phenomenon may play a role in influencing the star’s growth.

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

OUR WORKSHOP

Join our first workshop at Interesting Engineering, you'll explore the depths of AI models like #ChatGPT, #Gemini, and #Anthropic, understanding their capabilities in refining code for software applications and optimizing graphics. Learn to build AI models from scratch, and discover the power of selecting the perfect AI tools for specific projects. Use our special promotion code IEACADEMYBP for an extra 25% percent discount on checkout. Sign up today from here

HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Scientists successfully visualized the Wigner crystal — a unique state of matter comprising electrons— confirming a 90-year-old theory. To achieve this feat, they used a quantum material. (More)

> Scientists have discovered two stars that probably clashed and merged to form a magnetic star. They observed the stellar twins in the HD 148937 system and the surrounding nebula–NGC 6164/6165. (More)

> Immediately after Monday’s solar eclipse, the number of people searching Google for eye-related injuries jumped, while one doctor in New York City says she treated a surge of patients with eye pain. (More)

ENERGY

> A conversation with former engineers from SpaceX and General Motors reveals how they're making space-based solar power — a 100-year-old tech — a reality. (More)

> Using machine learning, researchers have tied low-magnitude microearthquakes to the permeability of subsurface rocks beneath the Earth. This could have implications for improving geothermal energy transfer. (More)

> China has successfully completed the drilling of the country’s deepest geothermal exploration well. The Fushen-1 Well in Hainan has a well depth of 5,200 meters. (More)

INNOVATION

> The BeBot robot will demonstrate its litter removal capabilities on Belle Isle Beach this Earth Day, collecting data to address the plastic pollution problem. (More)

> An Oxford breakthrough has led to the development of a "blind quantum computing" method for use at home. It enables secure, scalable quantum cloud computing connecting quantum entities over networks. (More)

> Researchers have devised an improved radiation detector, drawing inspiration from the popular game Tetris. The tech leverages a computational foundation that can identify the location of a dispersed radiation source. (More)

VIDEO

> A team at MIT is investigating the potential of hydrogen-powered motorcycles. The team has a history of converting gasoline vehicles to electric. But it hopes hydrogen could deliver a greener - and faster - option for the future. (More)

> Carnegie Mellon's Team Explorer is diving underground with their cutting-edge autonomous robots for the DARPA Subterranean Challenge, revolutionizing exploration in tunnels, caves, and urban landscapes. (More)

> Oxford University is using a supercomputer called Dawn to research fusion power. Fusion could be a solution to the world's energy needs. But it's exceptionally complex, and needs a supercomputer to design fusion reactors. (More)

IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS

The results are in for this brainteaser. So, “What’s the missing number?”

The answer is: 14

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

FROM THE WEB

> Apple hit with ‘mercenary spyware attacks’ — iPhone users warned worldwide of ‘most advanced digital threats’

> New sonar data shows the challenge of clearing Baltimore Bridge's wreckage

> $45K EV smuggles a 620-mile solid-state battery out of the lab

> In a first, scientists measure qubits using infrared sensors

> North America just got a new recycled Li-ion battery materials plant

> ‘Surprising’ hidden activity of semiconductor material spotted by researchers