🚘 Tesla saves driver, Fake superconductor, Cold atoms navigation tech

A wild scene unfolded in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, when a construction crane sent a massive piece of debris crashing down onto a busy bridge. Incredibly, the driver of a Tesla Model Y, which was hit by the falling wreckage, walked away from the incident unscathed.

Sadly, a construction worker lost their life in the accident, and two others were injured. To know more about the story, don’t miss today’s Must-Read.

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

> Software Engineer II (Machine Configuration)
> Principal Software Engineer (Technical Lead)

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

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MUST READ

🚘 Tesla Model Y saves driver in shocking crane collapse

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Chief Stephen Gollan explained that the crane itself wasn’t the problem. Instead, he said there was a failure in a work platform attached to the crane, sending equipment and materials hurtling down onto the bridge.

A resident who witnessed the accident described it as something out of a movie. The falling crane section smashed into the Tesla, bounced off, and then landed on a nearby minivan. “We drive this [way] every day, so it’s a pretty scary thing to think about,” the witness said.

Mark Cerezin, the Tesla driver, considers himself incredibly lucky. He told reporters that he instinctively slammed on the brakes just as the debris fell. The impact destroyed the front of his Model Y, but the car’s cabin kept him safe.

⚡ Room-temperature superconductor claims discredited by official investigation

A team of independent scientists hired by the University of Rochester has been investigating the controversial works of a physicist for the last 10 months. In a confidential 124-page report, they concluded he is guilty of scientific misconduct.

The physicist in question is none other than Ranga Dias, a researcher who, in March 2023, claimed to have discovered a superconductor capable of working at room temperature. This scientific feat was never achieved before.

However, within six months of the publication of his sensational study, Dias was accused of data manipulation, result falsification, and plagiarism. Many scientists disapproved of his claims and eventually, the journal Nature also retracted his two papers.

🧭 Researchers reveal new quantum inertial navigation tech with reduced drift

Researchers have created a new navigation tool called the Continuous 3D-Cooled Atom Beam Interferometer. Using cold atom beams, this device aims to improve naval navigation systems by reducing drift.

Inertial navigation relies on accelerometers and gyroscopes to track an object’s position and orientation from a known starting point. Quantum inertial navigation is a new area of study promising significantly higher measurement accuracy.

Thanks to the unique properties of the atom source, the new tool shows promising measurement capabilities such as high contrast, low noise, and better adaptation to different environments.

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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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> The collapse of honey bee colonies is a huge threat to global food security. Bees pollinate a third of our food, with a global annual value of $220 billion. CIBER is at the forefront of helping honey bees survive. (More)

IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS

Hey there! Yesterday, we threw out a brain teaser on our socials: “How can you measure 9 minutes using hourglasses that run for 4 and 7 minutes each?

The answer is:
1-Start both hourglasses at the same time.
2-Once the 4-minute hourglass runs out, flip it over to start it again.
3-When the 7-minute hourglass runs out, stop the 4-minute hourglass.
4-At this point, 7 minutes have passed.
5-Once the 4-minute hourglass runs out again, a total of 8 minutes have passed.
6-Immediately turn over the 7-minute hourglass.
7-When the 7-minute hourglass runs out, 9 minutes have elapsed.

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

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