🌴 Trees as jet fuel, gun fires 450,000 rounds/minute, 400-year-old vault with skeletal remains

Researchers are exploring the untapped potential of trees as a source of biofuel for powering aircraft and heavy vehicles.

At the forefront of this exciting field, scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are employing a cutting-edge technology called laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). This technology is providing invaluable insights into the elemental composition of plants and soil, paving the way for advancements in bioenergy and carbon storage research.

The team has successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of LIBS in analyzing switchgrass and poplar, two promising bioenergy crops. Let's take a closer look at this Must Read.  

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MUST-READ

🌴 Scientists explore laser ‘fingerprints’ to turn trees into jet fuel

LIBS has been adapted by researcher Madhavi Martin and her team to analyze biological samples. This innovative approach involves creating unique chemical “fingerprints” of plants.

“This information could help us develop biotechnology that helps farmers grow bioenergy crops more sustainably. It could also help climate scientists better understand how plants respond to environmental change, including wildfires,” said the scientists in a press release.

By identifying the specific elements present, scientists can gain a deeper understanding of plant growth, carbon storage potential, and the suitability of various plants for biofuel production.

🪖 China's 'metal storm' gun fires 450,000 rounds per minute: Scientists

China is pushing the boundaries of weapons technology with the development of a new rapid-fire machine gun.

Equipped with at least five barrels, this weapon can fire up to 450,000 rounds per minute per barrel.

This generates an unmatched barrage capable of intercepting hypersonic missiles exceeding Mach 7. By comparison, the US military’s most advanced Phalanx system reaches only 4,500 rounds per minute.

💀 400-year-old vault stuffed with bodies discovered in French church

What began as a restoration project unexpectedly transformed into a full-scale excavation when archaeologists unearthed ancient Late Antiquity sarcophagi.

When restorers set out to address structural risks at the church of Saint Philibert’s foundation, they began digging at various locations throughout the space. Soon, the project took an unexpected turn as a wealth of archaeological material surfaced.

They stumbled upon a forgotten staircase that led archaeologists from the French National Institute for Preventative Archaeological Research (INAP) to a 400-year-old vault that held skeletal remains of adults and children from the 15th and 16th centuries. 

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