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Venice’s famous canals are running dry
Venice’s famous canals are running dry
Plus: Novel device can detect and analyze cancer cells from blood samples.
Mar 04, 2023
With its winding waterways, beautiful architecture, and annual carnival, Venice attracts thousands of tourists from all around the world. It is estimated that roughly 20 million people flock to Venice each year, and that number grows with each passing year. One of the reasons behind this growth may be related to Venice’s vulnerability to the threats of global warming.
Now, new images from the fascinating city filled us with the blues. It can be seen in the photos that the city’s famous canals are running dry due to a combination of factors, such as drought and low tide.
Before getting into this new problem Venice is facing right now, get into our video of the day, showing how a fighter jet exceeds Mach 1 in a vertical climb.
Good morning. I’m Mert, an Editor at IE.
This is The Blueprint. Let’s dive in.
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VIDEO OF THE DAY
Pilots describe flying it was like "being saddled to a skyrocket."
MUST READ
Over the last week, we've seen a deluge of photos from Venice, showing its famous canals facing a relatively dry spell. Boats and the famous gondolas are shown to remain stranded on piles of sand, lying tilted in small pools of muddy water.
These canals, zig-zagging across the northeastern Italian city, serve as a means of navigation for its plethora of water taxis, gondolas, and ambulances. They are also one of the main reasons why thousands of tourists flock to the city known for its rich cultural heritage.
→ With sea levels rising all over the world due to the effects of global warming, one would expect the canals to be filled to the brim with water. But why is the opposite happening in Venice right now? The answer lies in several phenomena taking place simultaneously. Let's take a more detailed look together.
READ MORE
HEALTH
Scientists from the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) developed a new device to identify and analyze cancer cells from blood samples. The development is significant for offering an alternative to invasive biopsy surgeries and monitoring treatment progress.
Definitive cancer diagnosis, especially in organs like the liver, colon, or kidney, often requires surgery. Therefore, a non-invasive and affordable tool for detection is still needed for those with suspected cancer.
“Managing cancer through the assessment of tumor cells in blood samples is far less invasive than taking tissue biopsies. It allows doctors to do repeat tests and monitor a patient’s response to treatment,” said Professor Majid Warkiani from the UTS School of Biomedical Engineering.
READ MORE
INNOVATION
Elia, a Belgium-based electricity transmission system operator, is building an artificial island in the North Sea to function as an energy hub. In addition to connecting offshore wind farms with the mainland, it will also connect to the electricity grids of neighboring countries.
As countries look to achieve net-zero status for carbon emissions, renewable sources of energy sources are going to be a crucial part of their plans. Given the disadvantages of intermittency, renewable sources of energy need to be connected in large grids to ensure that the energy supply can be maintained to match the demand.
READ MORE
TRANSPORTATION
Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk announced during an Investor Day session in Austin, Texas, that the company would open a new gigafactory in Mexico to increase its global output.
The electric vehicle plant will be located in the northern border state of Nuevo Leon, near Monterrey, and will cost more than $5 billion to build.
Musk stated that Tesla would increase output at all its gigafactories. Musk outlined Tesla’s innovative approach to managing operations from manufacture to service, including goals to slash assembly costs in half in upcoming car generations.
READ MORE
MAIL & MUSINGS
Venice is one of the world’s most vulnerable spots against climate change.
Do you think it’s too late to visit Venice now?
YESTERDAY'S RESULTS
Yesterday, we asked if satellite messaging is the next big thing in mobile phone text messaging. The majority of you (38 percent) said it is revolutionary.
38%
Yes, it’s revolutionary
35%
It could be, it’s possible
22%
No, it’s no big deal
5%
I am unsure either way
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"What one man can invent, another can discover."
Arthur Conan Doyle, Scottish-born writer.
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The JET nuclear fusion project spells an exciting future.
How seriously should we take the US DoE’s COVID lab leak theory? (The Guardian)
The engineer who built an airplane in his backyard is flying around Europe with his family.
Prepared by Mert Erdemir
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