🐛Water bears get micro tattoos, US Army students’ hypersonic rocket smashes altitude record, world’s first 3D-printed Starbucks

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Tardigrades, a microscopic marvel, are known for their incredible resilience. Also known as “water bear,” these creatures are now getting tattooed.

These tiny titans can survive conditions that would instantly obliterate most life on Earth. Nothing fazes them – not freezing, crushing pressure, or even the harsh emptiness of space.

Researchers have found a way to give these resilient creatures “micro tattoos.” No artistry was involved; the tattoos were just basic micropatterns: squares, dots, and lines. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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MUST-READ

🐛Water bears get micro-tattoos in wild test of living electronics

Why tattoo tardigrades, you might wonder? The tattooing was performed to evaluate a microfabrication method for creating tiny, biologically compatible devices.

“Through this technology, we’re not just creating micro-tattoos on tardigrades — we’re extending this capability to various living organisms, including bacteria,” said Ding Zhao, a co-author of the paper from Westlake University in China.

In recent years, microfabrication has been widely used to create tiny devices like microprocessors and biosensors. For microfabrication to transform medicine and bioengineering, researchers must ensure its safe and effective application in living systems.

🚀 US students make space history with 93-mile hypersonic rocket flight

A team of eight cadets from the US Military Academy’s Space Engineering and Applied Research (SPEAR) program has launched a tactical orbital rocket at hypersonic speeds.

The rocket, launched from Black Rock Playa in Nevada, reached an altitude of 149.556 kilometers (93 miles), a historic milestone in space exploration and engineering education.

It also broke the amateur rocketry altitude record by six kilometers, crossing the Karman Line, the official boundary of space.

🧋World’s first 3D-printed Starbucks set to open in Texas

In a groundbreaking step for the future of construction, the first-ever 3D-printed Starbucks is taking shape in Brownsville, Texas.

Designed by German company Peri 3D, known for its innovative work in Europe, this new café sets an exciting precedent for the way retail spaces could be built in the future.

The entire structure is built with 3D-printed concrete walls—no drywall, no beams—just a smooth, layer-by-layer print job. The 3D-printed Starbucks is scheduled to open on April 28, 2025.

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