🚢 World’s first ammonia-fueled ship, new gravity bomb tech, hybrid bird-like robot

HD Hyundai Mipo, a renowned South Korean shipbuilder, has started construction on the ‘world’s first’ ammonia-powered vessel.

This vessel, ordered by the Belgian shipping company EXMAR, will be powered by a cutting-edge ammonia dual-fuel engine. The company has ordered a total of six dual-fuel LPG/ammonia carriers.

The first two, named Champagny and Courchevel, were officially christened in a ceremony held at HD Hyundai Mipo’s facilities on Monday, January 6th. Let's take a closer look at this Must Read.  

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

> Senior Software Development Engineer (SDE)

>Lead Data Engineer – Big Data

Reading Time: 4 mins

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

MUST-READ

🚢 HD Hyundai begins construction on world's first ammonia-fueled ship

Ammonia is a promising alternative fuel for the maritime industry due to its carbon-free nature. When burned, ammonia does not release any carbon dioxide, making it a crucial tool in the effort to decarbonize shipping and combat climate change.

These vessels, classified as midsize gas carriers (MGCs), are impressive in size and capacity. Each vessel boasts a length of 190 meters and a width of 30.4 meters.

They are designed with three cargo holds that can accommodate up to 46,000 cubic meters of liquefied gas, including both LPG and ammonia.

🐦 Watch China’s new hybrid robot jump, walk and balance like a bird

Chinese researchers have developed a bipedal robot equipped with quadrotor assistance to enhance its motion capabilities.

Unlike traditional designs aiming for multimodal locomotion, this innovation focuses solely on improving the robot’s performance in movement.

The Shandong University team’s prototype design, named KOU-III, improves the rigidity and compactness of the knee joint actuator by replacing the cantilever structure of the planetary carrier in the reducer with a bridge-like design.

💣 US upgrades 50-year-old nuclear warhead with new gravity bomb tech

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) in the United States has completed the upgrade of the B61-12 nuclear warhead, which is the latest modification to the B61 family of gravity bombs.

The production of nuclear gravity bombs formally started three years ago.

Deployed from the U.S. Air Force and North Atlantic Treaty Organization bases, the B61 family of gravity bombs has over 50 years of service, which makes it the oldest and most versatile weapon in the enduring U.S. nuclear weapon stockpile. 

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

HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY

SCIENCE

> Paleontologists have unearthed the oldest dinosaur ever found in North America – a creature they’ve named Ahvaytum bahndooiveche. (More)

> Archeologists have recently unearthed the 4,000-year-old tomb of an Egyptian physician at the famed Saqqara cemetery. (More)

> A new study has discovered that animals injected with a specific microorganism, commonly found in cow's milk and soil, exhibited remarkable resistance to weight gain. (More)

ENERGY

> South Korean researchers have developed an innovative nitrogen-doped porous carbon material to enhance the charging speed of lithium-sulfur batteries. (More)

> Deep Fission, a nuclear energy company, has designed small nuclear reactors that will be buried 1-mile underground to power data centers. (More)

> Chinese solar module manufacturer has announced a 33.84% power conversion efficiency for a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell. (More)

INNOVATION

> BMW announced its new Panoramic iDrive operating system at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025. The German automaker also introduced a new, futuristic steering wheel with haptic feedback buttons. (More)

> Robotics firm Enchanted Tools is showing off its Mirokai robot once again at CES 2025. This robot is designed to improve patient care by offering assistance and also serves as a valuable concierge within the hospital. (More)

> Researchers at the University of Washington have created IRIS, a smart ring that enables users to control smart devices. (More)

VIDEO

> World’s first modular flying car debuts at CES 2025, redefining transportation.(More)

> Aptera’s solar EV delivers 40 miles of solar range daily and 400 miles per charge, redefining sustainable mobility. (More)

FROM THE WEB

> High-frequency electrical stimulation blocks spasticity to help paraplegics walk again

> Pair of 430 million-year-old fossils named ‘Punk’ and ‘Emo’

> NASA Lander to Test Vacuum Cleaner on Moon for Sample Collection

> Renewable Energy Made Up 62.7% of Germany’s Electricity in 2024

> Upgraded nuclear missile sub conducts tests in icy waters

> Images that transform through heat