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🔋 World’s longest BASE flight, 5-minute EV battery charge, Taiwan's 100-ton submarine mothership

Plus: How AI and spectroscopy unlocked the ancient secrets of controlled fire

Austrian wingsuit pilot Peter Salzmann has set a new record in human flight with a record-breaking flight of almost six minutes without engine propulsion using only a wingsuit foil.

Salzmann teamed up with Red Bull to make the daring jump at the scenic Jungfrau mountain in Switzerland. The feat was undertaken on October 24, and it set new world records for the longest BASE flight time of 5 minutes 56 seconds and the longest BASE flight distance of 7.77 miles (12.5 kilometers). Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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MUST-READ

Salzmann and wingsuit foil developer Andreas Podlipnik had been planning the jump for almost three years, with support from the engineering team at Red Bull Advanced Technologies.

A wingsuit is a supportive jump clothing worn to improve an athlete’s performance and control during freefall.

They are made from ripstop nylon and have three wings: two between the arms and torso, and one between the legs. They work by creating lift, which slows down the wearer’s descent and allows horizontal gliding.

AUS startup has developed a cost-effective technology to charge lithium batteries in just 5 minutes fully. To meet electric vehicle (EV) market demands, Dallas-based Solidion has developed a patented system enabling fast charging in all climates.

The system uses a graphene-based heat spreader. It quickly warms batteries before or during charging, while an integrated cooling system activates during discharge to prevent overheating.

According to the firm, the technology enables rapid EV charging in any weather, especially overcoming current battery limitations in cold climates. Solidion plans to commercialize it within 2-3 years.

New footage of Taiwan’s domestically developed “Huilong” (Smart Dragon) unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) has been released. Captured by military enthusiasts, the new footage shows interesting features about the previously unknown UUV.

The footage shows the UUV being inspected by technicians (presumably) under a floating shelter. It is then seen being towed as a support vessel. One of the most striking features is the apparent presence of a pair of bow torpedo tubes.

It also added to previously speculated details about the rear of the UUV clearing, showing its propeller and X-shaped rudder.

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