- The Blueprint
- Posts
- 🌏 Zombie duck drones, Musk-Trump could boost US space strength, Einstein's gravity theory questioned
🌏 Zombie duck drones, Musk-Trump could boost US space strength, Einstein's gravity theory questioned
Plus: Emperor penguin’s epic GPS fail sends it 2,000 miles off course to Australia
When Beyoncé Gets Paid, So Could You
JKBX (pronounced “Jukebox”) lets you invest in royalties from global streaming platforms.
Earn potential quarterly payouts tied to music revenue.
Diversify with an uncorrelated, market-independent asset.
Visit www.jkbx.com/legal/offering-circulars for important Reg A disclosures. This content is not investment advice, nor is it an offer of securities. All investments involve risk and may result in loss.
IE Quizzes are back!
You asked, we delivered – the IE Quiz is back, exclusively for Blueprint Weekly subscribers!
Invention in drones is rapidly advancing across the world with multiple companies and research teams developing new types of UAVs almost every week. In this arena, a research team has developed drones made from the bodies of dead birds.
The zombie drones, constructed and tested by the research team at New Mexico Tech, are expected to aid wildlife monitoring as they could be blended into a natural environment.
Researchers used their novel method to use body parts to create realistic avian imposters. They have also claimed that no birds were killed in the development of drones. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.
🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on jobs.interestingengineering.com:
> Sr. Staff Engineer
> Principal Data Engineer - Remote US
Reading Time: 4 mins
Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? Subscribe here.
MUST-READ
“I should mention that the main and only use for this project is wildlife monitoring, not spying. Drones are being used for wildlife monitoring; however, they create lots of noise which could scare the animals,” said Dr. Mostafa Hassanalian, assistant professor of mechanical engineering.
“No real birds were physically harmed in the making of the drones, and we do not intend to do this at all.”
He underlined that researchers have only used the feathers and taxidermy birds that are available in the market and have worked with local taxidermy artists.
Elon Musk’s influence in a potential second Trump administration could fast-track the US space program and present a significant challenge to China’s space ambitions, experts say.
Musk, who leads SpaceX, has been tapped to help streamline government operations, with a focus on enhancing efficiency across federal agencies.
His involvement is expected to influence US space policies and increase competition with China, which has been advancing in space exploration.
The rapid expansion of the universe has been the most perplexing enigma in physics. To unravel this cosmic puzzle, scientists turn to the fundamental laws of physics, including Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity.
A team of scientists compared Einstein’s theory of general relativity with data from the Dark Energy Survey. They found a “slight discrepancy” in the behavior of gravity at different cosmic times.
The study says that the gravitational distortions observed in distant galaxies exhibit subtle discrepancies with the predictions of Einstein’s theory.
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
> An emperor penguin traveled over 2,000 miles from its Antarctic home, appearing on the shores of Ocean Beach in Denmark, a town in Western Australia. (More)
> A new discovery has closed a significant gap in the global map of amber finds: for the first time, amber has been unearthed in Antarctica. (More)
> Animal experiment aboard Tiangong space station smashes ISS record for similar research, while helping scientists understand effects of microgravity. (More)
ENERGY
> OpenStar Technologies, a New Zealand-based fusion research company, has achieved a key milestone by obtaining its first plasma. OpenStar has adopted a novel approach to achieving fusion energy that does not use a tokamak or stellarator design for its device. Instead, it uses a levitated dipole reactor (LDR). (More)
> A team of researchers from Rice University, led by Lisa Biswal and Haotian Wang, has developed an innovative electrochemical reactor designed to extract lithium from natural brine solutions. (More)
> The FAST (Fusion by Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) project has been launched in Japan with the aim of achieving fusion-based power generation by the end of the 2030s. (More)
INNOVATION
> YouTube channel Concept Crafted Creations has developed a unique water gun that shoots ice bullets. (More)
> In a quest to advance robotics, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are using radio signals to equip robots with superhuman vision. Their system, PanoRadar, converts basic radio waves into rich 3D views, allowing robots to “see” beyond traditional sensor limits. (More)
> An AI-assisted robot can listen to spoken commands and assemble 3D objects, such as chairs and tables, out of reusable building blocks. (More)
VIDEO
> Watch: Athletic wheeled robodog attacks extreme terrain at high speed (More)
> A video look at the White Mesa Mill, the last conventional uranium mill in the United States. (More)
FROM THE WEB
> New single test can detect almost any disease-causing pathogen in hours
> When muscles work out, they help neurons to grow, a new study shows
> The Arecibo Observatory's 'powerful radiation environment' led to its collapse, claims report
> Flemish company creates world’s first mangrove island
> New 'gold-plated' superconductor could be the foundation for massively scaled-up quantum computers in the future
> Plastic-eating mealworms native to Africa discovered
Additional Reads
⚙️ Mechanical:Explore the wonders of mechanical engineering.
🛩️ Aerospace: The latest on propulsion, satellites, aeronautics, and more.
🧑🏻‍🔧 Engineer Pros: The latest in engineering news, career updates, and insider knowledge.
🧠AI Logs: Insights into the intricacies and developments within the realm of artificial intelligence.
🎬 IE Originals:Weekly round-up of our best science, tech & engineering videos.
đźź© Sustainability: Uncover green innovations and the latest trends shaping a sustainable future for the tech industry.
⚡Electrical: From AI to smart grids, our newsletter energizes you on emerging tech.
🎓 IE Academy: Master your field and take your career to the next level with IE Academy
Want to share your feedback? [email protected]