Could CO2 not be the villain we have all come to believe it is?

‘Carbon Dioxide Battery’: How CO2 may not be a villain after all

We all know that excessive carbon dioxide is bad and contributes to climate change. But what if we were wrong?
&#8220;For decades all we&#8217;ve heard is how bad carbon dioxide is for the environment and how it causes climate change! True as that might be, what if that very molecule had some very important properties that made it a great medium for energy storage?&#8221; reads YouTuber Two Bit da Vinci&#8217;s video description.
&#8220;From villain to hero in the renewable energy story, this is all about the Carbon Dioxide Battery, and how it can be a game changer.&#8221;
The YouTuber outlines how what we most need to make renewables viable is a cost-effective, long-lasting battery that is easy to build and store anywhere in the world. It also has to be made out of cheap, abundant materials that are easy to source.
What does this have to do with carbon dioxide? According to one company <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/carbon-dioxide-battery-needs-only-steel-and-water" title="called Energy Dome" rel="dofollow">called Energy Dome</a> the <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/co2-battery-headed-to-us-shores" title="world's first carbon dioxide battery" rel="dofollow">world&#8217;s first carbon dioxide battery</a> can achieve all that while being cheaply produced.
What is this new and innovative battery? How does it function, and what materials does it require? How viable is it for future applications? This video answers all these questions and more.

Barcelona&#8217;s residents are facing the worst drought on record. Officials believe a floating desalinator is a &#8220;more economical and environmentally sustainable solution&#8221; than shipping in water.

Floating drought fighter: Barcelona to get desalination plant off coast

A desalination plant (Representative image)

Barcelona leans on Europe&#8217;s largest desalination plant for domestic use named the Llobregat, but that is not enough. Catalonia is facing the worst drought on record, so floating desalination plants are part of the solution.



David Mascort, Minister of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda, <a href="https://www.iagua.es/noticias/generalitat-catalunya/cataluna-garantizara-agua-poblacion-restricciones-gracias-13-nuevas" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">said </a>that floating desalinator is a &#8220;more economical and environmentally sustainable solution.&#8221;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-13-floating-desalinators">13 floating desalinators</h3>



The Catalan government will install a floating desalination plant in the port of Barcelona.  As explained, it will come into operation if Catalonia&#8217;s Ter-Llobregat catchment system enters the Emergency II phase of the drought. That is not expected before October.  Phase II of the Emergency status is when reserves go below 10.95% for the catchment. In that case, water consumption would be restricted to 180 liters per inhabitant per day.  That is controlled at the municipal level.



As explained floating desalinators are equipped with the all necessary technology. In total, it is planned to install 13 mobile desaliners. 12 small ones will be installed in the northern Costa Brava region and, a large in the city of Barcelona.



The floating desalination plant will produce about 6% of the consumption of the Barcelona metropolitan area. In numbers that is about 14 hm3 of water per year. The produced water will be stored in the reservoir before being released into the distribution network. &#8220;Transporting water by ship from outside Catalonia is no longer an option as now have better alternatives,&#8221; Patrícia Plaja <a href="https://www.iagua.es/noticias/generalitat-catalunya/cataluna-garantizara-agua-poblacion-restricciones-gracias-13-nuevas" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">said.</a> &nbsp;



For the Costa Brava region, the 12 mobile desalination plants will cost around 10 million euros. &nbsp;It can satisfy around 35% of the water demand of the supply area of the northern Costa Brava. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">5 year long benefits</h3>



As the Mascort explained the purchase of the desalination plant has been calculated based on a usage lifetime of five years. The period of five years aligns well with the period needed for other key infrastructure works related to water resources.



The desalination plant has no mooring costs and does not impact maritime traffic. As said during the conference the floating desalinator produces about 40,000 m3/day.&nbsp; Compared to the average 25,000 m3/day that can be transported with ships that means up to 50% more water. When it comes to prices the cost of producing water through a floating desalination plant is much cheaper. For example, the cost will be around €6/m³, while with ships it rises to €10/m³.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">More than 1,000 days of drought</h3>



Earlier this year after more than 1,000 days of drought, the Catalan government announced a state of emergency. The water restrictions affect something six million people in Barcelona and 200 towns. Meaning a lot more than half of the region’s population. Barcelona&#8217;s residents currently use 160 liters of water per resident per day.



Two months ago Catalan president, Pere Aragonès, said that Catalan budget 2024 foresees over €1bn in spending to face extreme drought. Last year the<a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/a-new-greenhouse-in-spain-can-generate-solar-power-with-no-harmful-gases" target="_blank" rel="dofollow"> Spanish</a> government approved a €2.2bn plan to help farmers and consumers cope with an enduring drought. 



The <a href="https://climate.copernicus.eu/esotc/2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">new Copernicus report</a> confirms that Europe suffered a near-record hot year in 2023 with severe wildfires and heatwaves. Temperatures in Europe were above average for 11 months of the year. While heat-related deaths are estimated to have increased in 94% of the European regions monitored.

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Oncologist says, ‘40% of daily exposure by people in Lebanon to airborne carcinogens comes from one source: diesel generators.&#8217;

Beirut residents face cancer risk amid city&#8217;s diesel-filled smog

A picture taken from Dbayeh north of Beirut on June 7, 2019, shows the skyline of the Lebanese capital covered in smog at sunset.

Could have imagined pollution killing a massive population of an entire city. Unfortunately, this problem is currently prevailing in Beirut, the capital city of <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/health/tons-of-dead-fish-engulf-lebanese-village-in-pungent-odor" target="_blank" rel="dofollow">Lebanon</a>, which is also the largest city in the country.



The city&#8217;s inhabitants are constantly faced with persistent smog, evidence of which is brown-hued clouds dimming the city’s skyline. 



The Guardian reported that roughly 8,000 diesel generators have been powering Lebanon&#8217;s cities since the nation’s economic collapse in 2019. These generators can even be heard, smelled, and spotted on the streets. 



Now, the inhabitants are forced to breathe the air polluted by these unsustainable machines.



Scientists at the American University of Beirut (AUB) have discovered, in yet-to-be-published research, that Beirut’s overdependency on diesel-based generators in the past five years has increased the risk of developing cancer by twofold. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alarming-increase-in-rates-of-positive-diagnoses">Alarming increase in rates of positive diagnoses</h3>



Oncologists said that the rates of positive diagnoses are shooting up. “The results are alarming,” stated Najat Saliba, an atmospheric chemist and leader of the study.&nbsp;



The issue primarily affects Beirut, especially in densely populated areas like Makassed. 



The levels of pollution from fine particles are usually less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5), reaching 60 micrograms per cubic meter, as per The Guardian. 



This amount is four times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of 15mcg/m³, further emphasizing that people shouldn’t be exposed to this level for no more than three to four days a year.



Apparently, the situation became critical after the <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/the-beirut-explosions-atmospheric-wave-shook-the-ionosphere" target="_blank" rel="dofollow">catastrophic explosion</a> in August 2020, which further weakened the country.&nbsp;



Lebanon&#8217;s economic collapse led to a near-collapse of the state energy grid, forcing an elevated use of diesel generators. 



This, combined with political paralysis, corruption, and lack of investment in infrastructure, has led to a vicious cycle where the generators continue to pollute the air, exacerbating health issues, including cancer.



The generators emit carcinogenic pollutants into the atmosphere, significantly increasing cancer risks for the population. 



As per AUB’s measurements, the carcinogenic pollutants have doubled in primarily three areas of the capital city. 



Evaluation proposed that cancer risk will have risen by roughly 50 percent, stated Saliba.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cancer-risk-based-on-the-carcinogen-materials">Cancer risk based on the carcinogen materials</h3>



“It’s directly related,” she told The Guardian. “We calculate the cancer risk based on the carcinogen materials emitted from diesel generators, some of which are classified as category 1A carcinogens.”



Before the economic collapse in 2019, generators were employed to supplement the national grid for three hours. 



However, the economic challenges led to the near collapse of the state’s energy grid, making diesel generators a primary source of power.



Tumor specialists in Beirut informally observed a significant rise in cancer rates, suggesting an approximate rise of 30 percent each year since 2020.&nbsp;



Furthermore, they noted a common trend: patients are becoming younger while the tumors they develop are more aggressive. This data, however, has not been attested. 



Saliba says that the country is riddled with a “big vicious cycle.”



“We are a very poor country now, so we keep asking for all this money. But the trend across all sectors – and everything the government has handled over the past 10 years – is to take the money, install what needs installing, and then leave it without operating costs or any willingness to put the effort in to keep it running.”



While international donors have contributed billions of dollars to initiate improved infrastructure projects, the most basic problems have yet to be addressed.&nbsp;



“There is still no clean air, water, or soil. There is nothing to show for any of it,” added Saliba.



Dr. Fadlo Khuri, the president of AUB and an oncologist specializing in lung and neck cancer who addressed the issue, told The Guardian that Beirut is experiencing “a confluence of circumstances.”



“The AUB did measurements and mathematic modeling and found that 40 percent of daily exposure by people in Lebanon to airborne carcinogens comes from one source: diesel generators,” Khuri says.&nbsp;



“You’re not going to see the impact of that on lung and neck and bladder cancer rates for years because these are diseases which take years of chronic exposure.”

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More than 150 people in Europe lost their lives in 2023 due to extreme weather events.

Europe is fastest-warming continent, 2x more than the global average

This view is looking across part of the deeply cracked reservoir bed which would normally be under water.

As the world pledges to sustainability and best climate practices on this Earth Day, a report has raised concerns over Europe’s conditions.&nbsp;



Showing the sign of a climate emergency, Europe has become the fastest-warming continent on Earth. The alarming revelation has been made by a report jointly published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the European Union&#8217;s Copernicus Climate Change Service.



While the temperature is rising across the globe, the continent is warming at double the rate of the global average, the report says.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-burning-issue">A burning issue</h3>



The report’s findings show that the temperatures in Europe are 36.14 degrees Fahrenheit (2.3 degrees Celsius) higher than that of pre-industrial times. On the contrary, the global temperature has increased by 34.34 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 degrees Celsius).&nbsp;



As per the European State of the Climate 2023 report, it is one of the primary reasons why Europe is facing extreme weather events, including heatwaves, wildfires, <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/years-worth-of-rain-pounds-dubai-in-24hrs" rel="dofollow">floods</a>, and droughts. For reference, in 2023, the continent suffered the largest wildfire in its history and also the most days with “extreme heat stress”.&nbsp;



Elisabeth Hamdouch, the deputy head of unit for Copernicus at the EU’s executive commission, said, “Europe saw yet another year of increasing temperatures and intensifying climate extremes — including heat stress with record temperatures, wildfires, heat waves, glacier ice loss and lack of snowfall.”



The intensity of these events can be gauged by the preliminary estimates suggesting that over 150 Europeans died in storms, floods, and wildfires last year.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Matter of life and death</h3>



The weather patterns across Europe were different too. Countries like Italy, Greece, Slovenia, Norway, and Sweded suffered widespread flooding. On the other hand, southern European regions experienced severe droughts. As per the report, September of 2023 has been the warmest September ever recorded for Europe. Notably, extended summer heatwaves affected many regions of the continent this year.&nbsp;



These extreme climatic events have been causing a severe negative impact on human health. Incidence of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, especially among vulnerable populations, across Europe has increased.&nbsp;



It calls for a sincere effort, as heat-related deaths in the continent have risen by almost a third in the past two decades. Around 94% of countries monitored in the report have seen an increase in heat-related mortality.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cost of inaction</h3>



Extreme weather has also caused economic losses for the whole of Europe. As per the report, natural disasters have taken away more than $14.3 billion USD (13.4 billion euros) in economic damage for Europe last year.



The report has requested governments to increase the utilization of renewable sources for power generation. WMO’s Saulo states, “The cost of climate action may seem high, but the cost of inaction is much higher.”



On this front, Europe has performed well. Around 43% of its <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/energy/japan-space-based-solar-power" rel="dofollow">electricity</a> came from renewable sources last year.

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On Sunday, the severity of the situation prompted officials to raise the flood control emergency response to level 2 in Guangdong province.

Southern China&#8217;s extreme flooding impacts tens of millions of people

Aerial view of rescuers evacuating trapped villagers after torrential rains on April 21, 2024 in Qingyuan, Guangdong Province of China.

Heavy rains in southern China have invoked an uproar among residents. In particular, tens of millions of people have been impacted in the Guangdong province.



According to Reuters, <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/sponge-cities-and-urban-flooding" target="_blank" rel="dofollow">floods</a> have swamped cities in southern China&#8217;s densely populated Pearl River Delta following record-breaking rains. This has sparked concerns regarding the region’s defenses against vigorous downpours, further amplified by extreme weather instances. 



The region that was once known as the “factory floor of the world” is susceptible to floods during the summer season.&nbsp;



Additionally, in June 2022, the province experienced its severest challenge in flood defense in over sixty years when it was slammed with intense rainfall, a rare occurrence. This led to the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-widespread-flooding-of-homes-streets-and-farmland">Widespread flooding of homes, streets, and farmland </h3>



Now, these heavy rains have resulted in widespread flooding of homes, streets, and farmland in Guangdong. The mountainous region is experiencing landslides, with many people injured and some missing. 



At least 11 people have been reported missing, according to CNN, with six of them from the town of Jiangwan near Shaoguan City in Guangdong province&#8217;s mountainous north.



Furthermore, the province faced an earlier start to the monsoon season with an exorbitant intensity, which has caused additional climactic concerns. The typical annual monsoon period for the region is May and June. The rains began on Thursday last week, April 18, 2024.



Reuters reported the losses of a small city–Qingyuan, populated with four million residents.



A 61-year-old man, Huang Jingrong, told Reuters, &#8220;My rice fields are fully flooded; my fields are gone.



The resident sought refuge in an overpass with other farmers from his village. They had a variety of personal belongings with them, including a washing machine.



&#8220;I won&#8217;t be making any money this year, I will be making losses,&#8221; he added. Jingrong evaluating his losses and potentially amounting to 100,000 yuan ($13,800).



&#8220;What can we do? We won&#8217;t get reimbursed for our losses.&#8221;



Conditions apparently worsened over the weekend, and waterways were overflowing in the area near the province’s Huang village. 



Some flood waters seemed to have reached the second level of residences, washing out the paddies and potato fields. 



Elsewhere in Qingyuan, rescue teams waded through waters reaching neck-high to evacuate residents, including an elderly woman stuck in waist-deep water inside an apartment building.



To rescue individuals trapped on the upper floors of residences while they waited for the water levels to lessen, friends supplied them with food transported in boats.



The flooding has significantly affected the livelihood of people in southern China.&nbsp;



Qingyuan resident Lin Xiuzheng, an online retail sales worker, told Reuters that the rains were as intense as now before 2022, but the flood-water levels were not as high.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-emergency-response-raised-to-level-2">Emergency response raised to level 2</h3>



Other places were also affected such as Jiangwan near Shaoguan city and cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen. In fact, April precipitation records seemed to have been shattered in this region, with these cities partially submerged in floodwaters.



Earlier on Sunday, April 21, 2024, the situation prompted officials to raise the flood control emergency response to level 2.



Scientists have reported that weather events in China have amplified and become more unpredictable lately due to <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/study-coastal-communities-to-face-100-year-floods-annually" target="_blank" rel="dofollow">global warming</a>. 



The nation is experiencing “record-breaking rainfall and drought assailing the world&#8217;s second-largest economy, often at the same time,” noted Reuters.



The floodwaters have disrupted daily life, forced evacuations, damaged infrastructure, and caused economic losses. 



Officials have responded by evacuating trapped residents, raising flood control emergency responses, and implementing measures such as suspending schools and canceling flights.

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The Japanese coast guard asked ships to be cautious against falling projectiles, although there were no reports of damage.

North Korea launches missiles toward East Sea, Japan issues alert

Multiple rounds of short-range ballistic missiles were fired by North Korea on Monday, according to the South Korean military. Pyongyang launched missiles toward the East Sea just three days after it fired cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea. The Japanese coast guard asked ships to be cautious against falling projectiles, although there were no reports of damage. South Korea&#8217;s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) strongly condemned the attack and said, &#8220;The North Korean missiles flew about 300 kilometers and splashed into the sea.&#8221;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clear-provocation">&#8220;Clear provocation&#8221;</h2>



JCS called it a &#8220;clear provocation&#8221; and stressed that the move threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula. JCS claimed it will maintain its readiness to respond to any provocations from Pyongyang in step with its military alliance with Washington. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters that North Korea launched at least one ballistic missile that flew 155 miles (250 kilometers) at a maximum altitude of about 30 miles (50 kilometers). He said that North Korea’s repeated missile tests and other provocative actions threaten the peace and safety of Japan, the region and the international community, according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-missile-launch-e156b60c342cfc4ebf03e33a5a31503a" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Associated Press</a>.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-second-spy-satellite-soon">Second spy satellite soon?</h3>



Seoul has maintained that it has found evidence that suggests North Korea is readying itself to launch a second spy satellite soon, but there is no clear evidence of this yet. In the past few months, Pyongyang has accelerated its weapon testing as it aims to widen its military capabilities at a time when its diplomacy with Seoul and Washington remains stalled. It&#8217;s believed that North Korea will upgrade its weapons arsenal to get leverage to win greater concessions from Washington in case negotiations resume.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-solid-fuel-intermediate-range-missile">Solid-fuel intermediate-range missile</h3>



On Saturday, the country tested a super-large cruise missile warhead. Earlier last week it had tested a new anti-aircraft missile in a western coastal area. Earlier in April, the country also test-launched a solid-fuel intermediate-range missile with hypersonic warhead capabilities, a weapon that experts say is meant to attack remote targets in the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam and beyond. Kim had praised the weapon and called the test a demonstration of the “<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/3/north-korea-says-kim-jong-un-oversaw-test-of-new-hypersonic-weapon" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">absolute superiority</a>” of Pyongyang&#8217;s defence technology. According to Kim, the country has developed nuclear-capable, solid-fuel systems for “all the tactical, operational and strategic missiles with various ranges.

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Watch as Dr. Alex Schnell helps Scarlet the octopus find crabs for dinner!

Earth Day: Watch human-octopus communicating in new NatGeo series

While deliberate inter-species communication is not a new phenomenon, it is surely one that evokes curiosity and wonder each time it happens. Especially when one of the communicating parties belongs to the Homo sapiens species.



The latest example of this wondrous communication between animal and human comes to us courtesy of National Geographic&#8217;s latest offering, Secrets of the Octopus.



Releasing just in time for Earth Day 2024, Secrets of the Octopus is the third installment in Nat Geo&#8217;s Secrets of&#8230; series, the previous two being Secrets of the Whales (2021) and Secrets of the Elephants (2023). Produced by filmmaker James Cameron (yes, of the Titanic and Avatar fame) and narrated by actor Paul Rudd, Secrets of the Octopus accompanies marine biologist Alex Schnell on a journey to unveil the mysterious lives of these remarkable and enigmatic creatures. 



A substantial part of the series focuses on documenting behaviors never previously recorded, providing viewers with a glimpse into the interactions between octopuses and their surroundings, as well as with other species. It is during one of these excursions that a very curious communication was observed between Schnell and an octopus subject.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-human-octopus-interaction">The human-octopus interaction</h3>



What was undoubtedly one of the most captivating moments in the series unfolded with an octopus in the Great Barrier Reef that the team had named Scarlet. As Schnell formed a bond with Scarlet, a day octopus (Octopus cyanea), during filming, she gained a remarkable insight into the creature&#8217;s world.



The team had captured rare footage of interspecies communication and cooperative hunting between coral trout and the day octopus. This behavior involved the fish performing a unique &#8220;headstand&#8221; to signal the location of prey to their octopus partner.



Inspired by this collaborative behavior, Schnell had an audacious idea. While observing Scarlet hunting one day, she pondered whether the octopus would respond to her gestures, particularly if she indicated the whereabouts of a particular crab that Scarlet had overlooked.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Secrets of the Octopus | Official Trailer | National Geographic" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SxOHYy1w92c?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



&#8220;She let me get super close and I could see that as she was putting her arms underneath the coral rubble crabs would swim out and escape her grasp. So I just randomly started to point to where these crabs would go and she immediately responded,&#8221; Schnell told <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/incredible-clip-shows-scientist-octopus-communicating-wild-1892356" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Newsweek</a>. &#8220;It was just a really incredible moment. We don&#8217;t know the intricacies of this type of communication. This is just the first step, but it would be a really interesting avenue to further investigate.&#8221;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-about-secrets-of-the-octopus">About Secrets of the Octopus</h3>



The series&#8217; three episodes—&#8221;Shapeshifters,&#8221; &#8220;Masterminds,&#8221; and &#8220;Social Networks&#8221;—each focus on a unique characteristic of these fascinating creatures that are commonly dubbed as &#8216;aliens on Earth&#8217;. 



Over the course of 200 days, the team meticulously filmed these creatures in their natural habitats, capturing breathtaking footage that is complemented by insightful commentary from esteemed scientists, including Dr. Schnell, an Australian native renowned for her storytelling prowess and extensive research on the intelligence of marine animals, notably cuttlefish and octopuses. With experience at esteemed institutions like Macquarie University, the University of Cambridge, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, Schnell brings a wealth of knowledge to the series.



The filming process spanned two years and involved nearly 1,500 hours underwater. The team traversed 10 different locations across five countries, including Canada, Indonesia, Australia, Brazil, and Turks and Caicos, to document the fascinating behavior of octopuses.

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NASA expert Dr. Charles Buhler believes he and his team have discovered a “new force”.

NASA veteran’s propellantless propulsion drive defies laws of physics

An artist's impression of a space propulsion system.

Dr. Charles Buhler, a seasoned NASA engineer and co-founder of Exodus Propulsion Technologies, claims his company’s propellantless propulsion drive defies the laws of physics.



The NASA veteran states the propulsion drive is capable of generating enough thrust to counteract Earth’s gravity without expelling mass.



It’s a bold claim, and this may end up being filed alongside similar controversial concepts like the propellant-free EmDrive. 



However, Buhler’s history as NASA’s subject matter expert on electrostatics has forced people to take note.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-claims-of-propellant-free-space-travel">New claims of propellant-free space travel</h3>



Buhler and his team set out to explore propellantless propulsion concepts more than two decades ago. Their propulsion drive is based on a novel approach that takes advantage of asymmetry in electrostatic pressure to propel the drive forward.



The team presented their drive concept at a recent Alternative Propulsion Energy Conference (APEC). There, Buhler detailed his team’s progress over the years.&nbsp;



From 2016 to 2020, for example, the team’s best devices were producing a little over one hundred thousandth of a gravity. Ultimately, though, they set out to achieve “unity,” Buhler told The Debrief in a recent interview. Unity refers to the moment the drive produces enough thrust to lift itself in Earth’s gravity.



As with similar projects like the EmDrive, Buhler and his team have worked exhaustively to eliminate any alternative explanation for the tiny, though measurable, force they were seeing in experiments.



In 2023, Buhler said the propellantless drive finally reached one full Earth gravity. He and his team claim that their propulsion system has demonstrated the ability to exert a force equivalent to Earth’s gravity without emitting mass via propellant. Essentially, they believe they have discovered a new force that was previously unknown. 



“This discovery of a New Force is fundamental in that electric fields alone can generate a sustainable force onto an object and allow center-of-mass translation of said object without expelling mass,” Buhler told The Debrief.



“There are rules that include conservation of energy, but if done correctly, one can generate forces unlike anything humankind has done before,” he added. 



“It will be this force that we will use to propel objects for the next 1,000 years… until the next thing comes.”



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-exodus-propulsion-technologies-the-real-deal">Are Exodus Propulsion Technologies the real deal?</h3>



If Buhler and his team’s claims are true, their propulsion experiments would undoubtedly constitute a massive breakthrough. A propellant-free system would massively drive down costs, enable far-reaching missions, and revolutionize spaceflight. So why has the news broken with such little fanfare?



It’s because we have been here before. Proponents of the <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/emdrive-nasa-engineer-says-physics-defying-engine-could-go-99-the-speed-of-light" rel="dofollow">EmDrive</a> and IVO LTD’s <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/quantum-drive-that-draws-limitless-power-from-sun-will-fly-to-orbit-this-year" rel="dofollow">Quantum Drive</a> have made similar claims in the past. Neither of these has so far provided tangible results in space.



In his interview with <a href="https://thedebrief.org/nasa-veterans-propellantless-propulsion-drive-that-physics-says-shouldnt-work-just-produced-enough-thrust-to-defeat-earths-gravity/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">The Debrief</a>, Buhler claims that his team’s drive is the result of rigorous experimentation and tangible results. Buhler’s history also lends credibility to the project – he has worked in programs such as NASA’s Space Shuttle, the International Space Station (ISS), and The Hubble Telescope. 



Still, Exodus Propulsion Technologies’ massive claim will likely be met with skepticism until it is able to demonstrate its technology in space.

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&#8220;This is the first three-dimensional reconstruction of gas rotating close to a black hole.&#8221;

Video: Caltech develops first 3D model of black hole&#8217;s mysterious flare

First image of the black hole at the centre of the Milky Way. 

In 2019, the first-ever image of a <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/848m-light-years-away-galaxys-cosmic-flare-reveals-dancing-black-holes" rel="dofollow">black hole</a> was unveiled to the world.&nbsp;



Katie Bouman, a computer scientist and member of The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, gained global recognition for her contribution to the development of the algorithm that helped capture this image of the historic black hole situated in the faraway galaxy M87.



Years later, the EHT collaboration released the <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/first-image-of-sagittarius-a" rel="dofollow">first image</a> of our home galaxy&#8217;s cosmic monster in 2022. 



Now, the Bouman-led team has provided new insights into the <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/space/milky-way-black-hole" rel="dofollow">Milky Way</a>’s black hole.&nbsp;



Caltech researchers have built the first three-dimensional recreation of a flare surrounding the Milky Way&#8217;s supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*.&nbsp;



“This is the first three-dimensional reconstruction of gas rotating close to a black hole,&#8221; said Bouman, assistant professor of computing and mathematical sciences, electrical engineering, and astronomy at Caltech.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Reconstructing a 3D Flare Around a Black Hole" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2uAMbb0KpA4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reconstruction-of-flare">Reconstruction of flare</h3>



The surrounding environment of a black hole is extremely chaotic. For instance, hot, magnetized gas spirals in a disk at incredibly high speeds. Mysterious flares may appear within this tumultuous disk and then rapidly disappear. 



The researchers sought to create a 3D video of flares around the black hole. However, the 3D creation was more complex than expected.



Caltech researchers were able to put together the first three-dimensional video by collating telescope data with an artificial intelligence (AI) computer-vision simulation technique. The video demonstrates how flares would look around Sagittarius A*.&nbsp;



The video shows a 3D flare structure with two unique features around 75 million kilometers from the black hole&#8217;s center.&nbsp;



The authors highlight that this short video is neither a simulation nor a firsthand account of events as they unfolded.



&#8220;It is a reconstruction based on our models of black hole physics. There is still a lot of uncertainty associated with it because it relies on these models being accurate,&#8221; said Aviad Levis, a postdoctoral scholar in Bouman&#8217;s group and lead author of the new paper.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-use-of-advanced-nerf-algorithm">Use of advanced NeRF algorithm</h3>



The scientists used cutting-edge computational imaging methods to create a technique that includes light bending caused by the black hole&#8217;s tremendous gravity.



The approach, known as neural radiance fields (NeRF), enhances computer graphics. It incorporates deep learning to create a three-dimensional representation of a scene from two-dimensional images. This allowed the scientists to rebuild the 3D environment surrounding a black hole. 



According to the press release, the NeRF algorithm demonstrated its capacity to properly reconstruct detailed flare-like feature&#8217;s movement around a black hole&#8217;s event horizon. This approach may aid scientists in future exploration and research of the black hole&#8217;s surroundings. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-alma-data">ALMA data </h3>



The researchers also used data from Chile&#8217;s Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) for the reconstruction. On April 11, 2017, the ground-based telescope collected X-ray data from a 100-minute flare event.&nbsp;



ALMA does not capture a single light curve but offers &#8220;videos&#8221; for each observation.&nbsp;



&#8220;What we get from ALMA is two polarized single-pixel videos. That polarized light is actually really, really informative,&#8221; said Bouman.&nbsp;



They also confirmed their three-dimensional structure results by determining whether they were consistent with the ALMA data.&nbsp;



“This allows the researchers to computationally progress the initial 3D structure of a hotspot over time as it orbits the black hole to create a whole light curve. They could then solve for the best initial 3D structure that, when progressed in time according to black hole physics, matched the ALMA observations,” the <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1041881?" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">press release</a> explained.&nbsp;



The findings have been reported in the journal <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41550-024-02238-3" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Nature Astronomy.</a>

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Physicists theorize that a micro black hole battery could solve our clean energy problem one day, according to a recent study.

Scientists explore the feasibility of micro black-hole batteries

The field of science continues—full steam ahead—to marry technological advancement and eco-friendly solutions with a micro black hole battery. Though imaginative and theoretical, generating energy and eliminating waste remains a legitimate and very real pursuit.



Wind and solar energy, according to a recently published study, remain unstable because of the unpredictability of weather. Due to the consistent level at which we consume energy, however, researchers seem to be turning their attention to creating better batteries.



What about harnessing the power of black holes? After all, stars inspired nuclear fusion. Researchers of this new study therefore wanted to explore, theoretically, the potential of “a cellular battery composed of micro black holes.”



“Let us suppose,” they began as MIT tuned in, hopefully, “hypothetically, that advanced technology could handle the formation of black holes.”



In other words, imagine if we could produce a microscopic black hole in a particle generator. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-black-hole-powered-battery-could-be-the-ultimate-clean-energy-solution">A black hole powered battery could be the ultimate clean energy solution </h3>



According to the Reissner–Nordström metric, a solution to Einstein’s field equations or the general theory of relativity, the power of black holes could be harnessed to produce clean energy. 



The two physicists who published this theoretical study explained that “such a battery would not collapse into a larger black hole because the electromagnetic repulsion would precisely offset the force of gravity.”



Though nothing can escape from a black hole, on the micro level, a tiny black hole could destroy another, which would release a certain amount of energy. A battery that weighs one kilogram could generate 470 million times the energy of a 200-kilogram lithium battery at its most efficient. 



They admit that it would be a technological leap at this moment. However, researchers just developed a paper-based battery powered by magnesium rather than lithium. In other words, there is a collective effort to find a replacement for lithium, which isn&#8217;t environmentally-friendly. 



They even think that battery technology “could follow a trajectory similar to that of computer technology.” Thus, by opening this avenue, a series of advancements could be made at a similar speed. 



These physicists gave us food for thought about where we could end up: a micro <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/largest-black-hole-in-milky-way" target="_blank" rel="dofollow">black hole</a> battery. The idea seems to “align with current predictions of fundamental physics regarding the ultimate physical limits on energy density storage.” That refers to the amount of energy stored per unit volume. It is not the same thing as energy per unit mass. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-we-would-need-however-a-particle-generator-the-size-of-a-solar-system">We would need, however, a particle generator the size of a solar system</h3>



What this indicates, overall, is that we’ve barely cracked up the potential of battery technology. And “batteries,” they state, “are expected to play a central role in promoting green technologies.”



According to the Reissner–Nordström metric, a black hole has mass and energy but does not spin, so theoretically, microscopic positively charged black holes could be brought together as well as negatively charged <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/space/milky-way-black-hole" target="_blank" rel="dofollow">black holes</a>. Due to how <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/848m-light-years-away-galaxys-cosmic-flare-reveals-dancing-black-holes" target="_blank" rel="dofollow">they interact</a>, they would generate an impressive amount of energy. Once these opposites met, they would merge and evaporate into clean energy. No greenhouse gases, in other words.



But do microscopic black holes even exist? Some say so, but regardless, we could make them in a particle generator. It doesn’t seem that one can do that yet, but we could get there, feasibly, perhaps. The physicists admit that this solution “seems quite unrealistic” because it would require “a particle generator around the size of the Solar System…but never say never.”



The study was published in&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hedp.2024.101099" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">High Energy Density Physics</a>.

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China&#8217;s annual demand for carbon-14 isotope used in helicobacter pylori detection is around 40 Curies, the total demand with scientific research is around 100 Curies.

Carbon-14 radioactive isotope enters mass production in China

Stock image of Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant

China claims that it has achieved success in starting mass production of a radioactive isotope –Carbon-14, which has wide ranging uses in science and medicine.



The mass production of carbon-14, as reported by state media’s China Science Daily, is being done at a commercial nuclear reactor in the eastern province of Zhejiang.



As per experts, this will end China’s near-total dependence on imports for the isotope. The country had been sourcing supplies in the past from countries like Russia, Canada, South Africa and Australia.



The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) revealed that the isotope was produced by the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant, which is run by one of its subsidiaries.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Demand and supply</h3>



As per Global Times, China&#8217;s annual demand for carbon-14 isotope used in helicobacter pylori detection is around 40 Curies, the total demand with scientific research is around 100 Curies.



A representative from the Qinshan nuclear power plant told Global Times that they can “fully meet the current domestic demand, and the final product of the carbon-14 isotope will be supplied to the market by the end of 2024.”



The carbon-14 isotope imports had been tricky for China, with supplies from Canada getting <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3259822/china-passes-mass-production-milestone-carbon-14-isotope-output?module=top_story&amp;pgtype=subsection" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">affected</a> in 2009 due to stoppage in production caused by the detection of a leak. The reactor had resumed production later on, but it showed how the supply could be affected.



This had led to the China Atomic Energy Authority, along with other ministries, launching a program to the make the country self-dependent on the front of medical isotopes production.



This was deemed necessary to ensure an unhindered supply for the sector.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Qinshan nuclear reactor</h3>



As per South China Morning Post, Qinshan <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/energy/kashiwazaki-kariwa-to-be-refueled" target="_blank" rel="dofollow">nuclear</a> power plant is the only facility in the country with commercial heavy water reactors. The technology for the same was given by Canada.



CNNC says that the heavy water technology allows more stable operations at high power for a longer time than other kinds of reactors.



The nuclear power plant had tied up with Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute, and other premier institutions in the country to ensure the success of the plan.



As per <a href="http://en.people.cn/n3/2024/0422/c90000-20159675.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Global Times</a>, during the production of carbon-14, the plant also launched the mass production preparation for other isotopes &#8211; including lutecium-117 and yttrium-90- further upgrading China&#8217;s supply capability of medical isotopes.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-carbon-14-isotope-uses">Carbon-14 isotope uses</h3>



The carbon-14 isotope mass production is good news for the country’s agriculture, chemistry, medicine and biography sectors. It is these that widely use the element in detecting helicobacter pylori and pharmacokinetics research.



The isotopes are also widely used in detecting helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer, but are difficult to mass produce.



Chen Zhi, a professor from the School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, told Global Times that the achievement will lead to a reduction in the cost of related medical tests and research of new medicines.

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Called the Screw Bike, it isn&#8217;t the best-looking electrical e-bike out there, but its unique abilities certainly compensates for that.

British YouTuber makes world&#8217;s first mecanum-wheeled e-bike

Image of the creator on the world's first screw-bike

British YouTuber James Bruton has created what might be the world&#8217;s first driveable, self-balancing, omnidirectional, mecanum-wheeled electrical bike. Made from a mix of off-the-shelf and 3D-printed parts, the bike is certainly unique. 



Building on his success with an earlier prototype self-balancing conventional bicycle, the new vehicle must be seen in action to be believed. The mecanum-wheeled bike balances much like a Segway but can also move in any direction thanks to its novel wheel configuration.



However, this latest gadget is not Bruton&#8217;s first crack at the whip with the Mecanum wheels it uses. In the autumn of 2023, he also released a video of a <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/engineer-builds-self-balancing-autonomous-bicycle-in-spare-time" target="_blank" rel="dofollow">self-balancing</a> omni-wheel project.



This earlier vehicle could balance itself and move sideways without any issues, but it couldn&#8217;t move forward or backward. To this end, Bruton thought he&#8217;d try a new approach. 



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="World&#039;s First SCREW-BIKE" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nfna15r4EXM?start=346&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-combination-of-3d-and-off-the-shelf-parts">Combination of 3D and off-the-shelf parts</h3>



And so, Bruton decided to turn to mecanum-styled wheels. These differ from omni-wheels in that they have a set of rollers mounted at diagonal angles on the outer edge of the &#8220;wheel.&#8221;



While the mecanum rollers allow for free-spinning, the wheels drive the vehicle. By controlling the speed and direction of these four wheels, a vehicle equipped with four mecanum wheels can move in any direction or spin in place.



As off-the-shelf wheels are generally limited in size, Bruton was forced to design and 3D-print his own. For this particular project, he explains, he needed to make a set of four with a diameter of 14.2 inches (360 mm).



He also used timber parts and off-the-shelf parts, like ball bearings, to finish the setup. Once assembled, Bruton positioned the four wheels sideways to maintain the chassis balance rapidly. 



The wheels are propelled by electric motors connected to toothed rubber belts, enabling them to move forward or backward as required. After installing a set of rigid handlebars, a bench seat, and a charmingly dorky headlight, the Screw Bike was ready to go. 



Once activated, the bike can patiently balance in place and is surprisingly stable once the rider mounts it. Like a Segway, you can lean it left or right to start moving in either direction.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="1080" src="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/439197167_3702761596661082_7162234191740456609_n.jpg?w=1080" alt="World's first screw-bike." class="wp-image-60122" srcset="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/439197167_3702761596661082_7162234191740456609_n.jpg 1080w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/439197167_3702761596661082_7162234191740456609_n.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/439197167_3702761596661082_7162234191740456609_n.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/439197167_3702761596661082_7162234191740456609_n.jpg?resize=768,768 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Close-up of the world&#8217;s first screw-bike wheels and body. Source: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/xrobotsuk/p/C58lOqENto0/?img_index=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">xrobotsuk/Instagram</a></figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-world-s-first-mecanum-wheeled-bike">World&#8217;s first mecanum-wheeled bike</h3>



The bike can be driven forward using a twist throttle without affecting its self-balancing ability. There is a switch on the bars to go backward, and a separate set of controls allows the rider to spin the bike in place.



&#8220;Wow, this feels amazing!&#8221; exclaimed Bruton as he took his first indoor test ride on a unique machine. Despite being in his kitchen, he managed to avoid crashing into anything. 



Encouraged by his success, he then took the machine to a nearby car park to test its capabilities. He spun and glided effortlessly in all directions, thoroughly enjoying the experience. As <a href="https://newatlas.com/motorcycles/omnidirectional-wheels-motorcycle/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">New Atlas</a> points out, the new bike doesn&#8217;t look particularly fast, but it must be a very interesting ride nonetheless. 



It also lacks any form of suspension, so it is not recommended for long rides. But that isn&#8217;t really the point of the project. If you fancy having a go yourself, Bruton has released the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTJ4Vi1nbzEtMHhRMTZmbjRtcTFyUTdDdTVHZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuWktPUmhxOWFuaFRvcU9zenp4a3ZyY1pNTHBPLUp1djJmaFJZeFE5dkN2YjBSUjZXOGV0QzhrRkE5RFVTVEFSdUQxVlVlN3lEMTVYaVFwMHdvNGxZU3RpUXlxVWJEOC1kdkFIOEI2RDFzOFpjWEVtZw&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2FXRobots%2FScrewBike%2F&amp;v=nfna15r4EXM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">CAD designs</a> and code for the Screw Bike for anyone who is crazy enough to follow his lead.

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Harbin University researchers have found a way to improve the efficiency of laser propellers using a coating of optical fibers.

New laser propulsion could power silent yet supersonic Chinese submarines

Representational stock image of a submarine. 

A new laser-based propulsion technique developed by researchers at the Harbin Engineering University in China could help the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) build silent yet superfast submarines in the future. 



The technology could also power underwater missiles and torpedoes, a South China Morning Post (SCMP) report said.



The concept of underwater laser propulsion isn’t new.  Japanese researchers first considered it more than twenty years ago. In principle, the technology works fairly simply.



Lasers are used to generate plasma inside water, which is then used to make a detonation wave by plasma expansion. The detonation wave is used to propel a craft or weapon ahead.



The greatest hurdle, though, was the application. Since detonation waves spread from a single point to all directions, scientists found it impossible to get the detonation wave to generate a force in a specific direction. This meant little progress was made on this concept until the Chinese funded extensive research.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thrust-of-a-commercial-jet-engine">Thrust of a commercial jet engine</h3>



A research team led by Ge Yang, a professor at the School of Engineering at Harbin University, has now found a way to improve the efficiency of laser propellers using a coating of optical fibers &#8211; also referred to as underwater fiber laser-induced plasma detonation wave propulsion.



Using this approach, the researchers claim to be able to generate 70,000 newtons of thrust using just two megawatts of laser power. The thrust generated is similar to that of a commercial jet engine.



In addition to generating thrust, the laser also vaporizes the seawater close to the vessel, creating bubbles on the submarine’s surface and reducing water resistance. This phenomenon, known as supercavitation, could potentially allow submarines to travel at supersonic speeds underwater.



More importantly, since the propulsion system is not mechanized, the submarine will <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/darpa-real-silent-submarine" target="_blank" rel="dofollow">not generate any noise</a>, adding to its stealth.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Research drawing US ire</h3>



To solve the problem of the detonation wave, researchers have previously proposed using working media—tiny spherical particles that travel at a high speed in one direction and, per Newton’s laws, exert an opposing force on the submarine, propelling it.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/USC.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60139" srcset="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/USC.jpg 1920w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/USC.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/USC.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/USC.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Washington keeps a keen eye on China&#8217;s research capabilities and Harbin University is a key target. Image credit: <a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/narvikk?mediatype=photography" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">narvikk/iStock</a></figcaption></figure>



Experiments attempted using working media and a one-watt laser generated only a small fraction of thrust than expected and were ineffective as a propulsion method. However, the laser engine designed by Ge’s team improved the output by up to four orders of magnitude.



The researchers used a device that resembled a gun barrel and adjusted its shape and internal structure to minimize the energy loss associated with the use of constraining devices.



The SCMP report added that a pair of such barrels were used to bombard the working medium particles. The protruding structures inside them reduced internal friction between shock waves.



A nuclear reactor on a submarine generates 150 MW of power, which is sufficient to power such a laser propulsion system. However, researchers still need to work on other components, such as heat dissipation of optical fibers and durability of the equipment in high salinity environments, before the tech can be transferred to real-world scenarios. 



When ready, the same technology could also power a range of underwater projectiles, missiles, and <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/chinese-nuclear-powered-torpedoes" target="_blank" rel="dofollow">torpedoes</a>.



The recurrent output of high-end research from Harbin University in naval warfare has prompted blockades and sanctions on 30,000 students and staff associated with the educational institution from the US, the <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3259875/chinese-scientists-close-laser-propulsion-superfast-silent-submarines?module=top_story&amp;pgtype=homepage" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">SCMP report</a> added.

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To celebrate the anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s first human space flight, Russian skydivers jumped from 34,500 feet.

World-record stratospheric jump: 3 Russians parachute from 34,500 feet

Mikhail Korniyenko, Denis Efremov, and Alexander Lynnik jumped out of a plane 34,500 feet above the North Pole. Normally, commercial skydiving restricts the height at which someone can jump in the range of 10-14,000 feet. These Russians more than doubled that. 



They threw themselves out of an Ilyushin-76 plane at the same height that a commercial aircraft typically flies, where the troposphere and stratosphere meet.



The second layer of our atmosphere known as the stratosphere rests between 33,000 feet and 160,000 feet. Spy planes fly in this region though engineers want to build commercial stratospheric planes. Above 50,000 feet, the weather turns out to be more stable. It gets warmer at higher altitudes in the stratosphere, so that layer of atmosphere behaves differently than the troposphere. It gets colder at higher altitudes. 



At that boundary, temperatures are about -50˚C. Though, when freefalling at 300 kph, it feels more like -70˚C. The Russian trio had to wear special heated clothing to complete their mission. 



They had to prepare for such an experience in heat and pressure chambers. Eventually, they performed a test jump at about 20,000 feet. (Tom Cruise threw himself at 25,000 feet for Mission Impossible, by the way.) 



They thought about wearing spacesuits but, instead, wore flexible heated clothing and an oxygen mask. Just before the jump, they inhaled pure oxygen to rid their blood of nitrogen to avoid issues during the freefall. 



Because falling at those heights can cause decompression sickness. Nitrogen can bubble up in the tissues due to how the body breaks down nitrogen and oxygen at that height and speed. It changes the chemical breakdown. Nitrogen bubbles can be life-threatening. These Russians, however, just got rid of the nitrogen, no problem, with a common technique. They still got frostbitten though. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-record-breaking-skydive-to-test-new-satellite-equipment">A record-breaking skydive to test new satellite equipment</h3>



But if you’re gonna throw yourself out of planes from impossible heights, you might as well test something. These expert skydivers experimented with a new communication system. They dropped a cheaper version of iridium (used for satellites) at a lower altitude over Barneo, a private arctic camp that closed due to the technical difficulties of landing on an ice floe. 



They successfully established a connection to a satellite using diesel generators, all the same. 



Nations might soon compete in the Arctic for resources, trade routes, and military advantage in the years to come. The organizer of this world record-breaking jump stated that they sent data with this new system. It still doesn’t compare, however, to Iridium Communications Inc., he said, a US-based company that currently covers both poles. 



To get to the North Pole, however, these Russian skydivers had to <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/freefall-red-bull-new-footage-mission" target="_blank" rel="dofollow">freefall</a> from <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/dubai-worlds-first-jet-suit-race" target="_blank" rel="dofollow">34,500 feet</a> for 2.5 minutes over a block of ice. Their parachutes opened at around 1,000 meters to cruise the final distance. They landed. They did it. They set a new world record. With frostbitten cheeks. Experiments on the communication system will continue into the next month.



Alan Eustace achieved the highest jump from 135,899 feet in 2014. Though the Russians didn&#8217;t set a world record for jumping from the highest height, they nonetheless parachuted from the Earth’s stratosphere to the North Pole. <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/dubai-worlds-first-jet-suit-race" target="_blank" rel="dofollow">They set a new world record</a>. 



The research team will fly out of Barneo on a plane that can land on a small ice floe. The base camp closed because that piece of ice couldn&#8217;t accommodate tourism. Planes cannot consistently land on the ice floe, so the mission remains impressive. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/three-russians-parachute-stratosphere-north-pole-2024-04-19/#:~:text=MOSCOW%2C%20April%2019%20(Reuters),of%20the%20venture%20told%20Reuters." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Good luck getting out!</a>

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The mission is part of a project called OHISAMA (Japanese for Sun), which is on track for launch in 2025.

Japan’s mini space-based solar power plant to beam electricity home by 2025

Artist's impression of a solar power satellite concept

Japan is gearing up to test its space-based solar power station next year. The plan is on track and aimed to help the world reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.



The plans were outlined at the International Conference on Energy from Space, held in London last week.



The mission is part of a project called OHISAMA (Japanese for Sun), which is on track for launch in 2025.



An adviser at the Japanese research institute Japan Space Systems, Koichi Ijichi, shared details about the country’s plans to make a mini space-based solar power plant. The plant will wirelessly transmit energy from low Earth orbit.



At the conference, Ijichi said, &#8220;It will be a small satellite, about 400 pounds (180 kilograms) that will transmit about 1 kilowatt of power from an altitude of 250 miles (400 kilometers).&#8221;



The planned demonstration is not anywhere close to the scale required for commercial use, however it still is a step forward.



For example, one-kilowatt of power can run a small household appliance, like a dishwasher, for around an hour, depending on its size.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-mechanics">The mechanics</h3>



As per the Ijichi, the spacecraft will use an onboard 22-square-foot (2 square meters) photovoltaic panel to charge a battery. The energy stored by the battery will then be transformed into microwaves and beamed towards an antenna on Earth.



Owing to the fact that spacecraft travel very fast, approximately 17,400 mph (28,000 km/h), the antennas on Earth will have to be spread over a distance of 25 miles (40 kilometers).



The antenna systems will also have to be placed at a distance of 3 miles (5 km) from each other to allow enough energy transmission.



The researchers have already successfully demonstrated wireless transmission of solar power on the ground from a stationary source.



They plan to <a href="https://www.jspacesystems.or.jp/jss/files/2023/08/ISTS2023_SSPS.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">conduct</a> the transmission from the aircraft in December.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Plans and fruition possibility</h3>



Apollo engineer Peter Glaser first described space-based solar power generation in 1968. Back then, it was thought to be science fiction as it would require huge installations in orbit – something that would be too costly.



However, experts at the recently held <a href="https://www.space.com/japan-space-based-solar-power-demonstration-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">conference</a> shared that the recent technological advancements could lead to this becoming a possibility in the near future.



It would also come in handy as a tool to thwart the growing menace of climate change, which results from the use of fossil fuels for energy needs.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Earlier developments</h3>



Caltech announced <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/space-solar-power-project-completes-mission" target="_blank" rel="dofollow">earlier</a> this year that its spacecraft Space Solar Power Demonstrator (SSPD-1) had successfully carried out its mission.



The mission included testing three new solar power technologies, testing how to send power wirelessly in space, checking the efficiency of different solar cells, and trying out a lightweight structure to carry and support the solar cells and power transmitters.



The success of the mission paves the way for the commercial viability of space-based solar power.



Unlike Earth-based solar plants affected by weather conditions and nighttime, space-based solar power plants can collect energy from the sun continuously. 



This ensures a consistent and uninterrupted power supply, overcoming the limitations of daylight and weather fluctuations on Earth.

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