🧲 Fusion with household magnets, Programmable metafluid, Lunar time capsule

Plus: A new wave energy hack                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 April 04, 2024 | [Read Online]( In Coordination with SmartAsset [Lead a happy retirement life without financial woes]( Connect with three financial advisors in your area and ensure correct investments. [Read more.]( Scientists achieved a significant breakthrough in fusion energy technology. They’ve built the first-of-its-kind fusion experiment using permanent magnets — the same kind that’s used in your fridge. The surprisingly simple technique could potentially slash the cost of future fusion power plants. Find out what this means for a type of fusion machine called a stellarator by reading today’s [Must Read.]( 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: >[Â]([Director, Software Development, Machine Learning Engineering]( > [Web and Automation Developer/Engineer]( 🎙 New podcast [How SqUID robots are taking over warehouse logistics with Gili Ovadia]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST READ 🧲 Scientists build breakthrough nuclear fusion device with household magnets Traditionally, stellarators create their complex magnetic fields with precisely constructed and [expensive electromagnets](. But a team’s new device, called MUSE, breaks the mold. That is, they rely on [permanent magnets]( — like those on your refrigerator –— instead of electromagnets. This drastically simplifies construction. MUSE’s design goes beyond affordability, though. Scientists theorized this approach for decades — it just took decades for a team to pull it off. Stellarators hold an advantage over tokamaks, a popular alternative fusion machine design. Tokamaks rely on electric currents within the plasma, which can be unstable, making fusion reactions harder to sustain. Stellarators, lacking this issue, can [run continuously.]( 🫗 Harvard team engineers shape-shifting metafluid that can program robots In a recent Harvard study, engineers unveiled pulled the wraps off a [special metafluid](. So what sets it apart? Well, apparently, it’s programmable, boasting configurable springiness, optical traits, and viscosity. Moreover, it can transition between Newtonian and non-Newtonian states. Using a scalable method, the team made numerous malleable [capsules]( filled with air and suspended them in silicon oil. Applying pressure breaks the capsules, whereas releasing pressure causes the capsules to return to their spherical shape. The team claims that by [varying]( capsule quantity, size, and thickness the metafluid’s traits are customizable. Such a development can be useful in developing hydraulic actuators, programming robots, and intelligent [shock absorbers (just to name a few).]( 🚀 Lunar time capsule to store ‘essence of humanity’ on 24 sapphire discs French engineer Benoit Faibeley is leading a team of international scientists and artists, in collaboration with NASA, to send a time capsule to the Moon for future generations to uncover. The project, called [“Sanctuary on the Moon,”]( aims to engrave 24 sapphire discs, each with up to seven billion micropixels of information. The discs are currently being engraved with “the very essence of humanity.” It’s not the first time a space mission has aimed to send a “backup for humanity” to the Moon. However, Sanctuary on the Moon will be the first mission to carry male and female genomes. It will also include mathematic equations, as well as scientific findings, and [works of art.]( 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]( A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR [The FIVE financial landmines that can DETONATE your future!]( Don’t let wrong financial decisions get in your way to a happy retirement life. These five blunders can derail your future in a way you can never think of. - Making decisions without expert advice. - Overlooking the importance of a retirement consultation. - Selecting an advisor without proper vetting. - Engaging in guesswork - Allowing financial stress to impact mental well-being [Take this short retirement quiz](and pair up with three financial advisors in your area to ensure wealth woes don’t harm and haunt you for the long term. [Check Now!]( HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY SCIENCE > Studies show surprising brain activity during death, including gamma waves linked to consciousness, sparking questions about near-death experiences. ([More]() > A biotech company has started a one-of-a-kind trial in a patient with a failing liver. Their goal is to grow a functional second liver within the patient’s body using cell therapy–something never achieved before. ([More]() > The White House wants NASA to develop a new time zone for the Moon. It would be known as Coordinated Lunar Time (CLT). The moon has a different gravitational field strength which means time moves quicker there relative to Earth. ([More]() ENERGY > A simple trick has helped extract more than twice the energy currently extracted from waves. It could herald an age of large-scale blue-energy harvesting from ocean waves. ([More]() > A study assessed the mining threat to Africa's ape population, which comprises over one-third of all gorillas, bonobos, and chimpanzees, totaling 180,000. It concluded these animals are at risk of being endangered. ([More]() > A company says it has reached a "major milestone" in its quest to design a power plant capable of producing energy from nuclear fusion. It claims it has increased the distance a projectile is fired into the fuel by more than ten times. ([More]() INNOVATION > Researchers have introduced the world’s first refrigerator that cools with artificial muscles made of nitinol – a nickel-titanium alloy. Based on the electrocaloric principle, it works by stretching wires to remove heat. ([More]() > The University of Southern California's robotics team has teamed up with NASA in an effort to improve the exploration of Mars and other planets using a robot named Spirit. ([More]() > A supersonic drone that will be propelled by a revolutionary new engine has taken to the skies for the first time. When Venus Aerospace's aircraft does go supersonic on a later date, it will be powered by a Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE). ([More]() VIDEO > The internet just got a whole lot faster as researchers achieved the fastest speed ever, a staggering 4.5 million times faster than home broadband. Here, IE takes a look at the technology behind this feat. ([More]() > Discover the capabilities of a humanoid robot designed by Stanford researchers, capable of exploring underwater depths unreachable by humans. With its 3D vision and haptic interface, operators can see and feel through the robot. ([More]() > Take an educational stroll around Europe’s largest 3D-printed building, towering at 55 meters long, 11 meters wide, and 9 meters tall. The Wave House Data Center was created by just two workers and one giant robot in 140 hours. ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS Hey there! Yesterday, we threw out a brain teaser on our socials: “What is the missing number? The answer is: 15 Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on [Instagram]( and [Facebook!]( FROM THE WEB > Formula 1 2026 engine regulations set to include ‘override’ boost [system]( > Israeli drone used in Gaza aid strike powered by British-made engine, activists [claim]( > Wartsila to deliver its first ammonia ship engine in early [2025]( > Why aren’t there solar-powered [cars?]( > Waymo self-driving cars are delivering Uber Eats orders for first [time]( > CATL launches new EV battery with close to a 1 million mile, 15-year [lifespan]( 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. [🟩 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. --------------------------------------------------------------- Want to share your feedback? 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