🫨 New York hit by earthquake, Space batteries, 'Sun blocker' tests

Plus: Wi-Fi taps into air ‘twists’ for 13B smarter homes                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 April 06, 2024 | [Read Online]( In Coordination with Rabbit [Delegate your tasks and watch the magic unveil.]( Unlock the capabilities of Rabbit r1 - the personal assistant you never knew you needed. [Read more.]( Yesterday (April 5), a 4.8-magnitude earthquake hit the New York City region. However, some sources claimed to have picked it up as a magnitude of 5.5. In both cases, the quake is the strongest to be felt by the state since 2011. It shook buildings and surprised residents, as the region rarely experiences earthquakes of this size. For more on the details, check out today’s Must-Read[.]( 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: >[Â]([Software Engineer II (Machine Configuration)]( > [Web and Automation Developer/Engineer]( 🎙 New podcast [The science behind Wi-Fi motion sensing with Dr. Taj Manku]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST READ 🫨 4.8 magnitude earthquake hits New York region, strongest since 2011 An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 is [significant but not devastating]( — in fact, roughly half a million occur worldwide every year. That’s because it’s on the lower end of the Richter scale, with earthquake power increasing as the scale increases. Earthquakes over the Richter scale of 8.0 are considered great earthquakes that can and will devastate cities near the epicenter. For example, back in 2023, one of the [earthquakes in Turkey and Syria]( had a magnitude of roughly 7.8 and devasted some cities and towns in the region. The last significant earthquake the New York City region experienced was a 5.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Virginia in 2011. That earthquake prompted evacuations in New York City, including City Hall, and caused damage in Washington. It was the [strongest for the region since 1897.]( 🔋 Hong Kong tycoon wants to use space battery tech on Earth Peter Lee, the Hong Kong-based tycoon, wants to use battery technology [used in space]( back on Earth. To facilitate this, the business tycoon’s family office founded a new startup, EnerVenue, and has plans to scale up the technology at its factories in China and the U.S. Countries have been [ramping up investments]( in renewable energy infrastructure to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. According to the International Energy Agency, investments in energy storage are now at over US$35 billion, up from $20 billion just two years ago. Lee’s EnerVenue is considering nickel and hydrogen batteries—a technology used to store energy in space—as a viable [solution to the problem.]( 🌤️ US tests 1st cloud-powered ‘sun blocker’ tech to fight global warming Recently, U.S. researchers conducted the [first outdoor test]( of a cloud-brightening technique that deflects sunlight and may temporarily cool the planet. They aim to assess the efficiency of their technology in the San Francisco Bay Area. This innovative [geoengineering method]( is called marine cloud brightening, and it may allow clouds over the ocean to bounce more sun rays’ away from our planet. Simply put, they’d be amplifying clouds’ natural ability to reflect sunlight back into space. The Earth’s soaring temperature levels have pushed scientists to explore various alternatives, including techniques to deliberately [slow the planet’s warming.]( 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 [How many of you have dreamt of having your own Jarvis?]( Watching Tony Stark pass on instructions to his assistant Jarvis and seeing them carried out flawlessly is the next level of technology everyone of us dreams about. And, we are inching closer to having that assistant for ourselves in our pockets. Rabbit’s r1 device is your best bet if you’re looking out for a smart, intelligent assistant. From booking Ubers, planning and family holidays, to doing complex calculations, the r1 can handle your online tasks for you.. Wondering where you can get your hands on this innovative device? [You know where to click]([!]( [Get Rabbit r1]( HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY SCIENCE > A talk with an expert in Wi-Fi motion sensing highlights how this technology transforms our homes from just dwellings to smart, responsive environments for security and automation. ([More]() > An artificial ovary? Researchers have created an "atlas" of the human ovary, which could lead to the development of artificial ovaries and restore fertility in patients. ([More]() > A trillion-dose cicada invasion is going to hamper life in parts of the United States this spring, and as per experts, it is going to be one of the most massive bug invasions in centuries. ([More]() ENERGY > X-Energy (a UK subsidiary) has been awarded £3.34 million ($4.23 million) in funding to flesh out plans for deploying its Xe-100 small modular nuclear reactors (SMR) on UK soil. ([More]() > GreenFire Energy Inc. has been approved by KenGen to commence implementation of its GreenLoop technology in a geothermal well in the Olkaria Geothermal field in Kenya. ([More]() > The Andean condor’s drag-reducing aerodynamic wings have inspired the creation of a winglet, which, when added to a wind turbine blade, boosted energy production by an average of 10 percent. ([More]() INNOVATION > In a world where we’re breathing in invisible dangers, CU Boulder researchers are developing a suitcase-sized, portable laser device. It can quickly detect and identify hazardous airborne particles. ([More]() > Researchers reveal a clock that also tells how far the Earth has traveled around the Sun. The SpaceTime Blade is 1.7 meters long and, at first glance, appears to be made of a long glass hollow that displays time. ([More]() > Late last year, former Apple design legend Jony Ive and OpenAI founder Sam Altman announced they were working on a new AI-powered hardware device. Now, they’re to raise 1 billion dollars for it. ([More]() VIDEO > The Europa Clipper probe, undergoing rigorous testing, will brave extreme conditions on its journey to Jupiter’s moon, Europa, gathering crucial data about its potential for habitability and extraterrestrial life. ([More]() > Boston Dynamics’ robotic creation, Spot, has embarked on a new mission within the industrial sector to enhance safety and efficiency at Chevron’s operational sites. ([More]() > The US is home to the world's most formidable air forces, the US Air Force and Navy Aviation, unrivaled in aerial combat with advanced aircraft like the Boeing EA-18G Growler, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, F-22 Raptor, and F-15EX Eagle II. ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS Hey there! Yesterday, we threw out a brain teaser on our socials: “Can you add 1 line to make the equation true? The answer is: 545+5+5=555 (Put a diagonal line to the first plus sign to turn it into a 4) Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on [Instagram]( and [Facebook!]( FROM THE WEB > Elon Musk says he’s increasing salaries for Tesla engineers because Sam Altman’s OpenAI keeps trying to recruit [them]( > An engine on a Southwest Airlines jet caught fire before taking off from [Texas]( > Body of third Baltimore bridge collapse victim recovered, 3 still [missing]( > Researchers determine '2D material' could revolutionize the future of construction — here's [how]( > Iberdrola begins the construction of Spain's most powerful electric charging [station]( > How will the solar eclipse affect animals? NASA needs your help to find [out]( 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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