💡 World’s 1st photonic chip, Nvidia supercomputer, Semiconductor ‘gold’ene

Plus: AI surveillance actively opens fires on intruders                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 April 17, 2024 | [Read Online]( Researchers have developed the world’s first universal, programmable, and multifunctional photonic chip. A photonic chip is similar to a silicon-based chip, but it processes information using photons or light instead of electrons. The invention is expected to be a revolutionary step for telecommunications, data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) systems. For the details on how the photonic chip works, have a quick look at today’s [Must-Read]([.]( Have you spent hours staring at your computer screen, trying to think of the ideal consumer who needs your product? Use the[Ideal Customer Profile Generator]( to eliminate that guesswork and ensure accuracy in your marketing strategy by targeting the right consumers. 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: >[Â]([Robotics Engineer]( > [Lead Project Engineer – Propulsion Engines]( 🎙 New podcast [Sci-fi to reality: the quest to harness solar power from space]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST READ 💡 Big breakthrough: World’s 1st programmable photonic chip developed In [electronic chips](, the flow of electrons through components like resistors, capacitors, and transistors generates heat. For AI applications and data centers on a large scale, this heat production increases significantly. More power is needed for cooling systems, resulting in a highly inefficient setup. To facilitate the shift in processing information, [a photonic chip]( uses optical components such as waveguides, lasers, and polarizers instead of electronic ones such as resistors or transistors to process information. Now, researchers claim they have built a revolutionary chip that allows on-demand programming and interconnects the wireless and photonic segments seamlessly. The approach removes bottlenecks that can thus be generated and improves the capacity and [bandwidth of the chip.]( 🖥️ Los Alamos fires up 10 exaFLOPS AI supercomputer, Venado, powered by Nvidia The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has announced that its much-anticipated [Venado AI-enabled supercomputer]( is now up and running. Named after Venado Peak (a mountain near Taos), this supercomputer will help accelerate various research topics for LANL. First announced in 2022, Venado incorporates [NVIDIA Grace Hopper Superchips.](These chips are a powerful combination of an Arm-based NVIDIA central processing unit and an NVIDIA Hopper architecture-based graphics processing unit. They are designed to meet the needs of high-performance computing and giant-scale AI applications. Venado is also set to advance [national security.]( 🧪 Semiconductor ‘gold’ene: Single-atom-thick sheets created, in a first [For the first time](, scientists have successfully fabricated gold sheets that measure only one atom in thickness. Named ‘goldene’, it has given gold new qualities that make it appropriate for various applications. According to researchers from Linköping University (LiU) in Sweden, goldene can be used to [create hydrogen]( and value-added compounds and also for carbon dioxide conversion. The researchers achieved success by employing a century-old technique by Japanese blacksmiths. In its conventional form, gold typically manifests as a metal. However, when reduced to a single-atom-layer thickness, it undergoes a transformation, exhibiting [semiconductor properties]( instead. 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 > Researchers investigated a century-old mystery to uncover the origins of Earth's most successful plant group. They found that 201 million years ago, the fossilized plant Furcula granulifer already had leaves with net-like veins. ([More]() > Scientists name a new ant species, Leptanilla Voldemort, as a tribute to the antagonist in the Harry Potter book series, Lord Voldemort. Voldemort is a terrifying wizard who, like the new ant, is slender, pale, and thrives in darkness. ([More]() > U.S. space agency NASA confirmed that an object that crashed into a home — which nearly injured a father and son— in Florida last month was part of the International Space Station (ISS). ([More]() ENERGY > CATL, the world’s leading manufacturer of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, has made a significant stride in energy storage technology. The giant unveiled the world’s first mass-producible energy storage system with extended lifespan and cost efficiency. ([More]() > Seven countries now generate nearly all of their electricity from renewable energy sources, according to newly compiled figures. They are using geothermal, hydro, solar, or wind power. ([More]() > A nature reserve is to be flooded by the developer of the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant at a cost of £50m to compensate for the death of 46 tonnes of fish a year in its cooling pipes. ([More]() INNOVATION > OZ-IT, a Slovenia-based startup, has introduced an AI-powered home surveillance system that will actively open fire on potential intruders with paintballs. ([More]() > Researchers at Neils Bohr Institute (NBI) at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark have demonstrated how data generated from quantum computers can be converted to sound and stored in drums to serve as a quantum memory. ([More]() > Nokia and SURF successfully reached a single carrier 800Gbps optical transmission on an existing fiber link that spans several countries. This will help CERN prepare for a massive upgrade to its Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator. ([More]() VIDEO > New research proposes a method by which drones could charge themselves from overhead power lines. If it works, it could solve a fundamental problem that has held back drone development. ([More]() > A new AI application is helping long-term non-vocal patients speak again. A brain sensor picks up electrical impulses from the patient's brain. Then, the AI translates the impulses into speech from an on-screen avatar. ([More]() > A team at MIT is investigating the potential of hydrogen-powered motorcycles. With a history of converting gasoline vehicles to electric, they hope hydrogen could deliver a greener - and faster - option for the future. ([More]() THINGS WE LOVE > Homedics Ultrasonic Humidifier: ([Buy Now: $86.78]() > WILIT Bedside Table Lamp: ([Buy Now: $49.99]() > SHOKZ Bluetooth Headphones: ([Buy Now: $79.95]() > Google Pixel Buds Pro: ([Buy Now: $193.95]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS In yesterday’s quiz, we asked, What is the car’s parking spot number? The answer is: 87 Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on [Instagram]( and [Facebook!]( FROM THE WEB > Boeing Engineer says 787 fleet worldwide needs [attention]( > China’s 130-ton reusable rocket engine breaks records during [tests]( > SA users of Starlink will be cut off at the end of the [month]( > Atlas shrugged: Boston Dynamics retires its hydraulic humanoid [robot]( > Aye, Robot: ‘World’s most advanced humanoid’ to be exhibited in [Scotland]( > Indian researchers develop solar cell from living [algae]( 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. 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