⚡ Students' hydrogen-powered engine, CO2-fueled generator, Wave energy converter

Plus: Geoengineer composes string quartet using satellite data                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 April 19, 2024 | [Read Online]( A group of undergraduate students has built and successfully operated a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine. Their work stands out because despite significant efforts by major automotive manufacturers to advance the technology, hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines are not commercially accessible. For more on how the hydrogen-powered engine works, have a peek at today’s [Must-Read]([.]( 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: >[Â]([Lead Project Engineer – Propulsion Engines]( > [Full Stack Software Engineer (L5), Partner Products Lifecycle Apps Team]( 🎙 New podcast [Turning waste into power for a green revolution]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST READ ⚡ Undergraduates develop record hydrogen-powered engine in a world first “The achievement makes them the [world’s first undergraduate students]( to develop and run a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine,” according to a statement by Bath University, UK. The fifteen members of the[Bath Hydrogen team]( are third and fourth-year students enrolled in integrated mechanical and electrical engineering, automotive engineering, and mechanical engineering courses. Vanguard, their sponsor, provided a modified single-cylinder gasoline engine for the hydrogen engine. According to the engineers, their motivation for pursuing this technology lies in hydrogen’s potential as a carbon-neutral fuel, coupled with the impending ban on the sale of new gasoline and diesel vehicles commencing in 2035. With their newly developed engine, they aim to set a [land speed record.]( 🏭 Breakthrough CO2-fueled generator turns greenhouse gas into electricity Researchers have built a generator that [absorbs carbon dioxide]( (CO2) to make electricity, advancing efforts to reverse climate change. The ‘nanogenerator’ could lead to a new industrial-scale carbon capture method. The nanogenerator consists of two parts: a [skeleton]( constructed of boron nitrate, a few atoms thick, which produces positive and negative ions. The second is a polyamine gel, which the industry has already utilized to collect CO2. The researchers explain that during CO2 adsorption, positively charged NH3+ ions bond to H-BN, while negatively charged HCO3- ions form in hydrogel channels, resulting in a significant size difference. This difference enables rapid diffusion across the generator, translating into electricity to power external devices, leveraging gaseous [CO]([2]([as an energy source.]( 🌊 Spain set to get table-top-like submerged sea wave energy converter A fully submerged [wave energy converter]( (WEC) system designed by Irish company CETO Wave Energy Ireland (CWEI) has passed a crucial step and has been approved for deployment in Basque Country, Spain. Similar to wind and solar energy, ocean waves offer an [unlimited supply]( of renewable energy to meet global needs. As countries transition away from fossil fuels, innovative methods to harness this resource are being developed, and projects like this support their development. The device’s design ensures that it has a minimal visual impact and can coexist with marine life. It is attached to the sea floor with a mooring system, and the carbon-free electricity generated by the buoyant actuator is removed from the system by a [dynamic cable.]( 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 > A geo-environmental scientist authored and composed string quartet No. 1, “Polar Energy Budget.” What makes this stand out is that it was derived from sonified climate data from satellites monitoring the Arctic and Antarctica that have been accumulated over 30 years. ([More]() > An ancient species of snake, Vasuki Indicus, lived around 47 million years ago in the state of Gujarat in India. According to published research, it could be one of the largest snake species to have ever lived on Earth. ([More]() > Experts have developed and tested a new spider-like long-legged robot for exploring Mars' caves. Caves hold significant astrobiological interest for planetary scientists, who speculate that Martian caves could harbor or have harbored life. ([More]() ENERGY > Researchers from the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis may have discovered working ferroelectric capacitors. Using a combination of 2D and 3D structures could lead to electrical storage solutions. ([More]() > A NASA mission testing a new way of navigating our solar system is ready to hoist its sail into space—not to catch the wind, but the propulsive power of sunlight. ([More]() > Researchers have identified a novel method that recycles over 99 percent of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) in minutes. CFRP is a material made of carbon fibers and a plastic matrix. Interestingly, CFRP-based materials are stronger than metal. ([More]() INNOVATION > The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given supersonic plane maker Boom its first-ever Special Flight Authorization (SFA). This will allow its prototype plane XB-1 to cross the sound barrier during tests. ([More]() > As wearable technology becomes increasingly in demand, so have smart textiles. NC State researchers just took smart fabrics to a whole new level of sophistication—they played a video game with a tiny piece of fabric. ([More]() > Qatar’s Hamad International Airport has been crowned the world’s best at the 2024 World Airport Awards ceremony. In doing so, it dethrones Singapore’s Changi Airport, a 12-time titleholder. ([More]() VIDEO > Dubai has been hit with its biggest rainstorm in 75 years. The city got over a year's rainfall in the space of one night. Scientists are linking the storm with climate change - meaning it won't be the last. ([More]() > Footage of the UK's DragonFire laser weaponry system has been declassified. The weapon is seen destroying airborne drones and mortar shells. DragonFire is intended to be a technology demonstrator for a larger future project. ([More]() > Underwater inspection regimes have traditionally required humans in boats. Now, underwater drones can cut the tedium, the expense, and the ecological impact. Find out more on how in this video! ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS In yesterday’s quiz, we asked, Can you figure out which car gets the fuel first? The answer is: 1 Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on [Instagram]( and [Facebook!]( FROM THE WEB > Scientists reveal Antarctica's tallest active volcano is blasting out gold that could be worth a [fortune]( > Plasma physicist warns that Elon Musk's disposable satellites may be damaging the Earth's magnetic [field]( > North East student engineer John is reaching for the stars with his smart [roof]( > Japan demonstrates levitation without using any external [power]( > NASA chief says 'secretive' China is hiding military projects in [space]( > Excitation of thorium-229 brings a working nuclear clock [closer]( 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. 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