🚀 Boeing's first astronaut mission grounded, oral insulin innovation, monster black holes detected by JWST

Plus: A tungsten-lined tokamak reactor has set a new fusion record                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 May 07, 2024 | [Read Online]( In Coordination with IE Shop Engineer Your Style [Shop now.]( The first crewed test flight of SpaceX rival Boeing’s spaceship Starliner was scrubbed barely two hours before the scheduled lift-off on Monday night (May 6, 2023) due to a probable oxygen valve issue in the launch vehicle. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were already strapped into the Starliner capsule when the mission was postponed just a few hours before the lift-off. The United Launch Alliance (ULA)-operated Atlas V rocket encountered a glitch in its upper Centaur Stage. The next launch attempt may occur by Friday, May 10. For an in-depth look at the details, read today’s [Must-Read.]( 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: >[Â]([Hardware Validation Engineer]( > [Software Engineer - Level 3]( 🎙 New podcast [Â]([Democratizing Autonomous Drone Delivery at Scale]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST READ 🚀 Rocket valve glitch grounds Boeing’s first astronaut mission This mission will mark the 100th launch of an Atlas V rocket, which has lifted spacecraft to the moon, Mars, and more. The rocket has a hundred percent success rate, but this is the first time that [Atlas V will carry astronauts](. That’s why safety has been the utmost priority for NASA, ULA, and Boeing. The oxygen pressure-relief valve on the Atlas rocket’s upper stage malfunctioned, causing it to open and close quickly. This could have posed a [potential safety hazard]( for the crewed test flight. If this test flight mission goes as planned, Boeing will become NASA’s [second private provider]( of astronaut transportation services. 💊 Nanotechnology-based oral insulin may replace injections for diabetes A new nanotechnology-based oral insulin may prove to be a more effective diabetes treatment than painful injections in the coming years. Researchers at the University of Sydney created this [oral insulin pill]( that may be consumed like any other tablet. They have tested this medication on mice, rats, and baboons. This nanomaterial protects insulin molecules from stomach acid. This unique material does more than create a protective barrier. It also serves as a [“nano-carrier”]( for insulin molecules, allowing them to reach the locations in the body where they are most required. [Human trials]( are slated to begin in 2025, which will be led by Endo Axiom Pty Ltd, a spin-out company founded by the research team. 🔭 JWST detects ‘monster’ black holes sprouting from massive cosmic ‘seeds’ A team of MIT astronomers has uncovered tantalizing clues about the origins of some of the universe’s most enigmatic objects: [black holes](. They used the James Webb Space Telescope to collect data on distant quasars, which are extraordinarily luminous objects powered by black holes. Webb peered back more than [13 billion years]( to a time when the universe was still in its infancy. The powerful space observatory detected “elusive starlight” from around three ancient quasars. Webb’s data indicated that the black holes fueling these quasars were [significantly larger than their host galaxies]( compared to their current equivalents. 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]( OUR SHOP HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY SCIENCE > A clinical trial showed that CRISPR gene editing led to improved vision in people with inherited blindness. ([More]() > Phase 1 of NASA’s project of developing a nuclear power source for outer planet exploration has showed promising results, with researchers now aiming to boost power generation while reducing its size and weight. ([More]() > Working with human breast and lung cells, scientists say they have charted a molecular pathway that can lure cells down a hazardous path of duplicating their genome too many times, a hallmark of cancer cells. ([More]() ENERGY > Researchers have engineered protein filaments that can conduct electricity and even harness it using moisture from the air, in a bid to develop ‘green electronics’ in the future. ([More]() > A tungsten-lined tokamak reactor has set a new fusion record by sustaining the plasma for six minutes and injecting 1.15 gigajoules of energy into it. ([More]() > Growing demand for electricity from large projects like the Amazon Data Center can change the dynamic of future power supply. ([More]() INNOVATION > Engineers at Princeton and North Carolina State Universities combined ancient paper folding with modern materials science to create a soft robot that effortlessly bends and twists around mazes. ([More]() > Anduril unveiled its family of modular, multi-mission-capable electronic warfare systems called Pulsar. Powered by AI, Pulsar can be deployed statically on vehicles or aerial drones. ([More]() > Scientists are trying to get cows pregnant with synthetic embryos. ([More]() VIDEO > The Wind Runner will be the world’s largest aircraft, dedicated to transporting wind turbine blades. At almost 110 meters, it will be longer than a standard football field. ([More]() > The production of modern cars is a marvel of engineering and efficiency, encompassing a meticulous five-stage process. ([More]() > A new scientific process can make diamonds in under three hours – and at standard pressure. ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS In yesterday’s quiz, we asked, How many squares do you see? The answer is: 17 Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on [Instagram]( and [Facebook!]( FROM THE WEB > NASA has created a new simulation that sends you diving into a black [hole]( > The sleek new SpaceX spacesuit will make its runway debut on Polaris Dawn [mission]( > A new study reveals that cooperation by bumblebees isn't simply a result of accumulated individual efforts, but of them being master [collaborators]( > Jack Dorsey leaves the board of social networking service [Bluesky]( > Cold sintering may rescue plastic, ceramics, battery components from [landfills]( > Israel shut down Al Jazeera’s operations in the country and seized some of its communication [equipment]( 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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