🦈 China builds jet engines using ‘shark skin’ tech, World's 1st 3D-printed engine-powered rocket takes flight in India, US Marine Corps purchase 100s of tiny tank-like robots from Israeli company

Plus: Scientists eye underground martian lava tubes to shield human colonists from cosmic radiation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 June 01, 2024 | [Read Online]( Chinese scientists have achieved a breakthrough in aviation technology by developing a new 3D-printed structure for turbofans inspired by the aerodynamic properties of shark skin. The new “shark skin” structures can reduce drag by as much as 10%. The skin is made from high-strength, large-scale titanium alloy that is precision 3D printed. This development hailed as a significant milestone in the race for next-generation aviation engine design, could help China leapfrog the United States. For more on this development, check out today’s [Must-Read.]( 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: >[Â]([Principal Engineer]( > [iOS Engineer]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST READ 🦈 China builds jet engines using ‘shark skin’ tech, which US plans to skip The development of a new generation of engines demanding greater thrust and lower fuel consumption has been slow due to technical challenges. However, the [hollow fan blades]( enabled by the “shark skin” technology could transform the aviation industry. In collaboration with Northwestern Polytechnical University, the research team developed an intermediate casing that contains [bionic grooves]( thinner than a human hair and connects the engine’s front intake fan and compressor to the aircraft fuselage. “Using shape memory alloys, we can also design and manufacture [smart exhaust nozzles]( with adaptive adjustment functions, eliminating complex mechanical structures and achieving significant [weight reduction](,” added the team behind the innovation. 🚀 World’s 1st 3D-printed engine-powered rocket flies successfully in India An Indian private space firm, [Agnikul Cosmos](, has successfully tested a rocket with the world’s first fully [3D-printed rocket engine](. While the firm achieved this feat in its fifth attempt, the test also marked the first time a rocket powered by a [semi-cryogenic engine]( completed a test flight in [India](. The team at Agnikul turned to 3D printing to keep costs in check, streamline manufacturing, and reduce assembly time. The startup’s engine, [Agnilet](, leverages a propulsion system that generates approximately [3kN of thrust]( at sea level. Agnikul’s mission achieved its intended altitude of about [8 kilometers]( before falling into the sea. 🤖 Israel to supply 100s of customizable tiny tank-like robots to US The [United States Marine Corps]( has placed a purchase order for [130 Roboteam Micro Tactical Ground Robot]( (MTGR) systems as part of a larger order with the Israeli company totaling around $30 million. The MTGR is a highly maneuverable, lightweight robotic platform, with advanced capabilities like [stair-climbing and self-righting](, fit to excel in both indoor and outdoor scenarios. Additionally, the MTGR features [day-and night-capable optics](, providing operators with 360-degree vision, and a [manipulator arm]( that it can use to investigate objects. MTGRs are ideal for tasks like Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) missions, [special operations](, or tactical maneuvers. 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 new way to extract oxygen from waste materials, more cost and energy efficient than conventional methods, could be a major boost for industry. ([More]() > Scientists are searching for large underground lava tubes on Mars, which they believe could shelter human colonists from cosmic radiation. ([More]() > Scientists create the thinnest lens in history, measuring only 3 atoms thick, which works by diffracting light instead of refraction. ([More]() ENERGY > Scientists turn to the sun to cook hydrogen from agri-waste with 600% less energy. ([More]() > Researchers study chemical process that utilizes electrical energy to drive electrolysis and make hydrogen production more cheaper and sustainable. ([More]() > A type of ceramic-like material, MXenes, has been employed to help craft heat-tolerant films capable of twisting light beams from industrial waste. ([More]() INNOVATION > A team of researchers at Tsinghua University in China have created the world’s first brain-inspired vision chip capable of sensing 10,000 frames per second. ([More]() > The super-rich is planning another expedition to the Titanic wreck, just a year after the horrors of the Titan submersible catastrophy. ([More]() > China has built the world’s most powerful ion-based computing machine, paving the way for scalable quantum computers in the future. ([More]() VIDEO > The United States Nuclear Triad: a cornerstone of the nation’s defense strategy, capable of delivering nuclear weapons from land-based missiles, submarine-launched missiles, and strategic bombers. ([More]() > Could your next physical therapist be a robot? Fourier is building AI-powered therapeutic robots to help patients in need. ([More]() > Can coffee waste make concrete? ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS In yesterday’s quiz, we asked, What will be the area of the unknown rectangle? The answer is: 24cm2 Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on [Instagram]( and [Facebook!]( FROM THE WEB > Dark matter could make our galaxy’s innermost stars [immortal]( > A new study finds that teens may experience delays in bipolar progression after major depressive [disorder]( > Researchers find radium in the composition of mussels downstream of a wastewater treatment plant in Western [Pennsylvania]( > Scientists discover ‘Trojan Horse’ RNA virus that they believe is hitching a ride with a common human [parasite]( > Children’s visual experience may hold key to better computer vision [training]( > New vestiges of the first life on Earth discovered in Saudi [Arabia]( 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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