⚔️ China reveals plans to block island with drones, Nickel extracting plants, 3D printer for space sets up shop for brief 140 seconds

Plus: US Army researchers are investigating gut microbiome and soldier performance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 July 06, 2024 | [Read Online]( Get IE’s ‘Amped for fun’ T-shirt Elevate your streetwear game with our Gildan Heavyweight T-Shirt. Crafted from 100% cotton. The Interesting Engineering Shop is now live with a curated collection of merchandise designed especially for engineers. [Shop Now for $25.99]( China has announced that it is confident of blockading a small island using drones alone. In a study released last month, People’s Liberation Army (PLA) analysts revealed how this can be achieved. This announcement comes at a notable time, just weeks after the United States announced “Hellscape,” its strategy to defend Taiwan using drones. For more on this development, check out today’s [Must-Read](. 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: >[Â]([Senior Software Engineer]( > [Senior Embedded Software Engineer, New Products]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST READ ⚔️ [Taiwan: China preps quadruple drone siege to fight US suicide drone plan]( The PLA’s study, led by engineer Chen Huije, explores the concept of “[area blockade and control](” using drone swarms in military operations. The plan involves a diverse fleet of drones, each tasked with a specialized role. It includes [large, endurance-focused drones]( for surveillance and strikes and smaller, agile units for close observation and radar elimination. While the PLA maintains that this is a [theoretical exercise]( and does not specifically mention Taiwan, the parallels to the island’s geography have not gone unnoticed. 🌻 [Power from flower: Albanian farm plants suck EV battery metal from soil]( Startups are exploring an unusual avenue in the quest for sustainable nickel production: [phytomining](. This approach leverages plants to extract nickel from the soil, offering a [cleaner alternative to traditional mining](. As the world embraces electric vehicles, the demand for nickel has skyrocketed, prompting the need for such eco-friendly alternatives. Startups like Metalplant, Econik, and Viridian are cultivating plants that naturally [accumulate nickel in their biomass]( across hundreds of hectares. Some species, like the Odontarrhena decipiens, can concentrate nickel up to 2% of their biomass, promising significant yields from small land areas. 🚀 [3D printer shot into space for 140 seconds, prints toy shuttle at super speed]( A [3D printer designed for space applications]( recently hitched a ride on Virgin Galactic’s latest mission. Developed by UC Berkeley engineers, the SpaceCAL printer aims to revolutionize how astronauts handle [equipment failures and medical emergencies]( during long-distant space travel. The device employs a technique called Computed Axial Lithography (CAL) and autonomously printed objects using a specialized liquid plastic during its [brief 140-second journey]( in microgravity. 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 London study reveals a surprising solution to manage urban heat: cool roofs. ([More]() > A new study reveals that ancient mantle plume tore Mongolia apart, birthing an ocean that lasted 115 million years. ([More]() > Scientists power copper to turn CO2 into methane, creating a closed carbon loop that neutralizes emissions and offers a sustainable energy storage solution. ([More]() ENERGY > The world’s largest crane vessel (SSCV) has installed a 90-meter-long jacket to extend the life of an oil field in the Norwegian Continent Shelf for another 40 years. ([More]() > Tesla Model S and Model X sales are tanking, and the company is choosing to hide it. ([More]() > A recent announcement by a German wind farm developer picking a Chinese equipment manufacturer for its upcoming site has caused a storm in Europe. ([More]() INNOVATION > US Army researchers are investigating the impact of gut microbiome on soldier performance. ([More]() > An exhaust specialist has revealed how to make any car sound like an old Formula 1 car. ([More]() > A paralyzed former IndyCar driver has tested a Formula E car with customized hand controls. ([More]() VIDEO > What happened to the world’s largest irrigation project, the Great Man-Made River (GMMR)? ([More]() > Meet the world’s largest military transport: C-5M Super Galaxy ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS In yesterday’s quiz, we asked you to solve for the triangle’s value. 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 > Humpback whales were less stressed over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, finds [research]( > Popcorn might be more than 6,000 years old, an anthropologist [explains]( > Researchers reveal that diabetes drugs like Ozempic are associated with a reduced risk of certain [cancers]( > Evidence reveals that ancient Saudi Arabia had thriving communities, and not struggling people in a barren [land]( > WHO’s cancer agency classifies talc as “probably carcinogenic” for [humans]( > Smoking is a key lifestyle factor affecting how quickly our cognitive skills decline as we age, finds UCL [researchers]( Additional Reads --------------------------------------------------------------- [⚙️ Mechanical:](Explore the wonders of mechanical engineering. [🛩️ Aerospace:]( The latest on propulsion, satellites, aeronautics, and more. 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