🔋 More efficient EV batteries from solar panel waste, China tracks US Navy via ‘free’ satellite images, low sex drive not 'male menopause'

Plus: China launches world’s largest single-capacity floating wind turbine platform                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 July 17, 2024 | [Read Online]( INTERESTING ENGINEERING SHOP [[Keep Calm Stainless Steel Bottle] Mechanical Engineering Unisex Tee $25.99]( [[Engineer By Choice - Unisex Tee] We Work Until It Hertz - Unisex Tee $25.99]( [[Engineering Inspiration Mug ] Engineer's Confidence Mug $14.99]( [[F=MA Trucker Hat] Trust the Engineer Mug $19.99]( Researchers at the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) have successfully recycled silicon from solar panels and repurposed it to make superior-performance lithium-ion batteries. This approach is not only sustainable but also low-cost and paves the way for repurposing solar panel components at the end of their life. The recent surge in solar panel installations is a great move away from fossil fuels. Still, it is also the beginning of a worrying trend—the colossal amount of waste generated at the end of three decades when the panels reach the end of their product life. Hence, this research is a step toward repurposing solar panel waste, making the technology greener than ever. For more on this development, check out today’s [Must-Read](. 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: >[Network Engineer]( > [Lead / Sr. Lead Embedded Engineer]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST READ 🔋[Solar panel waste makes EV batteries 99.9% efficient, retain 83.1% capacity]( Conventionally, lithium-ion batteries use graphite anodes. Research has shown that [silicon anodes]( help lithium batteries deliver a better energy density. However, the challenge with silicon anodes is that the material is prone to significant expansion and [reduction in volume]( during the charge-discharge cycle. This results in [mechanical fractures in the anode]( and degraded battery performance. Under CUI’s guidance, the research team used [micrometer-sized silicon]( (uM-Si) particles to make the anode. Instead of working to build micrometer-sized particles, the team repurposed silicon from used solar cells, making the approach more sustainable in the long run. 🚫[Low-sex drive not ‘male menopause,’ experts debunk comparison with women]( Literature exists about “male menopause,” but it does not compare to the menopause that women experience. As [Live Science](reported, hormonal changes impact the male body, but it doesn’t involve a [complete shutdown]( of the reproduction system as it does in women. Men have described similar symptoms, such as [hot flashes](, but the director of the Men’s Clinic at UCLA told Live Science that “[andropause](” is a nonmedical term. Menopause is an official term. Over time, men produce less testosterone, but “men can maintain testosterone levels in the [‘normal’ range]( into their 80s and beyond,” as per Live Science. 🛳️ [Waves expose warships: China tracks US Navy via ‘free’ satellite images]( Chinese researchers have allegedly developed a new technique for tracking ships at sea using low-resolution, open-source, [“free” satellite images](. By searching for tell-tale ship wake patterns, the team’s new algorithm can rapidly find ships that are otherwise [invisible to the naked eye](. The satellite images used have resolutions of tens, even hundreds of meters. This means even a large object like a warship could occupy a [single pixel](. Yet despite this, the team, led by Hong Jun of the Dalian Naval Academy, said it had discovered a U.S. Nimitz-class [aircraft carrier](, a Ticonderoga-class [cruiser](, and an Arleigh Burke-class [destroyer]( from these images. 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 > When Storm Ciaran swept across southern Britain last autumn, a significant portion of tea drinkers were left with an unexpected taste in their mouths. A new study has found the reason behind this unexpected twist: the storm’s record-breaking low pressure. ([More]() > A new study has suggested that food aromas might be the key to understanding why astronauts struggle to enjoy their meals. The study found that the environment itself can change how humans perceive aromas and flavors. ([More]() > The different atmospheric conditions of the ‘morning’ and ‘evening’ sides of a distant planet have been revealed by the James Webb Space Telescope. ([More]() ENERGY > In a major boost to the renewable energy sector, SunCable has obtained principal environmental approval to develop its AAPowerLink project, which would supply Singapore with Australian solar power via the world’s longest undersea cable. ([More]() > A Chinese wind turbine manufacturer has officially launched the world’s largest single-capacity floating wind turbine platform. The estimated production capacity stands at 54,000 MWh per year, which is sufficient to power about 30,000 Chinese houses. ([More]() > Emissions of two of the most potent greenhouse gases have substantially increased in China over the last decade, a study has found. ([More]() INNOVATION > A groundbreaking camera technology, PrivacyLens, promises to protect users from the risks of embarrassing and identifiable photos and videos taken by smart home devices by turning people into stick figures. ([More]() > Bioengineers have developed gas-filled protein bubbles that are small enough to travel throughout the body, reaching areas previously inaccessible. This medical tool can potentially advance ultrasound imaging and drug delivery. ([More]() > On has created a new manufacturing process for building footwear uppers dubbed LightSpray that precision-sprays on a thermoplastic filament for a thin, engineered upper. ([More]() VIDEO > Cold water swimming has been linked to a range of health benefits. From improving brain fog, energy levels, and chronic pain. Emerging research suggests how cold water swimming could help with mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. ([More]() > There is a gender gap in just how much exercise we need for healthy hearts, and for once, the gap favours women. Science journalist Melissa Hogenboom explores the ways exercise benefits women more than men. ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS In yesterday’s quiz, we asked you, How many triangles are present in this riddle? The answer is: 20 Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on [Instagram]( and [Facebook!]( FROM THE WEB > Studying polar bears just became a lot easier with new "burr on fur" [trackers]( > An new in-vehicle camera can continuously watch you for signs of intoxication, with a new AI algorithm pinpointing your level of drunkenness with a 75% [accuracy]( > Amazon's process for inspecting returned items is "broken," a consultant says after a dirty diaper resold on the e-commerce website ruined a family [business]( > Tesla CEO Elon Musk appears to be confirming a report that the company’s much-ballyhooed event to unveil a robotaxi will be delayed beyond its [schedule]( > With the Paris Olympics less than two weeks away, a question hangs over the Games: Will the Seine River be clean enough for athletes to [swim in](? > World’s rarest whale may have washed up on New Zealand beach, possibly shedding clues on [species]( Additional Reads --------------------------------------------------------------- [⚙️ Mechanical:](Explore the wonders of mechanical engineering. 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