Yellowstone hit with surprise hydrothermal blast, US shrinks nuclear arsenal by 90% since Cold War peak, Wiz rejects $23 billion Google takeover for IPO

Plus: China unveils world’s 1st meltdown-proof nuclear reactor                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 July 24, 2024 | [Read Online]( In partnership with The fastest way to build AI apps Writer is the full-stack generative AI platform for enterprises. Build and deploy AI apps quickly with [Writer AI Studio](, a suite of developer tools fully integrated with our LLMs, graph-based RAG, AI guardrails, and more. Use Writer Framework to build Python AI apps with drag-and-drop UI creation, our API and SDKs to integrate AI into your existing codebase, or intuitive no-code tools for business users. [Start building with AI Studio]( A sudden hydrothermal explosion erupted in Yellowstone National Park’s Biscuit Basin, sending steam, water, and dark rock skyward around 10 am on Tuesday. The unexpected event caught tourists off guard, forcing them to flee for safety as debris rained down. Video footage shared online captured the moment, showing dozens of visitors on a boardwalk as the explosion grew. Amid shouts of “Back up!” and “Holy cow!” tourists scrambled to avoid the falling debris and to witness the dramatic event under a massive steam cloud. For more on this development, check out today’s [Must-Read](. 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: > [Test Engineer - 1006]( > [Staff/Sr. Staff DevOps Engineer]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST READ 💥 [US: Surprise hydrothermal blast shoots steam, rocks in sky, scaring tourists]( Vlada March, a California real estate agent on a tour with her family, described the scene as surreal, CBS News reported. “We saw more steam coming up and within seconds it became this huge thing,” March recounted. “It just exploded and became like a [black cloud that covered the sun.](” March managed to film parts of the eruption while urging her children to run for safety. The explosion [shattered the boardwalk](, leaving rocks and debris scattered. March’s mother, sitting on a nearby bench, was unharmed but visibly shaken. “Walking back on the broken boardwalk was a little [scary](,” March added, “but thankfully it didn’t break under us.” 💣 [31,255 to 3,748: US shrinks nuclear arsenal by 90% since Cold War peak]( The nuclear warhead stockpile of the United States stood at 3,748 on [September 2023](, as per the latest data revealed by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). This is the [first time since 2021]( that the US has decided to declassify its nuclear weapons stockpile data and make it accessible to the public. The nuclear stockpile includes both [active and inactive warheads](. The active warheads include strategic and non-strategic weapons maintained in an operational, ready-for-use configuration. 💵 [Wiz rejects $23 billion Google takeover for IPO, targets $1 billion revenue]( Cybersecurity startup Wiz Inc. has turned down a takeover bid of as much as $23 billion from Google-parent [Alphabet](, sticking instead with a plan for an [initial public offering](. This surprising decision highlights the confidence and [ambition]( of the New York-based startup, as it chooses to carve its path independently. The move comes at a time when Alphabet is fervently trying to strengthen its foothold in the highly competitive [cloud services market](, currently dominated by Microsoft Corp. and Amazon Inc. 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 > Scientists have discovered that a naturally occurring sugar can boost hair growth by promoting the formation of new blood vessels. This vital process nourishes hair follicles, supporting them to produce new hair. ([More]() > Sharks off the coast of Brazil have been found with traces of cocaine, and scientists are concerned about the drug’s potential effects on their behavior. While a drug-fueled great white shark might sound like the stuff of fiction, the reality is both troubling and alarming for marine life. ([More]() > Scientists now believe they have discovered that when a dog senses a person in distress, it has a knock-on effect on the behavior of the animal – most notably, it makes them pessimistic. ([More]() ENERGY > Researchers have developed a new generation of lithium metal batteries that can offer extended lifespan and more safety at elevated temperatures. ([More]() > Researchers at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory are using liquid lithium to cool down fusion reactors. The liquid metal also protects reactor components from neutron bombardment. ([More]() > The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is trying to make battery-powered trucks viable for long-distance cargo transport. Megawatt charging represents an important step toward this goal. ([More]() INNOVATION > A team of researchers has developed luminescent polymers that not only have high light-emitting efficiency but are also biodegradable and recyclable. ([More]() > To separate salt from water, scientists have devised bioinspired 3D-printed solar steam generators. The solar steam generator (SSG) shows promise as a more affordable, less energy-intensive device that effectively desalinates seawater. ([More]() > Australian researchers are experimenting with cabin lighting in planes to simulate sunrises and sunsets in order to support circadian rhythms on long flights and reduce jet lag. ([More]() VIDEO > In the grand tapestry of technological advancement, few threads have woven a narrative as compelling as that of the telephone and its evolution into the iconic iPhone. ([More]() > Hot tapping enables seamless pipeline repairs and connections without disrupting service, utilizing specialized equipment and techniques to ensure safety, efficiency, and environmental benefits by preventing greenhouse gas release during welding. ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS In yesterday’s quiz, we asked you, What fraction of the square is shaded? The answer is: 1/3 Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on [Instagram]( and [Facebook!]( FROM THE WEB > Argentina has logged more than 527,000 cases of dengue so far this [year]( > This airline allows women to choose not to sit next to [men]( > Late spring and early summer blazes in Canada, Alaska, and eastern Russia add to carbon [emissions]( > Online influencers like Andrew Tate are radicalizing boys into extreme misogyny in a way that is "quite terrifying", police are [warning]( > A remarkable Neanderthal skeleton in southern Italy represents one of the most spectacular and complete human fossils ever [discovered]( > A remarkable marble floor in the submerged city of Baiae—dubbed the "Las Vegas" of ancient Rome—has been [revealed]( Additional Reads --------------------------------------------------------------- [⚙️ Mechanical:](Explore the wonders of mechanical engineering. [🛩️ Aerospace:]( The latest on propulsion, satellites, aeronautics, and more. 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