🛳️ NATO to get mine-hunting underwater drones, China study backs nuclear strikes on Earth-bound asteroids, 8.5 million sqft of rooftop space in US to host 100 MW of solar power

Plus: Forget conventional electronics, DNA tech stores data, offers computing functions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 August 29, 2024 | [Read Online]( 🗣️[Discover Engineering Talks' Free Webinar!]( Join us for our free webinar and explore how machine vision and quality inspection come together in the automotive industry. Register now and don't miss out on Q&A sessions and live polls with experts! [Register now]( The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military alliance seeks to procure K-Ster C underwater mine disposal vehicles, K-Ster CT training vehicles, and associated equipment from Exail Robotics Belgium. NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has placed an order worth over $66.8 million (60 million euros) to the Belgium-based firm. For more on this story, check out our [Must-Read](. 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: >[Â]([Cyber Embedded Software Engineer]( > [SENIOR DATA ENGINEER]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST-READ 🛳️ [NATO to get mine-hunting underwater robot drones to solidify sea defense]( However, the firm [has not revealed]( the number of the K-Ster C underwater mine disposal and the training vehicles it will provide under the contract. According to the company, the underwater robots are capable of [finding and destroying naval mines](. They are expendable and can play a key role in increasing the Navy's defense capabilities. According to the company, the K-Ster C mine disposal units for both the countries will be produced at its Belgian facility in Oostende, which is already producing a range of drones for the [Belgian]( and [Royal Netherlands Navies]( as part of the modernization program of their Mine Counter Measure capabilities. ☄️ [China study backs nuclear strikes on Earth-bound extinction-level asteroids]( Scientists at China’s deep space exploration program believe that nuclear weapons are the most effective option to prevent a dangerous asteroid collision with Earth, which could pose a [doomsday threat]( to humanity. Their analysis suggests that [only nuclear weapons]( could successfully divert an asteroid from its path in certain scenarios. While international laws against deploying nuclear weapons in space and the risk of [nuclear fallout](causing interstellar pollution exist, devising long-term strategies and investing in nuclear-based defenses to protect humanity from a potential doomsday event is vital, say the researchers. ☀️ [8.5 million sqft of rooftop space in US to host 100 MW of solar power]( National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSA), a leading entity in the self-storage industry, has embarked on a groundbreaking partnership with community solar developer Solar Landscape to transform [8.5 million square feet](of NSA’s [rooftop space]( into a [renewable energy powerhouse](. This ambitious project will deploy 100 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity across approximately [1,000 self-storage properties]( that NSA owns and operates across 42 states and Puerto Rico. 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 > Researchers have developed a new technology that’s capable of storing data and offers computing functions as well. The technology uses DNA rather than conventional electronics. ([More]() > A new study has revealed that bats exhibit the highest naturally occurring blood sugar concentrations ever recorded in mammals, potentially offering new insights into treatments for metabolic diseases by examining evolutionary adaptations in bats. ([More]() > The speed at which the world spins around slowed dramatically twice hundreds of millions of years ago, with one time coinciding with the biggest mass extinction event, according to new research. ([More]() ENERGY > Researchers at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics have developed novel naphthalene-based organic redox-active molecules (ORAMs) for aqueous organic flow batteries, which can achieve stable cycling in normal air-atmosphere conditions. ([More]() > German manufacturer EKD has unveiled a new, potentially game-changing home battery system. Laboratory tests have revealed a potential lifespan of up to 48 years, significantly higher than the industry average of 24 years. ([More]() > Three Danish energy tech firms have flung open the doors to the first-ever green ammonia plant in the world, in the town of Ramme, Denmark. ([More]() INNOVATION > Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) has developed a cooling system that uses air as a refrigerant, eliminating the need for harmful cooling chemicals such as Freon and hydrofluorocarbons. ([More]() > Two innovative methods for material joining have been developed by scientists in Austria. By eliminating the need for environmentally harmful adhesives, they create remarkably strong bonds at the pore level of materials. ([More]() > Small devices like light sensors or network components could soon harvest power from background Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals — using a sophisticated new component that can turn even the faintest electromagnetic waves into electricity. ([More]() VIDEO > In 2020, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson approved an HS2, a high-speed rail service connecting the north and south of the country. In 2024, after over 15 years of planning, the project is vastly over budget and yet to be delivered. ([More]() > Sweden, which has been a major player in military technology for many decades, continues its achievements with Carl Gustaf Recoilles Rifle and the AT4 Rocket. ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS In yesterday’s quiz, we asked you to find the value of X. The answer is: 60 Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on [Instagram]( and [Facebook!]( FROM THE WEB > 'Richly decorated weapon' from Edo Japan unearthed in World War II rubble in [Germany]( > African farmers are using private satellite data to improve crop [yields]( > The oldest wine ever discovered, originating from Andalusia, is a white wine over [2,000 years old]( > USAID report reveals why Biden’s Gaza humanitarian pier [‘fell short’]( > Physicists find superconductor behavior at temperatures once thought ['impossible']( > Mice on a remote island have escalated from eating eggs to attacking live adult birds. Now, conservationists are fighting back—[with bombs]( 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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