🚁 China misses 60% of targets in drone swarm drills, world’s largest tunnel digger built with ancient swordsmith skill, ‘Russian spy’ beluga whale found dead in Norway

Plus: Fusion reactor built at home in 4 weeks, neon transformer used to achieve plasma                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 September 03, 2024 | [Read Online]( 🚨[Free Webinar Alert!](🚨 Engineering Talks' new webinar covers machine vision, quality inspection, and more in the automotive industry. Register to participate in Q&A sessions and live polls with experts. [Join now]( Chinese state media reports that the Chinese military has achieved a paltry 40% hit rate when training to shoot down drone swarms. As CCTV reported last week, this surprising result was discovered during the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) latest testing of its anti-drone swarm capabilities. During the tests, the PLA deployed its latest anti-drone artillery systems to see how it would perform in battle. As the 40% hit rate would indicate, it was not as effective as the PLA may have hoped. Dive deeper into this story with our [Must-Read](. 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: > [Associate Principal, Software Engineering: Java]( > [Data Scientist]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST-READ 🚁 [China military stumbles in drone swarm defense, misses 60% of targets in drills]( “Shooting at drone swarms was still quite challenging due to their speed and small size, as well as their [ability to change flight trajectories]( – making it easy for gunners to lose their targets,” Duan Xiaolong, from an unnamed regiment with the PLA Ground Force’s 77th Group Army explained to CCTV. According to Major Cui Yang of the PLA regiment behind the testing, the PLA’s most recent air defense training exercise was conducted to [evaluate drone defense capabilities]( at various distances and pinpoint issues for future drills, as reported by CCTV. ⚔️ [10,000-ton, world’s largest tunnel digger built with ancient swordsmith skill]( Engineers at the China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Corporation (CRCHI) have turned to a [2,500-year-old blacksmithing approach]( to help build the world’s largest tunnel-boring machine (TBM). Weighing 10,000 tonnes, the TBM is as heavy as the Eiffel Tower and establishes China’s dominance in yet another area of high-end engineering structure. It was only in [2008]( that China domestically manufactured a TBM, but in the following decade, it improved its technological capabilities to become a global leader in TBM supply. TBM machines are critical components of underground construction machinery, allowing engineers to tunnel through a wide variety of terrains. However, the equipment is not only a feat of engineering but also combines [high-end technology]( from electronics, information technology, and even artificial intelligence. 🐳 [Celebrity ‘Russian spy’ beluga whale found dead in Norway after stirring rumors]( A beloved beluga whale named Hvaldimir, who sparked international intrigue with his possible ties to Russia, has been found dead in [southern Norway](. The whale, whose name is a fusion of the Norwegian word for whale—hval—and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first name, was discovered floating in Risavika Bay by a local father and son duo [out fishing](. The discovery of Hvaldimir’s body marks the end of a story that captivated both marine biologists and the public since his first appearance in [2019](, near Russian waters. 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 > The Memphis Zoo achieved a world-first feat in reptile conservation by hatching three Louisiana pine snakes, one of the rarest species in North America, from frozen sperm and artificial insemination. ([More]() > Researchers have successfully developed human blood stem cells that closely mimic natural human cells. They call it a “world-first breakthrough.” ([More]() > A team of sedimentologists and stratigraphers examined how the incompleteness of the fossil record influences the reconstruction of evolutionary history. ([More]() ENERGY > LG aims to surge ahead in the race for 4680 battery production, competing with CATL, Samsung, SK, Panasonic, and Tesla. ([More]() > A University of Waterloo student has developed a fusion reactor in his bedroom in a few weeks. Hudhayfa Nazoordeen used a 12kV neon sign transformer that successfully produced plasma. ([More]() > Calling itself the world’s first “AI-driven solar company,” Monalee is cutting the soft costs associated with solar by more than 50%, and they’re passing those savings – sometimes thousands of dollars – directly to the homeowner. ([More]() INNOVATION > Scientists in China have developed a new lubricating bio-material that could significantly prove beneficial in treating osteoarthritis and slowing the disease progression. ([More]() > Researchers have developed a robotic forearm that mimics human body proportions, weight, muscle arrangement, and joint performance to optimize its benefits. ([More]() > A research unit at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) has been working for several years on prototypes of flying humanoid robots. The latest, named iRonCub3, can soar through the air just like Iron Man or Astro Boy. ([More]() VIDEO > The rocks and caves of Belogradchik in northwestern Bulgaria are a natural wonder. Digital archaeologist Kristina Ilieva has spent months studying one of the caves—Magura Cave—and its prehistoric drawings, made using a surprising material. ([More]() > A new expedition has revealed the effects of the passage of time on the wreck of the Titanic. A large section of railing on the bow has fallen to the sea floor, as a result of erosion by salt water and microbes. ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS In yesterday’s quiz, we asked you to find the weight of the orange ball. The answer is: 2 kilograms Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on [Instagram]( and [Facebook!]( FROM THE WEB > Giant python caught swallowing even bigger snake alive in a [world-first]( > Scientists discover ‘surprising’ secret of world’s strongest [man]( > ‘He was in mystic delirium’: Was this hermit mathematician a forgotten genius whose ideas could transform AI – or a lonely [madman](? > ‘She was right and they were wrong’: the female astronomers hidden by science’s male [elite]( > Asteroid about the size of 2 football fields to make close approach to Earth in [September]( > Robot waiters in Kenya create a buzz. However, there are concerns about what it means for human [labor]( 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. [🧠AI Logs:]( Insights into the intricacies and developments within the realm of artificial intelligence. [🎬 IE Originals:](Weekly round-up of our best science, tech & engineering videos. [🟩 Sustainability:]( Uncover green innovations and the latest trends shaping a sustainable future for the tech industry. [⚡Electrical:]( From AI to smart grids, our newsletter energizes you on emerging tech. [🎓 IE Academy:]( Master your field and take your career to the next level with IE Academy --------------------------------------------------------------- Want to share your feedback? 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