We may have a second moon

A Swedish firm has created the world’s first fully recycled EV battery, Chinese scientists 'strike gold' in a nuclear fusion breakthrough Nov 15, 2021 # Good morning to you and the asteroid called Kamoʻoalewa, which is the closest thing we have to a second moon. It’s been around for a while, but now scientists think it may actually be a piece of the moon itself. Two’s company, as they say. Back on Earth, a Swedish firm has created the world's first fully recycled EV battery using metals recovered from battery waste, in a significant move toward a circular model of sustainability. Additionally, Chinese scientists have struck gold in a nuclear fusion breakthrough, moving us one step closer to an endless supply of clean, cheap energy. This is The Blueprint. Keep reading. SCIENCE [The Earth May Just Have a Temporary Second Moon In Its Orbit]( [The Moon.]( Space is vast, and it can get pretty lonely. Maybe this is why the prospect of another moon for our planet excites us so much. If you’ve ever envied Jupiter or Saturn for their many moons, you may be in luck: [Our planet may also have a second moon]( according to confirmed results from 2016. - Called Kamo’oalewa, which means "moving celestial object" in Hawaiian, it's quite tiny, measuring only 164 feet (50 m) across. And based on numerous observations, it clearly circles the Earth. However, it doesn't follow a traditional path; instead, it circles the Earth in a corkscrew-like trajectory. An odd tango. The scientists who discovered it described its orbit as a dance. Its orbit seems to be primarily influenced by the sun’s gravity; however, "this pattern shows up because it’s also — but not quite — on an Earth-like orbit. So it’s this sort of odd dance,” said graduate student Ben Sharkey of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona. Incredibly, the researchers believe it’s composed of "lunar material," and you should believe them. After all, our moon is constantly being bombarded by celestial objects. Statistically, it's only logical that a piece of it would have been cracked off, only to later return to the vicinity of Earth. - How do we know this? Thanks to the lunar samples [brought back by the Apollo 14 mission in 1971]( When the researchers compared the data about silicates (minerals found on rocky bodies throughout the solar system) from the telescopes to what the geologists from the first study surfaced in their rock labs, the results matched. This means that not only is Kamo’oalewa a second moon to our Earth, but it’s also a small part of our already existing moon. However, it won't stay close for long. Scientists estimate that after 300 years it will break its orbit and go off on its own. So wherever it heads next, we wish it luck. [Read More]( INNOVATION [A Swedish Firm Has Created the World's First Fully Recycled EV Battery]( [Northvolt's Revolt facility.]( A Swedish company [has announced it successfully recycled]( a lithium-ion battery cell containing a nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cathode, using only metals recovered from battery waste. Called Northvolt, the company claims its "Revolt" recycling program has become the first to recycle an EV battery using 100 percent reused materials. How? Recycled cobalt, manganese, and nickel employed in the new battery cell were gathered from battery waste using a low-energy hydrometallurgical treatment that involves the use of an aqueous solution to isolate the metals and empty them of remaining impurities. - This is a significant breakthrough for the global battery industry, as it tries to make the nascent EV industry truly sustainable. So far, even Tesla vehicles haven't reached the threshold. The ultimate dilemma. The electric vehicle revolution is gaining speed, but 250,000 tons of batteries will reach their end-of-life in Europe by 2030. This is a problem since lithium-ion batteries require extensive mining for raw materials, which counteracts the sustainable incentive of the completed vehicles. In other words, electric cars have simply moved pollution up the assembly chain, from the exhausts of driving consumers to the manufacturing of EV parts. However, the recycling process can recover up to 95 percent of the metals in batteries, maintaining a purity level comparable to "virgin" material. And the next step is to find out whether Northvolt and other firms can scale new recycling processes in preparation for the greater volume of battery recycling to come. - What to expect. The company aims to produce cells with 50 percent recycled material at industrial scales by 2030. In line with this goal, the company's Revolt Ett giga-scale recycling plant in Skellefteå, Sweden, will be expanded beyond its earlier design to accommodate the recycling of 125,000 tons of batteries each year. The EV scene. A commitment to circularity will surely minimize the environmental consequences of the battery sector, so this is a major step forward. On the other hand, [Tesla has also said it can recycle]( 92 percent of battery cell materials, after recovering 1,300 tons of nickel in 2020. Once batteries reach 100 percent sustainability, the only loose string will be the energy powering electric cars itself, since much of the power you pick up at, say, a charging station, [is generated at fossil fuel power plants](. One step at a time. [Read More]( SCIENCE [Chinese Scientists 'Strike Gold' In a Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough]( [Nuclear fusion. ]( Nuclear fusion is the holy grail of energy production. But if we cracked it, we’d possess an endless supply of clean, cheap energy. Now, with an unusual strategy involving gold, [scientists have made a potentially game-changing discovery]( in the ongoing race for nuclear fusion. - What’s new? Chinese scientists in Shanghai have been working on a project to replicate the sun’s energy process with a comparatively low-cost approach and, after a year of experiments, the technique has finally shown promise. The process. The scientists fire powerful laser beam pulses at a tiny pair of gold cones with narrow ends which face each other and emit a plasma of hydrogen. When the two hot gas streams collide at precisely the right time and place, and in the right way, they trigger a fusion reaction. - The research team has completed three experiments so far, with a fourth set for next month. But, while it's run into some unforeseen obstacles, preliminary findings imply that the idea is viable. And, according to the researchers, "the cones can be mass-produced and loaded as bullets in a machine that will rotate and fire like a Gatling gun" for power generation. Lock and load. It may seem like every week is saturated with news of another breakthrough in fusion energy. But this is actually good because it means we're making significant progress in what will eventually be a hard-won achievement of commercially viable nuclear fusion. Just last month, researchers from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California announced that they are on the "[threshold of nuclear fusion ignition]( and in August, the U.S. National Ignition Facility achieved an energy output eight times greater than ever before. These advancements are giving hope and adding pressure to research teams in other countries, and with the increasing competition, nuclear fusion may be just one breakthrough away. [Read More]( MAIL & MUSINGS Today, 12 men have walked on the moon, including the Apollo 11 mission. Now billionaires are racing to space, with aims to return to the moon, and go beyond. But if you had a shot at flying to the moon this weekend, with your safe return guaranteed .. would you do it? Be sure you check back tomorrow for the results! [Yes, obviously. Who wouldn’t?]( [It’s just rocks. Nothing for me, thanks.]( [I’d be too scared.]( [I’m full this weekend. Maybe next?]( Yesterday’s Results And now let’s check out your answers to yesterday’s question! We asked you what would happen if Satoshi Nakamoto decided to bring all their bitcoin into circulation. And 39% of you said the market would crash, and then recover, while 26% said people would switch to altcoins. On the other hand, 10% of you said the so-called father of Bitcoin would do no such thing. Since no one knows who he is, it’s impossible to make any assumptions. But, since the anonymous founder remains [at the center of an ongoing Florida trial]( that some are calling “bitcoin's trial of the century,” things may be about to change. The market would crash, and then recover. 39% People would move towards altcoins and BTC would see its user base dwindle. 26% Back to trading bags of grain I guess. 24% How dare you? Satoshi would do no such thing! 10% QUOTE OF THE DAY “ Chemistry, unlike other sciences, sprang originally from delusions and superstitions, and was at its commencement exactly on a par with magic and astrology. ” Thomas Thomson in 'The History of Chemistry' [Video]VIDEO OF THE DAY [How Humanity Avoided a Scorching Hot Future Caused by a Hole in the Ozone Layer]( Everyone should be glad that the Montreal Protocol phased out CFCs. [How Humanity Avoided a Scorching Hot Future Caused by a Hole in the Ozone Layer]( AND ANOTHER THING... - There is a darker side to modern architecture that requires us to rethink the way we build modern buildings — [our overuse of concrete](. - Cats create "mental maps'' using audio cues, scientists have discovered. This means [you can't hide from your cat]( so don't even try. (LiveScience) - The auroras have inspired humans for thousands of years. [Their secret lies in electromagnetism](. - Timber poachers set a forest on fire. And [a tree’s DNA sent one of them to prison](. (The New York Times $) - [A mysterious, undetected force is influencing]( the orbit of two alien worlds. - Humans have searched the heavens for signs of other advanced civilizations. And we've found absolutely nothing. So [why are we still searching for intelligent alien life]( (Space.com) - [This deep-sea robot is exploring the mysteries]( of our oceans' climate activity. And it only uses the energy of an iPhone. Prepared by Derya Ozdemir and Brad Bergan Enjoy reading? Don't forget to forward to a friend! Was this email forwarded to you? [Subscribe]( [About Us]( | [Advertise]( | [Contact Us]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Youtube]( [Linkedin]( [Instagram]( You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe [here.]( © Copyright 2021 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 201 Spear Street, Suite 1100 San Francisco, CA 94105 | All Rights Reserved [Interesting Engineering]