World’s largest plane destroyed in Ukraine

Plus: See a bacteria bigger than a fruit fly Feb 28, 2022 [View in browser]( The world’s biggest cargo plane, the AN-225 “Mriya,” Ukrainian for “Dream,” has been destroyed by Russian forces at an airfield near Kyiv. The plane will be rebuilt, but the resulting sadness in the aviation world, where Mriya enjoys a near cult-like status, is palpable. It’s now been five days since Russia invaded Ukraine, and the endless scroll of wartime headlines feels heavier than ever. So before we explore the Ukrainian giant AN-225 and how it was destroyed by the Russian army, we have a video on how SpaceX’s rockets evolved in the last two decades. It all started with Elon Musk taking a trip to Moscow. Good morning. I’m Derya, an editor at IE. In an era when it feels like there is always something to worry about, thank you for sticking with us. This is The Blueprint. Let’s break it in. [Video]VIDEO OF THE DAY [How SpaceX's rockets evolved over the last 20 years]( The famed Falcon 9 rockets were initially supposed to be refurbished Dnepr rockets. [How SpaceX's rockets evolved over the last 20 years]( CULTURE [Mriya: world's biggest cargo plane destroyed by the Russian army]( [Antonov An-225 Mriya.]( The Antonov An-225 "Mriya", the largest aircraft in the world, [was destroyed by the Russian army]( during the conflicts at the Antonov Airfield near Kyiv. - "The biggest plane in the world ‘Mriya’ (The Dream) was destroyed by Russian occupants on an airfield near Kyiv. We will rebuild the plane. We will fulfill our dream of a strong, free, and democratic Ukraine," reads a tweet posted by the official Ukraine Twitter account. Relic of the Cold War. The plane was one-of-a-kind and had been in commercial service since 2001. With a wingspan of 290 feet and a length of 275 feet, Mriya was a true monster of the skies. But sadly, it was under repair at the Antonov Airport when Russia invaded, so there was no time to fly it out of Ukraine. Mriya's restoration is expected to cost more than $3 billion and take a very long time. The plane [was estimated to still be flying well into the 2030s](. [Read More]( SCIENCE [Scientists discover complex bacteria bigger than a fruit fly]( [Scanning electron microscopy observation of an individual Thiomargarita magnifica.]( Bacteria are everywhere but we can take solace in the fact that they tend to be so small that they’re invisible to the naked eye. Well, actually, not anymore. Scientists [have discovered a bacterium]( that is bigger than a fruit fly. Yikes! - Despite its size, the bacterium is still a single-celled organism. It can, however, grow up to 0.78 inches long and is shaped like a string. Odd duck. One peculiar feature of the bacterium distinguishes it from most other bacteria: its genetic material is carried inside a membranous pouch, whereas most other bacteria leave their DNA floating around. As such, the microbe can be categorized somewhere between a prokaryote and a eukaryote. Bacteria are frequently thought of as [small, basic, and “unevolved” life-forms](. Looking at the massive bacterium, this sentiment couldn't be further from the truth. [Read More]( INNOVATION [NASA's James Webb Telescope teases with one more preview of an enticing star]( [James Webb Space Telescope in outer space.]( Three months have passed since NASA's James Webb Telescope (JWST) began its journey, and we’re already seeing results. Despite its mirror segments not yet being lined up, the telescope [has released an image of a faraway star](. - The new image released is Webb's first-ever “stacked” picture of the star HD 84406, and it gives an idea of how sharp the telescope's eye will be once it has reached its final form. What’s next? The tool has just undergone stages two and three of a seven-step process that aims to fully align the telescope’s mirrors and get all 18 segments functioning as one unit. As the Webb Telescope completes each subsequent phase, its images will become progressively clearer, like nothing we’ve seen before. It's an exciting time for astronomers and enthusiasts as we wait for Webb to achieve its perfect form, and [unlock some of the cosmos’ deepest mysteries](. [Read More]( MAIL & MUSINGS From distant galaxies to the newest stars, the scope of JWST observations could exceed our wildest dreams. What do you think the future holds for the space telescope? Be sure you check back tomorrow for the results! [The JWST is our ticket to other worlds. Just wait.]( [We’ll see pretty space images, and that’ll probably be it.]( [A new physics awaits .. and maybe even aliens.]( [There is nothing to be found. Let’s solve human crises first.]( Yesterday’s Results We asked whether you think China's government is right to be suspicious of Bitcoin. From what we can tell, the majority of you aren't great fans of cryptocurrencies. Definitely, it's an unsteady tool already. 49% I'm not sure, but a wary approach seems reasonable. 21% I don't know enough about Bitcoin. 20% No, China is ignoring a huge potential. 10% QUOTE OF THE DAY “ An expert is someone who knows some of the worst mistakes that can be made in his subject and who manages to avoid them. ” Werner Heisenberg in “Der Teil und das Ganze” (1969) AND ANOTHER THING... - [The primary thrust module of the ISS is Russia's](. Can the ISS stay in orbit without the support of Russia's engine? - From COVID-19 to the Ukraine-Russia conflict, these are trying times. Here are [five ways to cope with the stressful news cycle](. (NPR) - NASA [is making final preparations before kicking off]( its Artemis lunar missions. - Machines that grip, grapple, and maneuver [will soon have their go at maintaining the fleet of spacecraft]( that encircle Earth. (Knowable Magazine) - Can wind turbines [hold off frost in the world’s largest indoor ice tank]( We might be able to put wind farms in colder parts of the sea. - Does anyone know what paper towels should cost? Online shopping was supposed to give consumers more freedom. Instead, [costs are so fluid that goods fluctuate almost like Bitcoin](. (The New York Times $) - China’s green planning for the world [starts with infrastructure](. Its help is crucial for air-dependent countries. [Share to Win]SHARE TO WIN [All products]( Share The Blueprint! 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