Something weird is going on in the universe

Plus: China’s world-first AI-powered drone carrier is being hailed as a new ‘marine species.’ May 22, 2022 [View in browser]( A new study based on Hubble's most recent data may have identified the expansion rate of the universe, which is a notoriously tough number to pinpoint called the Hubble Constant. The team produced a Hubble Constant estimate of 73, which turned out to be higher than previous research. Who is right, then? Well, it turns out it doesn't matter so much. Let’s find out more below. Have you heard of Honda's oval piston? If not, YouTuber Driven Media describes it and explains why Honda's oval piston engine is absolutely crazy. Good morning. I’m Mert, an editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s get started. [Video]VIDEO OF THE DAY [YouTuber explains why Honda's oval piston engine is absolutely crazy]( What is an oval piston and how does it work? [YouTuber explains why Honda's oval piston engine is absolutely crazy]( SCIENCE [Hubble data suggests 'something weird' is going on in the universe]( [Hubble reaches a new milestone in the mystery of the universe's expansion rate.]( - A new examination of data from the 32-year-old Hubble Space Telescope [attempts to identify a number]( called the Hubble Constant. Different confusing results. The number is a notoriously tough one to pin down because different observatories looking at different areas of the universe have produced different results. Now a new study of Hubble's most recent effort may have just found the right answer, [according to a press release]( by NASA published Thursday. "You are getting the most precise measurement of the expansion rate for the universe from the gold standard of telescopes and cosmic mile markers," said Nobel Laureate Adam Riess of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) and the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Riess leads a scientific collaboration investigating the universe's expansion rate called SHOES. What did the team finally conclude? The SHOES team produced a Hubble Constant estimate of 73. This turned out to be higher than previous research that combined the Standard Cosmological Model of the Universe and measurements by the European Space Agency's Planck mission to predict a value for the Constant of 67.5 plus or minus 0.5 kilometers per second per megaparsec. Who is right? It turns out it doesn't matter so much. This confusion is exciting for astronomers like Riess. "Actually, I don't care what the expansion value is specifically, but I like to use it to learn about the universe," Riess concluded. [Read More]( INNOVATION [China’s world-first AI-powered drone carrier is being hailed as a new ‘marine species’]( [Drone carrier.]( - On Wednesday, China launched the [world's first autonomous drone carrier]( and it is being hailed as a new "marine species," [according to a report]( by the South China Morning Post. The outlet quoted the Chinese state-run Science and Technology Daily. A new "marine species." “The intelligent, unmanned ship is a beautiful, new ‘marine species’ that will bring revolutionary changes for ocean observation,” Chen Dake, director of the laboratory responsible for the ship, was quoted as saying by the Science and Technology Daily back in 2021 when construction of the vessel began. With this latest ship, China is hoping to enhance its marine supervision capacity through artificial intelligence and unmanned systems at a lower cost and with higher efficiency. This particular unmanned ship will be used to carry out marine scientific research and observation. The ship is 290 feet long, 46 feet wide, and 20 feet deep (88.5 meters long, 14 meters wide, and 6.1 meters deep ) and boasts a designed displacement of 2,000 tonnes. It can travel at speeds of 13 knots, with a maximum speed of 18 knots. [Read More]( INNOVATION [Ukrainian soldiers are now using powerful electric bikes to take out Russian tanks]( [High-power e-bikes.]( Two companies, ELEEK and Delfast, are making a difference in the Ukraine war by [providing Ukrainian soldiers with electric bikes]( that they can use to destroy Russian tanks. Armed forces equipped with electric bikes. The news surfaced on social media last week and has not been covered much which is too bad because it is quite an exciting development. On May 8, Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Association of EVs Market Participants Vadym Ignatov [wrote in a Facebook post]( about the arrival of bikes from ELEEK to the nation's armed forces. More electric bikes to the rescue. Meanwhile, five days ago, the founder of Delfast Danylo Tonkopi [also took to Facebook]( to announce that his company had also equipped Ukrainian firefighters with electric bikes. - The electric bikes are all equipped with functional pedals that allow them to push their range to over 200 miles (320 km) meaning they can reach speeds as high as 50 mph (80 km/h). They are of particular use where trails and paths don't exist as they can carve out their own way. They also possess a unique ability to carry heavy loads meaning the forces can use them for transporting goods as well as carrying rockets to fire on Russian tanks. [Read More]( MAIL & MUSINGS ELEEK and Delfast are providing Ukrainian soldiers with electric bikes. Do you think these electric bikes will provide significant benefits to the Ukrainian army? Be sure you check back tomorrow for the results! [Definitely! Any help makes a difference.]( [I don’t think they’ll have a major influence.]( [Yes. They seem quite capable.]( [Unfortunately no.]( Yesterday’s Results Following the news that monkeypox cases have been reported in Europe, Canada, and the U.S., we asked if you think things will get serious with the monkeypox outbreak. 28% say we should get used to the outbreaks, while another 28% don’t think so. Unfortunately yes. The sooner we get used to the outbreaks, the better. 28% I don’t think so. It’ll pass quickly. 28% I don’t think it’ll be worse than the COVID pandemic. 27% No idea. Some measures are being taken but I don’t trust them. 17% QUOTE OF THE DAY “ Everything that we call Invention or Discovery in the higher sense of the word is the serious exercise and activity of an original feeling for truth, which, after a long course of silent cultivation, suddenly flashes out into fruitful knowledge. ” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in “The Maxims and Reflections” AND ANOTHER THING... - Remains of a slamming between two galaxies could [shed light upon dark matter](. - [Elon Musk praised Netflix]( telling employees to quit if they couldn't work on the content they disagreed with. He previously bashed the platform as having a 'woke mind virus.’ (Insider) - [Hyundai's first U.S. factory]( will produce 300,000 electric cars yearly starting in 2025. - NFU Mutual study shows [almost half of British drivers]( would not consider an electric car. (InsideEVs) - [The future of hydropower is endangered]( by droughts, floods, and climate change. - Climate change has been [killing rainforest trees for longer]( than we realized. (ScienceAlert) - The U.S. Department of Energy invests[$3.5 billion in carbon capture initiatives.]( Prepared by Loukia Papadopoulos and Mert Erdemir 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 2022 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 201 Spear Street, Suite 1100 San Francisco, CA 94105 | All Rights Reserved [Interesting Engineering]