China’s 246-foot tower for space-based solar energy ☀️

Plus: Scientists mapped 16 Psyche at an all-time high resolution Jun 17, 2022 [Blueprint]( The sun is a terrifying power that towers above us in the sky, daring us to look. I did. Kidding, but I fully understand why Isaac Newton was tempted to stare at the image of the sun reflected in a mirror for so long that he temporarily blinded himself. Obsessions with nature turn my head, which is why the thought of researchers from China building a 246-foot tower to capture solar power from space excites me so much. It's a brilliant concept that will take years to completely realize — but isn't it amazing to witness history in making? Before we learn more about this emerging solar power system, it’s time to watch today’s video and learn about shipping container homes. Why? Once they were all the rage, but now it turns out they may not be as structurally sound as advertised. Good morning. I’m Derya, an editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s dive in. [Play]VIDEO OF THE DAY [Shipping container homes may not be as structurally sound as they may seem]( [Shipping container homes.]( What's the cost? [Must Read]MUST READ [China built a 246-foot tower to test an emerging solar power system]( [Solar tower.]( The world is now one step closer to operational space-based solar energy, because scientists from China's Xidian University [completed testing a ground array]( built to collect solar power from space. → The researchers conducted a successful test of the "world's first full-link and full-system solar power plant" on June 5. The solar power plant is a 246-foot (75-m) steel tower built on Xidian University's southern campus. The new ground station is part of a space-based solar power proposal called OMEGA, which stands for Orb-Shape Membrane Energy Gathering Array. Look closer. The power plant will connect to orbital satellites that will harvest solar power 24/7 from their geostationary orbits, before beaming that energy down to Earth via high-frequency microwave beams. → According to the researchers, fully operational space-based solar power could still be years away. If and when it comes, will it be too late for a world that needs to dramatically [cut its reliance on fossil fuels]( [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Linkedin]( [SCIENCE]SCIENCE [Scientists mapped 16 Psyche at an all-time high resolution of 20 miles per pixel]( NASA is preparing to explore and analyze an asteroid called 16 Psyche that could be the ancient core of an early planet. And the Psyche mission team [has just provided a highly detailed map]( of the asteroid's surface properties to give a better idea of what the mission may uncover. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Science - A 16th-century mummy helped scientists rebuild [the DNA of an E.coli cell](. - Here's how the James Webb Space Telescope [will examine stars for signs of Earth 2.0.]( - [Can polar bears survive climate change]( A discovery sheds new light on a warmer world. [INNOVATION]INNOVATION [US researchers build palm tree-like hurricane resilient turbines]( A team of researchers at the University of Colorado (CU) Boulder [has taken inspiration from nature]( to build wind turbines that can survive the strong winds of a hurricane just like palm trees do every season. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Innovation - Here’s how the U.S. Military [can switch to synthetic fuels]( and help save the world. - NASA [is worried SpaceX's Starship]( could destroy its iconic launch pad 39A. - Engineers have created a single-step, [all-in-one 3D printing method]( to make robots. [MAIL & MUSINGS]MAIL & MUSINGS China's space-based solar power project is already three years ahead of schedule. Do you think that it’s a good idea to collect energy from a space-based solar station? [Yes, it’s genius.]( [Not really. It doesn’t seem efficient.]( [It seems like a distraction. Let’s focus on nuclear energy.]( [It’s nice to have the option.]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS We asked whether researchers in China discovering a mysterious signal could be our first alien encounter. According to many of you, we won't learn the truth, even if it is. 44% Even if it is, we’ll probably never learn the truth. 29% Highly unlikely, but I want to believe. 16% No, it’s obviously not. 11% Yes! It seems promising. [QUOTE OF THE DAY]QUOTE OF THE DAY "The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no universal recipe for living." Carl Gustav Jung in “The Aims of Psychotherapy” (1931) [THINGS WE LOVE]THINGS WE LOVE [image]( [SHOWME Laser Keyboard]( [image]( [eufy by Anker BoostIQ RoboVac 11S]( [image]( [Apple Watch SE]( [image]( [IGOKOTI Personal Air Purifier]( [AND ANOTHER THING]AND ANOTHER THING - Dogecoin and discrimination: Elon Musk [just got sued twice in 24 hours](. - The nature of time is a tricky notion to pin down. But whether it is a fundamental part of our universe or just an illusion [has huge implications](. (New Scientist) - According to Bill Gates, crypto and NFTs [are sham, worthless assets](. - Some 200 places around the world have now achieved Dark Sky status. So [what are the benefits]( nights without light pollution can bring? (BBC) - Stellantis [has built and tested a road]( that can charge EVs and offers an unlimited range. - Thought experiments played a crucial role in the history of science. But [do they tell us anything about the real world]( (Aeon) - Did you know that there is a place in space [that is colder than space itself]( Prepared by Derya Ozdemir and Brad Bergan Enjoy Reading? Forward this email to a friend. Was this email forwarded to you? [Join Free!]( [About Us]( [Advertise]( [Contact Us]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Youtube]( [Linkedin]( [Instagram]( You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage you e-mail 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]