Explosion at Hoover Dam: how it happened

Plus: New black hole discovery is a world first Jul 20, 2022 [Blueprint]( The [Hoover Dam caught fire]( yesterday after a transformer blew. Nobody was hurt and the power supply was uninterrupted, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, (which is in charge of operating it), but still …this is pretty big news. As you’d expect, videos appeared on social media fairly swiftly, which appeared to show the aftermath of a small explosion (essentially a plume of black smoke coming out of a small fire on the surface of Lake Mead). The first of these was watched over a million times within the hour …Hoover went viral. But before you check out that video, watch something a little lighter (literally). [This video]( shows the world’s largest remote-controlled foam plane taking flight, and it works! …Which we think it’s pretty cool. Good morning. I’m Alice, an editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s dive in. If you haven’t already, check out our [new IE+ subscription]( launching soon, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis, premium features, and more. Claim your free [one-month trial here](. [Play]VIDEO OF THE DAY [Watch the “world’s biggest foam RC plane” take to the skies]( [World's biggest RC foam plane.]( The world’s biggest RC foam plane. [Must Read]MUST READ [Hoover Dam explosion: here’s what just happened at the iconic landmark]( [Hoover Dam explosion.]( Yesterday, a [transformer blew at the Hoover Dam]( and caused a small explosion. The dam generates more than three terawatt-hours per year and provides energy to millions of customers in the western United States. So when it explodes (or in fact anything at all happens to it), it’s news. Which was proven by the fact that a video shared on Twitter shortly after the explosion was watched more than one million times within the first hour it was posted. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the dam, said “the A5 transformer” caught fire. No injuries were reported and the power supply was uninterrupted. Transformers sit between electrical circuits and change the voltage without affecting the frequency of an electrical current …as well as being [robots in disguise]( obviously. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Linkedin]( [SCIENCE]SCIENCE [The 'black hole police' discover the first dormant one outside the Milky Way.]( An international team of scientists has [discovered a “dormant” black hole]( outside the Milky Way, which is a world first. It is nine times the mass of the Sun and orbits a hot, blue star weighing 25 times the Sun's mass. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Science - A mystery ingredient in bears' blood could [supercharge human muscle growth](. - U.S. researchers ['hack' fly brains]( control them remotely. - A [blind man can see again]( thanks to new gene therapy. [INNOVATION]INNOVATION [China has built the world's longest single-tower suspension bridge.]( A bridge in southwest China [passed a vital load test]( on Monday. This marks a massive milestone for the project, which is the world's longest single-tower suspension bridge. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Innovation - A Ukrainian entrepreneur [built vertical solar panels]( for balconies. - A chemical breakthrough could unlock the true potential of [powdered hydrogen as a fuel](. - China's [infinity-loop skyscraper]( is one of the world's most interesting buildings. [MAIL & MUSINGS]MAIL & MUSINGS The Hoover Dam caught fire yesterday after a transformer blew. Do you think news of the explosion has been sensationalized? [No, it’s important]( [Dam(n), how could you say that?]( [It’s been a bit overhyped]( [Yes, who even cares?]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday, we asked you if you think the JWST mission will hit the rocks, and 35 percent said you really hope not (us too). 35% No, I really hope not and am keeping everything crossed 34% Yes, I believe everything will be ok 20% Hopefully they can achieve some of what they want to 10% Not unless there’s another setback [QUOTE OF THE DAY]QUOTE OF THE DAY “The world looks so different after learning science. For example, trees are made of air, primarily. When they are burned, they go back to air, and in the flaming heat is released the flaming heat of the sun which was bound in to convert the air into tree.” Richard Phillips Feynman 1918–88 American theoretical physicist: ‘What is Science?’ speech to the 15th annual meeting of the National Science Teachers Association, New York City, 1966. [THINGS WE LOVE]THINGS WE LOVE [image]( [Ray-Ban Stories Smart Glasses]( [image]( [BENGOO Wireless Gaming Headset]( [image]( [Avalon Water Dispenser]( [image]( [John Timberland Fountain]( [AND ANOTHER THING]AND ANOTHER THING - A hybrid triplane design could provide [airfares cheaper than rail](. - Dogs are great sniffers. A [newly-found nose-to-brain connection]( helps explain why. (Science News) - Seven insane ways [animals have been weaponized]( for military purposes. - Sleepy mosquitoes [prefer dozing over dining](. (Science News For Students) - The world's [largest vertical farm]( 95 percent less water opens in Dubai. - Elephant trunks are very dexterous because they are [so wrinkly](. (New Scientist) - Ghana reports [first cases of Marburg virus](. Here’s why it’s a concern. Prepared by Alice Cooke Enjoy Reading? Forward this email to a friend. Was this email forwarded to you? 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