World's largest plane breaks record

Plus: Russian hackers are using ChatGPT to write malicious pieces of code. Jan 19, 2023 [Blueprint]( Can you smell what The Roc is cooking? […It’s another world record.]( The Roc (the world's largest plane) took off from the Mojave Air and Space Port in southeastern California last week. And in doing so smashed another flight record for an aircraft of its size. It flew for six hours consecutively before landing at the same airport it took off from. The Roc is a carrier plane with a wingspan longer than a football field. It’s being trialed to serve as a platform for testing hypersonic payloads, as you do. But before you marvel at the sheer scale of that aircraft, marvel at [this video](. It shows a wheeled robot that can smell with locust antennae. I would wager you didn’t see (or smell) that coming. Good morning. I’m Alice, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s dive in. Last Sunday, Blueprint subscribers heard from the man behind the AI technology that could represent you in court. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+]( to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. [Play]VIDEO OF THE DAY [Scientists created a wheeled robot that can smell with locust antennae.]( [Scientists created a wheeled robot that can smell with locust antennae.]( I bet they were plagued with ideas before they settled on this one. [Must Read]MUST READ [The world's largest plane just achieved a major record.]( [The world's largest plane just achieved a major record.]( [The world's largest plane, The Roc]( took off from the Mojave Air and Space Port in southeastern California last week and broke a world record in the process. In doing so, it smashed another flight record for an aircraft of its size, by flying for six hours consecutively. It then landed at the same airport it had taken off from. Built by Stratolaunch, The Roc is a carrier plane with a wingspan longer than a football field. But unlike other aircraft of its size, it isn't a heavy cargo lifter. Instead, it’s being trialed to serve as a platform for testing hypersonic payloads. For this flight, it carried the Talon-A hypersonic test vehicle. Talon-A is a rocket-powered reusable test vehicle that is 38 feet (8.5 m) long and has 11.3 feet (3.4 m) wingspan. The test vehicle sits on the pylon under The Roc's center wing, which boasts a fuselage and three jet engines on either side of the central wing and a total wingspan of 385 feet (117 m). → The Talon-A can be fitted with various research payloads, which can then be fired to travel at speeds of between Mach 5 and Mach 10, while The Roc is cruising at altitudes of 35,000 feet (10,000 m). [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [Facebook]( [CULTURE]CULTURE [Russian hackers are using ChatGPT to write malicious pieces of code.]( [Hackers in Russia are leveraging ChatGPT]( to write pieces of malicious code. And they have succeeded in bypassing the geofencing meant to keep them away from the platform. ChatGPT can help users write software code, perhaps even better than an entry-level programmer. It was anticipated that hackers might use it to write malicious pieces of code, but perhaps not that they would achieve it so soon. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [SCIENCE]SCIENCE [A new study has discovered the best places to be during a nuclear attack.]( Scientists have [studied how a nuclear bomb wave travels]( through a standing structure using sophisticated computer modeling. They were able to compute the speed of the air following the blast wave and identify the best (and worst) places to be, thanks to their simulated structure, which included rooms, windows, doorways, and hallways. But the only real safe place to be during a nuclear explosion is as far away from the blast site as possible. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [INNOVATION]INNOVATION ['Moving bombs': Pakistan's LNG crisis sparks dangerous 'bag gas' trade.]( The people of Karak district in northwest Pakistan are [using hoses to siphon gas from main supply lines]( and filling plastic bags with natural gas to bring home for cooking. This risky and illegal way of getting cheap natural gas is both a sign of desperation and the failure of local authorities. The necessary infrastructure has not been built to supply the locals with gas, despite the region's vast natural gas and oil resources., according to the residents. This unlawful, improvised technique, known locally as “bag gas,” poses a high risk of explosion. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [MAIL & MUSINGS]MAIL & MUSINGS The world's largest plane just achieved a major record. What else do you think a plane of this size and capability primarily be used for? [Other military purposes]( [Delivering aid]( [Scientific research]( [Something else entirely]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday, we asked you if think AI will replace humans in the law profession eventually, and 65 percent of you said yes, in some circumstances. 65% Possibly in some circumstances 21% Yes, definitely 12% No, this is a one-off 3% I am unsure either way [QUOTE OF THE DAY]QUOTE OF THE DAY “When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” Leonardo DaVinci. [THINGS WE LOVE]THINGS WE LOVE [image]( [Winterbourne Upholstered Accent Chair]( [image]( [Transparent Light Wireless Speaker]( [image]( [Magnetic Levitating Light Bulb]( [image]( [Modway Render Bathroom Vanity]( [AND ANOTHER THING]AND ANOTHER THING - Our [search for life on Europa]( may require these ultrathin solar cells – here's why. 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