Engineers solve fast-charging EV puzzle

Plus: US Navy awards Lockheed Martin $2 billion hypersonic missile contract. Mar 01, 2023 [Blueprint]( Feel the power. Having said that, you actually can’t quite yet. But you might be able to soon, thanks to new research that’s looking into [ways to stop lithium dendrite growth](. Because, as it stands, lithium dendrite growth is holding up the development of lightweight solid-state batteries. The reaction between lithium dendrites and the electrolyte can also cause the electrolyte to decompose and lead to capacity loss, reducing battery life and performance. But that might all be about to change. But before you tune into that power, tune into this one. [This video]( shows the reason why rockets don’t crash into airplanes …in case you’ve ever wondered. Good morning. I’m Alice, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s dive in. Last Sunday, Blueprint subscribers heard how a building management system could help build a sustainable future. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+]( today to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. [Play]VIDEO OF THE DAY [Why rockets don’t crash into airplanes.]( [Why rockets don’t crash into airplanes.]( Another mystery solved! [Must Read]MUST READ [Engineers solve short-circuit puzzle, paving the way for fast-charging EVs. [premium]]( [Engineers solve short-circuit puzzle, paving the way for fast-charging EVs.]( A recent study seems to finally resolve the question of [what causes dendrite formation](. Even better, it demonstrates how to stop dendrites from piercing the electrolyte. Lithium dendrites are crystal growths that can accumulate on the surface of lithium. They can form on the negative electrode during the charging process, particularly under conditions such as overcharging or lower-temperature charging. The dendrites are formed when lithium ions accumulate on the anode surface and cannot be absorbed. The reaction between lithium dendrites and the electrolyte can also cause the electrolyte to decompose and lead to capacity loss, reducing battery life and performance. To date, finding ways to stop lithium dendrite growth hasn't seen much success, holding up further development of lightweight solid-state batteries, which replace one of the electrodes with solid lithium metal. The next steps will attempt to apply these concepts to produce a functional prototype battery. After this, Chiang and his team will determine precisely what manufacturing techniques would be required to build such batteries in commercial quantities. → Possible limitations include whether this effect occurs in all solid electrolytes and whether the team can really engineer residual or retained stresses into batteries in a practical way to prevent such failures. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [Facebook]( [INNOVATION]INNOVATION [US Navy awards Lockheed Martin $2 billion hypersonic missile contract.]( The US Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a [contract worth between $1.1-2 billion]( to install Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic missile launchers on the US Navy's three Zumwalt-class destroyers. Under the contract's terms, Lockheed Martin will aim to install the hypersonic missiles by around 2025. The Navy's Zumwalt-class destroyers have faced numerous issues since they first came into operation last decade, so the new contract could help them finally live up to the moniker of the “21st-century destroyer.” [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [What's in Your Tattoo Ink?]( [SCIENCE]SCIENCE [Scientists observe black hole with mass of 20 million suns escaping galaxy.]( Astronomers have spotted a [runaway supermassive black hole]( that appears to have been powerfully ejected from its home galaxy. And it's taking part of that galaxy with it. The new observations, detailed in a new paper in preprint server arXiv, show how the colossal giant is dragging a group of stars in its wake. It is the first observational evidence that black holes can be ejected from their home galaxies into interstellar space. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [CULTURE]CULTURE [Google parent Alphabet fires robots after slaying 12,000 human jobs earlier.]( Over a hundred robots at Google's parent company, Alphabet, [have allegedly been fired](Over%20a%20hundred%20robots%20at%20Google's%20parent%20company,%20Alphabet,%20have%20allegedly%20been%20fired%20after%20the%20team%20maintaining%20them%20was%20shut%20down.%20%20After%20building%20the%20search%20engine%20and%20a%20suite%20of%20services,%20founders%20Larry%20Page%20and%20Sergey%20Brin%20restructured%20Google%20to%20form%20Alphabet,%20a%20company%20that%20could%20dedicate%20resources%20and%20freedom%20to%20try%20out%20new%20ideas%20and%20turn%20them%20into%20viable%20products.) after the team maintaining them was shut down. After building the search engine and a suite of services, founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin restructured Google to form Alphabet, a company that could dedicate resources and freedom to try out new ideas and turn them into viable products. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [MAIL & MUSINGS]MAIL & MUSINGS Engineers solve a short-circuit puzzle, paving the way for fast-charging EVs. How soon do you think it will take for fast-charging EVs to be widely commercially available? [Imminently]( [5-10 years]( [In our lifetime]( [I am unsure either way]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Following the news that daily cannabis use is found to increase heart disease risk by 34 percent, we asked if you think this news will make people reduce their cannabis use. 50 percent say no while 39 percent think they might if they hear this. 50% No, they’re hooked, it’s futile 39% They might if they hear this 7% I am unsure either way 4% Yes, surely. This is shocking [QUOTE OF THE DAY]QUOTE OF THE DAY Much of the battery supply chain isn’t built, challenging an industry aiming to sell tens of millions of EVs in coming years. RJ Scaringe, CEO of Rivian. [8 phenomenal gadgets to turn your car into the ultimate Batmobile.]( [THINGS WE LOVE]THINGS WE LOVE [image]( [LEISURELIFE Patio Heater]( [image]( [COSMO Under Cabinet Range Hood]( [image]( [Sesslife Electric Fireplace TV Stand]( [image]( [Winflo Island Mount Range Hood]( [AND ANOTHER THING]AND ANOTHER THING - [Amazon layoffs hit]( amid an increase in robot automation: what to know. [premium] - ‘Mommy brain’ doesn’t capture [how the brain transforms]( during pregnancy. (Science News) - How [Oracle's test smart city]( may pioneer bold ideas for construction. [premium] - Google’s quantum computer simulation of a wormhole [may not have worked](. (New Scientist) - Nokia's logo change in the bigger picture, [what's new?]( - [How can Baby Yoda be 50 years old?]( (SN Explores) - Researchers plan supercomputers that are [powered by human brain cells](. [Subscribe to IE+ today.]( Prepared by Alice Cooke Enjoy Reading? Forward this email to a friend. 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