Have you seen these power-system kites?

Plus: Why your irises may be the key to identity recognition in the future. [Blueprint]( Ever considered the untapped wind energy that is just blowing above traditional wind turbines? One word: kites. That is, kites are being proposed as the future of renewable energy by aerospace experts from Delft University of Technology. This is because winds tend to blow powerfully at heights of 200 meters (656 feet) and above that could be used to create considerably more electricity than we require and much more than wind turbines on the ground can. But before we find out more about that, let’s have a look at [our video of the day]( see how to use soap bubbles to cancel light waves. Hi, I’m Sade, an Editor at IE. Here’s your morning dose of solution-driven ideas! This is The Blueprint. Let’s get started. Last Sunday, Blueprint subscribers heard all about concrete that can power your home. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+]( today to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. VIDEO OF THE DAY [Cancel light with soap bubbles?]( [A DIY YouTuber shows you how to use soap bubbles to cancel light waves]( Here's a clue: it requires air, liquid, and then air again. MUST READ [Kites for renewable energy]( [Wind kites could soon provide substantial energy to the masses]( Ever think about the wind energy that is currently blowing over conventional wind turbines but is untapped? Well, aerospace engineers from Delft University of Technology are. That is, they are advocating kites as the future of renewable energy. This is because winds tend to blow more powerfully over 200 meters (656 feet), where they may be used to generate much more electricity than ground-based wind turbines—and perhaps even more than what we need! While it will "take a few years" for the technology to make a difference, co-CEO and chief technology officer of a Munich-based company developing a kite power system highlighted its advantages, prompting, “If you have all those advantages, why would anyone build a conventional wind turbine?” [Read More]( SCIENCE [University professor living underwater discovers ‘new species’]( Last month, we reported how Associate professor Joseph Dituri from the University of South Florida desired to spend 100 days submerged in order to set a world record and try to become superhuman. Now, he is claiming that during his underwater stay, he discovered a "brand new species." 30 days into his experiment, the former navy officer made the startling finding. According to Duturi, humans have dove into this area tens of thousands of times - we just failed to look. [Read More]( INNOVATION [OpenAI's founder wants your iris to vouch for who you are]( First came the text password. Then voice and fingerprint recognition followed. Now, according to Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, iris scanning is the way forward with Worldcoin — a crypto project he also co-founded. The Global ID verification program made its debut last week after years in the planning. The idea does make sense, considering developers are looking for solutions to prevent identity theft and online frauds that are already becoming more common as businesses implement generative AI into their products. That said, Worldcoin is also raising some serious eyebrows. [Read More]( TRANSPORTATION ['MF Hydra': World's first liquid hydrogen-powered ferry gets operational]( The world's first liquid hydrogen-powered ferry launched by the Norwegian business Norled is operational now. The 300-passenger and 80-vehicle capacity of the 82.4-meter-long (270-ft-long) ferry allows it to reduce its yearly carbon emissions by up to 95 percent. Norled has been testing the system since the beginning of the year, and in recent weeks, the Norwegian Maritime Authority provided its final approvals. In Norway, the ferry will traverse its regular triangular route between the towns of Hjelmeland, Skipavik, and Nesvik. [Read More]( MAIL & MUSINGS Kite technology for renewable energy could produce much more power than wind turbines do on the ground. Do kite power systems sound like realistic renewable solutions to you? [Yes, the sky’s the limit]( [No, but it’s a fun concept]( [I’m not interesting in Kite power system]( [I’m not sure about it]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS In the last poll, we highlighted how a variety of stressed plants, such as tomato and tobacco plants, generate airborne sounds. We asked you whether this makes you want to give your plants extra care and water. 67% I’m not so sure 33% I don’t have plants 0% Definitely, they are trying to communicate their needs 0% No, but it’s interesting QUOTE OF THE DAY “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” Carl Sagan, American Astronomer [Health goals]( THINGS WE LOVE [Garren Square Arm Tufted Club Chair]( [WBM Selenite Crystal Lamp]( [Magnetic Levitating Globe With LED Light]( [Binford Free-standing Single Bathroom Vanity]( AND ANOTHER THING - Tiny but mighty: [YouTuber turns wizard]( with PCB motors [premium] - For the first time, renewable energy generation [beat out coal]( in the US (PopSci) - Computer scientists just developed a system for [helping AI understand human goals]( [premium] - Beijing welcomes its [new robot coworkers]( China's aging crisis and automation (Harvard International Review) - [Quantum in 2027]( Take a quantum leap into the future of IT [premium] - Can [millions of genetically modified trees]( slow climate change? (Quartz) - Rock collected 175 years ago turns out to be [60-million-year-old dinosaur egg]( [Interesting engineering]( [About Us]( [Advertise]( [Contact Us]( © Copyright 2023 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 205 Hudson St New York, NY, 10013, USA | All Rights Reserved You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage you e-mail preferences or unsubscribe [here.](