DARPA is making Nikola Tesla's dream of wireless energy a reality

Plus: Squawk! You there? Pet parrots video call each other to elevate social lives [Blueprint]( Sponsored by DARPA, the U.S. defense research agency that brought the world the internet, GPS, stealth technology, and numerous advances in robotics, communications and AI, is now turning its capabilities to wireless power transmission. The goal is to develop a global laser-beam wireless energy transfer network to provide near-uninterruptable power supply to U.S. forces worldwide. Read on to learn more about this exciting step towards realizing one of Nikola Tesla's most significant visions. But first, here’s [your video of the day](. Good morning. I’m Tim, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let's get into it. Last Sunday, Blueprint subscribers heard all about the mystery of where Earth's water comes from. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+]( today to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. VIDEO OF THE DAY [Insect diet]( [Will we replace the meat in our diets with insects?]( Eating insects might not sound that appealing but they are a great source of protein and micronutrients. MUST READ [Wireless energy]( [DARPA is making Nikola Tesla's dream of wireless energy a reality]( Over a century ago, the visionary inventor Nikola Tesla embarked on a quest to transmit electrical power without the constraints of wires or physical connections. His grand dream was to establish a global network of wireless communication and energy transmission, granting universal access to electricity for people across the globe. Today, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is edging closer to making Tesla's futuristic vision a reality. They are developing an innovative, laser-beam-based wireless energy transfer network that promises to deliver an almost unbreakable power supply to U.S. forces around the world. Aptly named POWER ("Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay"), it aims to reduce the military's reliance on liquid fuels like diesel and vulnerable power lines. In doing so, it would bolster the resilience of U.S. forces against sabotage and blockades by hostile adversaries. [Read More]( CULTURE Dutch sperm donor who fathered 550+ kids ordered to stop or face $111,275 fine The man named Jonathan, aged 41, was already banned from donating to fertility clinics in the Netherlands in 2017 after fathering more than 100 children. The donor was found to have "deliberately misinformed" prospective parents about the number of children he had already fathered, the district court in The Hague said. "The point is that this kinship network with hundreds of half-brothers and half-sisters is much too large," a spokesman for the court, Gert-Mark Smelt, said. [Read More]( THE SPONSOR OF THE DAY [Booksio]( [For every six minutes spent reading, you reduce two thirds of your stress…]( Yes, you read that right. Apparently, research claims reading daily can minimize your stress to a great extent. When you immerse yourself in a good book, you escape from the pressures of the outside world and allow your mind to relax and focus on the present moment. This helps to lower your heart rate and blood pressure, promoting a sense of calm and well-being. Also, what if we tell you can be a part of a great social cause when buying the books that you want to read? Booksio is a charity-driven bookstore that gives 10% of every book purchase to a charity you choose. Wish to make this world a better place? Partner with Booksio and make a difference! [LEARN MORE]( SCIENCE Squawk! You there? Pet parrots video call each other to elevate social lives A recent study looked at the issue of birds lacking suitable stimulation to meet their high social, cognitive, and emotional needs. Surprisingly, after giving 18 pet parrots access to video calls with each other, they observed a lot of social activities, such as dancing and singing together, that they might often observe between birds that were together or in the wild. "Some of the birds continue to call each other," the co-author of the study said. [Read More]( INNOVATION MIT team designs robotic gripper that could soon clean our homes Most conventional modern robotic grippers rely on visual data, typically from cameras. These can cause a delay in the robot’s reaction time, especially when the attempt to grasp fails. In their pursuit of giving robots a more human touch, MIT engineers have now developed a gripper that grasps by reflex. Rather than start from scratch after a failed attempt, these systems enable robots to reflexively roll, palm, or pinch an object to get a better hold. [Read More]( MAIL & MUSINGS Would you be comfortable discussing private details of a medical condition with an AI doctor? [I have already]( [No, too risky]( [My doctor doesn't listen]( [Maybe in future]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS We asked you about your appetite for 3D-printed meat. While over a quarter of you would be willing to try it, nearly of voters half declined. 49% No, thank you 28% I'd certainly try it 13% I see no need for it 10% Yes, it's ethical QUOTE OF THE DAY Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always. Hippocrates THINGS WE LOVE [East Oak Patio Heater -]( [Broan NuTone Under Cabinet Range Hood]( [Manor Park Electric Fireplace TV Stand]( [ZLINE Copper Island Range Hood]( AND ANOTHER THING - Engineer backs seismic isolation as [hospitals stood tall during Turkey-Syria earthquakes]( [premium] - "Cell towers in space": [Barcelona-based startup launches first-ever 5G low-Earth orbit satellite]( [premium] - The US Department of Defense has invented a [wearable that quickly identifies infections]( - [First mega-tsunami on record since antiquity]( was triggered by Tonga volcanic eruption (Science Advances) - [Air pollution in China is falling]( — but there is a long way to go (Nature) - [The world’s first electrical wooden transistor]( has finally been invented [Subscribe to IE+]( [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. 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