“To be frank, it was an accident”: A chance discovery pulls electricity from air

Plus: NASA’s Mars Ingenuity chopper ‘phones home’ after 63 days of dead silence The history of science is marked by accidental discoveries — think penicillin, LSD, Viagra, and even radioactivity — and today we can add another to that illustrious list. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst revealed more about the development of a device that can extract electricity from humid air: A student forgot to plug in an experiment, but it continued to produce a small amount of power regardless. We have more on the possible significance for hygroelectric power of this happy accident in [today’s Must Read](. 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. Yesterday, Blueprint subscribers learned about how low power photovoltaic cells could replace disposable batteries. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+]( today to receiv e exclusive interviews, features, and much more. VIDEO OF THE DAY [How China controls the weather]( [Playing God: How China controls the weather]( China has already achieved artificial manipulation of weather over its major cities, and aims to extend its reach to modify weather patterns across half of its vast territory by 2025. MUST READ [Accidental discovery]( [How scientists turned humid air into renewable energy by accident]( Researchers at the University of Massachusetts stumbled upon a way to generate electricity from humid air while trying to develop a simple humidity sensor. Lead author Prof Jun Yao revealed that the discovery was an unintended consequence when the student working on the project forgot to plug in the power, yet the device still produced an electrical signal. Inspired by this unexpected outcome, the team conducted further experiments using materials with nanopores, resulting in the creation of a thumbnail-sized device capable of generating approximately one microwatt of power. The potential of these devices to generate electricity from thin air has caught the attention of scientists. [Read More]( SCIENCE [NASA’s Mars Ingenuity chopper ‘phones home’ after 63 days of dead silence]( On April 26, NASA lost contact with Ingenuity as it descended toward the surface of Jezero Crater for landing during its 52nd flight. The helicopter finally called home on June 28 with the assistance of its robotic buddy, the Perseverance rover. The new data acquired by mission controllers confirmed the flight's success. [Read More]( THE SPONSOR OF THE DAY [A stable hand is crucial for clicking quality pictures. Here's how you can do it.]( When gatherings and parties are unfolded, memories are unlocked, and you'll need the perfect device that can help you capture all the fun and frolic in a camera that has a stable base. The DJI-SC Ronin is a handheld gimbal that can eliminate the shakiness that can disturb or affect your picture quality. Its portable nature enables you to commence shooting anywhere and conveniently carry this gimbal with you without any inconvenience. [Get the DJI-SC Ronin]( now and never lose out on beautiful memories! [LEARN MORE]( INNOVATION Humane reveals name of its first gadget, Ai Pin and it will be available later this year Humane Inc., a start-up founded by former Apple executives, has revealed the name of its first gadget, "Ai Pin" and confirmed that it will be launched later this year. Founded in 2017, the company emerged from its stealth mode in 2021 and [unveiled the functionality of its device]( earlier this year. [Read More]( MILITARY New reports reveal how Russia uses military dolphins It has long been known that Russia uses dolphins for military purposes. Now, new reports are revealing what exactly for: According to the UK Ministry of Defence, “trained marine mammals” are kept in pens to deter divers from penetratring restricted areas in the Sevastopol naval base in the Black Sea. [Read More]( [Future of quantum computing]( MAIL & MUSINGS Why do so many scientific discoveries occur by accident? [They don’t, it’s just hype]( [Pure luck]( [Divine intervention]( [Many are missed by accident]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS We asked you about your history with iPhone, but 50 percent of you are Team Android. However, 12 percent did own a first generation iPhone. 50% I'm team Android 31% I came to iPhone later 12% Yes! 6% Blackberry forever QUOTE OF THE DAY We were actually interested in making a simple sensor for humidity in the air. But for whatever reason, the student who was working on that forgot to plug in the power. Professor Jun Yao, UMass Amherst [Interesting Engineering]( THINGS WE LOVE [Ticktime Cube Pomodoro Timer]( [Blabok Inflatable Travel Pillow]( [TESLYAR Wood Docking Station]( [Woolnut Leather and Wool Sleeve Cover]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Wind and solar power in China on track to help avoid global warming]( - [Low-light photovoltaic cell aims to replace disposable batteries]( [premium] - [Ticks use static electricity to jump on faraway hosts]( - [Dark matter search advances with new experiment to spot axions]( [premium] - “Bicycle with a mind”: [Urtopia announces World's first e-bike with ChatGPT]( - Drones to the rescue: [California uses flying robots to battle mosquitoes]( - [Study reveals honeybees originated in northern Europe 780,000 years ago]( - [Dogs and humans share similarities in reading body language, study finds]( - [Research shows astronauts’ immune systems falter in space]( - Scientific breakthrough [unveils the mystery behind Antarctica's blood falls]( [Subscribe to IE+]( [About Us]( [Advertise]( [Contact Us]( [Privacy Policy]( [Term of Service]( © Copyright 2023 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 530 Fifth Ave, 9th floor New York, NY 10036 | All Rights Reserved You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage you e-mail preferences or unsubscribe [here.](