Stanford scientists fire up the world’s most powerful X-ray laser

Plus: British Army’s new laser weapon, robot mass production, and are UFOs hiding in the ocean depths? ✳️ The world's most powerful X-ray laser has fired its first lightning-fast shots, and is all set to begin revealing previously hidden short-lived, microscopic phenomena. This laser at Stanford accelerates electrons to near light speed, packing the punch of a million suns in one quadrillionth-of-a-second flash. By generating a million pulses per second, this $1.1 billion particle physics feat can capture rapid atomic processes too quick and minute to see before. From exploring quantum materials to making “molecular movies” of chemical reactions, this new laser tech gives researchers a better tool to illuminate Nature’s tiniest intricacies. Scroll down to learn more, or jump to today’s [Must Read]( story now. Good morning. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. What is the big news today? 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Must Read [✨ World’s most powerful X-ray laser fired for the first time]( The world's newest super-powerful X-ray laser at Stanford has fired its first million-pulses-per-second beam, opening new doors for researchers. Called LCLS-II, this laser generates super-bright flashes to expose details down to the atomic scale. Its shots last just quadrillionths of a second but occur almost a million times per second. This lightning speed will enable scientists to [capture footage of chemical reactions]( and other physical processes that were previously too fleeting and tiny to see. From better understanding how quantum materials work to improving energy and manufacturing technologies, the new laser's powerful bursts of light could drive breakthroughs across many fields. Click below to learn more about what LCLS-II can do. [[Read More]( [Innovation]( 🦾 World’s first humanoid robot factory set to open this year Robotics company Agility is set to open the world's first humanoid robot manufacturing plant, called RoboFab, in Oregon later this year. The 70,000 square foot facility will mass produce updated versions of Agility’s bipedal robot Digit, with capacity to make 10,000 annually after an initial ramp-up period. Digit’s human-like form is designed for logistics and industrial automation tasks. [[Read More]( [Science]( 🛸 A researcher calls for exploration of deep waters in hunt for UFOs Northeastern University professor Brian Helmuth proposes extending the search for UFOs into Earth’s vast, little-explored oceans. While most sightings involve aerial phenomena, reports exist of UFOs plunging into seas. Helmuth notes an oceanographer was part of NASA's UFO study team, indicating oceans should not be overlooked. He suggests satellite monitoring and harnessing AI to analyze sightings could enhance detection. [[Read More]( [Military]( 🇬🇧 UK army to get their first laser weapon thanks to Raytheon Raytheon UK will deliver the British military its first high-energy laser weapon in October, installed on a Wolfhound armored vehicle. The 15 kilowatt laser, developed under the UK's “Land Demonstrator Program,” is designed to counter aerial threats like drones. Raytheon touts the versatile system's precision, deep magazine, and cost-effectiveness versus traditional munitions. 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