Inside China’s plan to shelter a Moon base in lava tubes

Plus: Antimatter feels gravity’s pull, CIA to get AI bots, robots powered by ambient energy. Beneath the Moon's surface lies a network of ancient hollowed tunnels carved by lava aeons ago. As China sets its sights on crewed lunar landings, these geological relics may soon shelter its pioneers. Seeking refuge from harsh radiation and meteorites, China first plans to send robots to probe the stability and resources of lunar lava tubes. If proven viable, these cavernous channels could host China's first lunar base, complete with cabins and research facilities. While the modern space race plays out above, the Moon's ancient underground caverns could provide the perfect safe haven, and China plans to be among the first to exploit these geological gifts. Learn more about the practicalities of this ambitious plan in today’s [Must Read](. 💬🔥 Also today, prompt engineering is becoming one of the hottest skills. Get the [ChatGPT Newbie e-book]( to learn more about how to supercharge your content creation and data analysis, and stay ahead of 95% of the competition. Good morning. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let's get into it! VIDEO OF THE DAY [Is Nikola Tesla Overrated?]( Why we put wind turbines underwater Watch how underwater wind turbines harness the power of tidal currents to generate clean, renewable electricity. SUPPORT INTERESTING ENGINEERING Invest in science and engineering Insider access to exclusive content, featuring riveting stories that take you right to the heart of the action. Engage with our thriving online community, dive into captivating science discoveries, and stay informed with our enlightening weekly premium newsletters. With IE+, quality reporting is more than just news - and it is Ad-Free. [SUBSCRIBE]( HOT TOPICS - 🕷 [Scientists develop gel from spider venom to boost erections]( A new gel made from the venom of the Brazilian wandering spider is being tested as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. - 🧠[Brain surgery using AI will be possible within two years]( The UK government says AI could be "a real game-changer" for healthcare. - 🏙 [New York is simultaneously sinking and rising, but why?]( Areas of the city are sinking while others are rising due to both natural and man-made factors. - 🌎 [ChatGPT can now search the internet to answer prompts]( The chatbot was limited to using data going back to September 2021. - 💥 [Huge star unleashes surprising mass prior to supernova]( It released an entire solar mass of material in the year leading up to its explosion. Must Read [🌔 Lunar lava tubes: China's underground plan for Moon base]( China is considering lava tubes on the Moon as sites for a future lunar base. These natural tunnels formed by ancient underground lava could provide lasting shelter from surface hazards. China has studied such caves on Earth to better understand the structure of lava tubez and the best entry points. Researchers have also designed probes to investigate two lunar regions, mapping tunnels and detecting conditions. The goal is to build a long-term underground research base accommodating astronauts using facilities built inside tunnels with local materials. The lava tubes would offer protection, resources, and a human-ready environment. [China aims for crewed lunar landings by 2030.]( If lava tubes are proven viable, they could host China's first moon base. [[Read More]( [Science]( ⬇️ Antimatter attracted by gravity find CERN scientists Experiments at CERN show antimatter falls down, not up as some theories speculated. By tracking antihydrogen atoms, researchers found normal gravitational pull, like for matter. This supports Einstein’s principle that gravity affects all masses equally. The findings help rule out exotic antigravity ideas. [[Read More]( [Innovation]( 💡 Researchers create novel robots that run on light and radio waves The penny-sized MilliMobile robot makes incremental moves to conserve energy. It can steer toward light, carrying sensors to monitor environments. Swarms may one day work together using ambient energy. The technology shows potential for small, self-powered robots. [[Read More]( [Culture]( 🕵🏼 US intelligence agencies may get AI intel bots soon United States Intelligence agencies, like the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), plan to get their own ChatGPT-style tool. The idea is to get the program to sift through large amounts of data to filter out any clues that could help with ongoing investigations or general surveillance. [[Read More]( job alert In this section you’ll find the latest jobs as featured on: [jobs.interestingengineering.com]( [Director, Sales Engineering]( [-,US]( [Sr. Engineer, Solutions Engineering-London or Germany]( [Remote,US]( [IT Systems Engineer]( [Kansas City,US]( [Software Senior Principal Engineer - Open RAN Accelerator]( [Bengaluru,IN]( [Staff Network Engineer]( [Andover,US]( [Director, Sales Engineering]( [New York,US]( [Software Engineer Lead - SRE Visualization Team]( [Pittsburgh,US]( [Principal Control Systems Software Engineer]( [London,UK]( [Manager, Sales Engineering]( [Columbus,US]( [Software Engineer]( [Cincinnati,US]( QUESTION OF THE DAY What do you think would be the best thing about living in a Moon base? [Enjoying the magnificent desolation]( [Low gravity sports]( [Getting away from Earth]( [Being part of human history]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Most of you are optimistic that analysis of OSIRIS-REX’s asteroid sample will provide valuable insights into the early solar system, but 41 percent concede that it's likely to take a long time to reach any conclusions. 41% Yes, but it will take years of analysis 31% I think we'll be surprised 17% Hopefully nothing hazardous 11% No, we know what’s out there “Surgeons like myself - even if you're very experienced - can, with the help of AI, do a better job.” Dr. Marcus, consultant neurosurgeon ENGINEER'S ARSENAL [DFM Chisel Hammer]( [$105.00]( [Steel Screw Extraction Pliers]( [$130.97]( [Engineer's Tool Case]( [$154.90]( [Digital Plan Measure]( [$88.98]( AND ANOTHER THING - [10 ancient civil engineering projects that are still in use]( [premium] - [Ethics are the key issue for human research in private space travel]( - [US Navy's first active giant 'Triton' drone squadron now live]( - [Life by 2100: Space settlements, education, and the future of warfare]( [premium] - [Rechargeable batteries: New study could help increase lifespan]( - [New simulations reveal the origin of Saturn's majestic rings]( - [This method recycles 98% of metals from batteries in 20 mins]( - [Japanese spacecraft to meet large space debris in world first]( - [Atomic clocks on the horizon: Unveiling the power of scandium]( - [Apple’s AI chief has announced engine switch update in iOS 17]( - [X rising from the ashes? CEO envisions profits in 2024]( Need help with advertising? Reach 150,000 engineering and tech professionals. [Contact us](mailto:sales@interestingengineering.com?subject=Newsletter Sponsorship) what else? For the week’s top engineering stories, subscribe to [Vital Component]( For expert advice on engineering careers, subscribe to [Engineer Pros]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Give Feedback](mailto:tim.snaith@interestingengineering.com?subject=User feedback for the Blueprint) --------------------------------------------------------------- © Copyright 2023 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 530 Fifth Ave, 9th floor New York, NY 10036, USA All Rights Reserved You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage your e-mail preferences [here.]( Unsubscribe from our emails [here.]( See our full [privacy policy]( or [terms of conditions](. You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage you e-mail preferences or unsubscribe [here.](