💥 Giant Impact: New evidence for Moon-making collision

Plus: Nanowires improve AI learning, UK military trains AI, giant drone makes wind turbine delivery The Giant Impact Hypothesis holds that the Moon formed from debris after a Mars-sized body called Theia collided with Earth 4.5 billion years ago. Now new evidence suggests traces of this catastrophic crash persist deep in Earth's mantle to this day. By modeling the dynamics of the Giant Impact, scientists propose that the lower mantle held on to remnants of our planet's original composition, while the upper mantle mixed with impact debris. Seismic oddities near the core may harbor heavy elements from Theia that sank long ago. So it now appears that this ancient interplanetary crash shaped more than just the Moon’s destiny. Explore how our planetary origin story still bears microscopic evidence from the Giant Impact in today’s [Must Read](. Good morning. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. What else is making an impact today? 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[SUBSCRIBE]( HOT TOPICS - 👩‍🚀 [ISS soars with girl power: NASA's historic all-women spacewalk returns]( NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O'Hara will conduct a spacewalk to undertake maintenance work. - 🧠[New neural-network-based AI outperforms OpenAI’s ChatGPT in learning]( In contrast to other AI systems, the neural network integrates newly learned words into existing vocabulary, similar to humans - 🔦 [Light can triple the evaporation rate of water, MIT study shows]( MIT scientists have found that light can evaporate water without any heat, a phenomenon they call the photomolecular effect. - 📶 [Hang up now! Radiation from mobile phones decreases sperm count]( The study provides conclusive evidence of the correlation between cell phone use and semen quality. - 📈 [Elon Musk wants to produce 200,000 Cybertrucks a year]( This is nearly twice the planned production capacity for the car, which Musk lamented was a pain for the company just two weeks ago. Must Read [🌏 The Earth still contains remnants of the Moon-forming collision]( New research suggests that evidence of the ancient impact that formed the Moon remains deep in Earth's mantle. Using fluid simulations, scientists found the collision 4.5 billion years ago rearranged the young planet's interior. While the upper mantle mixed with debris, the lower mantle retained distinct original material. This separation may still exist, matching observed seismic anomalies called large low velocity provinces (LLVPs). These regions could contain heavy iron-rich material from the impacting body Theia that sank early on. If true, it directly challenges ideas that the collision homogenized the Earth and shows it shaped our planet’s long-term evolution. Discover how differences between our planet’s foundation levels persist from the cosmic crash that spawned our Moon billions of years ago. [[Read More]( [Innovation]( [🤖 Artificial brains made of nanowires learn on the go]( Scientists created nanowire network artificial brains that learn and remember on the fly, emulating biological neural networks. Randomly patterned nanowires enable resistive memory switching at junctions to process data streams. In tests, these devices learned to recognize images and recall number sequences, showcasing on-the-fly learning that is absent in conventional AI. This energy-efficient approach could enable adaptive intelligence in real-world applications. Explore how this innovation brings AI closer to operating like biological brains. [[Read More]( [Military]( [🇬🇧 UK gathers real-world data to shape ethical military AI]( The UK military conducted joint exercises to gather data for developing AI technologies using ethical methods. The Royal Navy and British Army simulated amphibious landings, coordinating personnel, aircraft, and sensors to capture diverse visual, audio, and metadata. Troops varied behaviors like exiting boats chaotically or as a team. The Ministry of Defence will use the real-world data to train AI in tasks like object recognition, not through speculative scenarios. See how the UK is pioneering defense AI in a responsible way. [[Read More]( [Transportation]( [🏗 Giant cargo drone tested in Europe’s offshore wind farm in world first]( Danish renewable energy firm Ørsted conducted the first drone delivery trials at an offshore wind farm, using a giant 8.5-foot wingspan cargo drone to lower 150-pound payloads onto turbines. The autonomous flights from crew vessels aim to improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability over traditional ship resupply. Ørsted envisions expanded use of larger drones for offshore wind maintenance as the technology progresses. Click below to watch a video of the drone at work and learn how this innovation could transform the renewable energy sector. [[Read More]( QUESTION OF THE DAY Do you think it's possible to have ethical AI involved in military activities? [If it maintains peaces, yes]( [If it reduces casualties, yes]( [It's “window dressing” for unethical activities]( [AI could make conflict obsolete]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS 42 percent of respondents to yesterday’s poll hope to own an electric car or van, and only 7 percent believe they will fail to secure their place on our roads. 42% Yes, I hope to own one 28% Maybe in a few cities 23% Not in my lifetime 7% No, they will not catch on “The Moon-forming giant impact [...] marks the starting point for the Earth’s geological evolution over the course of 4.5 billion years.” Professor Deng Hongping, Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) THE UNIQUE BOUTIQUE [Saturn Lamp]( [$24.99]( [Ollygrin Coffee Bean]( [$93.99]( [Nextmug]( [$129.95]( [Zen Meditation Board]( [$29.99]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Mega BEAST: The electric school bus with the longest range – 300 miles]( - [Here’s how scientists are 3D-printing living brain networks]( [premium] - [World's first (very pink) battery-powered locomotive unveiled]( - [Ballmer to surpass ex-boss Bill Gates as world’s 4th richest — but how?]( - [Second man to receive a pig’s heart dies of organ rejection]( - [Solar energy myths debunked: Why you should stop believing them]( [premium] - [This new waterproof, gel-free ECG sensor monitors heart health]( - [Archaeologists find medieval prosthetic arm and skeletal remains]( - [Scientists engineer first mice to tolerate COVID-19 like young humans]( - [Sperm swims differently in fluctuating fluid conditions, finds study]( Need help with advertising? 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