Vertiia: World's first hydrogen eVTOL promises sustainable air travel

Plus: World’s first rim-driven jet propulsion motor, soap bubbles for batteries, oxygen detected on Venus again. The future of eco-friendly skies may be propelled by hydrogen and rimless electric motors. An Australian startup is aiming high with Vertiia - an innovative hydrogen-powered eVTOL aircraft that takes off and lands vertically. The helicopter-drone hybrid could fly regional routes emitting only water. Meanwhile, a Canadian firm successfully tested a rim-driven jet engine that eliminates emissions by integrating the blades directly into the electric motor. Both companies are pioneering sustainable propulsion concepts that could transform aviation. Backed by significant funding from Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Vertiia's founders now seek to prove hydrogen's promise. Jump to today’s [Must Read]( to learn more about how their project may soon revolutionize personal air transport and decarbonize short-haul flights. Good morning. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE. 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So, MIT researchers decided to block the third dimension too. - 🫣 [False alarm: Rogue star steers away, won’t hit us after all]( A massive rogue dead star was initially predicted to brush through our solar system roughly 29,000 years from now. Must Read [🔼 Australian couple design world’s first hydrogen vertical lift-off EV plane]( Australian startup AMSL Aero has secured over $5 million in funding to develop a hydrogen-electric vertical takeoff aircraft called Vertiia. The current battery-powered version can fly up to 150 miles (250 kilometers), but hydrogen fuel cells could extend the range to 600 miles (1,000 kilometers). This would enable new applications in passenger transport, air ambulances, cargo, and emergency services. Vertiia's unique design features eight rotors and tilting wings, allowing it to take off and land vertically. AMSL Aero aims to launch Vertiia commercially by 2026. The project is supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, which sees promise in hydrogen aviation for cutting emissions. If successful, Vertiia would be a hydrogen-powered eVTOL aircraft with the range and efficiency to transform regional air transport. The funding will advance prototype development and flight testing. The founders hope the technology improves access and sustainability for services like medical care and firefighting, as well as passenger transport. Learn more about this groundbreaking aviation innovation. [[Read More]( [Transportation]( [🛩 World’s first rim-driven jet propulsion motor test successful in Canada]( Canadian startup Duxion successfully tested its electric jet propulsion motor, which eliminates the rotating shaft used in conventional designs. Their rim-driven eJet motor integrates the fan blades into the electric machine for a more compact, lightweight system. Duxion claims this technology can match fossil jet thrust while enabling zero-emission electric aviation. The innovation aims to accelerate the electrification of planes and large drones. Learn more about the eJet's unique capabilities. [[Read More]( [Science]( [🔭 NASA aircraft detects atomic oxygen in Venus’ dayside atmosphere]( NASA's SOFIA aircraft directly observed atomic oxygen in Venus' upper atmosphere for the first time. At 17 sites on the planet's dayside, SOFIA found distinct signs of single oxygen atoms formed by sunlight breaking down molecules. The discovery builds on earlier evidence for atomic oxygen in the planet's nightside airglow. These findings help unravel why Venus evolved so differently than Earth and support future missions. Explore the latest revelation about our inhospitable neighbor. [[Read More]( [Innovation]( [🫧 Soap-like electrolyte may enable longer-lasting batteries]( Inspired by how soap captures particles in micelles, researchers created a micelle-forming electrolyte for better lithium metal batteries. The electrolyte's components cluster together similarly to how soap suspends dirt in water. This could lead to improved battery reactions and lifespan, and understanding the micelle mechanism will help scientists find optimal ratios of electrolytes. Learn more about this sudsy battery breakthrough. [[Read More]( QUESTION OF THE DAY Which innovation do you anticipate will play the most significant role in eco-friendly aviation? [Hydrogen fuel cell-powered aircraft like Vertiia]( [Rimless electric jet motors without emissions]( [Advanced battery-electric planes and eVTOLs]( [Sustainable aviation fuels from renewable sources]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday, we asked you about the consequences of thought-to-speech technology. Here's how you ranked them. 68% Restoring speech for people with disabilities 14% Merging human and machine intelligence 10% Greater understanding of the brain 8% Mind-reading technology “The eJet Motor is the world’s first rim-driven jet propulsion motor, with the means of matching existing jet engine thrust but without the emission.” Rick Pilgrim, chairman and CEO of Duxion Motors THE UNIQUE BOUTIQUE [Nacome Outdoor Lights]( [$27.50]( [Saturn Lamp]( [$24.99]( [Dragon Book Lamp]( [$35.99]( [Apollo Picnic Backpack]( [$47.98]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Why scientists believe the Earth’s oceans are losing their blue color]( [premium] - [Eating strawberries may fight off dementia in overweight adults]( - [Hyundai’s air mobility firm Supernal sets sights on US air taxi plant]( - [NASA: Moon orbiting asteroid Dinkinesh is just a rock hanging around]( - [US Navy deploys 40-mile range StormBreaker guided bombs to fighter jets]( - [Deep-sea sniffer dog? 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