New forecast: Solar flare intensity to peak in 2024

Plus: Fusion for medicine, ultra-long-range hydrogen drones, rocket to carry CEO’s and Star Trek DNA New research suggests the sun's activity will reach its peak next year. Our star follows 11-year cycles of magnetic upheaval, and 2024 marks the crescendo of “solar cycle 25” as sunspots, flares and storms erupt. While the cycle began quietly, fresh analysis proves looks can deceive — the next year is shaping up to be less mild and more moderate than forecast. Detecting solar patterns remains challenging despite centuries of tracking sunspots. But learning how to coax deeper patterns from decades-old records may enhance future storm predictions. With GPS, power and satellites all at risk from surges of solar energy, early warnings give infrastructure teams a head start on preparations. Jump to today’s [Must Read]( to learn why the forecast has been updated and what to expect. Good morning. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let's take a closer look! 🚨 Don’t let the 50% IE+ discount go! Offer ends soon - [click here]( VIDEO OF THE DAY [Is Nikola Tesla Overrated?]( The 3D printer that can watch itself manufacture objects Researchers at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory have developed an innovative autonomous 3D printer capable of monitoring and adjusting its printing process in real-time. 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 - 🇪🇺 [EU MEPs demand transparency from military on climate impact secrecy]( EU military spending in 2019 resulted in a carbon footprint of approximately 23 million tonnes. - 🌫 [Scientists simulate exoplanet haze in lab to decode alien worlds]( The scientists were able to recreate conditions that favor the generation of hazy skies on extraterrestrial planets, in laboratory settings. - ⛏ [‘Rat miners’ help rescue 41 tunnel workers trapped over 16 days — India]( The installation of pipes through the debris at the Silkyara tunnel was finished this morning, following 17 days of arduous labor, reported local media. - 🥄 [NASA sends teaspoon full of 4.6 billion-year-old asteroid Bennu to UK]( Scientists are preparing to decipher the ancient cosmic secrets preserved within the rocky extraterrestrial grains. - 🏁 [Flying taxi startup soars to new heights with latest design approval]( Munich-based Lilium obtains EASA Design Organization Approval, establishing itself as an industry leader in urban air mobility. Must Read [🔆 Solar flares likely to reach maximum intensity in 2024]( New research reveals that the current 11-year solar cycle, which began in late 2019, will reach its maximum intensity in early 2024. Studying decades of solar magnetic field data uncovered a novel link between the sun's dipole decline rate and subsequent sunspot rise. This advances the long-standing Waldmeier theory and provides a method to forecast solar cycle peaks. Understanding the evolving intensity of solar cycles is key because space weather events like flares and geomagnetic storms can disrupt radio, GPS, power grids, and satellites. While solar cycle 25 was initially predicted to be relatively weak, the new analysis calls for a more moderate maximum in about a year’s time — crucial information for mitigating infrastructure impacts in 2024. The research exemplifies how long term ground-based solar observations can provide insights into the complex drivers of solar variation like the solar dynamo. As capabilities advance, researchers can improve their predictive models and guide preparations for severe space weather. Even well-studied cycles still pose unsolved mysteries about the sun’s inner processes. [[Read More]( [Innovation]( [🛸 Hydrogen-powered drones offer 4-8 hour flight]( HevenDrones unveiled new hydrogen-electric drones with vastly extended flight times, including the H2D200 (4 hour duration) and H2D250 (8 hours). Leveraging hydrogen's unmatched energy density enables ranges up to 466 miles (750 km). The breakthrough promises to redefine drone performance for longer missions like advanced logistics. Discover how HevenDrones' hydrogen drones are redefining capabilities. [[Read More]( [Culture]( [🚀 Inaugural Vulcan rocket to carry CEO and Star Trek DNA into space]( United Launch Alliance’s first Vulcan Centaur flight will carry a unique mix of payloads, including CEO Tory Bruno's DNA. Set to launch December 24, the rocket will deploy Astrobotic’s lunar lander while sending a capsule with Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry’s genetic material into deep space. [[Read More]( [Health]( [⚛️ Fusion startup aims to transform cancer treatment]( UK company Astral Systems developed a first-of-its-kind fusion reactor to generate medical isotopes, including those used for cancer therapy and diagnostics. The compact Multi-State Fusion device offers an alternative to unreliable fission reactors. Decentralized production could increase isotope supply, expanding treatment options and reducing hospital costs and wait times. Fusion promises safer, consistent radioisotope access to transform nuclear medicine. [[Read More]( job alert In this section you’ll find the latest jobs as featured on: [jobs.interestingengineering.com]( [Project Engineer]( at Bi-Con Engineering Cambridge(US) [Aviation Systems Engineering]( at The MITRE Corporation Lexington Park(US) [Software Principal Engineer]( at Dell Technologies Austin(US) [Head of Data Engineering]( at ITV Jobs London(UK) [Enterprise Requirements & Integration Engineer]( at ENSCO, Inc. El Segundo(US) [5G Software Defined Radio Microelectronics Engineering Consultant]( at Booz Allen Hamilton Arlington(US) QUESTION OF THE DAY Do you pay attention to space weather forecasts? [Yes, I'm a solar storm nerd]( [I've some interest, I guess]( [I'll check it if all the lights go out]( [It doesn't effect me at all]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS We asked you about the significance of direct observation of exoplanets. 45 percent of you think it will deliver important disoveries, only 16 percent expect to be bored by the discovery of lifeless worlds. 45% Yes, entire new living worlds 34% Maybe, but image quality will be poor 16% Lots of boring dead planets 5% The glow of alien cities at night “This will dramatically increase the diagnostic and treatment techniques available to clinicians; reducing hospital wait times and costs while improving the quality of care.” Talmon Firestone, co-founder and CEO of Astral Systems THE UNIQUE BOUTIQUE [Meeting Owl 3 Video Conference Camera]( [$859.00]( [Fitbit Sense 2 Smartwatch]( [$199.95]( [TREBLAB Bluetooth Speaker]( [$79.97]( [Samsung ViewFinity Computer Monitor]( [$199.99]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Kitepower’s Hawk container system offers sustainable off-grid power]( - [New trailer electrification platform boosts fuel efficiency by over 36 percent]( - [premium] [UK rocket company edges closer to first sustainable satellite launch]( - [New evidence shows acoustic resonance behind Devil's Church ‘witchcraft]( - [Rare Sumatran rhino birth in Indonesia sparks hope for endangered species]( - [This new cellular imaging technique could help us unlock cancer]( - [Seratech bakes bricks overnight using CO2 captured from factories]( - [Female newts are more toxic — deadlier than males, scientists discover]( - [500-million-year-old jellyfish collagen could be key to lab grown organs]( - [Five navies experimenting with ‘drone carriers’]( Need help with advertising? 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