🪐 NASA’s new roadmap to melt-and-delve mission on icy alien moons

Plus: Transforming dog-bot learns new tricks , nano spy choppers in Ukraine, graphene makes concrete stronger and smarter. What if alien life fills the vast oceans hidden below miles of ice on distant moons? What might we discover down there? NASA wants to melt through the ice and find out. The space agency is gearing up to send a first-of-its-kind robotic explorer on an epic quest to tunnel down and sample these subsurface seas that many believe could harbor extraterrestrial biology. To burrow through the ice and uncover what lies beneath, NASA is developing an advanced nuclear-fueled cryobot robot. This submersible explorer would deploy thermal drilling equipment to tunnel miles straight down to our first encounter with an extraterrestrial ocean. While many engineering obstacles and unknowns remain, NASA is now actively planning this pioneering deep space mission to definitively locate life beyond Earth. Jump to today’s [Must Read]( to learn more about this exciting plan. Good morning. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let’s go deeper! VIDEO OF THE DAY [Is Nikola Tesla Overrated?]( Is the V-22 Osprey a tech marvel or just trouble? On November 29, 2023, a U.S. military CV-22 Osprey met with a tragic fate as it crashed into the ocean near Japan's Yakushima Island, with eight personnel on board. 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 - 🦠[Microbes essential to plants are disappearing due to global warming]( Could diminishing bacteria lead to food shortages? - 🛰 [Ariel: ESA greenlights Airbus spacecraft for 1,000 exoplanets mission]( ESA has granted Airbus a €200 million contract for the spacecraft's development. - 🫧 [Can methane escape from deep oceans? A new study raises concerns]( Researchers discover vulnerable methane reservoirs off Mauritania's coast. - 🫵 [Meta chief scientist accuses NVIDIA of 'supplying weapons' for AI war]( Yann LeCun compares today's AI prowess to cat-level intelligence. - 🗼 [New twin-tech solar tower generates twice the power, 24/7]( An innovative design can increase energy output from solar updraft towers by more than twofold and works in hot and dry conditions. Must Read [🧊 NASA unveils nuclear-powered Cryobot mission concept to hunt alien life]( NASA is progressing plans for a potentially revolutionary cryobot mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa and Saturn’s moon Enceladus in the 2030s timeframe. The nuclear-powered cylindrical probe would use a thermal drill and water jetting to penetrate the moons' thick icy crusts and directly sample subsurface oceans, seeking signs of alien life with a diverse sensor suite. A recent NASA workshop with 40 experts focused on key subsystems like a 10kW powerplant and heat management, mobility, and communications for the daunting planetary exploration. While significant technical obstacles exist, researchers concluded the cryobot approach remains the most feasible way with current technology to actively search other worlds for extraterrestrial biology in situ. Click below for the latest updates on what look set to be a gripping mission. [[Read More]( [Innovation]( [🦴 Watch this robot dog transform into a humanoid and dump boxes]( Swiss robotics firm Swiss-Mile trained its transforming ANYmal robot to stand on two wheels and perform useful jobs like calling elevators and sorting boxes. Using reinforcement learning with sparse rewards, researchers trained it to figure out real-world solutions on its own. It even displayed a sense of humor by tossing boxes in a comical way! Click below to watch this funny little machine at work and play. [[Read More]( [Science]( [🏢 Graphene oxide reinforces 3D-printed concrete]( Adding graphene oxide to cement significantly improves the strength and printability of 3D-printed concrete. Small doses of the nanomaterial improve interlayer bonding, enabling up to 10 percent higher compressive strength. Graphene oxide’s strong adhesion and electrical conductivity could also let “smart” concrete walls sense cracks. There is a risk of clumping if too much is added, but graphene oxide looks like a promising ingredient. See how nanotech is transforming construction. [[Read More]( [Military]( [🪰 ‘Nano’ helicopters give Ukraine surveillance edge]( Measuring just 16 inches nose-to-tail, US-supplied Black Hornet mini spy drones are proving quietly invaluable for Ukrainian reconnaissance near enemy troops. Flying undetected within 30 feet, their aerobatic agility, small visual signature, HD cameras, and thermal sensors help identify hazards and targets. Priced at only $19,000 each, the hand-launched drones represent an affordable asymmetric advantage for Ukraine’s defense against numerically superior Russian forces. Learn more about the tiny tech making an outsized difference. [[Read More]( QUESTION OF THE DAY Do you think the cryobot mission will succeed and detect life inside an icy moon? [Yes, it's a good plan and very exciting]( [Maybe, but it'll be very difficult]( [Crazy plan, it will never work]( [I doubt they'll find much]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday, we asked you about the Moon’s resources and it is the prospect of finding water ice that most intrigues 51 percent of you. 51% Tracing water ice 34% Accessible minerals 8% Volatile elements on the moon 7% Regolith composition “This mission concept remains feasible, scientifically compelling, and the most plausible near-term way to directly search for life in situ on an ocean world.” NASA release following the cryobot mission workshop THE UNIQUE BOUTIQUE [Galaxy Star Projector]( [$109.99]( [Hydrogen Water Generator]( [$150.00]( [Self-Heating Coffee Mug]( [$129.95]( [Light Up Aluminum World Clock]( [$119.95]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Five of the world's most realistic humanoid robots]( - [Iran claims animals launched 80 miles into space, human mission in 2029]( - [Bali ceases releasing 200M mosquitoes carrying dengue-like bacteria]( - [Quadcopter to support China's sample gathering endeavors on Mars]( - [GITAI's Inchworm robots get DARPA backing to advance lunar missions]( - [Ukraine claims to have shot down Russian Su-24 bomber with US missile]( - [IBM, Meta lead 50+ tech firms to counter AI dominance of OpenAI, Google]( - [NeRemo: Researchers develop a mouse-inspired flexible spine for robots]( - [premium] [Where does all our used coffee go? 'SCGs' place in the circular economy]( - [Reptilian-like robot to assist covert animal behavior study]( Need help with advertising? Reach 150,000 engineering and tech professionals. [Contact us](mailto:sales@interestingengineering.com?subject=Newsletter Sponsorship) what else? ⚙️ To explore the wonders of mechanical engineering, get your [Mechanical]( 🔷 For all the week’s top engineering stories, subscribe to the [Vital Component]( 🧑🏻‍🔧 For expert advice on engineering careers, subscribe to [Engineer Pros]( 🧠New: To get the latest AI news every Monday, subscribe to [AI Logs]( 🎬 For a weekly round-up of our best science, tech & engineering videos, subscribe to [IE Originals]( For our weekly premium newsletter and an ad-free experience, [sign up for IE+]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [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.](