Plus: Ultraheavy elements detected in ancient stars, Anduril drone to deploy in 2024, Tesla shares 48-volt auto tech far and wide If weâre going to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon, it will require adaptable infrastructure that supports access to regions we've never explored. To meet this challenge, Rolls-Royce has revealed an ingenious concept â compact nuclear fission plants that can be sent from Earth to power lunar bases around the clock. Rather than relying on intermittent sunlight, their proposed micro-reactors could provide steady electricity even in the Moonâs deeply shadowed and underground areas. As leading space agencies press on toward expanded lunar exploration this decade and next, Rolls-Royceâs shippable reactor could prove vital in transforming the Moonâs extreme environments into something more like home for lunar explorers. Jump to todayâs [Must Read]( to learn more about this 10-foot-long nuclear Space Micro-Reactor. Good morning. Iâm Tim, newsletter editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Letâs explore more of todayâs news! VIDEO OF THE DAY [Is Nikola Tesla Overrated?]( Air Force One â all secrets you need to know More than a plane, itâs a high-tech, secure fortress in the skies, setting the standard in presidential aviation. 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 - ð² [Elon Musk bets a $25,000 EV ârevolutionâ with Tesla Model 2 production]( This highly anticipated vehicle could involve a production process unlike anything seen before.
- â [Duke Energy disconnects batteries at US military base over China fears]( CATL, the manufacturer of the large batteries, hits back, saying its products have passed US safety and security reviews.
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[Astronauts aboard ISS find lost tomato after 8 months of space odyssey]( NASA astronaut Frank Rubio misplaced the tiny tomato after a harvest in March 2023.
- âï¸ [Google drops Gemini to end ChatGPT's reign. Who will win this AI-war?]( Google launches its much touted AI model to take down GPT-4.
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[Two high-speed US rail projects bag $6 billion in government funding]( Brightline's fully electric, emission-free system will be one of the US' most environmentally-friendly modes of transportation. Must Read [âï¸ Rolls-Royce portable fission plant could support continuous lunar settlement]( UK engineering firm Rolls-Royce has revealed plans for a compact nuclear fission reactor to provide steady electricity for lunar bases regardless of sunlight access. The 10-foot-long (3 meters) rocket-transportable concept model would use nuclear technology rather than unreliable solar power for sustained lunar surface operations. Using a micro-reactor weighing under 5,000 pounds (2,267 kg), nuclear fission rather than sunlight would provide round-the-clock energy to recharge rovers, run life support systems, and enable scientific equipment across permanently shaded polar lunar regions. These areas would otherwise remain out-of-bounds for human outposts without nuclear assistance. Continue reading to see a mock-up of the reactor and learn more about the proposed timeline and potential impact of Rolls-Royceâs technology. [[Read More]( [Transportation]( [ð Tesla shares 48-volt tech with rival automakers]( Tesla just freely provided a guide to its 48-volt vehicle system to all major automaker CEOs. It includes the proprietary techniques that power Cybertruckâs advanced maneuverability. The open-source tech details enable faster charging, better performance and greater efficiency compared to conventional 12-volt platforms. While some critics worry Tesla is empowering rivals, its surprising generosity may accelerate industry-wide EV adoption. Find out how Teslaâs altruism could shape the electric future. [[Read More]( [Military]( [ðª US Military to deploy Andurilâs reusable âBoomerangâ combat drone]( Last week, [we reported on the launch]( of Andurilâs new feature-packed drone interceptor. Now, a senior executive at the firm has revealed that it will debut with US forces in 2024. Capable of identifying then eliminating enemy drones and missiles using onboard weapons, the innovative AI-guided craft can also return to base if it misses targets or the mission is aborted. Learn more about this highly-capable uncrewed device. [[Read More]( [Science]( [⨠Ancient stars forged ultra-heavy mystery elements]( New research reveals that some of the oldest stars in our galaxy may have forged extraordinarily heavy elements over 260 atomic mass units â far beyond anything found naturally on Earth. Scientists at North Carolina State University spotted clues that 42 stars in the Milky Way created exotic unstable atoms which quickly underwent fission decay. While this process is known to produce precious metals like gold and uranium, the discovery suggests early stars once forged even more extreme elements. Learn more about stellar matterâs unexpected diversity. [[Read More]( job alert In this section youâll find the latest jobs as featured on: [jobs.interestingengineering.com]( [Sr. Software Test Engineer I]( at 23andMe
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Reston(US) QUESTION OF THE DAY Do you think Teslaâs sharing of its proprietary electric vehicle technology is a wise move? [Yes, smart way to expand the EV market]( [No, they'll regret doing that]( [Depends if the offer is taken up]( [Nothing more than a PR stunt]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS We asked you about NASAâs plan to send an [ice-burrowing âcryobotâ]( to search for life on Enceladus or Europa. 48 percent of you acknowledge the risk of failure, 27 percent say it is a good plan and are excited by the prospect. Only 3 percent say it is doomed to failure. 48%
Maybe, but it'll be very difficult 27%
Yes, it's a good plan and very exciting 22%
I doubt they'll find much 3%
Crazy plan, it will never work âThat [atomic mass] 260 is interesting because we havenât previously detected anything that heavy in space or naturally on Earth, even in nuclear weapon tests.â Ian Roederer, Physics Professor at North Carolina State University ENGINEER'S ARSENAL [NeoRuler Digital Scale Ruler]( [$129.00]( [Dahle Professional Guillotine Trimmer]( [$163.99]( [Machinist Calc Pro 2]( [$121.63]( [EXOTUF 23 Piece Geometry Kit]( [$124.99]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Where to find the AI jobs that pay up to $450,000 per year?](
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[premium] [UK rocket company edges closer to first sustainable satellite launch](
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- [Woman shot in the buttocks, gun fired by MRI machine during scan]( Need help with advertising? Reach 150,000 engineering and tech professionals. [Contact us](mailto:sales@interestingengineering.com?subject=Newsletter Sponsorship) what else? âï¸ To explore the wonders of mechanical engineering, get your [Mechanical]( ð· For all the weekâs top engineering stories, subscribe to the [Vital Component]( ð§ð»âð§ For expert advice on engineering careers, subscribe to [Engineer Pros]( ð§ New: To get the latest AI news every Monday, subscribe to [AI Logs]( ð¬ 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,
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