☢️🔋 Ultra-long-lasting radioactive cells coming soon

Plus: Room temperature qubits and dirt-powered fuel cells                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 January 17, 2024 | [Read Online]( Could we be about to enter the post-battery age? We have a trio of ingenious, long-lasting energy solutions today. A Chinese startup created a tiny nuclear cell that converts radioactive decay into electricity that never needs recharging. By packing the radioactive isotope nickel-63 into a coin-sized module, Betavolt claims the first mass-produced atomic power cell will last 50+ years while outpacing lithium alternatives tenfold in energy density with unmatched environmental resilience. Plus, we also report on how researchers have extracted energy out of [soil microbes]( and [waste heat](. Now on the cusp of expanded manufacturing, these technologies promises to provide energy across countless ultra-low energy technologies. Learn more about the radioactive energy solution and its likely applications in today’s [Must Read](. ⚙️ Our lastest newsletters are growing fast. For the latest insights every Thursday and Friday, subscribe to [Mechanical]( and [Aerospace]( today. Good morning. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let’s get into it! Reading time: 5 minutes Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe ✉](  VIDEO OF THE DAY Kepler vs Tesla vs Amazon: Whose robot is superior? Explore industry-leading robots like Optimus, Forerunner, and Digit from Tesla, Kepler Exploration Robot Company, and Agility Robotics. IE+ 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]( [LATEST CES 2024 NEWS]( - 🔥 [Yielding heat for power: Experts make a leap in sustainable IoT energy]( Researchers from Osaka University unveil improvement in thermoelectric conversion. - 👔 [Elon Musk posts a video of Tesla robot Optimus folding a shirt]( In the video, Optimus completes a basic household chore, but there's a catch. - 🪐 [Seven places that could harbor alien life in our solar system]( Several missions are already working to find signs of extraterrestrial life in the far reaches of our solar system. MUST READ 🔋 [Betavolt charges up first mass-produced nuclear battery cell]( Betavolt leverages proprietary techniques to pioneer the elusive goal of practical nuclear microbatteries, overcoming the tough containment and efficiency demands at scales one-tenth the width of a human hair. The company sees their device powering everything from medical implants to industrial trackers. They also plan larger yet still remarkably compact versions for smartphones and drones by 2025 milestone targets. Beyond the sheer convenience of not having to replace batteries regularly, their are also benefits for environmental sustainability. While some skepticism remains around this purported world-first, if these diminutive powerhouses are allowed to reach the market, it could be transformative for many gadgets. [Read more >]( [SCIENCE]( 💠 [Scientists generate ‘first’ stable qubits at room temperature]( In a world first, Japanese researchers induced delicate temporary unified quantum states within a modified crystalline scaffold at room temperature. By caging special light-sensitive molecules to limit any disruptive spin, the team achieved quantum coherence for 100 nanoseconds — infinitesimal yet still profoundly significant. The advance inches quantum computing closer to use in enhanced encryption and medical imaging basically everywhere. [Read more >]( [INNOVATION]( 🦠 [New fuel cell taps energy from dirt-dwelling microbes to power sensors]( By harnessing ever-present soil microbes, Northwestern University engineers developed a paperback-book-sized bio-battery for sensors that outpaces lithium cells in output and sustainability. Their microbial setup produced enough excess energy to continuously transmit flood warnings, despite being buried under six feet of soil. The design’s impressive resilience is a new way to generate useful electricity, even in inaccessible locations. [Read more >]( JOB ALERT In this section you’ll find the latest jobs as featured on: [jobs.interestingengineering.com]( [Java AWS Engineer]( at Sainsburys Manchester (UK) [Senior Software Engineer - Cloud Engineering Infrastructure]( at Oracle United States [Engines Project Engineer III (R38555)]( at Blue Origin, LLC Huntsville [Software Engineer - Rendering Engine, PICO]( at ByteDance San Jose (US) $194,000 - $355,000 a year [See More Jobs >]( Question of the Day How would you feel about having radioactive battery technology in your personal devices? [Relaxed — it's a brilliant solution]( [A little nervous]( [Nowhere near me, thanks]( [I'll wait and see how it works out for other people]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS We asked if you are worried about AI taking your job. Here are the results. ⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Yes, it keeps me awake at night (6%) 🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ No, only a human can do my job (14%) 🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Maybe, but the threat is overhyped (14%) 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I'm happily retired (66%) “As long as there is organic carbon in the soil for the microbes to break down, the fuel cell can potentially last forever.” Bill Yen, Northwestern University THINGS WE LOVE [[FATORK Mini Projector] FATORK Mini Projector $189.99]( [[OBSBOT AI-Powered Phone Mount] OBSBOT AI-Powered Phone Mount $149.00]( [[K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker] Skullcandy Crusher Headphones $148.90]( [[Magnetic Levitating Speaker] Magnetic Levitating Speaker $139.00]( AND ANOTHER THING - IE+ [AI 'death calculator' can predict your lifespan, income and personality]( - [Experiment to reverse Alzheimer’s yields positive result]([s]( - [Lunar meteorite proves 4-billion-year-old Moon crust was water-rich]( Need help with advertising? Reach 150,000 engineering and tech professionals. 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