☢️ UK startup breaks nuclear fusion pressure record, Virus hijacking sperm and Marine algae genes implanted

Plus: ‘Little giants’: Baby supermassive black holes traced by NASA telescope                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 March 08, 2024 | [Read Online]( First Light Fusion, a privately funded UK-based startup announced that it broke a pressure record for its innovative nuclear fusion technology. The firm set a new record of 1.85 terapascals using a powerful pulsed machine, surpassing the previous record of 1.5 terapascals. The new record was set at the US-based Sandia National Laboratories “Z Machine.” Find out more about this tech by checking out today’s [Must Read.]( 👀 Have you subscribed to our popular IE Originals? For the week’s top 5 video shorts on all things engineering, tech, military, and more, delivered on Fridays, [subscribe for free now.]( 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: > [Systems Engineer, Windows IoT]( > [Manufacturing Engineer]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST READ ☢️ UK startup breaks pressure record with its novel gun-type nuclear tech UK-based startup–[First Light Fusion]( breaks Sandia National Laboratories’ pressure record with its novel nuclear fusion technique. Surpassing the previous record of 1.5 terapascals, this company set a new record of 1.85-terapascals using a powerful pulsed machine called the ‘Z Machine.’ The startup noted that the experiment deepens First Light’s ongoing partnership with Sandia National Laboratories, and helps the UK fusion leader to continue developing its unique amplifier approach to [inertial fusion](. This approach can be applied on other platforms too theoraticlly. In the core of the Sun, hydrogen is fused into lighter elements under extremely high temperatures and pressures. This fusion process produces light but also an incredibly large amount of energy. If replicated on Earth, it could open the door to [near-endless, clean energy](. 🪱 Virus hijacking insect sperm causes brutal sterility, find scientists A new study led by microbiome researchers at Penn State shows how [a novel bacterial and virus combination]( manipulates sperm and drastically reduces insect population by the numbers. It could lead to refined techniques to control populations of agricultural pests and insects that carry diseases like [Zika]( and dengue to humans. This new approach combats insects in an unlikely partnership between a tiny bacterium–Wolbachia, and its viral accomplice, prophage WO. This collaboration induces sterility in male insects by commandeering their sperm, preventing fertilization of eggs in females lacking the same bacterial and viral presence. A researcher emphasized that Wolbachia's ubiquity among animals resides symbiotically in the reproductive tissues of approximately 50 percent of insect species, including certain [mosquitoes]( and flies. ⚫️ ‘Little giants’: Baby supermassive black holes traced by NASA telescope Since the deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in January 2022, this $10 billion observatory has revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos. In it’s first year, the telescope captured the attention of scientists by [revealing faint, distant red dots](. According to researchers from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), these seemingly inconspicuous dots hold a remarkable secret: they are miniature incarnations of [supermassive black holes](. Jorryt Matthee, an assistant professor at ISTA and the study's lead author, noted that these diminutive yet potent entities, discovered in the far reaches of the Universe's ancient history, possess the potential to reshape our comprehension of black hole formation. Scientists hope to unravel the mysteries surrounding the origins and evolution of supermassive black holes, shedding light on their emergence as cosmic giants in the [early Universe](. IE+ Love what you're reading? Join our vibrant online community, explore fascinating scientific breakthroughs, get special discounts and stay in the know with our exclusive weekly premium newsletter. Upgrade to IE+ for quality reporting beyond the headlines – plus, enjoy an Ad-Free experience. Try IE+ today for just $1 in the first month. [Subscribe here]( HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY SCIENCE > These ringed caecilian moms feed their hatchlings a kind of “milk” brewed in the reproductive tract making them the first egg-laying amphibians known to feed hatchlings this way. ([More]() > Scientists discovered a gene that allows marine algae to synthesize chlorophyll, a crucial chemical for photosynthesis. They successfully transplanted this gene into a terrestrial plant, tobacco, in a first-of-its-kind feat. ([More]() > An outbreak of a respiratory infection that most often affects birds has killed five people in Europe after being exposed to infected wild or pet bird, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. ([More]() ENERGY > Oil demand growth in China is about to weaken in the coming years as electric vehicle uptake and a switch from oil to LNG for trucks displaces a solid chunk of demand, the research arm of CNPC forecasted. ([More]() > Last October, an Idaho farmer accidentally ruptured a 22-inch natural gas pipeline, releasing over 51 million cubic feet of gas. These leaks, typical along the extensive U.S. pipeline network, pose a climate threat not currently included in official greenhouse gas emissions counts. ([More]() > Swiss scientists use evaporation to generate electricity by using a tiny device with channels that produce energy when liquid flows through its unique surface. ([More]() INNOVATION > Lockheed Martin announced that its next-gen Extended-Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (ER GMLRS) missile was successfully tested again at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. ([More]() > Quantum computing firm D-Wave says its machines are the first to achieve "computational supremacy" by solving a practically useful problem that would otherwise take millions of years on an ordinary supercomputer. ([More]() > The first AI humanoid robot teaching in India, named 'Iris' created by Makerlabs Edutech, is gaining traction on social media. It has begun teaching in Kerala, clad in a sari aiming to increase extracurricular activities in school. ([More]() VIDEO > From the humble beginnings of the Wright brothers’ historic flight in 1903 to the revolutionary advancements in jet engines during World War II, the evolution of flight has reshaped the way we perceive travel and exploration. ([More]() > Explore the paradox of titanium in our comprehensive guide. From its remarkable thermal properties to its intricate chemical reactivity, engineers navigate through challenges and rewards when working with this metal. ([More]() > This video takes a deep dive into the ethical dilemma surrounding autonomous weapons in warfare, unraveling the intricacies, benefits, challenges, and moral implications associated with entrusting machines with life-or-death decisions on the battlefield. ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS Hey there! Yesterday, we threw out a brain teaser on our socials: “Find the height of the glass?” The answer is: 14 Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on [Instagram]( and [Facebook!]( FROM THE WEB > Astronomers detect ‘waterworld with a boiling ocean’ in deep [space]( > ‘Despair’: Argentinian researchers protest as president begins dismantling [science]( > 1,100-year-old Viking sword pulled from UK river by magnet [fisher]( > 390-million-year-old fossilized forest found in the [UK]( > Mapping the future's sweet spot for clean energy and [biodiversity]( > Rivian R2 revealed: a $45,000 electric off-roader for the [masses]( > Vision Pro’s missing piece? Apple patents new [controller]( Need help with advertising? 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