🔋 Aging batteries get a shot, Ukraine's drone factories, Saudi's 3D-printed mosque beats Dubai

Plus: Largest helium reserve in North America discovered                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 March 11, 2024 | [Read Online]( What if you could just give your aging batteries a shot of rejuvenation? Well, Toyota-backed researchers have figured out a way to do just that! It's akin to a turbocharged energy drink for your car's battery. They've devised a method to inject specific chemicals, reviving aging lithium-ion batteries. Stay tuned for the full scoop on this electrifying breakthrough in today's [Must Read.]([Â]( 👀 Have you signed up for one of our latest newsletters, Engineer Pros? For engineer-focused news, career updates, and insider knowledge delivered every Tuesday, [Subscribe for free now.]( 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: > [Sr. Controls Engineer / Software Engineer]( > [Staff Engineer (Project Engineer)]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST READ 🔋 Aging batteries? A simple injection could bring them back We're well acquainted with lithium-ion batteries and how we rely on them to power all things from smartphones to electric vehicles (just to name a couple). However, over time, they [do not perform the same](, and the charge is retained much less successfully. The culprit? It all boils down to the gradual loss of charged particles, or ions, crucial for storing and releasing energy within the battery. As these ions diminish, the battery's efficiency plummets, leaving users yearning for its once steadfast power source. Yet, what if there [existed a method to replenish these ions]( and restore the battery's initial capacity? Toyota Central R&D Labs in Japan have pioneered a singular-step process that not only shows promise in mitigating waste but also stands to increase the supply of batteries essential for burgeoning [fleets of electric vehicles.]( 🪖 US aids shipping container-size 3D-printing drone factories for Ukraine A new tech startup has recently raised $12 million from backers like Lockheed Martin to develop cheap miniature [3D-printing drone factories]( for battle zones like the Ukraine. The startup’s core plan is to produce 3D-printing drone factories that fit inside a shipping container, can be deployed anywhere in the world, and are hidden in plain sight. The xCell shipping containers can produce a drone in [less than 24 hours.]( Their flagship product is the “Tempest” 3D-printable drone. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 55 pounds (25 kilograms), can carry a payload of 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms), and has a wingspan of 7 feet (2.1 meters). The drone is 6 feet (1.8 meters) long and can be customized based on the required range, loitering time, and [cruise speed.]( 🕌 Saudi woman beats Dubai to construct world’s first 3D-printed mosque In a remarkable tribute, Saudi businesswoman Wajnat Abdulwaheed honored her late husband by completing the [world's first 3D-printed mosque,]( the Abdulaziz Abdullah Sharbatly Mosque, located in Jeddah's Al-Jawhara suburb. In doing so, Abdulwaheed also [beat the ambitions of Dubai](, which has plans to build a 3D-printed mosque of 21,500 square feet (2,000 square meters) by 2025. The initiative reflects a broader trend, with Interesting Engineering reporting an entire U.S. neighborhood constructed using 3D printing. As Dubai vies for the title of the world's 3D printing capital, it aims for 25 percent of new buildings to utilize this technology, signaling an innovative shift in [architectural practices.]( 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 > Dark matter is supposed to account for 85 percent of the mass in the universe, according to conventional scientific wisdom. But proponents of a radical new theory of gravity, in which space-time is “wobbly,” say their approach could render the elusive substance obsolete. ([More]() > Malaria kills more than 600,000 people each year worldwide, and two-thirds are children under age five in sub-Saharan Africa. Now, scientists have found a treatment that could prevent thousands of these deaths: trees. ([More]() > A near-complete dinosaur skeleton has been unearthed in southern France. The find is extraordinary – an almost entirely connected skeleton of a Titanosaur, one of the largest dinosaurs that ever walked the Earth. ([More]() ENERGY > The biggest wildfire in Texas state history, which killed two people and scorched more than 1m acres, was caused by a power line pole that had decayed at the base, an investigation has concluded. ([More]() > The Australian Synchrotron, a nuclear research facility, recently completed the installation of 3,200 solar panels on its rooftop capable of generating 1,668 kilowatts per hour of energy. ([More]() > Researchers have stumbled upon what may turn out to be the largest reserve of helium in North America. An on-site mass spectrometer measured helium concentrations at 12.4 percent, described as a “dream.” ([More]() INNOVATION > A humanoid robot developed by a Saudi Arabian artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics company was seen touching a female reporter inappropriately has sparked a strong debate on social media. ([More]() > Textile innovators at MIT and a fashion house have developed a ‘smart’ garment that can morph with your style, body, and the shifting trends of the season. ([More]() > After studying emergency operations in the cities, experts devised a blueprint for efficient evacuation of elderly people that could be used in flood-threatened cities around the globe. ([More]() VIDEO > In this video, we’ll be taking a short look at the best-received weapons and systems in our series, including everyone’s favorite M134 Minigun and anti-ship cruise missiles. ([More]() > Explore the B-52 Stratofortress, also known as the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat Fellow), which is an aircraft that showcases the incredible power of engineering. With its imposing wingspan and eight engines, this airborne giant dominates the skies with ease. ([More]() > Let’s take a look at how space companies, including Stoke Space, are aiming to revolutionize space travel with fully reusable rockets. This is challenging the norms set by SpaceX, opening new possibilities in the industry! ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS Hey there! Yesterday, we threw out a brain teaser on our socials: “Can crack the matchstick puzzle?” The answer is: 511108 Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on [Instagram]( and [Facebook!]( FROM THE WEB > DPD customer service chatbot swears and calls company '[worst delivery firm']( > The first Europeans reached Ukraine 1.4 million years ago, new study[finds]( > Gateshead: Abandoned coal mines providing cheaper, clean energy for [homes]( > Report identifies technologies that could unlock [tidal stream energy]( > Airbus unveils latest eVTOL [prototype]( > Radical new discovery could double the speed of existing [computers]( Need help with advertising? Reach 150,000 engineering and tech professionals. [Contact us](mailto:sales@interestingengineering.com?subject=Newsletter+Sponsorship) Additional Reads --------------------------------------------------------------- [⚙️ Mechanical:](Explore the wonders of mechanical engineering. [🔷 Vital Component:]( All the week’s top engineering stories. [🛩️ Aerospace:]( The latest on propulsion, satellites, aeronautics, and more. 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