🛸 Europe’s 1st Martian rover will use nuclear-powered heaters, 3500-year-old Mycenaean armor found battle-worthy, therapy cows prefer healing women over men

Plus: Researchers demonstrate how light could control muscles without causing much fatigue                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 May 23, 2024 | [Read Online]( INTERESTING ENGINEERING SHOP [[Trust Me I'm An Engineer - Unisex Tee] Trust Me I'm An Engineer - Unisex Tee $25.99]( [[Engineering Inspiration Mug] Engineering Inspiration Mug $13.99]( NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed an agreement to advance the development of the latter’s first Martian rover. The Rosalind Franklin rover, which is scheduled to launch in 2028, will be equipped with advanced technologies to search for evidence of ancient life on the Red Planet. The ESA’s maiden rover will use a nuclear-powered device to function in the hostile Martian environment, where temperatures can drop to as low as -100 degrees Fahrenheit. For more on this development, check out today’s [Must-Read.]( 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: >[Â]([AWS Cloud Engineer]( > [Senior Software Development Engineer]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST READ 🛸 Europe’s 1st rover will use nuclear-powered heaters to fight -100°F on Mars The rover will stay warm using [innovative radioisotope heater units (RHUs)](. These RHUs use [decaying isotopes]( like americium-241 to generate heat and electricity for spacecraft. This technology provides a more [cost-effective and dependable heat source]( on Mars, particularly during landing operations, compared to solar panel-generated power. [NASA’s Perseverance rover]( has been functioning on a nuclear-powered system. It converts heat from plutonium-238’s natural radioactive decay into electricity, generating a steady flow. This electricity powers the rover’s computers, research instruments, and other equipment. 🛡️ Greece: Marines test 3500-year-old Mycenaean armor, find it battle-worthy A suit of armor dating back to the [later Bronze Age civilization]( in Greece represented by finds at Mycenae has entered the spotlight again, this time it has been deemed [suitable for extendable combat](. The infamous Mycenaean “[Dendra armor](,” which is attributed as the oldest intact full-set of body armor in human history, is one of the most prominently known [military technological achievements](. This armor was tested by volunteers from the [Marines]( of the Hellenic Armed Forces in a study conducted by Andreas Flouris of the University of Thessaly, Greece. Initially considered [ceremonial](, the Dendra armor has been now tagged as [suitable for combat](. 🐄 Where do the guys go? Cuddling cows prefer healing women over men, claims study A recent study has found that cows used as therapy animals exhibit a [clear preference]( for interacting with [women over men](. The research suggests that the effectiveness of some therapies might initially be influenced more by the seeker’s [gender]( than by the specific procedures used. Additionally, the study noted that women reported feeling a [stronger emotional connection]( to the cows. “In many societies, particularly in the United States, men are often socialized to [internalize their feelings]( and be less emotive,” Dr Katherine Compitus, the lead author of the study, told [Interesting Engineering](. Love what you're reading, but too many emails? Sign up to IE+ to get Blueprint Weekly, our exclusive weekly premium newsletter that gives all the insights you love in a more digestible weekly format– plus, enjoy an Ad-Free experience on our website. Try IE+ today for just $1 in the first month. [Subscribe here]( HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY SCIENCE > Researchers have demonstrated how light could control muscles without causing much fatigue. The approach opens up multiple application avenues but needs further development before it can be applied to humans. ([More]() > A team of citizen scientists recently discovered an exoplanet that strongly resembles Neptune and resides within its star’s habitable zone, meaning it has the potential to harbor life. ([More]() > Researchers describe cell-in-cell phenomena in which one cell engulfs and sometimes consumes another. The study shows that cases of this behavior, including cell cannibalism, are widespread across the tree of life. ([More]() ENERGY > Researchers are poised to advance wind energy harvesting using flying drones, furthering efficiency and net-zero initiatives. The technology collects wind energy at greater heights than traditional wind turbines by attaching a drone to a ground station. ([More]() > A research team has demonstrated for the first time a proof-of-concept tandem solar cell using antimony selenide, showing that antimony selenide has great potential for bottom cell applications. ([More]() > Could permeable and high-albedo materials for roads that replace asphalt reduce the urban heat island effect at the height of summer as well as reduce the risk of flash floods and groundwater depletion? ([More]() INNOVATION > A group of chemical engineers has come up with a new way to recycle polystyrene, possibly making it the first practical method for reusing this commonly used plastic. ([More]() > In a nostalgic nod to the childhood summers by the pool, Airheads candy is hoping to make a splash this summer with a unique innovation aimed at getting adults back into the pool: an underwater vending machine. ([More]() > MIT spinout Boston Metal is commercializing a new method for making steel and other metals, to help clean up the emissions-intensive industry. ([More]() VIDEO > A new snail-based sliding suction method improves climbing robot journeys. What uses could it find in the wider world? ([More]() > The new Sharp-7 camera from Sheba Microsystems has achieved thermal stability. What does that mean for the future of assisted driving? ([More]() > In the global quest for sustainable solutions, one innovation stands out as a game-changer in the recycling landscape: the HiCOP method. ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS In yesterday’s quiz, we asked, Which one will fill up 1st? The answer is: The connection between 5 and 2 is closed, so number 5 will be filled first. Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on [Instagram]( and [Facebook!]( FROM THE WEB > An underground reservoir in Denmark is the location of a unique experiment: to test a technology for helping rid the environment of a widespread toxic [pollutant]( > A girl in Portugal catches a rare bone infection from her [kitten]( > A comet approaching Earth could become brighter than the stars this fall, potentially appearing as bright as Venus in the night [sky]( > Thousands of people globally are unaware that they have [hepatitis C]( > Researchers succeed for first time in accurately dating a 7,000-year-old prehistoric settlement using cosmic [rays]( > Researchers have produced a whole-fruit variety of chocolate. This helps increase the value creation of cocoa farming—and is [healthier]( Additional Reads --------------------------------------------------------------- [⚙️ Mechanical:](Explore the wonders of mechanical engineering. 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