🦜 Heatwave slaps Pakistan with 125°F and kills birds and monkeys in Mexico, Chinese firm rivals Starlink with 10k-satellite constellation, new tech to cut radioactive waste by 80%

Plus: Killer hornets threaten the already endangered bees in the US                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 May 28, 2024 | [Read Online]( In Coordination with Mechanical From the complexities of mechatronics to the latest developments in renewable energy, our newsletter provides cutting-edge insights into the machines influencing our daily lives. [Subscribe to Mechanical now.]( Temperatures soared above 125.6 degrees Fahrenheit (52 degrees Celsius) in Pakistan’s southern province of Sindh on May 27, marking the highest reading of the summer. Record-breaking temperatures across South and Southeast Asia have been reported, causing widespread disruption and even loss of life. The international scientific community is urging governments to take immediate action to mitigate the effects of climate change. The concerning trend of increasing temperatures extends beyond Asia. The United States has also experienced unusual heat spikes, with Philadelphia hitting 90 degrees Fahrenheit in April for the first time in 15 years. Mexico reported 157 heat-related deaths among howler monkeys. An animal park noted over 100 deaths among parrots, bats, and others due to dehydration. For more on this development, check out today’s [Must-Read.]( 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: >[Â]([Software Engineer]( > [Senior Software Engineer]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST READ 🦜 Heatwave slaps Pakistan with 125°F, kills birds and monkeys in Mexico [Mohenjo Daro](, a town in Sindh famous for its ancient archaeological sites, has been one of the hardest hit. Over the past 24 hours, temperatures have reached an astounding [125.6 degrees Fahrenheit](. [Bangladesh, Myanmar](, and other [Southeast Asian nations]( are also experiencing unprecedented heat. In the Philippines, schools have been shut down, and in Thailand, [30 deaths]( have been attributed to heat stroke this year alone. A [heat dome]( over [southern Mexico]( and [Central America]( led to scorching temperatures nationwide. Heat-related deaths among howler monkeys are attributed to various factors, including high temperatures, [drought](, and [habitat loss](. 🛰️ China firm plans 10,000-satellite swarm to fight Elon Musk’s space power Move over, Starlink; there’s a new player in town. A Chinese company plans to launch a [constellation of 10,000 satellites]( to compete with Elon Musk’s massive [Starlink]( project. Shanghai’s Lanjian Hongqing Technology Company or [Hongqing Technology](, associated with private rocket maker [Landspace](, is entering the scene with its [Honghu-3]( constellation. As per SpaceNews, the firm filed plans for the satellite network with the International Telecommunication Union on May 24 to deploy this constellation across [160 orbital planes](. ☢️ Breakthrough Swiss tech cuts 80% of radioactive waste in nuclear plants A [former CERN scientist]( working at the private nuclear fission company [Transmutex]( has developed a new approach that could radically cut down the radioactivity of nuclear waste by as much as [80 percent](. Transmutex relies on the [transmutation]( of elements—the conversion of an element into its isotope or another element altogether. Using a [particle accelerator](, the researchers propose using a slightly radioactive element such as thorium and transmuting it into an isotope of [uranium](. The accelerator is connected to a [nuclear fission plant](, where the newly generated uranium can be processed immediately. However, unlike its uranium counterpart, which is used in nuclear power plants today, this uranium does not produce [plutonium]( or other highly radioactive waste. 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 > The yellow-legged hornet has been identified as posing a grave threat to honeybee populations, capable of decimating colonies by preying on them and intimidating foragers from leaving the hive, leading to a decline in honey production and agricultural productivity. ([More]() > In an effort to ‘hindcast’ past volcanic eruptions, volcanologists recently discovered a new type of volcanic eruption mechanism at KÄ«lauea volcano in Hawaii by analyzing a series of 12 explosive eruptions that occurred in 2018. ([More]() > Every year 750,000 deaths linked to drug-resistant superbugs could be prevented through better access to clean water and sanitation, infection control and childhood vaccinations, research suggests. ([More]() ENERGY > Researchers have used a genetic learning algorithm to identify optimal pitch profiles for the blades of vertical-axis wind turbines, which have a much higher energy potential than conventional turbines. ([More]() > In an industry first, Rio Tinto and BHP will collaborate on the testing of large battery-electric haul truck technology in the Pilbara, Western Australia, to accelerate the potential for its future deployment. ([More]() > Colorado counties' halts on large solar energy projects are slowing progress toward state's climate goals. ([More]() INNOVATION > Researchers have developed a robot that uses bio-inspired grippers to scale tricky surfaces like rocks. The design offers fully passive grippers and wrist joints that enable secure grasping while reducing both mass and complexity. ([More]() > The ASTRA Bridge, developed by the Federal Roads Office of the Swiss government, is a nifty solution that lets you drive over ongoing road repairs on highways instead of taking diversions. ([More]() > A five-year-old boy born without a left hand is believed to have become the youngest in the world to receive a bionic hero arm. ([More]() VIDEO > Online inventors have created a working version of the “stillsuit” from Dune. ([More]() > A new Peruvian device is aiming to tackle the largest outbreak of dengue fever in the country in recent history. ([More]() > Volocopter will fly its electric helicopter taxi, the VoloCity, during the Paris Olympic Games. But how green is such individualized transport? ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS In yesterday’s quiz, we asked, Can you find the height of the red bar using the information below? The answer is: We know that (green object height)/(shadow height)=2/2=1. In order to solve the problem, let’s assume that the length of the red bar’s shadow on the wall is 4M. The shadow of that bar would also would be 4, the total length of the red bar’s shadow is 10, and since we know the object height and length of shadow is equal, the height of the red bar=10M Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on [Instagram]( and [Facebook!]( FROM THE WEB > Scientists have recruited an unusual ally in their efforts to help children overcome profound deafness—computer [games]( > Flights take off for the new Bark airline, where you can pay $6,000 to travel with your [dog]( > Researchers have found evidence of the oldest known platypus and a new species, dubbed ‘echidnapus’, which has a platypus-like [anatomy]( > A single-engine Cessna plane lost power and flew dangerously close to rooftops of houses near Sydney’s Bankstown [airport]( > The German Society for Nature Photography has announced the winners of the 2024 Nature Photographer of the Year, who’ve captured the beauty of nature – everything from the wildest panorama to the creepiest of creepy-[crawlies]( > Eating more fruits and vegetables may lead to optimal sleep duration, a recent study [suggests]( Additional Reads --------------------------------------------------------------- [⚙️ Mechanical:](Explore the wonders of mechanical engineering. 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