A new hybrid aircraft is 3 times faster than a helicopter

COVID-19 omicron variant’s symptoms are similar to the common cold, get used to chip shortages: They are not going away anytime soon Dec 27, 2021 [View on browser]( Good morning, and welcome to a new week. There's been a lot of chatter about the Omicron variant lately, and scientists are saying a mild COVID-19 case from Omicron might feel like a cold. Still, you should take it seriously. The world is facing an uncertain outlook also on the electronics industry, as the acute global shortage of chips is expected to drag on into 2022. And amid all this unpredictability, a new hybrid aircraft, which is three times faster than a helicopter, is getting ready to take flight. This is The Blueprint. Happy reading. HEALTH [COVID-19 Omicron Variant's Symptoms Are Similar to the Common Cold]( [Omicron infection.]( The majority of the population in the United States has been vaccinated against the coronavirus with at least one dose, the healthcare system knows what to expect, and effective treatments to combat the disease are available. However, a new twist in the tale is [the drastic change in the symptoms]( that people are experiencing following an Omicron infection. - In 2020, fever, cough, and loss of sense of smell or taste were the classic symptoms that defined a COVID-19 infection. In contrast, those infected with Omicron have reported symptoms like a runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, and a sore throat, similar to the Delta variant. Caution. While these symptoms might appear to be similar to that of the common cold, which is typical during this time of year, experts warn against taking them lightly as severe illnesses also begin with mild symptoms. And as [the Omicron variant dampens holiday plans]( for people at large, experts in public health are urging people to take precautions like getting vaccinated and wearing face masks. Stay safe! [Read More]( CULTURE [Get Used to Chip Shortages: They Are Not Going Away Anytime Soon]( [Chip shortages.]( The chip crisis is real, and it's had a serious impact on our lives. Just last month, [Japan committed $5.2 billion]( to help solve the world's ongoing chip shortage. But is that enough? During a recent earnings call, Sanjay Mehrotra, the CEO of Micron Technology, told investors that it is clearly not. - “Across the PC industry, demand for DDR5 products is significantly exceeding supply due to non-memory component shortages impacting memory suppliers’ ability to build DDR5 modules. We expect these shortages to moderate through 2022, enabling bit shipments of DDR5 to grow to meaningful levels in the second half of calendar 2022," [said the CEO](. What does this mean for you? Cars are more expensive, computer makers are struggling to keep up with consumer demand, and many products have been severely delayed, like the PlayStation 5, which is, in many places worldwide, still impossible to order a year after its launch. Companies are trying to do something about the crisis: Intel, TSMC, and Samsung are investing in new factories, but it will still take at least two years until they are up and running. You can expect the shortage to [continue well into 2022 and 2023](. [Read More]( INNOVATION [A New Hybrid Aircraft Is 3 Times Faster Than a Helicopter]( [Testing will begin next year.]( In 1989, Vox conceptualized fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) airframes, along with a plethora of sketches that looked straight out of a sci-fi movie. Several prototypes and component tests later, the aircraft [is in its final stages of assembly]( and testing is expected to start next year. - Impressive. This hybrid aircraft, designed to increase passenger safety and convenience, can also fly three times faster than a helicopter and land on practically any helipad in the world. What does it offer? It provides the flexibility and ease of [point-to-point travel like any helicopter]( but with better comfort and the ability to fly above the weather. And it does all that while burning about half the fuel of a similar-sized rotorcraft performing the same mission. Currently, Vox is exploring SAF and hydrogen options, but starting with conventional fuel, the VTOL will go roughly 400 miles (644 km) at 300 knots with an 800-pound (363-kg) load. And the company hopes to get airborne in 2022 and reach certification by 2026. [Read More]( MAIL & MUSINGS Do you think that vehicles will change drastically in the next 50 years? Be sure you check back tomorrow for the results! [Yes, flying cars will be widely available soon.]( [No, it’s too soon.]( [Yes, but the majority won’t be able to use them.]( [It’s possible, but I’m not too optimistic.]( Yesterday’s Results We asked you how you think we can incorporate renewables into dense cityscapes. And, according to almost 60 percent of you, it will happen on its own in due course. In time, it will happen on its own. 56% Too much investment, not without initiatives from governing bodies 19% Nope, nuclear power will negate the need anyway. 18% No way! Wind generators are stupefying ray transmitters. 7% QUOTE OF THE DAY “ Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful … that’s what matters to me. ” Steve Jobs in The Wall Street Journal, May 25, 1993. [Video]VIDEO OF THE DAY [Make Your Own Reciprocating Walnut Nutcracker With This Guide]( Never again crack nuts using your bare hands thanks to this gadget. [Make Your Own Reciprocating Walnut Nutcracker With This Guide]( AND ANOTHER THING... - The recent coronal mass ejection from a baby Sun-like star about 111 light-years from Earth [has got scientists worried](. - Scientists have never been able to adequately explain where lightning comes from. Now the first detailed observations of its emergence [have revealed what triggers lightning](. (Quanta Magazine) - Human chimerism: [Here’s a guide to becoming two people at once](. - The tech education-to-career pipeline fails low-income students before degree completion and entrance into one of the highest-paid sectors in our economy—[but we aren’t talking about it](. (TechCrunch) - Tiny black holes may have existed in the primordial universe. [Could they explain dark matter]( - So, are flat-earthers really being serious? [Let's take a look at what they believe]( and why they think our planet is a disc surrounded by an icy wall. (LiveScience) - Ex-SpaceX engineers [have launched a robotic pizzeria]( that can make, bake, and top a pizza in under five minutes. [Share to Win]SHARE TO WIN [All products]( Share The Blueprint! Give your friends deeper insights into engineering and tech, and win exclusive IE swag for free. [Read Details]( Share your link Copy & share your referral link with others. [ [Referral Program Terms and Conditions]( Prepared by Derya Ozdemir Enjoy reading? Don't forget to forward to a friend! Was this email forwarded to you? [Subscribe]( [About Us]( | [Advertise]( | [Contact Us]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Youtube]( [Linkedin]( [Instagram]( You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe [here.]( © Copyright 2021 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 201 Spear Street, Suite 1100 San Francisco, CA 94105 | All Rights Reserved [Interesting Engineering]