NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is home

A new 3D-printed system lets blind people ‘see’ obstacles via vibrations; yes, the FBI might confiscate your paper on how to build a nuclear bomb Jan 25, 2022 [View in browser]( Good morning. We’re officially entering a new era: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has finally arrived at its final orbit, where it will have a front-row view of the most ancient stars and galaxies. And while the Webb telescope can travel back in time by peering into space, it (sadly) can’t take you back to the psychedelic 1970s, when a Princeton student’s thesis featured a schematic for a DIY nuclear bomb. Needless to say, it was confiscated by the FBI. Additionally, a novel 3D-printed system is enabling blind people “see” obstacles by picking up those good vibrations. This is The Blueprint. Happy reading. SCIENCE [NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Has Finally Arrived in Orbit]( [An animated image of Webb.]( NASA's James Webb Space Telescope [has finally inserted itself into its final operational orbit]( in space. And, soon, the real fun will begin. - "Webb, welcome home!". At roughly 2:00 PM EST on Monday, the Webb telescope made a nearly five-minute thruster burn, which brought it into its final, post-launch course. This marked the spacecraft's insertion into its operational orbit around the second Lagrange point (L2) between the sun and the Earth. The telescope can now orbit without any additional thrusters here, held in place by the forces of gravity, nearly 1 million miles away from us, and enjoy the best views of the oldest galaxies and stars in the observable universe. Behold. Soon, [the next generation of space-based astronomy]( will begin, and we can't wait to see its first new vistas of the universe this summer. [Read More]( CULTURE [Yes, the FBI Might Confiscate Your Paper on How to Build a Nuclear Bomb]( [A big nuclear explosion.]( Back in the good old 1970s, a student called John Aristotle Phillips (yes, that's his middle name) at Princeton University [gathered notes from the U.S. Government Printing Office]( combined it with what he could find in his university library, and drafted a schematic for creating a nuclear bomb capable of turning one-quarter of Manhattan into glass. - [Two suns in the sunset](. And he went even further, actually developing his beach ball-sized explosive for multiple months. He was doing this to prove how easy building a bomb would be for terrorists, attempting to raise public awareness of the possible dangers of a nuclear bomb. However, when word got out about the "A-Bomb Kid", the government was not thrilled. The FBI confiscated his thesis, in addition to the mockup bomb he'd built in his room. At least, he got that well-deserved A grade. Peace, love, and granola? After this ordeal, Phillips was a born-again anti-nuclear-proliferation activist, and later ran for a seat in Congress, multiple times. Which goes to show that sometimes, [really good ideas are actually terrible ones](. [Read More]( INNOVATION [A New 3D-Printed System Lets Blind People 'See' Obstacles Via Vibrations]( [The haptic system.]( Scientists from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) [developed infrared goggles]( that can help blind people avoid obstacles, even in total darkness, with the aid of vibrating pads. - How? The new device uses a pair of infrared cameras inserted into 3D-printed goggles. These capture a stereoscopic image that’s sent to a small computer to create a map of the user's environment. This map is programmed into a vibration array on a haptic feedback sleeve that communicates the information to the user with a tiny shake. Good vibrations. By fitting the visually impaired with vibrating pads on their forearms, the new technology also enables the users to keep their hands free while they navigate their environment. During tests, the volunteers were able to accurately navigate with up to 98 percent accuracy. Wow! Get the picture. While [advances in bionic vision systems]( also have great potential for helping people regain vision via state-of-the-art technology, this new system could greatly improve people's lives in the shorter term. [Read More]( MAIL & MUSINGS From food to coral reefs, 3D printing technology is being increasingly used around the world. Which part of 3D printing is most appealing? Be sure you check back tomorrow for the results! [Lower production costs. Have you seen the inflation?]( [Prosthetics for healthcare is going to be interesting.]( [DIYs! Possibilities are endless.]( [I won't be satisfied until I can get my food “Star Trek” replicator style.]( Yesterday’s Results We asked you what you find most exciting about the future of quantum computing. And surprise, surprise: Multiple generations of people who have been traumatized by the coronavirus are hoping for faster drug and vaccine development. We couldn't agree more! Faster development of drugs and vaccines. This is vital. 51% I’m just worried about data encryption becoming obsolete. 26% Better weather forecasting. It’s currently just a guessing game! 14% Faster transactions! Finance will thrive. 9% QUOTE OF THE DAY “ We are survival machines, robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes. This is a truth which still fills me with astonishment. ” Richard Dawkins in 'The Selfish Gene' [Video]VIDEO OF THE DAY [De-crust Your Bread with Ease Thanks to This DIY Bread De-Cruster]( Never remove the crust by hand ever again with this nifty device. [De-crust Your Bread with Ease Thanks to This DIY Bread De-Cruster]( AND ANOTHER THING... - Boeing [has invested $450 million to build]( a fully autonomous flying taxi. Also backed by NASA, it could become the first to earn a flight certificate. - What can you do if the ship you are traveling on [finds itself in some very serious trouble]( Besides learning how to swim, of course. - This episode of National Geographic’s “Overheard” podcast documents the layered history and fascinating revival of one of the world’s most enduring landmarks, [Notre-Dame de Paris](. - The world's five richest tycoons [lost $85 billion in total]( due to last week's market sell-off. Make no mistake, they still have more money than we can imagine, and while the drops in fortune could still put a dent in their future plans. They probably won’t. - While imprisoned for being a “reactionary”, physicist and engineer Zhi Bingyi [began devising a system]( to help computing machines read Chinese characters. (WIRED) - Did you know [Los Angeles has a train robbery problem]( Far from being an artifact from yesteryears, it’s costing the city millions of dollars. - Working out buffs up the body — and perhaps the mind, too. New research is revealing how [physical activity can reduce and even ward off]( depression and anxiety. (Knowable Magazine) [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 and Brad Bergan Enjoy reading? 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