Liquid metal textile could solve NASA's lunar dust problem

Plus: Using algae to make glowing materials, high-temperature perovskites maintain solar efficiency, UK unveils advanced submarine surveillance vessel. NASA's grand plan to establish a sustained presence on the Moon faces an unexpected adversary — sticky lunar dust that gets everywhere. This powdery menace threatens delicate equipment and astronaut safety, especially if it works its way inside lunar habitats and into breathable air. But an ingenious new liquid metal fabric could be an effective way to keep the dust out of all the nooks and crannies. By generating a repulsive electric field, the proposed smart material would shake off any stubborn particles. If it works, grime-covered spacesuits and malfunctioning instruments might never be a feature of lunar exploration. Jump to today’s [Must Read]( for the details on how it would work. 🔑 Also today, unlock your potential in the world of Java programming with the FREE [Job Ready Java]( ebook – your one-stop resource for mastering the essentials and landing your dream job! Dive into practical lessons, and real-world applications, and become a Java pro today! Good morning. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. What other innovative tech is out there? VIDEO OF THE DAY [Is Nikola Tesla Overrated?]( How dragons and insects are inspiring drones of the future Discover cutting-edge drones: DRAGON, a shape-shifting marvel, and resilient insect-sized micro-drones with unique capabilities. SUPPORT INTERESTING ENGINEERING Invest in science and engineering Insider access to exclusive content, featuring riveting stories that take you right to the heart of the action. 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Must Read [🧑🏽‍🚀 This liquid metal fabric will protect astronauts from Lunar dust]( Lunar dust poses a major challenge for NASA's upcoming Artemis missions because the way it clings to space suits and equipment is potentially hazardous. NASA established the Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (LSII) in 2019 to find a solution. Now, a researcher awarded an LSII grant believes liquid metal technology can provide a solution. The proposed LiqMEST fabric uses gallium alloys that can be activated to generate an electric field. This would repel lunar dust on demand, preventing it from sticking to space suits or other materials. The researcher is working with engineering students to develop a LiqMEST prototype by May 2024. If successful, the technology would enable a dust-resistant outer layer for missions, protecting astronauts and equipment. The elegant use of liquid metal offers a promising approach to overcoming a critical obstacle for sustained lunar exploration. [[Read More]( [Military]( [🇬🇧 Attacking the United Kingdom by sea just got a lot damn harder]( The UK unveiled the RFA Proteus, an advanced ship for underwater surveillance, in a ceremony in London. After conversion from an oil rig vessel, Proteus is equipped for launching remotely operated vehicles for maritime missions. With a flight deck and cargo area, the ship will be crewed by Royal Navy specialists to conduct below-surface monitoring and warfare operations. [[Read More]( [Innovation]( [🌟 Algae materials produce light with no power source]( Researchers at the University of California San Diego created soft materials that glow when pressed or disturbed, using bioluminescent algae called dinoflagellates. By combining the algae with polymers like alginate from seaweed, they produced solutions that could be 3D printed into shapes. The materials lit up when stressed mechanically, without needing any power source. More pressure caused brighter light. The self-sustaining, living materials could have applications in medicine, robotics, and beyond. [[Read More]( [Science]( [🌡 Scientists make perovskite solar cells perform in high temperatures]( Perovskites are efficient at converting sunlight to electricity but degrade in heat, preventing wide adoption. A specialized coating on the cells' nickel oxide layer enhanced the interface and bonding between components, providing thermal stability. Test cells maintained over 90% efficiency at 65°C for over 1000 hours. The innovation finally resolves the key issue of temperature sensitivity that previously thwarted perovskites' viability for scalable solar power. [[Read More]( QUESTION OF THE DAY Do you think the liquid metal prototype, due to be completed by the end of May, 2024 will work? [Hope so, great idea]( [The dust will break it]( [It'll take longer to perfect]( [Liquid metal sounds dangerous]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS We asked you about Fast Radio Bursts and their affect on human attitudes towards space exploration. The majority of you consider them a catalyst for scientific understanding. 43% Drives scientific advancements 39% Challenging existing notions 9% Spurring communication development 9% Fostering international cooperation “When I learned that NASA has a problem with lunar dust [...] it occurred to me that liquid metals might offer a potential avenue for developing an electrostatic or electrodynamic shield.” Arif Rahman, Assistant Professor at Hawai’i Pacific University THINGS WE LOVE [MERACH Exercise Bike]( [$349.99]( [YZPower Battery Charger]( [$28.89]( [KuccHero Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker]( [$99.98]( [Celestron AstroMaster Telescope]( [$149]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Unreliable accounts control X's news on Israel-Hamas: Study]( - [AI is here, but who will keep it in check? 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