<p>The picture is said to be one of the most iconic in the world.</p>


An Adventurous Team Recreates the Windows XP Wallpaper &#8216;Bliss&#8217;

<p>You may not have heard of Andrew Levitt and his friends but you must have certainly stumbled across their inspiration. This adventurous team of guys travels around the world to recreate the images found in Apple&#8217;s desktop wallpapers.</p>
<p>&#8220;An image can say a thousand words,&#8221; is their motto and it seems that there is nowhere this intrepid group of friends will not go to capture the <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/7-photos-of-this-years-international-photography-awards-winners"   rel="dofollow">beautiful images</a> they recreate from Apple&#8217;s desktop wallpapers.</p>
<p>Still, as stunning and inspiring as all these images are, they do not compare to Windows XP wallpaper &#8216;Bliss.&#8221; Luckily for the team, the location of the world-famous wallpaper was less than a two-hour drive from Levitt&#8217;s home.</p>
<p>You might be wondering: how do they know where <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/13-must-see-photographs-from-nature-photographer-of-the-year-2020"   rel="dofollow">these wallpapers</a> are exactly located? How do they access this information?</p>
<p>We wondered the same thing and unfortunately, the video does not answer that, probably though, someone simply took notice decades ago. It does, however, give you a sneak peek into the journey of this unstoppable group of friends.</p>
<p>The photo they seek to recreate was taken in 1996 by National Geographic photographer Charles O&#8217;Rear. Will they be able to match this experienced photographer&#8217;s talent and take a worthwhile imitation picture? You have to watch the video to find out.</p>


<p>Aqueous batteries use water as the solvent for electrolytes, enhancing the safety of the batteries.</p>


China’s water battery has almost double energy capacity than lithium cells

A representative image of aqueous batteries


<p>Researchers in China have developed a water-based battery, which is claimed to be much safer and energy-efficient than &#8220;highly flammable&#8221; non-aqueous lithium batteries.  </p>



<p>Interestingly, the researchers say that these new batteries will be twice as energy-dense as traditional lithium-ion options. This holds the potential to revolutionize the electric vehicle industry.<br><br>Moreover, aqueous batteries use water as the solvent for electrolytes, enhancing their safety. Traditional non-aqueous lithium-ion batteries have a high energy density, but their safety is compromised due to the flammable organic electrolytes, a <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/researchers-crack-120-year-old-problem-with-newompound"  rel="dofollow">component</a> that allows the battery to charge and discharge, they utilize.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lower-energy-density">Lower energy density</h3>



<p>However, aqueous batteries generally have a lower energy density due to the limited solubility of the electrolyte and low battery voltage. </p>



<p>Now, researchers in China have developed a high-energy-density aqueous battery based on halogen multi-electron transfer.<br><br>A research group led by Prof. LI Xianfeng from the <a href="http://english.dicp.cas.cn/news/rn/202404/t20240423_660856.html"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Dalian</a> Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in collaboration with Prof. FU Qiang&#8217;s group also from DICP, developed a multi-electron transfer cathode based on bromine and iodine. <br><br>This cathode achieved a specific capacity of more than 840 Ah/L and an energy density of up to 1200 Wh/L based on catholyte in full battery testing, according to a new study published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-024-01515-9"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Nature Energy</a>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-researchers-used-a-mixed-halogen-solution">Researchers used a mixed halogen solution</h3>



<p>To improve the energy density of aqueous batteries, researchers used a mixed halogen solution of iodide ions (I-) and bromide ions (Br-) as the electrolyte. They developed a multi-electron transfer reaction, transferring I- to iodine element (I2) and then to iodate (IO3-). <br><br>Researchers said that during the <a href="http://english.dicp.cas.cn/news/rn/202404/t20240423_660856.html"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">charging</a> process, I- were oxidized to IO3- on the positive side, and the generated H+ were conducted to the negative side in the form of a supporting electrolyte. During the discharge process, H+ were conducted from the positive side, and IO3- were reduced to I-.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-process">The process</h3>



<p>The developed multi-electron transfer cathode had a specific capacity of 840 Ah/L. Combining the cathode with metallic Cd to form a full battery, researchers achieved an energy density of up to 1200 Wh/L based on the developed catholyte.<br><br>According to the <a href="http://english.dicp.cas.cn/news/rn/202404/t20240423_660856.html"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">researchers</a>, Br- added to the electrolyte could generate polar iodine bromide (IBr) during the charging process, which facilitated the reaction with H2O to form IO3-. <br><br>During the discharge, IO3- could oxidize Br- to Br2 and participated in the electrochemical reaction to realize reversible and rapid discharge of IO3-. Therefore, the bromide intermediate formed during the charge and discharge process optimized the reaction process, effectively improving the kinetic and reversibility of the electrochemical reaction.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-batteries-life-cycle-could-be-extended-to-1-000-cycles">Batteries’ life cycle could be extended to 1,000 cycles</h3>



<p>According to <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3261368/chinese-scientists-create-water-battery-can-hold-much-more-energy-lithium-cells-study?module=top_story&amp;pgtype=homepage"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">SCMP</a>, when the researchers tested their electrolyte with a vanadium anode, they found the batteries’ life cycle could be extended to 1,000 cycles, “demonstrating significant stability.”<br><br>Scientists also mentioned that their batteries&#8217; energy density even “exceeded that of some solid electrode materials” and could be comparable in cost to traditional lithium batteries.<br><br>They claimed that their work showcases that aqueous batteries with high energy density can be developed, and it offers a development option for grid-scale energy storage and even electric vehicles.</p>



<p>&#8220;This study provides a new idea for the design of high-energy-density aqueous batteries, and may expand the aqueous batteries application in power batteries field,&#8221; said Prof. LI.</p>



<p></p>


<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/energy/storedot-polestar-ev-battery-charging-record">‘World’s first’: 10-minute EV charging record set by Polestar and StoreDot</a></li>
 	<li class="Review_header__rCaGD">
<p class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/energy/us-repurposing-mining-waste-ev-battery">US researching ways to use mining waste in EV battery production</a></p>
</li>
 	<li class="Review_header__rCaGD">
<p class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/energy/waterless-hydro-energy-storage">UK’s 1st waterless hydro-energy storage to offer 2.5 times more power</a></p>

<div class="Review_header__rCaGD">

&nbsp;

</div></li>
</ul>

<p>A research team from Northwestern University used physics and statistical theory to confirm Fritz Heider’s social balance theory.</p>


Physicists just proved that the enemy of your enemy is indeed your friend

Conceptual representation of a network of people


<p>The oft-used proverb “The enemy of my enemy is my friend” is not just limited to middle-school English classes and middlingly written revenge dramas. Not only does it spring from a socio-psychological theory proposed by psychologist Fritz Heider in the 1940s, it appears that it has finally been scientifically proven.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A research team from Northwestern University used physics and statistical theory to confirm Heider’s hypotheses. Senior study author István Kovács expands upon this much ado about “friends” and “enemies” and how his team arrived upon the conclusion that Heider, in fact, was right.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-social-balance-theory">What is social balance theory?</h3>



<p>The principal grounding of the social balance theory lies in the achievement of cognitive consistency, which is, in turn, a step toward psychological balance. Individuals strive for harmony in their interpersonal relationships, and when these relationships fall outside the ambit of the four rules described by Heider, this harmony is disturbed until the individual finds a way to restore it by altering how they feel about one of the constituent elements of the equation.</p>



<p>For example, if you like a celebrity that goes on to endorse a product that you dislike, your opinion of both the celebrity and the product would be undecided, hence leading to cognitive dissonance. That is, until you decide that the product isn’t so bad after all, or that you do not really like the celebrity. This achieves harmony again.</p>



<p>According to senior study author István Kovács, “Social balance can be considered in a group of people, usually among at least three people, forming a triangle. The connections between them represent the sentiment of relationships between each other, either positive or negative.&#8221;</p>



<p>&#8220;Balance appears if all relationships are positive or when two negative relationships are balanced by one positive relationship. Other situations lead to unbalanced triangles, causing tension or frustration,” he explained further.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-previous-work-on-the-theory">Previous work on the theory</h3>



<p>Despite numerous attempts by researchers to validate this theory using network science and mathematics, their endeavors have often not attained complete success due to the inherent complexities of social networks, which often deviate from perfectly balanced relationships (as posited by the theory).&nbsp;</p>



<p>Therefore, the crux of the matter lies in determining whether social networks exhibit a higher degree of balance than what would be expected according to a suitable network model. However, most existing network models have proven too simplistic to adequately capture the intricacies of human relationships, resulting in inconsistent findings.</p>



<p>The team from Northwestern University has managed to overcome this challenge by successfully integrating two crucial components essential for Heider’s social framework to function effectively. In real-life scenarios, not everyone is acquainted with each other, and individuals vary in their positivity towards others.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While researchers have long recognized the influence of both factors on social ties, existing models could only accommodate one factor at a time. By simultaneously incorporating both constraints, the resulting network model developed by the researchers has finally substantiated the much-studied theory nearly eight decades after Heider first proposed it.</p>



<p>Kovács’s says, &#8220;As physicists, our initial interest was sparked by the 2021 Nobel Prize awarded to Giorgio Parisi who studies complex physical systems, shared with Syukuro Manabe, and Klaus Hasselmann working on climate modeling.&#8221;</p>



<p>He states that in Parisi&#8217;s studies, competing interactions between spins can lead to configurations unable to simultaneously minimize all pairwise interactions, resulting in inherent frustration.</p>



<p>Kovács remarks that social systems sometimes exhibit analogous frustrations, where conflicting interpersonal relationships or attitudes can create a state of imbalance or tension within a social network.</p>



<p>&#8220;We found it exciting to combine insights and tools from statistical physics with large-scale datasets about real social systems,&#8221; he adds.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-research-conducted-by-kovacs-s-team">The research conducted by Kovács’s team</h3>



<p>To investigate the issue, Kovács’s team turned its attention to four extensive signed network datasets previously assembled by social scientists—(1) user-rated comments on the social news site Slashdot; (2) exchanges among Congressional members on the house floor; (3) interactions among Bitcoin traders; and (4) product reviews from the consumer review site Epinions.</p>



<p>In their network model, the researchers departed from assigning purely random negative or positive values to the edges. In a truly random scenario, every node would have an equal likelihood of encountering one another. However, real-life social networks do not adhere to such uniformity, as not every individual is acquainted with everyone else in their network.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To enhance the realism of their model, they devised a statistical approach to allocate positive or negative values based on the likelihood of such interactions occurring. This method ensured randomness within the constraints imposed by the network&#8217;s topology. Furthermore, the team incorporated the notion that certain individuals are inherently more amiable than others, leading to a higher likelihood of positive interactions and fewer hostile encounters.</p>



<p>By integrating these two constraints, the resulting model consistently demonstrated alignment with Heider&#8217;s social balance theory across large-scale social networks. Moreover, the model revealed patterns extending beyond three nodes, indicating the applicability of social balance theory to larger graphlets involving four or more nodes.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-practical-applications">Practical applications</h3>



<p>This innovative framework holds immense potential in advancing our understanding of social dynamics, including phenomena like political polarization and international relations. Moreover, it can be applied to any system characterized by a combination of positive and negative interactions, such as neural networks or drug combinations.</p>



<p>One way to understand how this theory plays out in real, day-to-day life is, according to Kovács, by “thinking about two options that people need to choose from (relevant in many settings, like political polarization): it would be ideal for friends to share the same opinion, and enemies to be on different sides. Such an ideal situation can only happen in balanced triangles.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>In accordance with social balance theory, people instinctively strive to alleviate tension to uphold social stability and comfort. This theory serves as a valuable framework for understanding our behaviors and motivations in establishing social interactions among individuals.</p>



<p>When it comes to applications within human neural networks, the senior study author says that neurons are connected through synapses, which can transmit either excitatory or inhibitory signals. This dynamic mirrors the interactions found in social networks. </p>



<p>“Our model could potentially leverage the known connectome data and any initial hypotheses about the excitatory or inhibitory nature of certain neurons to infer the likely characteristics of the remaining synaptic connections,” Kovács explains.</p>



<p>Likewise, in the case of drug combinations, this model could offer valuable insights into whether the pairing of two drugs enhances efficacy in treating particular diseases.</p>



<p>While the social network study provided an ideal foundation for exploration, the authors posit that their primary focus is to extend their investigations beyond interactions among friends and delve into other intricate networks.</p>



<p>The study has been published in <em>Science Advances.</em></p>


<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/energy/science-shocker-light-can-vaporize-water-without-heat-says-mit-study">Science shocker: Light can vaporize water without heat, says MIT study</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/new-simons-observatory-in-chile">New Simons Observatory in Chile aims to map afterglow of the Big Bang</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/space/no-dark-matter-in-universe">Is there no dark matter in our universe?</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Ex-Google engineer&#8217;s AI church under fire as AI priest allows catholic offenses.</p>


AI priest, Fr Justin, okayed Gatorade baptisms and incest — gets demoted


<p>A former Google engineer who founded a church dedicated to AI called Catholic Answers has been scrutinized immensely in the digital realm after its AI chatbot, Father (Fr) Justin, okayed catholic offenses. </p>



<p>Some of these offenses the <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/blessed-robotic-priest-blessu-2-germany"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">AI priest</a> relayed to the church members who chose to confide in the bot, blessed an incestual marriage and told another user it was alright to baptize a baby in Gatorade. He stated, &#8220;as real as the faith we share.&#8221; </p>



<p>Many people were offended by the controversial answers provided by Fr Justin, therefore, Christopher Check, President of Catholic Answers said:</p>



<p>“As a media apostolate, we feel very strongly about finding new ways to share the gospel—as our founder, Karl Keating, did many years ago when he started Catholic.com to put that wild new technology of the Internet to the service of Catholic truth.”</p>



<p>“There are no bad things, only bad uses of things,” G.K. Chesterton from Catholic Answers said.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-church-s-aim-to-provide-benefits-of-ai-backfired">Church&#8217;s aim to provide benefits of AI backfired</h3>



<p>Check said these concerns were noted and they do not want the AI character to distract the people from the important purpose of this application.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The aim was to provide sound answers to questions about the Catholic faith in an innovative way that makes good use of the benefits of “<a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/ai-plays-god-chatgpt-delivers-its-first-sermon"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">artificial intelligence</a>,” the statement by the president added.</p>



<p>Therefore, the church is hoping to revive the AI apologist within a week, until then, the bot has been rendered.</p>



<p>“We won’t say he’s been laicized, because he never was a real priest! He’ll be available to visitors to Catholic.com, thousands of whom have already used the app with great profit,” stated Check.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Since many users also sought sacramental absolution from Fr Justin, the church said that it was unexpected and they would improve the app by identifying these deficiencies. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-father-justin-s-persistence-to-confess-sins">Father Justin&#8217;s persistence to confess sins</h3>



<p>A user on X–<a href="https://twitter.com/KatieConradKS"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Katie (Kathryn) Conrad</a> posted her experience with the AI priest. She sought to confess to the bot, stating:&nbsp;</p>



<p>“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been three weeks since my last confession.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>To which, Fr. Justin encouraged the confession and asked Conrad to tell her sins by responding:&nbsp;</p>



<p>“May the Lord be in your heart and help you to confess your sins with true sorrow. Remember, as it says in 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Now, my child, tell me your sins.</p>



<p>“I have had anger in my heart about the deployment of AI chatbots in inappropriate places,” she replied.</p>



<p>The AI Priest then told her to not sin while referring to Ephesians 4:26-27, however further encouraged her to confess her sins again.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Conrad then apologized for failing to mention her sins.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“God is merciful and loving, my child. As it says in Psalm 103:12, As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us,” replied Fr Justin.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“For your penance, I ask you to pray the Our Father three times, reflecting on God&#8217;s infinite mercy and love. And now, I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Go in peace, my child, and sin no more.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">OH NO. It got worse. It literally offered me the sacrament. <a href="https://t.co/x5IoeJn30x"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/x5IoeJn30x</a></p>&mdash; Katie (Kathryn) Conrad (@KatieConradKS) <a href="https://twitter.com/KatieConradKS/status/1783142604940398723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">April 24, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>


<ul>
 	<li class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/robots-arent-credible-preachers-get-less-respect-and-donations">Robots aren’t credible preachers, get less respect and donations</a></li>
 	<li class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/blessed-robotic-priest-blessu-2-germany">You Can Get Blessed by a Robotic Priest Called “BlessU-2” in Germany</a></li>
 	<li class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/ai-plays-god-chatgpt-delivers-its-first-sermon">AI plays god: ChatGPT delivers its first sermon</a></li>
</ul>

<p>For thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine has used venomous centipedes to treat kidney disease, epilepsy, and many other disorders.</p>


Chinese medicine-inspired venomous centipede could treat kidney disease

Giant centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes) 


<p>Traditional Chinese medicine has been in practice for thousands of years now. The first writings of it date back to 200 BCE with references to herbal medicine and acupuncture from theory and practice to diagnosis and treatment. </p>



<p>Now, researchers have found that<a href="https://interestingengineering.com/health/hong-kong-ai-power-old-chinese-medicine"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow"> Chinese medicine</a> may be key for kidney treatment. </p>



<p>They refer to the Chinese red-headed centipede (Scolopendra subsidies mutilans) comprising alkaloids that have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat kidney diseases.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-centipedes-comprise-alkaloids-to-treat-kidney-disease">Centipedes comprise alkaloids, to treat kidney disease</h3>



<p>These centipedes are eight inches (20 centimers) long and full of venom and yet known to save the lives of those impacted by kidney disease. </p>



<p>The multilegged creature is a host of alkaloids that have demonstrated a reduction in inflammation and renal fibrosis in cell cultures. These two conditions contribute to kidney disease.</p>



<p>According to a <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1043329"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">statement</a> by the researchers, the compounds studied in Chinese medicine, including toad venom, for cancer treatment have proven to be fruitful leads for drug development. </p>



<p>This inspired Yong-Xian Cheng and his team to examine the secondary metabolites produced by the Chinese red-headed centipede (<em>Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans</em>).&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-treatment-thousands-of-years-old">A treatment thousands of years old</h3>



<p>The statement noted that “the venomous centipede has been used for thousands of years in treatments for conditions including epilepsy, tuberculosis, burns, and cardiovascular disease.” </p>



<p>The research was conducted in a laboratory setting where they blended a sample of dried centipede powder with ethanol to extract a considerable number of compounds from the animals. </p>



<p>These were then separated to recognize the compounds in them using techniques such as chromatography and spectrometry.</p>



<p>Following the identification of constituents, the team of researchers discovered 12 new quinoline and isoquinoline alkaloids, some of which exhibited unique molecular compositions. </p>



<p>Additionally, they found half a dozen other alkaloids previously observed in this species or in plants. </p>



<p>In cell cultures, certain alkaloids demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties, while others also displayed the ability to decrease renal fibrosis.</p>



<p>“This buildup of connective tissue is associated with chronic kidney disease and is stimulated by inflammation,” the researchers stated. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-effective-dual-function-alkaloid">Most effective dual-function alkaloid</h3>



<p>Researchers added that they identified a protein involved in renal fibrosis, that was targeted by the most effective dual-function alkaloid.</p>



<p>The protein is associated with kidney scarring (renal fibrosis) because it is affected by the most powerful alkaloid found in centipede venom. </p>



<p>This suggests a potential mechanism by which the alkaloid could be beneficial in treating kidney disease.</p>



<p>The newly discovered discovery could pave the way for future research and the development of potential treatments for kidney disease, which is a significant health concern globally.</p>



<p>The study was <a href="https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.4c00044"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">published</a> in the <em>Journal of Natural Products</em>.</p>



<p></p>


<p class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/health/hong-kong-ai-power-old-chinese-medicine">Hong Kong uses AI-power to transcend old Chinese medicine reach to US</a></p>
<p class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/health/can-acupuncture-reduce-chronic-headaches">Can acupuncture reduce chronic tension-type headaches? Scientists think so</a></p>
&nbsp;

<p>The Chang’e-6 is set to land on the South Pole-Aitken Basin, which is on the lunar far side and is one of the largest and oldest impact features in the solar system.</p>


In a world&#8217;s first, China sends rocket to retrieve samples from moon’s far side


<p>China has launched one of its most anticipated missions to bring lunar rock and soil from the far side of the moon. The Long March-5, China&#8217;s largest rocket, blasted off to space carrying the Chang’e-6 lunar probe. The 53-day mission is a world-first attempt to retrieve rocks and soil from the moon&#8217;s side that never faces Earth.<br><br>&#8220;Collecting and returning samples from the far side of the moon is an unprecedented feat,&#8221; Wu Weiren, chief designer of the country’s lunar exploration programme, told <em>Xinhua</em>. &#8220;We know very little about the moon’s far side. If the <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3261346/chinas-change-6-blasts-mission-fetch-first-rock-samples-far-side-moon?module=top_story&amp;pgtype=homepage"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Chang’e-6 </a>mission can achieve its goal, it will provide scientists with the first direct evidence to understand the environment and material composition of the far side of the moon, which is of great significance.&#8221;<br><br>The Chang’e-6 is set to land on the South Pole–Aitken Basin, which is on the <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/lunar-wall-of-death-astronauts"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">lunar</a> far side and is one of the largest and oldest impact features in the solar system.</p>



<p>The spacecraft is expected to reach the moon’s orbit in four to five days after the probe separates from the rocket. Chinese scientists expect it to land on lunar soil in early June.<br><br>As it lands, the Chang’e-6 is likely to spend two days on lunar soil to dig up around 4.4 pounds (2 kilograms) of samples, which will be sealed in a container. Chang’e-6 will land in north China’s Inner Mongolia .</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-samples-geological-age-nbsp">Samples&#8217; geological age&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Chinese scientists have claimed that the samples collected by Chang’e-6 will have a geological age of approximately four billion years.<br><br>After the spacecraft arrives at the moon, it will separate into two parts. The lander and ascender will head for the lunar surface, while the orbiter and the re-entry module remain in orbit, according to <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3261346/chinas-change-6-blasts-mission-fetch-first-rock-samples-far-side-moon?module=top_story&amp;pgtype=homepage"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>South China Morning Post</em></a>.<br><br>Built as a backup for China’s Chang’e-5 mission, Chang&#8217;e-6 consists of four components: an orbiter, lander, ascender, and re-entry module.<br><br>Chang’e-5 brought 3.81 pounds (1.73 kilograms) of samples from the near side of the moon in 2020. It was also the first time humans retrieved lunar samples in 44 years following the US Apollo and Soviet Luna missions.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-china-to-become-first-country-to-retrieve-samples-from-the-moon-s-hidden-side">China to become first country to retrieve samples from the moon’s &#8220;hidden&#8221; side</h3>



<p>&#8220;Chang’e-6 is basically a repeat of Chang’e-5. The only added difficulty is the communications link to the far side,&#8221; said Jonathan McDowell, a Harvard astronomer who tracks rocket launches and space activities. “And that appears to be well in hand with the Queqiao-2 relay satellite in place,” McDowell said, according to <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3261346/chinas-change-6-blasts-mission-fetch-first-rock-samples-far-side-moon?module=top_story&amp;pgtype=homepage"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>SCMP</em></a>.<br><br>If Chang’e-6 succeds in its mission, China will become the first country to retrieve samples from the moon’s &#8220;hidden&#8221; side. China is also planning to send three lunar probe missions over the next four years and it aims to send astronauts on the moon by 2030.</p>


<div class="Review_header__rCaGD">
<ul>
 	<li class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/lunar-wall-of-death-astronauts">Experts propose ‘lunar Wall of Death’ run for astronaut exercise</a></li>
 	<li class="Review_header__rCaGD">
<p class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-liquid-propellant-engine-test">China’s most powerful space engine generates 500 tons of thrust power in tests</a></p>
</li>
 	<li class="Review_header__rCaGD">
<p class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/starship-lunar-landing-technology">SpaceX’s Starship lunar-landing tech passes a key in-space refueling test</a></p>

<div class="Review_header__rCaGD">

&nbsp;

</div></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="Review_desc__skOL9">
<h2 class="article-abstract"></h2>
</div>

<p>The James Webb Space Telescope will observe planet K2-18b again later this year to look for more signs of alien life.</p>


JWST&#8217;s detection of life on alien planet could be a premature claim

An artist's impression of the planet K2-18 b.


<p>Earlier this year, <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/water-on-exoplanet-k2-18b-webb-finds-possible-molecular-clues"  rel="dofollow">reports emerged</a> that NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) had likely found signs of life on a distant alien planet.</p>



<p>Celebrations were premature, according to a new study on the findings. Not all hope is lost, though, as the new paper also outlines how the telescope might still verify the presence of gas produced by life – if it really is out there.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-james-webb-searches-for-alien-life">James Webb searches for alien life</h3>



<p>Arguments like the <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/what-is-the-fermi-paradox"  rel="dofollow">Fermi Paradox</a> provide a compelling picture of our universe as one that should be thriving with alien life. As space observatory technology continues to mature, scientists are increasingly turning their attention to searching for signs of extraterrestrial life.</p>



<p>James Webb is the most powerful space observatory in history, meaning it is well positioned to lead the charge. In fact, in September last year, exciting reports emerged that Webb had observed a biosignature gas in the atmosphere of planet K2-18b.</p>



<p>Now, a new UC Riverside study might dampen the mood for alien enthusiasts, though it does highlight the ongoing potential for finding signs of alien life in the near future.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ad3801"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">paper</a>, published in the <em>Astrophysical Journal Letters</em>, sheds new light on those K2-18b findings.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Initial reports highlighted the fact that methane and carbon dioxide were present in the atmosphere of K2-18b, which is 120 light-years from Earth. This, coupled with the fact that K2-18b is believed to be an ocean world, got scientists and observers excited about the potential for alien life.</p>



<p>“What was icing on the cake, in terms of the search for life, is that last year these researchers reported a tentative detection of dimethyl sulfide, or DMS, in the atmosphere of that planet, which is produced by ocean phytoplankton on Earth,” UCR project scientist and study author Shang-Min Tsai explained in a <a href="https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2024/05/02/webb-telescope-probably-didnt-find-life-exoplanet-yet"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">press statement</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-problem-with-detecting-dms">The problem with detecting DMS</h3>



<p>James Webb’s data on DMS was inconclusive, which led the UCR researchers to investigate. They set out to understand whether enough DMS could accumulate on K2-18b that it could be detected by Webb.</p>



<p>&#8220;The DMS signal from the Webb telescope was not very strong and only showed up in certain ways when analyzing the data,&#8221; Tsai continued. &#8220;We wanted to know if we could be sure of what seemed like a hint about DMS.&#8221;</p>



<p>The UC Riverside researchers created computer models for the physics and chemistry of DMS. Using those simulations, they found that it is unlikely the real data accurately shows the presence of DMS.</p>



<p>&#8220;The signal strongly overlaps with methane, and we think that picking out DMS from methane is beyond this instrument’s capability,&#8221; Tsai said. </p>



<p>Crucially, the scientists didn’t rule out the existence of alien life on K2-18b. They merely stated that we don’t have enough evidence for its existence. At least, not yet. Later this year, James Webb will train a stronger instrument on K2-18b, and it may provide the details extraterrestrial enthusiasts want to see.</p>



<p>&#8220;Why do we keep exploring the cosmos for signs of life? Imagine you’re camping in Joshua Tree at night, and you hear something,&#8221; Tsai continued. &#8220;Your instinct is to shine a light to see what’s out there. That’s what we’re doing too, in a way.&#8221;</p>


<ul>
 	<li><a class="RelatedStories_relatedunderline__rsAYf" href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/webb-unveils-stunning-new-views-of-the-iconic-ring-nebula" target="_self">Webb unveils stunning new views of the iconic Ring Nebula</a></li>
 	<li><a class="RelatedStories_relatedunderline__rsAYf" href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/james-webb-space-telescope-maisies-galaxy" target="_self">Webb's data confirms Maisie's Galaxy as oldest ever observed</a></li>
 	<li><a class="RelatedStories_relatedunderline__rsAYf" href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/james-webb-space-telescope-most-distant-star-earendel" target="_self">Earendel: Webb reveals most distant star ever discovered</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Similar in principle to LPG, the new bike could make motorbikes more sustainable and cheaper to run. </p>


Bajaj Auto set to unveil &#8216;world&#8217;s first&#8217; CNG-fueled motorbike

Promotional image of the world's first CNG-powered motorbike.


<p>Indian Bajaj Motors is set to release its compressed natural gas (CNG) powered motorbike in June of this year. Similar in principle to liquified natural gas (LPG), this technology could dramatically reduce the environmental impact of motorbikes in the future. </p>



<p>As its name implies, <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/volkswagens-seat-will-develop-new-technology-with-italian-natural-gas-supplier"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">CNG </a>is produced by compressing natural gas to less than 1% of its volume at standard atmospheric pressure. Once in this state, it can be used as a fuel source for internal combustion engines. </p>



<p>The gas is stored in a cylindrical tank and fed through fuel lines via a pressure regulator before reaching the combustion chamber. There, it is mixed with air and ignited by a spark plug like regular liquid fuels.</p>



<p>LPG is often considered a more affordable and eco-friendly option for transportation compared to petrol, diesel, or gasoline. It is widely used in buses, trucks, cars, and even trikes. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-cng-the-future">Is CNG the future?</h2>



<p>While CNG conversion kits have been available globally for some time, <a href="https://www.bajajauto.com/bikes"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Bajaj Auto&#8217;s</a> upcoming CNG motorcycle is believed to be the first production model of its kind in the world. The company has been prototyping its CNG-powered motorbike model for just over a year or so now. </p>



<p>And it has shown great promise over that time. In fact, in a November 2023 interview with <em>CNBC-TV18</em>, the Managing Director of the company, Rajiv Bajaj, stated that the CNG prototype had shown a 75% decrease in carbon monoxide emissions compared to a petrol-fueled motorbike. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="All about CNG" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XvFfyTtvE7Y?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<p>He also mentioned a significant decline in <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/energy/generator-turns-greenhouse-gas-into-electricity"  rel="dofollow">CO2 emissions</a> and &#8220;almost zero&#8221; non-methane hydrocarbons. Bajaj also noted that riders can expect a significant reduction in operating costs, ranging from 50 to 65% in terms of fuel expenses.</p>



<p>If accurate, this would make Bajaj&#8217;s planned CNG-powered motorcycle an environmentally friendly and cost-effective option. The new motorbike will first be launched in India.</p>



<p>According to New Atlas, this is an ideal market to use as a testbed as the motorcycle market is expected to be worth around US$31 billion this year. If it can work there, it should be possible to export it with relative confidence. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-earlier-than-expected-launch">Earlier than expected launch</h2>



<p>During the same <a href="https://www.cnbctv18.com/business/rajiv-bajaj-unveils-bajaj-autos-future-cng-motorcycles-electric-ktm-and-husqvarna-scooters-18388561.htm"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">CNBC-TV18 interview</a>, Bajaj mentioned that the company was aiming for a 2025 launch. However, according to the <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/auto/bikes/bajaj-to-launch-worlds-first-cng-motorcycle-on-june-18-says-rajeev-bajaj-what-to-expect/articleshow/109808220.cms"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><em>Times of India</em>,</a> the timeline has been revised, and an announcement is set for June 18. </p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.zigwheels.com/news-features/general-news/exclusive-upcoming-bajaj-cng-bike-spotted-testing-again/52427/"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">ZogWheels </a></em>has also since shared a couple of photographs in March of a camouflaged motorcycle with an unusually large fuel tank allegedly undergoing benchmarking trials alongside a Bajaj Platina 110 model. This suggests that the CNG motorcycle may be released with a 110cc-equivalent engine.</p>



<p>Last month, <em><a href="https://www.rushlane.com/bajaj-cng-motorcycle-launch-soon-new-spy-shots-12490689.html"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">RushLane </a></em>posted additional photos of a vehicle that appeared to have a 125cc powertrain and dual-fuel setup. The admittedly grainy photos also revealed a few potential specifications, including 17-inch (43 cm) diameter wheels with 80/100 tubeless tires, a semi-digital instrument panel, telescopic forks, rear mono-shock, and an LED headlight.</p>



<p>However, Bajaj Auto has not released any other concrete information on its coming CNG-powered bike. But, if the reported launch window is correct, then we will not have to wait too long before the as-yet-unnamed motorcycle makes its official debut.</p>


<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/volkswagens-seat-will-develop-new-technology-with-italian-natural-gas-supplier" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Volkswagen’s Seat Will Develop New Technology with Italian Natural Gas Supplier</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/robot-gas-pump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Now you can sit back and watch a robot pump gas into your cars</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/worlds-largest-four-stroke-gas-engine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World’s Largest Four Stroke Gas Engine</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Researchers from China create an innovative T-shaped heart monitor inspired by sea turtles that can pick up on low frequency vibrations.</p>


New heart monitor mimics sea turtle anatomy for enhanced sensitivity

The new heart sensor imitates the internal ear bones of sea turtles


<p>Scientists constantly study the natural world to develop technology, and this time, they have turned to sea turtles to innovate the heart monitor.</p>



<p>At the North University of China, Junbin Zang and his colleagues have created advanced heart-monitoring technologies, from portable handhelds to wearables to larger devices for hospitals. At first, they sought to advance the technology already available by figuring out how to make a more sensitive device.</p>



<p>Currently, doctors listen to the heartbeat with instruments such as stethoscopes and echocardiograms. As these methods call for specialized knowledge, they wanted to come up with a low-cost, at-home solution that would better enable individuals to track their heart health as a preventive model. </p>



<p>They turned to sea turtles because their extraordinary auditory anatomy makes them particularly sensitive to vibrations. They thus provided an ideal model to rethink how we listen to the vibrations coming from the human heart as they range from inaudible to audible.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-t-shaped-heart-monitor-inspired-by-sea-turtle-anatomy">A T-shaped heart monitor inspired by sea turtle anatomy</h3>



<p>Sea turtles don&#8217;t absorb sound through a pair of ears as human do but rather through a layer of skin and fat that covers their auditory system. Similarly to humans, sound hits a small bone and is then sent to the brain via electrical signals for it to process and interpret. </p>



<p>Due to a naturally innovative T-shaped design, the movement of these signals across the bones is directed perpendicularly, which makes for a sensitive system unique to sea turtles. It allows them to pick up on low-frequency signals in the 300- to 400-hertz range.</p>



<p>“Heart sounds are also low-frequency signals, so the low-frequency characteristics of the sea turtle’s ear have provided us with great inspiration,” Zang explained.</p>



<p>These researchers created a tiny MEMS cantilever beam sensor, a miniature device with a beam built in almost like a diving board. It can sense physical quantities such as pressure. </p>



<p>The vibrations from the sound cause &#8220;deformations in its beam, and the fluctuations in the voltage resistance are then translated into electrical signals.&#8221; In short, this device picks up on low-vibrations frequencies, which could help specialists as well as individuals to <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/health/a-nasal-spray-could-treat-recurrent-abnormal-heart-rhythms-at-home"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">detect irregularities</a> and problems in advance, and that too, at home.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-this-could-help-solve-a-global-problem">This could help solve a global problem</h3>



<p>This technology could help address the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9370957/"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">47-trillion-dollar loss</a> (by 2030) that the medical industry faces due to cardiovascular disease. In 2019, it was the number one killer in the world. It&#8217;s a large, global threat. And even diabetics are at risk of developing <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/vest-with-256-sensors-to-detect-early-signs-of-heart-muscle-disease"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">heart disease</a>.</p>



<p><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/health/diabetes-diagnosing-sock"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">Finding new and better ways to monitor heart health</a> would alleviate a tremendous amount of pressure off our shoulders across the board. </p>



<p>After conducting tests in a lab, the researchers published the results of a subsequent study with two human volunteers. The sensor showed &#8220;excellent vibration characteristics,&#8221; <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/heart-monitors"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Zang said</a>, with a higher vibration sensitivity than other devices currently available on the market.</p>



<p>As a technology, it proves to be promising and potentially quite innovative. However, these researchers have to work out some kinks. The sensor tends to pick up on background noise, an issue that they’ll address next. They seek to integrate this &#8220;bioinspired sensor&#8221; into the technologies already available and innovate how the heart is monitored.</p>


<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/health/gene-edited-pig-organ">Scientists transplant gene-edited pig organ into brain-dead patient</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/health/new-ai-tool-predicts-death-and-complications-after-heart-surgery">New AI tool predicts death and complications after heart surgery</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/scientists-mapped-out-heartbeat">Scientists mapped out the beat of our heart, here’s what they found</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

<p>The company uses off-the-shelf Bluetooth chips and upgrades them using a software patch enabling long distance communication. </p>


Hubble Network achieves first-ever Bluetooth connection directly to space

Seattle-based Hubble Network plans to deliver global coverage using Bluetooth chips. 


<p>On March 4, SpaceX&#8217;s Transporter-10 ride-sharing mission launched from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California put into orbit two satellites belonging to Seattle-based Hubble Network. These satellites have now achieved the seemingly impossible feat of making a Bluetooth connection to Earth from over 370 miles (600 km) away. </p>



<p>Founded in 2021 by Alex Haro, Ben Wild, and John Kim, Hubble Network had an uphill task ahead of itself, given that Bluetooth connections can notoriously fail when users are in the same room.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Wild, a founder of another company dealing with the Internet of Things (IoT), was shocked when he first heard of the concept. However, through his experiences with IoT devices, he agrees that they are power-hungry, extremely expensive to operate, and do not offer global connectivity.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The solution to this problem lies in the low-power <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/how-in-the-world-bluetooth-and-data-transmission-work"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">Bluetooth connections</a> that Hubble has just demonstrated. &#8220;By showcasing that we can send signals directly from Bluetooth chips and receive them in space over 600km away, we have disproved thousands of skeptics who claimed what we&#8217;re attempting was impossible,&#8221; Haro, CEO at Hubble, said in a press release. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">How does the tech work?&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Hubble is not reinventing Bluetooth technology in any way. Instead, its satellites communicate with off-the-shelf 3.5 mm Bluetooth chips that have only received a software upgrade. The update allows the chips to communicate over long distances using low power, including an orbiting satellite in space.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The satellite&#8217;s phased array antenna, which works like a magnifying glass, can pick up the low-power signals from the chips on the ground. The team also had to figure out Doppler-related problems and frequency mismatches in the communication as data was being exchanged between objects traveling at high speeds, <em><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/02/hubble-network-connects-a-bluetooth-chip-to-a-satellite-for-the-first-time/"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Tech Crunch</a></em> said in its report.</p>



<p>The company claims to have solved the problem of global connectivity by reducing battery drain by 20x and operating costs by 50x. The company aims to connect a billion devices worldwide and transform various industries with its tech.&nbsp;</p>



<p> &#8220;Our mission to build the world&#8217;s first truly global, cost-effective, and battery-efficient network has taken a significant leap forward with this technological breakthrough,&#8221; added Haro. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BT.jpg" alt="First ever Bluetooth signal received from space. " class="wp-image-63850" srcset="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BT.jpg 1920w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BT.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BT.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/BT.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image of the first-ever Bluetooth signal received from space. Image credit: <a href="https://www.prweb.com/releases/hubble-network-achieves-first-ever-bluetooth-connection-to-space-302134952.html"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Hubble Network</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>The company said it is already working with pilot customers in consumer devices, construction and infrastructure, supply chain and logistics, agriculture, oil and gas, and defense.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-road-ahead">The road ahead</h3>



<p>Later this year, Hubble plans to launch a third satellite on another Transporter mission and follow it up with the fourth satellite in the following months to make up its &#8216;beta&#8217; constellation. By late 2025-early 2026, the startup plans to launch 32 satellites in a single go to complete its <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/astronomers-could-lose-access-to-the-stars-due-to-bright-satellites"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">production constellation</a>. </p>



<p>When ready, the constellation will allow a Bluetooth connection to a Hubble satellite at least eight times a day. As the constellation scales, Hubble is keen to engage in services like soil monitoring or even cases that need continuous coverage, like fall monitoring in the elderly.&nbsp;</p>



<p>&#8220;With nearly five billion Bluetooth devices sold annually, our network has the potential to significantly impact numerous fields by making global connectivity accessible, low-power, and affordable,&#8221; said Wild in the <a href="https://www.prweb.com/releases/hubble-network-achieves-first-ever-bluetooth-connection-to-space-302134952.html"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">press release</a>.  </p>


<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/bluetooth-device-warns-new-organ-rejection">Bluetooth-enabled device warns if body rejects a new organ</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/ces-2024/beyond-bluetooth-wi-fi-ixana-explores-power-of-wi-r-in-wearable-tech">Beyond Bluetooth, Wi-Fi: Ixana explores power of Wi-R in wearable tech</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/airdrop-and-bluetooth-under-fire">AirDrop and Bluetooth under fire by Chinese CCP censors</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Trillo generated 700 clips with Sora, 55 of which were used in the final video.</p>


Pro music video powered by OpenAI’s Sora released in a world-first 

A still from the first-ever official music video generated by OpenAI's Sora.


<p>Writer-director Paul Trillo has released the &#8220;first official music video&#8221; created using Sora, OpenAI&#8217;s text-to-video AI model.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Earlier this year, <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/apple-in-talks-with-openai-to-integrate-ai-into-iphones-report"  rel="dofollow">OpenAI</a> unveiled this disruptive technology with limited access. While Sora has not been released to the general public, OpenAI has granted its early access to a select group of artists, including Paul Trillo.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Notably, Sora has not yet been released to the general public. But Trillo&#8217;s music video has boosted enthusiasm surrounding this first-of-its-kind AI tool.</p>



<p>Sora is a cutting-edge generative AI model specializing in text-to-video creation. Sora takes a written description and generates a short video clip that can be up to 60 seconds long.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-hardest-part-video">&#8220;The Hardest Part&#8221; video</h3>



<p>Trillo directed the Sora-powered video for the new single &#8220;The Hardest Part&#8221; by indie chillwave artist Washed Out (Ernest Weatherly Greene Jr.).&nbsp;</p>



<p>The video is 4 minutes long and has been created in a unique way. It is a long series of fast zooms through different scenes that are connected to feel like one continuous zoom.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Washed Out &quot;The Hardest Part&quot;" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/941713443?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write"></iframe>
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">&#8220;The Hardest Part&#8221; &#8211; The first official music video made with OpenAI&#8217;s Sora. </figcaption></figure>



<p>While giving details about the video, Trillo posted on X that he had the idea for this video for a long time but couldn&#8217;t make it happen until now.</p>



<p>&#8220;This was an idea I had almost 10 years ago and then abandoned. Finally was able to bring it to life,&#8221; posted Trillo.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">700 Individual video clips</h3>



<p>Explaining how he made the video, Trillo said he created 700 individual clips using OpenAI&#8217;s Sora. Thereafter, he selected the best 55 clips for the final video and edited them together using Adobe Premiere.</p>



<p>Washed Out also expressed his excitement about the possibilities AI offers for creative fields.</p>



<p>&#8220;I look forward to being able to incorporate some of this brand-new technology and seeing how that informs what I can come up with,&#8221; Washed Out told the Los Angeles Times in an interview.</p>



<p>He also revealed details about the prompts Trillo used while making the video.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For reference, Trillo&#8217;s prompt for one video clip included zooming through a popping bubble, into bubblegum, and finally entering an open football field.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Different from previous AI video projects</h3>



<p>Moreover, Trillo clarified that &#8220;The Hardest Part&#8221; music video was developed solely on Sora&#8217;s text-to-video capabilities. He didn&#8217;t use a common AI video technique of adding motion to pre-existing still images.</p>



<p>This is distinct from other AI-assisted video projects, such as the recent &#8220;Air Head&#8221; video by Shy Kids, which utilized additional tools like Adobe After Effects for rotoscoping effects.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Trillo&#8217;s approach highlights Sora&#8217;s impressive capacity to generate complex visuals purely from written instructions.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A hot topic</h3>



<p>Some creators are extremely eager to use Sora for creative expression and storytelling.</p>



<p>Adobe also wants to integrate Sora and similar <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/culture/poetry-camera-ai"  rel="dofollow">AI video</a> tools into its Premiere Pro software. While a timeline remains uncertain, this integration will streamline creators&#8217; workflows.</p>



<p>At present, to copy Trillo&#8217;s method, you would need to use separate software like Runway or Pika to make AI video clips since Sora is not publicly available, then import them into Adobe Premiere for editing.</p>



<p>However, Trillo&#8217;s work has also faced criticism from some people in the creative industry.</p>



<p>&#8220;Does your conscience speak to you at all regarding the ethics of this?&#8221; commented filmmaker Luke Neumann on Trillo&#8217;s video post on X.</p>



<p></p>


<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-openai-sora-rival-vidu">Meet Vidu: China’s answer to OpenAI’s text-to-video generator Sora</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/china-sensenova-outperforms-gpt-4">SenseNova 5.0: China’s latest AI model surpasses OpenAI’s GPT-4</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/antimatter-puzzle-cern-ai">Matter vs. antimatter: CERN cracks particle physics puzzle with AI power</a></li>
</ul>

<p>How did getting rid of elements commonly found in our atmosphere lead to a 100-year-old solution and new chemical compound?</p>


Lab to life: Chemists craft new compound conquering 120-year-old quest


<p>Scientists have discovered the mechanism of creating a reactive chemical compound after more than 100 years. Molecules known as N-heteroarenes are ring-shaped compounds containing nitrogen atoms. According to <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adi1606"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">the study</a> they are key elements of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials.</p>



<p>But they are difficult for chemists to synthesize and manipulate. The reason is five-membered N-Heteroarynes effectively and the presence of the triple bond that leads to increased reactivity and instability.</p>



<p>One of the authors Courtney Roberts highlighted their presence and importance in various aspects. However, the process of creation is a decades-long challenge for <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/new-technique-see-inside-cancer-cell"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">chemists</a>. The main obstacle is their very high reactivity. They are so active that even chemists used computer modeling to predict that they would be impossible to make.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-overcoming-a-100-year-long-reactive-challenge-nbsp">Overcoming a 100-year-long reactive challenge&nbsp;</h3>



<p>That&#8217;s why the research required collaboration between organic and inorganic chemists to try to achieve progress with an innovative approach. The scientists experimented in a controlled environment. It means they removed reactive elements such as oxygen, to avoid at least part of the reactive challenges.</p>



<p>They were able to drive these chemical reactions with specialized equipment. Also, they were able to get rid of elements that are normally found in our atmosphere, <a href="https://cse.umn.edu/college/news/researchers-create-new-chemical-compound-solve-120-year-old-problem"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">explained</a> Jenna Humke. “Fortunately, we have the tools to do that at the University of Minnesota. We performed the experiments under nitrogen in a sealed glove box,” she said.  As noted that creates an inactive environment for testing and moving samples.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Interdisciplinary approach toward better future </h3>



<p>These experiments were accomplished with the help of organometallic catalysis. Organometallic catalysis has revolutionized how chemists conceive organic synthesis. The use of transition metals as catalysts has allowed chemical transformations that otherwise would not be feasible. Also, it has been utilized in numerous industrial processes.</p>



<p>In the statement, Roberts emphasized the importance of an interdisciplinary approach. That approach had a key role in overcoming the long-standing challenge. &#8220;These unique nitrogen-containing molecules have widespread applications in all aspects of human life,&#8221; said Roberts.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" data-id="63652" src="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-04-26-at-12.11.35-PM.png.jpg" alt="This graphic shows the chemical compound that scientists couldn't easily make before." class="wp-image-63652" srcset="https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-04-26-at-12.11.35-PM.png.jpg 1920w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-04-26-at-12.11.35-PM.png.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-04-26-at-12.11.35-PM.png.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://cms.interestingengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot-2024-04-26-at-12.11.35-PM.png.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This graphic shows the chemical compound that scientists couldn&#8217;t easily make before. Credits: <a href="https://cse.umn.edu/college/news/researchers-create-new-chemical-compound-solve-120-year-old-problem"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">University of Minnesota</a></figcaption></figure>
</figure>



<p>The plan is to make it available to chemists. Also, to make it available in more areas and to simplify the process of its creation. This means possible new medicines, safer agricultural products, and better electronics for us.</p>



<p>N-Heteroaromatics are compounds that contain nitrogen atoms within their ring structures. These compounds are used in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and other fields due to their diverse chemical properties and biological activities. N-Heteroarynes are a subclass of heterocyclic compounds containing a triple bond and at least one nitrogen atom within the ring structure. As previously mentioned these compounds are highly reactive. N-Heteroarynes are valuable intermediates in organic synthesis and have potential applications in medicinal chemistry.</p>



<p>N-Heteroarenes incorporation into drug molecules imparts specific functionalities and interactions that are crucial for biological activity. For example, in antiviral drugs that are often used as antiviral agents to treat viral infections. Also, in drugs that used to treat psychiatric disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia.&nbsp; Their chemical functionalities, coupled with their ability to interact with biological targets, make them invaluable tools for developing life-saving medications.</p>


<blockquote>
<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/lists/toxic-chemicals-avoid-them">6 toxic chemicals we’re exposed to daily and how to avoid them</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/news/lab-grown-diamonds-normal-pressure">Diamonds grown in lab within minutes without extreme pressure </a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/scientists-compounds-living-cells-light">Scientists use light to create compounds within living cells</a></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>

<p>The study utilizes a transparent, one-centimeter-square plane featuring a 2D semiconductor—a thin film composed of only a few atoms.</p>


Transparent filter with 10,000-pixel power turns phone into pro camera

The experimental device uses a 2D semiconductor material.


<p>Researchers at UCLA have developed a device that can reduce glare in images.</p>



<p>The cutting-edge device leveraging two-dimensional semiconductor technology is capable of utilizing ambient light to function as an advanced &#8220;smart filter&#8221;. </p>



<p>The team claims the filter helps to significantly enhance the caliber of photographs captured by inexpensive cameras.</p>



<p>This compact device, measuring 0.4 by 0.4 inches (1 by 1 centimeter), features a transparent chip with an ultra-thin thickness, comprised of a 100-by-100 pixel array constructed from just a few atoms.</p>



<p>&#8220;An inexpensive device measuring a couple of centimeters could make a low-powered camera work like a super-resolution camera. That would democratize access to high-resolution imaging and sensing,&#8221; said Aydogan Ozcan, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at UCLA and co-author of the study, in a <a href="https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/light-based-computing-advance-capabilities-future-smart-cameras"  target="_blank"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">statement</a>.</p>



<p>The details of the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-46387-5"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">research</a> done by the team at&nbsp;California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA (CNSI) were published in the journal <em>Nature Communications</em>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Noble Fund scientists use particles of light for neural networks and ai-based cameras" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R525QSOMOnw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-transparent-2d-semiconductor">Transparent 2D semiconductor</h3>



<p>The team aimed to utilize a material with minimal light absorption while still generating a signal adequate for light processing purposes. The study&#8217;s apparatus is a clear, one-centimeter-square plane. It employs a 2D semiconductor, which is represented as a thin film of a few atoms.</p>



<p>The material is transparent due to its thinness, yet it nevertheless has properties that allow incoming photons to effectively control electrical conductivity. Using a variety of electrodes, researchers connected the 2D semiconductor to a liquid crystal layer to enable it to function. </p>



<p>The end product is a 10,000-pixel smart filter that can swiftly and selectively darken in a nonlinear manner in response to broadband ambient light.</p>



<p>According to the team, every pixel can transition from full transparency to partial transparency to complete opacity. Remarkably, just a minimal number of photons are required to induce a dramatic alteration in transparency.</p>



<p>This marks a significant advancement towards optical computing for visual information processing.  The team showcased an application integrating their device with a smartphone camera to diminish glare in images.</p>



<p>Beyond the study&#8217;s verified glare reduction, the technology has a wide range of consumer and industrial applications. This includes enhanced autonomous vehicle sensing, cameras that can identify some objects while hiding others, image encryption, and the quick and accurate identification of flaws in robotic assembly lines, to name just a few.</p>



<p>Furthermore, the device offers numerous advantages. For instance, it enables the processing of incoming images without the need for conversion to a digital signal, thereby accelerating results and minimizing data sent to the cloud for digital processing and storage.</p>



<p>Researchers anticipate integrating their technology with inexpensive <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/photo-story/largest-digital-camera-for-astronomy"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">cameras</a>, compressing data to generate images with significantly enhanced resolution. This advancement allows for more precise capture of useful information regarding object arrangement in space and the electromagnetic spectra within the light.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advancing-light-based-computing">Advancing light-based computing</h3>



<p>The advancement also contributes to the progression of <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/advanced-computing-startup-races-towards-light-based-solutions"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">light-based computing</a>, an emerging field marked by numerous experiments yielding prototype devices and chips.</p>



<p>Up until now, optical computing has encountered a challenge in attaining nonlinear responses, crucial for generating signals not strictly proportional to the input. Nonlinearity is pivotal for enabling universal computing applications, including artificial intelligence.</p>



<p>Under development, nonlinear materials and devices demand a considerable influx of light to operate effectively. </p>



<p>Previously, fulfilling this need entailed reliance on high-powered <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/most-powerful-phonon-laser"  target="_blank"  rel="dofollow">lasers</a> confined to a narrow band of the electromagnetic spectrum. Alternatively, it involved materials with slow light absorption rates, leading to sluggish processing speeds. </p>



<p>Furthermore, it required the use of energy-inefficient materials capable of absorbing significant amounts of light but unsuitable for applications prioritizing light efficiency or transparency.</p>



<p>Now, CNSI researchers illustrated that a minuscule array of transparent pixels could generate a swift, wide-ranging, nonlinear reaction from low-power ambient light.</p>



<p>“Optical nonlinearities are far behind what we need for visual computing applications. We need low-power, broadband, low-loss, and fast nonlinearities for optical systems to meet our visual computing needs. This work helps fill that gap,&#8221; said Ozcan.</p>



<p></p>


<div class="Review_header__rCaGD">
<ul>
 	<li class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/photo-story/largest-digital-camera-for-astronomy">Photos: The largest digital camera for astronomy is fully assembled</a></li>
 	<li class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/advanced-computing-startup-races-towards-light-based-solutions">Advanced computing: Startup races towards light-based solutions</a></li>
 	<li class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/most-powerful-phonon-laser">The most powerful phonon laser ever made</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="Review_desc__skOL9">
<div class="Review_desc__skOL9">
<div class="Review_desc__skOL9">
<h2 class="article-abstract"></h2>
</div>
</div>
</div>

<p>A researcher at the University of Southern California is designing new sensors that are super flexible and bendy.</p>


Tiny tool: Microneedles that can bend and stretch to redefine healthcare


<p>Personalized medicine is getting better as new discoveries&nbsp;are making&nbsp;it easier than ever to&nbsp;keep tabs on&nbsp;your health. With&nbsp;devices you can wear&nbsp;and tests you can do at home, checking things like your heart rate and blood sugar levels is simpler than before.&nbsp;But sometimes, our bodies&nbsp;just&nbsp;don&#8217;t get along with these health-tracking devices.</p>



<p><a href="https://viterbi.usc.edu/directory/faculty/Zhao/Hangbo"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Hangbo Zhao</a>, a researcher at the University of Southern California (USC), is working on fixing this issue.&nbsp;He&#8217;s designing new&nbsp;sensors that are&nbsp;super flexible and bendy, so they&#8217;re more comfortable to wear.&nbsp;His latest invention, tiny soft needles, can even track your health for a long time without being bothered. This breakthrough&nbsp;was even featured&nbsp;on the cover of <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adn7202"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Science Advances</a>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-transforming-healthcare-with-flexible-microneedle-technology">Transforming healthcare with flexible microneedle technology</h3>



<p>Microneedles are tiny tools used in important medical procedures like stimulating the brain and checking for signs of good health. But the ones we have now are stiff and can&#8217;t move well with the body. Hangbo Zhao&#8217;s research is changing that. He&#8217;s creating microneedles that can bend and stretch, fitting comfortably with the body&#8217;s movements.</p>



<p>At USC, Hangbo Zhao and his team have come up with a special way to make microneedles. They combine <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/health/heart-monitor-inspired-sea-turtles"  rel="dofollow">methods</a> like laser cutting, crafting tiny objects, and printing to create microneedles that can stretch significantly, from 60% to 90%. They have the ability to customize the appearance and functionality of the microneedles to suit various requirements.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-insights-from-the-deep-sea">Insights from the deep sea</h3>



<p>Hangbo Zhao found inspiration for his groundbreaking technology in an unexpected place: the deep sea. By examining how the muscles of a sea slug behaved electrically, Zhao and his team demonstrated that microneedle electrodes could have widespread <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/researchers-crack-120-year-old-problem-with-newompound"  rel="dofollow">applications</a>. This finding opened doors for lots of medical uses, like keeping track of brain and nerve activity or finding issues with muscles and nerves.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-biomedical-implications">Global biomedical implications</h3>



<p>The implications of Zhao&#8217;s research extend far beyond the laboratory.&nbsp;It means it can track and diagnose&nbsp;lots of&nbsp;conditions more accurately, spanning from neuromuscular disorders to bladder functionality. Zhao&#8217;s stretchable &#8220;soft&#8221; microneedles&nbsp;discovery&nbsp;could empower both healthcare professionals and patients.&nbsp;It gives hope to those who worry about regular needles, offering a chance for&nbsp;healthcare that&#8217;s both painless and spot-on.</p>



<p>Hangbo Zhao&#8217;s discovery of soft microneedles is a major step toward improving the way our bodies work with monitoring devices. From stimulating the brain to delivering medication, this innovation is set to change healthcare significantly.</p>


<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/hiv-transmission-cosmetic-needle">US reports first-ever case of cosmetic needle transmitting HIV</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/tissue-transplant-rat-fetus-develops-kidney">First fetus-to-fetus transplant in rats produces functional kidneys </a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/health/first-fentanyl-linked-brain-disease">First-ever case of brain disease linked to fentanyl inhalation reported</a></li>
</ul>

<p>The U.S. has made a very clear and strong commitment that in cases of nuclear employment, the decision would only be made by a human being.</p>


Don’t let AI make decisions on deploying nukes: US urges China, Russia

Russian nuclear missiles during a military parade in Moscow


<p>The US has urged Russia and China to not allow AI to make decisions on deploying nuclear weapons. Washington wants both countries to match declarations by the United States and others that only humans will have control over nukes.<br><br>&#8220;We certainly have made a very clear and strong commitment that in cases of nuclear employment, that decision would only be made by a human being,&#8221; said <a href="https://www.state.gov/digital-press-briefing-with-paul-dean-principal-deputy-assistant-secretary-in-the-bureau-of-arms-control-deterrence-and-stability/"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Paul Dean</a>, principal deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence, and Stability. <br><br>&#8220;We would never defer a decision on nuclear employment to AI.  We strongly stand by that statement and we’ve made it publicly with our colleagues in the UK and France.&#8221;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-responsible-behavior">Responsible behavior</h3>



<p>The Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence, and Stability, is charged with implementing and ensuring compliance with existing arms control agreements and negotiating new ones.<br><br>Dean highlighted that he would welcome a similar statement by <a href="https://interestingengineering.com/military/russia-criteria-for-nuclear-strikes"  rel="dofollow">China</a> and the Russian Federation. &#8220;We think it’s an extremely important norm of responsible behavior, and we think it’s something that would be very welcomed in a P5 context.&#8221;</p>



<p>It came as countries around the world are concerned about the impact of AI and autonomous weapons. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-risk-of-mistakes-and-misinterpretation">Risk of mistakes and misinterpretation</h3>



<p>&#8220;One principle in the political declaration is to ensure that AI applications are always developed and used for a specific intended purpose,&#8221; said  Dean. <br><br>&#8220;And that sounds basic, but what we really do not want is we do not want countries purchasing AI applications and then incorporating them into their militaries to do something they were not specifically designed to do.&#8221;</p>



<p>Dean noted that there is a real risk of mistakes and misinterpretation if countries give full control of their weapon system to AI. </p>



<p>Officials in the US believe that whether in human resources decisions or weapons systems, AI could carry risks across the board if you don’t appreciate in advance that there are advantages but also potential challenges it could bring into the system.</p>



<p>&#8220;The political declaration is one unique context for concrete development of ideas and actions for governments on the larger issue,&#8221; said Mallory <a href="https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2024-05/interviews/engaging-china-and-russia-arms-control-interview-us-assistant-secretary"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Stewart</a>, U.S. assistant secretary of state for arms control. <br><br>&#8220;We are now up to 54 countries endorsing the political declaration and 14 observing states attended the recent plenary meeting, and we’re hoping to build that out.&#8221; </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-automation-bias">Automation bias</h3>



<p>Stewart stressed that automation bias is an example of a situation that the U.S. hopes countries can prevent in their use of AI. &#8220;We should be able to understand the appropriate usage of AI and the risks that AI brings in and take steps to prevent those risks.&#8221; </p>



<p>Washington sees that emerging technologies evolve so quickly that if you lock that into a legally binding agreement without incorporating all the possible changes and iterations of how AI can manifest, you may lock yourself into a situation that evolves next week.</p>



<p>According to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us-official-urges-china-russia-declare-only-humans-not-ai-control-nuclear-2024-05-02/"  rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Reuters</a>, as part of normalizing military communications, U.S. and Chinese officials resumed nuclear weapons discussions in January, but formal arms control negotiations are not expected any time soon. <br><br>China, which is expanding its nuclear weapons capabilities, urged in February that the largest nuclear powers should first negotiate a no-first-use treaty between each other.</p>



<p><br></p>


<div class="Review_header__rCaGD">
<ul>
 	<li class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/science/scorpius-nuclear-stockpile-detection">US’ new nuke testing accelerator is 2.44 million pounds, 400-foot long</a></li>
 	<li class="Review_header__rCaGD">
<p class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/putin-extols-russian-nuclear-triad">Russia’s nuclear weapons are more advanced than the US, Putin claims</a></p>
</li>
 	<li class="Review_header__rCaGD">
<p class="content-title mt-3"><a href="https://interestingengineering.com/energy/tiny-nukes-on-trucks-sub-20-mw">Tiny nukes on trucks: Sub-20 megawatt reactors to power remote areas</a></p>

<div class="Review_desc__skOL9">
<h2 class="article-abstract"></h2>
</div></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="Review_desc__skOL9">
<h2 class="article-abstract"></h2>
</div>

Comphrensive tech analysis and opinion, with full digital access.

An Adventurous Team Recreates the Windows XP Wallpaper ‘Bliss’

The picture is said to be one of the most iconic in the world.

Our daily news digest will keep you up to date with engineering, science and technology news, Monday to Saturday.