Boom Supersonic: Bringing Back Faster-Than-Sound Air Travel The Return of Supersonic Flights Aerospace startup Boom Supersonic is on a mission to revive supersonic commercial air travel by the end of this decade. Their ambitious project, the Overture supersonic airliner, aims to revolutionise the way we travel by drastically reducing flight times. To pave the way for this groundbreaking airliner, Boom has developed a 1/3 scale prototype known as XB-1, which has already completed two successful test flights at their facility in California’s Mojave Desert. The company plans to achieve its first supersonic flight with XB-1 by the end of the…
Author: Arushi Pandey
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Maasai Protest Evictions Amidst Controversial Conservation Efforts Thousands of Maasai Face Eviction in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater In Tanzania, the usually serene green hills surrounding the Ngorongoro Crater have turned into a site of protest. Tens of thousands of Maasai herdsmen, dressed in their iconic blood-red shuka cloths, have been demonstrating against their forced eviction from ancestral lands in the name of conservation. This is not the first time the Maasai have faced such displacement. Historically, they were removed from the Serengeti in the 1950s when it was designated a national park by the British colonial government. Now, the Tanzanian government…
BYD Narrowing Down Finalists for New Manufacturing Plant Location in Mexico Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD has shortlisted three Mexican states as potential locations for its new manufacturing plant, according to the company’s Mexico director general, Jorge Vallejo. The firm is currently evaluating various incentives proposed by these states, which include fiscal benefits, land offers, and management incentives. Key Factors in Site Selection Vallejo highlighted that selecting a plant location involves more than just securing space. The company is considering logistical aspects, urban infrastructure, water and gas supply, and overall development. These elements are crucial for establishing a functional…
Illuminating the Moon: New Solar-Powered Towers Could Light Up Lunar Nights The Moon could soon become the first extraterrestrial construction zone for humanity, with ambitious plans for permanent settlements, levitating train systems, and innovative nuclear reactors. However, before these developments can take place, the Moon needs a reliable light source. The Challenge of Lunar Nights One day on the Moon lasts the equivalent of two Earth weeks, and the freezing lunar nights are equally long. These extended periods of darkness have already caused problems for lunar landers that depend on sunlight for power. As humans prepare to explore the Moon…
European Scientists Attempt First-Ever Double Slingshot Maneuver to Propel JUICE Probe Towards Jupiter European scientists are preparing for a groundbreaking mission, aiming to perform a first-of-its-kind double slingshot manoeuvre using the Moon and Earth to guide the JUICE probe towards Jupiter. This crucial step in orbital navigation could determine the success of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ambitious eight-year journey to the gas giant and its icy moons. The Double Slingshot: A Risky but Crucial Move The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) probe, launched just over a year ago, is on its way back towards Earth. The…
NASA Updates on Boeing Crew Flight Test and Astronaut Safety NASA’s human spaceflight management team provided an update on 14 August regarding the ongoing Boeing Crew Flight Test at the International Space Station (ISS). Key members of the NASA team, including Ken Bowersox, the Associate Administrator for Space Operations, discussed the crucial role safety plays in all aspects of NASA’s missions, emphasising that it remains a core value guiding decision-making processes. Evaluating the Crew Flight Test The update highlighted various aspects of the Boeing Crew Flight Test as NASA and Boeing continue to assess the data from the recent Starliner…
Google Unveils New Pixel Smartphones with Enhanced AI Features On Tuesday, 13 August, Alphabet’s Google introduced a new lineup of Pixel smartphones, integrating advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology into its hardware. This launch represents a strategic move by Google to embed AI deeper into its devices, enhancing user experience and keeping pace with rapid developments in the tech industry. AI-Powered Features in the Latest Pixel Smartphones The event, held at Alphabet’s Bay View campus in Mountain View, California, marked a departure from Google’s usual tradition of unveiling new Pixel models in the autumn. The highlight of the announcement was the…
Biden to Announce $150 Million Boost for Advanced Cancer Surgery Technology On Tuesday, President Joe Biden is set to announce a new allocation of $150 million in federal funding to develop advanced technologies aimed at improving cancer surgery outcomes. The announcement will be made during Biden’s visit to New Orleans and represents the latest step in the administration’s “Cancer Moonshot” initiative, a program led by the President and First Lady Jill Biden. The initiative’s ambitious goal is to reduce the US cancer death rate by at least 50% by 2047. Advancing Surgical Precision in Cancer Treatment Each year, nearly two…
Expanding Horizons in Construction: ICON’s Vulcan 3D Printer Like any desktop 3D printer, ICON’s Vulcan printer constructs objects layer by layer. However, this is no ordinary printer. The Vulcan is over 45 feet wide, weighs 4.75 tons, and prints residential homes. This summer, the robotic printer is completing the final homes of a 100-house project in Wolf Ranch, a community in Georgetown, Texas, roughly 30 miles from Austin. Building the World’s Largest 3D-Printed Community ICON has named Wolf Ranch the world’s largest 3D-printed community. The company began printing the walls of these homes in November 2022. According to ICON, 3D…
NASA Delays SpaceX Crew Launch to Analyse Boeing Starliner Issues NASA announced on Tuesday that it has delayed the planned SpaceX launch of astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) by a month. This decision allows more time for analysing issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, currently docked at the ISS. New Launch Date for SpaceX Crew Dragon The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft was initially set to launch four astronauts to the ISS on August 18. However, NASA has rescheduled this mission, named Crew-9, to no earlier than September 24. The agency explained that this adjustment provides mission managers with additional…
