3+ week, 5+ day ago (1857+ words) From NASA's Ingenuity helicopter to Blue Origin's rocket design, Loay Elbasyouni discusses how efficient power systems can transform aerospace and AI. From NASA's Mars helicopter to Blue Origin's next-generation rockets, Loay Elbasyouni has built a career out of solving problems others call impossible. Now Senior Manager of Engine Electrical Design at Blue Origin and founder of the low-power AI startup AstraQua, the Palestinian-American engineer has worked across renewable energy, electric aircraft, and space propulsion'always driven by one purpose: using technology to improve life on Earth and beyond. In this conversation with Interesting Engineering, Elbasyouni reflects on his path from a curious kid who hacked radios to a leader in aerospace innovation, the lessons learned from startups and deep-space engineering, and the mindset needed to break through barriers, technical and otherwise. Interesting Engineering: It's been a whirlwind few years, from helping…...

3+ week, 3+ day ago (625+ words) Guam has taken a major step toward diversifying its economy and boosting US defense manufacturing in the Pacific with the groundbreaking of its first advanced manufacturing facility, a move officials say could position the island as a regional hub for high-tech production. The Guam Advanced Material & Manufacturing Accelerator (GAMMA) broke ground Thursday in Dededo." The project, led by the nonprofit Applied Science & Technology Research Organization (ASTRO) America, aims to produce advanced components for US Navy submarines and commercial industries across Asia, according to Kuam News. "Today is the day Guam joins the ranks of all 50 states, establishing a supplier of manufactured submarine parts for the United States Navy," said Neal Orringer, president of ASTRO America, during the ceremony." "We're building a Guam-based factory to make parts made in Guam, train local students to become mechanical engineers, and employ them in…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago (554+ words) Discover cutting-edge space science, innovation, and exploration with the Future of Space. Backed by Lenovo and AMD, Paderborn University's "Otus' combines 42,000+ cores and renewable energy for scientific breakthroughs. Germany's research community gained a powerful new ally this week with the launch of the "Otus' supercomputer at Paderborn University. Installed at the Paderborn Center for Parallel Computing (PC2), the advanced system will enable scientists nationwide to perform complex simulations and tackle major societal challenges through high-performance computing. "High-performance computing is hugely relevant to the pressing challenges of our time," he said. "Researchers can use supercomputers to trawl through huge quantities of data within a short period of time and identify patterns. Experiments that would be extremely expensive, dangerous or quite simply impossible can be simulated." He added that "this also allows us to make predictions about potential future developments," highlighting that the…...

2+ week, 3+ day ago (402+ words) Discover cutting-edge space science, innovation, and exploration with the Future of Space. Researchers at the City University of New York (CUNY) and the University of Texas at Austin have achieved a breakthrough in manipulating one of the most elusive phenomena in modern optics " dark excitons. By finding a way to make these previously hidden light states shine brightly and controllably, the team has opened a new frontier for faster, smaller, and more energy-efficient technologies. Dark excitons are exotic light-matter states found in atomically thin semiconductors. They usually remain invisible because they emit light very weakly. Yet, their long lifetimes and low interaction with the environment make them ideal for quantum information and sensing applications. To expose these hidden states, the research team engineered a nanoscale optical cavity made of gold nanotubes and a single layer of tungsten diselenide (WSe), a…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago (1424+ words) The life of an engineering student often flows as an endless combination of boundless curiosity about everything related to movement, sound, light, as well as team projects, laboratory experiments, and so on. As a result, sleepless nights before deadlines are possible. After all, engineering is not just a discipline, but a way of thinking. The one in which logic merges with creativity, and specialized education becomes not only a tool for a career, but also a philosophy of life. For most who have chosen an engineering major, life on campus is a mix of inspiration and a constant search for balance. A balance between activities, academic challenges, and personal development. Engineering programs are considered to be among the most difficult. Still, they also shape the most innovative ideas. They also create true agents of change in the technology world. So,…...

3+ week, 4+ day ago (474+ words) Intuitive Machines is accelerating its START program to demonstrate reliable, non-solar power conversion in space. US-based private space company Intuitive Machines has announced an $8.2 million contract extension from the US Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RV) to develop next-generation nuclear power stations for space. The new funding will be used to accelerate the development of compact nuclear power conversion technology. These will eventually be used for lunar infrastructure and for spacecraft. The technology will allow missions to overcome the limitations of solar power, enabling them to operate for longer periods. Prior to the extension, the US AFRL had awarded Intuitive Machines a $9.5 million contract to develop compact nuclear power systems for space applications. This included the design of a Stirling-based power-conversion system that converts heat from a radioisotope source into electricity. Intuitive Machines performed a successful Preliminary…...

2+ week, 2+ day ago (487+ words) Aalto University researchers have demonstrated "single-shot" tensor computing, using the natural behaviour of light to perform operations that normally tax GPUs. Researchers have demonstrated a new optical computing method that performs complex tensor operations in a single pass of light. The advance could reshape how modern AI systems process data and ease the growing strain on conventional digital hardware. Tensor operations drive nearly every AI task today. GPUs handle them well, but the surge in data has exposed limits in speed, power efficiency and scalability. This pressure pushed an international team led by Dr. Yufeng Zhang of Aalto University to look beyond electronic circuits. The group has developed "single-shot tensor computing," a technique that uses the physical properties of light to process data. Light waves carry amplitude and phase. The team encoded digital information into these properties and allowed the…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago (1555+ words) Discover cutting-edge space science, innovation, and exploration with the Future of Space. From thermal hardware to grid storage, Asegun Henry is building systems to decarbonize power, transport, and industry. MIT mechanical engineering professor and head of the Atomistic Simulation & Energy (ASE) Research Group, Asegun Henry, has dedicated his career to a defining goal: How to decarbonize the planet without sacrificing reliability. Prior to MIT, Henry taught at Georgia Tech and held postdoctoral positions at Oak Ridge, Northwestern, and the Department of Energy's ARPA-E. His revolutionary research ranges from atomic-level simulations of heat transport to world-record engineering feats. Among them is a liquid metal pump capable of operating above 1,473 kelvins (1,200 degrees Celsius). This innovation earned him a Guinness World Record in 2017. In this conversation with Interesting Engineering, the Robert N. Noyce Career Development Professor discusses his journey, his vision for clean energy,…...

3+ day, 4+ hour ago (518+ words) With more than 150 companies racing to build robots, Beijing wants guardrails to prevent duplication and protect long-term innovation. China is racing to lead the future of humanoid robotics, but its top economic planner is now signalling caution. The country's rapid surge in investment, companies, and prototypes has fueled excitement, yet regulators worry the momentum could outpace reality. Speaking in Beijing on Thursday, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) spokesperson Li Chao urged the industry to grow responsibly. She warned that humanoid robotics must balance fast development with the risk of overheating. Investment has poured into the sector despite limited proven use cases in factories or homes. Li said more than 150 companies in China are now working on humanoid robotics. Over half are either new startups or firms pivoting from other sectors. She cautioned that the rush could lead to repetitive…...

2+ week, 6+ hour ago (482+ words) Chinese EV battery maker CATL's new LFP batteries deliver higher energy density and longer cycle life. The next phase of CATL's battery roadmap is now underway as the company moves into mass production of its fifth-generation lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells. The new platform represents a major leap in performance, offering higher energy density and longer cycle life compared with previous generations." Building on the gains introduced in CATL's fourth-generation LFP batteries " which already outperformed mainstream second- and third-generation models in energy density, longevity, and power output " the updated cells reinforce the company's leadership in cost-efficient, durable battery technology." Alongside LFP innovation, CATL is also advancing its ternary battery programs, which power the company's Qilin and Freevoy brands, expanding its technology portfolio across multiple chemistries. The Chinese company is expanding its chemistry playbook with a strong push into sodium-ion technology,…...