Superconductor craze continues as scientists demand proof

🟦You're reading The Vital Component, a breakdown of the week's engineering news delivered to your inbox. I’m Tim, an editor at IE. Let's dive in.

This week, we hacked a path through the hype to get to the heart of the superconductor story, where some scientists rush to report results through irregular channels, while others demand more proof before declaring a revolution has occurred.

We also have a report on an ambitious new space launch concept that draws on Nazi technology, plus we explain how an eerie blue glow was a sign of success in a fusion lab.

🐍 Also this weekend, Python is famous for being an easy programming language to learn, however, that doesn’t mean its commands, syntax, and operators are easy to remember. 

For mastering the less-than-intuitive facets of Python, here’s the ITPro Today Python Commands Cheat Sheet that focuses on the fastest and easiest ways to achieve some tasks.

🎙Check out Lexicon, Interesting Engineering's podcast that features guests

✅ Sign up on our website to receive the enhanced edition of Vital Component directly in your inbox. 📧

MUST KNOW

Hype surrounding the alleged superconductor LK-99 has spilled over from the internet into stock markets in China and South Korea. Prices of certain stocks have spiked even as the scientific community remains skeptical and have demanded more proof from their peers before accepting claims.

The new material has remained a trending topic on X, formerly known as Twitter, and it has also occupied two spots in the top 10 items on Hacker News, a site dedicated to news about computer science and entrepreneurship. Researchers have abandoned the slow grind of publication and taken to social media instead to share new findings or replications.

A company called Longshot is building a giant cannon that will fire payload into space from a 6-mile-long barrel at a fraction of the cost of a rocket. If successful, this launch system could dramatically slash the cost per pound/kilogram to deliver a payload to space. Other companies are working on a similar concept, but Longshot’s approach is truly awe-inspiring.

Cherenkov radiation is observed when particles move faster than the speed of light in a specific medium like water. In the case of nuclear fusion, the glow is created after a hydrogen atom absorbs a neutron and emits a high-energy gamma ray, which then strikes an electron and accelerates it nearly to the speed of light. This is how nuclear fusion company SHINE Technologies has obtained visible proof of its reaction at work.

WEEK’S MOST IMPORTANT NEWS

💡INNOVATION

• Hydrogen-powered flights aim to go commercial by 2025 Hydrogen-powered aircraft inch closer to commercial reality, promising decarbonization efforts for the aviation sector by 2025.
• China's top SUV maker to add ChatGPT-like bot into cars The language model will enhance the in-car experience by making cars more intelligent and user-friendly.
• Chinese company launches battery-powered cargo container Not only does China build most ships for the world, but it also has an entire ecosystem to help them switch to electric modes of propulsion.

🔬SCIENCE

• Webb telescope snaps exquisite images of iconic Ring Nebula With the new images, astronomers will have the opportunity to study the chemical evolution of these celestial objects in remarkable detail.
• Curiosity rover completes the 'toughest climb' on Mars NASA's car-sized Curiosity rover has recently accomplished climbing Jau, one of Mars' most difficult terrains.
• Meet the new 'Dune' monster, an ancient bladed sea worm Looking back 56 million years ago, 'we've had alien worlds beneath our feet' — quite literally.

JOB ALERT

In this section you’ll find the latest jobs as featured on: jobs.interestingengineering.com

🟧 A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR

Have you ever seen a CNC lathe controlled by a gamepad?

Well, if not, here it is! ROWND Lathe is a meticulously crafted tool to provide a seamless user experience and can be controlled by a gamepad. The brainchild of a team of visionaries, this lathe machine can cut any shape and any material with endless possibilities.

It’s also safe to use and delivers maximum performance with a noise level of only 60 dB during operation. Click on the link to know more about the Rownd CNC Lathe that makes machining easy for everybody!

🔶 Read More

“Fusion has long captured the imagination of scientists and the public. To be able to create visual evidence of fusion is just really cool.”

Greg Piefer, founder and CEO of SHINE

INTERESTING ENGINEERING PREMIUM 

• Rechargeable batteries made from waste After demonstrating application in powering house appliances, SorbiForce is now building large scale solutions to store energy generated from solar and wind farms.
•  AI and robots might be the future of battery development Combining the power of robots and artificial intelligence, researchers have found a way to develop faster charging and more energy-dense batteries.
•  Could a gene switch off anxiety? Is anxiety keeping you up at night? New research may help.
•  How high heat affects EVs and what you can do about it With periods of extremely high temperatures expected to be more common, EV owners are concerned about the impact on their battery packs.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Musk wants X to be stock trading platform built at no-cost Western social media apps have attempted but failed to gain users' trust with their finances. Musk appears to overlook this repeatedly.
• Stylish Ferrari table with built-in V8 engine up for auction This coffee table was constructed using powertrain components that were reportedly sourced from a Ferrari 308.
• Australia opens the first AI-designed pop-up restaurant A restaurant inspired by the four elements of nature and decorated with lighting, haze, and LED technology.