A new study published in Nature reveals a potential new mechanism for heat transfer in solids which could revolutionize the way engineers develop devices like micro heat pumps and data storage devices. The study showed that heat can be transferred inside a solid via a way other than phonons, the traditional theory on heat transfer in solids. This newly discovered mechanism could lead to thermal devices or systems that are more efficient and smaller.
To prevent “zombie satellites” from causing destruction in Earth’s atmosphere, a team of engineers has proposed sending those malfunctioning artificial orbiting bodies to an “ocean graveyard”. The graveyard is located in between the orbits of Earth and the Moon and is specifically designed to store and de-orbit these defunct satellites in order to keep them from creating potentially hazardous debris clouds in space. Utilizing this innovative idea will ensure the safety of our atmosphere for years to come.
In August 2023, a group of Chinese engineers in Pakistan were attacked by a militant group. The Chinese Foreign Ministry reported that none of the engineers died, but some were injured. The militant group had demanded the engineers to make economic concessions and had threatened to hurt them if the demand was not met.
NASA engineers performed a drop test on a mock up Intrepid lander at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This test was designed to simulate the impact of landing on the Martian surface. As a result, the team will have valuable insights and data about the landing dynamics of a vehicle on a foreign planet.
NASA engineers recently conducted a test of Mars 2020 mission’s landing system. They simulated the force of Mars’ thin atmosphere on the lander’s legs, using a high-powered air cannon to create a gust of air. This test will help NASA engineers optimize the design of the system for landing safely on the red planet.
