engineers

Researchers have unveiled an air-breathing electric propulsion engine that scoops up molecules of Earth's upper atmosphere and uses them as propellant, potentially letting satellites in very low orbit refuel themselves and operate indefinitely without carrying limited fuel supplies. The concept could reshape how low-orbit missions are designed, extend satellite lifetimes dramatically, and reduce the cost of Earth observation and communications operations.

A new study finds that used electric cars with high mileage are more reliable than comparable petrol vehicles, challenging a common assumption that EV batteries degrade quickly and make older electric models a risky buy. The findings are drawing attention from drivers, car buyers and industry watchers, as they suggest EVs could hold up better over the long term than combustion-engine cars, with implications for the used-car market.

A Femme in STEM event was held at a Wilmington shopping mall, offering visitors hands-on science activities. The event, covered by local news outlet WECT, is aimed at engaging young people, particularly girls, with science, technology, engineering and mathematics in an accessible community setting. Details about the organisers and attendance were not provided in the coverage.

Roland Garros Airport on the French island of Réunion is drawing attention for staying cool without air conditioning, relying instead on natural ventilation designed into its terminal architecture. Engineers and sustainability commentators are highlighting the project as proof that large public buildings in tropical climates can cut energy use significantly, sparking wider debate about passive cooling in airport design.

Engineers have developed tiny robots that can fly and steer without any motor or onboard propulsion, instead using sound waves to control their movement. The approach removes the need for conventional moving parts at very small scales, where fitting motors and power sources is a major obstacle. Researchers say acoustic control could open the door to swarms of miniature flying robots for use in medicine, sensing and inspection tasks.

Engineers have unveiled a palm-sized jumping robot powered by a tiny electric motor, capable of controlled leaps. The compact design points to potential uses in search-and-rescue, inspection, and exploration of hard-to-reach spaces, and the demonstration is drawing attention in robotics circles.

Researchers have engineered a microscope that can operate near 0 degrees Celsius, allowing the first high-resolution observations of living cells in Antarctic fish. The work aims to uncover how these animals' cells function and survive in extreme cold, a question that has long been difficult to study because conventional microscopes cannot maintain such freezing conditions while keeping specimens alive. Findings are expected to inform cell biology and cryobiology research.

MIT has been named the best university in the United States for engineering and computer science. The ranking reinforces the institute's long-standing reputation as a leader in technology education and research, drawing comment from academics and technology enthusiasts discussing how its programs compare with rivals like Stanford and Caltech.

Scientists are increasingly using artificial intelligence to speed up biological design for health research, applying AI tools to engineer proteins, model biological systems and accelerate drug and therapy development. The approach is being highlighted as a way to cut research timelines and expand what laboratories can design, with health reporters examining how the technology is changing biomedical science and what it could mean for future treatments.

The classic Renault 8 Gordini, a beloved 1960s rally sedan, has been reborn as a modern electric restomod producing 270 hp. The conversion keeps the retro silhouette of the original while swapping its engine for an electric powertrain, blending vintage rally heritage with contemporary EV technology. Coverage is highlighting it as an example of the growing trend of electric retromobiles.

Researchers have demonstrated a random access quantum memory system in which a single quantum processor can select among seven storage cells, rather than reading stored quantum information sequentially. The result matters for scaling quantum networks and modular quantum computers, where fast, selective retrieval of quantum states is a key engineering hurdle. Details on the research team and the specific physical platform used were not included in the available report.

A GitHub repository by user rohitg00 called 'ai-engineering-from-scratch' is trending, described with the tagline 'Learn it. Build it. Ship it for others.' It is a Python-based educational resource aimed at people who want to learn AI engineering from first principles and move toward shipping real applications. The repository has collected hundreds of stars today. The snippets do not reveal exactly what sparked the surge in attention, beyond apparent interest in self-taught AI engineering material.

Van Nuys Airport has released a new economic impact study highlighting significant growth in its contribution to the Southern California economy. The findings point to the airport's expanding role as a regional economic engine, supporting jobs and business activity across the Los Angeles area. Local outlets are reporting on the study's conclusions about the airport's rising economic footprint.

A new open-source software tool called STRATOS is designed to accelerate the development of airships, covering the full design process from the hull structure through to the fabric envelope. The tool aims to make airship engineering faster and more accessible by giving designers an integrated, freely available platform. Reactions and details about adoption remain limited so far.

The US Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Complex is marking its 75th anniversary with a look back at its role in the Gemini programme, whose test jumps and ground trials helped pave the way for the Apollo moon flights. The retrospective highlights how Cold War-era ground testing at the Tennessee facility supported early crewed spaceflight milestones.

Engineers at UCLA have developed a small hopping robot that moves like a frog, using twisting elastic rods as its propulsion mechanism. The design stores energy in the elastic rods, which twist to launch the robot into jumps. The work points to new ways of building agile robots that can hop over obstacles where wheels or legs struggle.

Researchers report that a small RNA working with the cell's protein recycling system helps rice survive drought by regulating levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The finding clarifies how rice fine-tunes stress responses at the molecular level, and could inform breeding or engineering of drought-resistant rice varieties as climate pressures intensify for a staple crop feeding billions.