Engineering news
Israel's Beresheet spacecraft crashes into moon during landing attempt
SPACE.com
The robotic Beresheet spacecraft, built by SpaceIL and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), aimed to become the first Israeli craft, and the first privately funded mission, ever to land softly on the moon. But the little robot couldn't quite make it, crashing into the grey dirt around 7.25PM. Mission control lost communications with the spacecraft when it was about 149 metres above the moon's surface.
Global collaboration captures first images of black hole
The Engineer
Data gathered by eight ground-based radio telescopes has been converted with computational tools to provide the first direct visual evidence of a supermassive black hole.
Why flying cars won’t be good for your commute
Professional Engineering
A study into the environmental impact of flying cars has concluded that they will not be a sustainable means of commuting, wrecking dreams of a Jetsons-style future.
3D-printed metamaterials inspired by compound eyes offer novel optical properties
The Engineer
Engineers at Tufts University in Massachusetts have developed 3D-printed metamaterials with microwave or optical properties that are claimed to go beyond what is possible using conventional materials.
Apple approaches 100% renewable energy in manufacturing
E&T
Apple has nearly doubled the number of suppliers that have committed to run their production lines using 100% clean energy.
SpaceX nails triple rocket landing following Falcon Heavy's first commercial launch
New Atlas
SpaceX made history as it not only successfully flew the Falcon Heavy rocket on its first commercial mission, but also recovered all three of the first-stage boosters for the first time. The Arabsat-6A mission to send a high-capacity telecommunications satellite into geosynchronous orbit is the second flight of the Falcon Heavy, which is the most powerful rocket currently operating and the fourth most powerful ever built.
Protolabs launches copper 3D-printing service alongside machining
Production Engineering Solutions
Protolabs has become one of the first manufacturers in Europe to offer copper parts made using additive manufacturing or CNC machining. The introduction of 3D printing in copper alloy for rapid prototyping or low-volume production will deliver new design possibilities for engineers across industry sectors, including automotive and aerospace.
Laying the ground for robotic strategies in environmental protection
Science Daily
Roboticists have developed a robot named 'Romu' that can autonomously drive interlocking steel sheet piles into soil. The structures that it builds could function as retaining walls or check dams for erosion control, and, according to computer simulations, the robot could be deployed in swarms to help protect threatened areas that are flooded or extremely arid more effectively.
Southeastern begins discussions to extend franchise
Rail Business Daily
The Department for Transport has started discussions with Southeastern about an extension of the current franchise, to allow more time to review and award a winner for the next South Eastern franchise.
Phosphorene nanoribbons – the new wonder material that could revolutionise electronics
Professional Engineering
In a world-first, researchers at University College London have created individual 2D phosphorene nanoribbons, which could play an important role in future battery technologies.