Engineering news
Plane 'with no moving parts' makes its first flight
MIT Technology Review
A team of MIT researchers made global headlines after building a miniature plane that flies with no propellers or jet engine – instead it uses very high voltages to generate ions between sets of two electrodes in the wings. The ions collide with "normal" air molecules, pushing the plane forwards. It is an eye-catching demonstration – but, with very low thrust, it might not power anything larger than a drone in future.
'Shocking' survey shows women earn up to 30% less than male engineers in same roles
Professional Engineering
With efforts ongoing to increase the number of women in the engineering sector, new analysis highlighted the continuing obstacles facing many female engineers.
Production starts on 'quiet' supersonic plane
Aerospace Manufacturing
It won't be as quiet as MIT's ion wind flight, but the X-59 QueSST could enable supersonic flight over land by reducing loud sonic booms to 'thumps'. Lockheed Martin has started work.
Fish and ships
The Guardian
A Norwegian company will use biogas from fish parts and other waste to power its ships in an effort to reduce pollution. No word on how that might smell for passengers.
Manufacturing going into orbit...
New Atlas
Manufacturing in space could remove that pesky force, gravity, from the equation. Space Tango hopes to take advantage of that possibility with an in-orbit autonomous production platform, set to launch "in the middle of the next decade".
... and so is Virgin
Room Space Journal
Sir Richard Branson's efforts to expand his business empire beyond the atmosphere took another step this week, as a modified Boeing 747 named Cosmic Girl completed a test flight with a rocket strapped under its wing. The rocket will eventually take off from the plane at high altitudes.
Jobs boost for rail 'engineering renaissance'
Professional Engineering
A train manufacturer has pledged to join an “engineering renaissance” in the rail sector, creating more than 1,000 roles in factories that could build HS2 rolling stock. The government confirmed that Spanish manufacturer Talgo will open its first UK manufacturing base at Longannet, in Fife, Scotland.
Bring the crane
The Engineer
A video has revealed the sheer scale of the world's biggest crane, which will lift up to 5,000 tonnes at a time at Hinkley Point C. But will a bigger crane be needed to remove it?
Home is where the hydrogen is
Energy Live News
Following an IMechE report earlier this year that called for increased use of hydrogen in the UK, the Committee on Climate Change called for a strategy to encourage investment in producing the gas for low-carbon power.
Engineer solves mystery of cubic wombat faeces to inform manufacturing processes
Professional Engineering
In one of those stories that doesn't need a witty headline, mechanical engineer Patricia Yang investigated a persistent biological mystery. The solution could inform new manufacturing processes.
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