Articles from Interesting Engineering

The family-owned Belgian marine construction company Jan De Nul has launched the world's largest cable-laying vessel, the Fleeming Jenkin, at the CMHI Haimen shipyard in China. With a 28,000-ton cable-carrying capacity, the vessel aims to support the installation of subsea cables for offshore wind farms and power grid connections. This advanced vessel is expected to help in Europe's transition to large-scale clean power transmission, starting with a mission under Dutch-German grid operator TenneT's 2GW Program. Additionally, Jan De Nul is planning to introduce a new subsea rock installation vessel, the George W. Goethals, to meet global demands for underwater infrastructure protection.

The Hanford Site in Washington state has begun operations to turn nuclear waste into glass at the world's largest radioactive waste treatment facility. This process, known as vitrification, involves mixing waste with glass-forming materials and heating it to create stable glass logs for safe disposal. The project is a collaborative effort involving Bechtel, the U.S. Department of Energy, Washington state, and other stakeholders to address environmental risks. The facility is set to process thousands of gallons of waste per day for long-term stabilization.

Researchers at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea have developed a new artificial muscle that can transition between being soft and flexible to rigid and strong. This innovation addresses the limitations of existing artificial muscles, which typically had to compromise between strength and flexibility. The new muscle is composed of a dual cross-linked polymer network and magnetic microparticles, allowing precise movement control and exceptional energy output. It has significant potential applications in robotics, wearable devices, and advanced prosthetics.

Lucid Bots has launched a new module for its Sherpa drone, allowing it to paint buildings with exceptional speed and efficiency. The drone can cover 200 square feet per minute, offering significant time and cost savings over traditional methods. This innovation comes at a critical time as the construction industry faces labor shortages and increasing safety concerns. The new technology enables safer and quicker completion of exterior painting tasks, especially for high-rise buildings.

The article outlines the top 10 biggest operational solar power plants as of 2025, which are reshaping global energy by being real and verifiable contributors to clean power generation. Ranking first, China's Gonghe Talatan Solar Park leads with a capacity of 15,600 MW, while other notable sites include the Midong Solar Project and India's Bhadla Solar Park. These massive installations are a testament to the ongoing global shift towards sustainable energy sources.

China has opened the world's first dual-tower solar-thermal power plant in the Gobi Desert, developed by the Three Gorges Corporation. This innovative facility uses heliostats to concentrate sunlight on two towers to generate electricity even when the sun isn't shining. The dual-tower design improves efficiency by 25% compared to traditional single-tower systems. This project is part of China’s effort to expand its renewable energy capacity, capable of providing power to around half a million households.

A Princeton-led study found that U.S. wastewater treatment plants emit nearly twice as much greenhouse gas as previously estimated, with significant emissions of methane and nitrous oxide. These emissions account for notable percentages of U.S. methane and nitrous oxide outputs. While most emissions are from a small number of plants, targeted improvements could reduce overall pollution. The study utilized a mobile lab to measure emissions across various facilities.

For the first time, wind and solar energy have generated more electricity than coal globally in the first half of 2025, according to a report by climate think tank Ember. The significant increase in solar power, especially in China and India, contributed to this shift. Renewable energy sources have thus met the rising global electricity demand, lowering the use of coal and gas. Despite regional fluctuations, this marks a major milestone in the global energy transition towards cleaner energy.

Bananaz has launched Design Agent, an AI-powered tool specifically for mechanical engineers that interprets CAD files and engineering standards to eliminate design errors and enhance innovation. Unlike other AI tools, Design Agent is tailored to handle the complexities of mechanical engineering, offering instant design checks, context-aware engineering analysis, and automated tolerance analysis. It functions as a virtual expert that helps engineers make informed decisions, optimizing efficiency and performance, thereby reducing development time and manufacturing costs.

Researchers at the University of New South Wales have developed a new solar cell technology that can increase efficiency to over 30% and lower operating temperatures, which could extend the lifespan of panels by about 4.5 years. This breakthrough involves using a stable organic molecule called dipyrrolonaphthyridinedione (DPND) with silicon photovoltaics. The technology improves electrical yield by using a process known as singlet fission, enhancing the performance of silicon solar cells. The team is now moving toward scaling up production for pilot manufacturing trials.

The US National Nuclear Security Administration has issued a Request for Proposals to construct AI data centers powered by advanced nuclear technology at historic sites in South Carolina and Tennessee. This initiative is part of a larger strategy to enhance US leadership in AI and nuclear energy, encouraging private firms to propose innovative energy solutions. The selected partners will be responsible for the development, operation, and decommissioning of these centers. The project also marks a new chapter for the Savannah River Site, transitioning from its role in nuclear weapons production to a key player in digital and clean energy advancements.

The article discusses the world's tallest bridges by structural height, focusing on engineering marvels mainly in China, with the exception of the Millau Viaduct in France. Highlighted projects include the Puzhehei Bridge, Changtai Yangtze River Bridge, and several others in China, reflecting rapid infrastructure expansion and engineering ambition. These bridges are characterized by their towering heights and span lengths, designed to bolster transportation and connectivity in their regions.