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|How a 70-Year-Old River Diversion Saved Valencia

You know how sometimes the best solutions to modern problems were actually figured out decades ago? Well, that's exactly what happened in Valencia, Spain this week.

Picture this: the beautiful coastal city got hammered by what locals call a "cold drop" storm – basically a year's worth of rain in just eight hours.

But here's where it gets interesting.

Back in the 1950s, after a massive flood wreaked havoc on the city, some forward-thinking engineers came up with a wild idea: "What if we just... moved the river?"

I know, it sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel, but that's exactly what they did with the Túria River. And thank goodness they did, because this week's flooding could have been so much worse.

The Plot Twist 🔄

The original plan wasn't finished:

• Meant to include massive water basin
• Could hold 164 million cubic meters
• Why wasn't it built? They ran out of money
• Local officials warned about this for years

What We Learned 💡

• Old solution saved modern Valencia
• But incomplete project still led to tragedy
• Sometimes finishing what we started > new solutions
• Nature reminds us: better safe than sorry

Looking Forward 🌅

As Valencia rebuilds, big questions remain:

• Time to finish the 1950s plan?
• How to better prepare for future storms?
• Will climate change bring more 'bring more intense storms?’
• Can we learn from past engineering wisdom?

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|This or That: Choice is Yours

Your goal is to safeguard a series of historic coastal buildings threatened by rising sea levels and extreme weather while preserving their unique charm.

Two innovative approaches are being considered:

Option A: Elevate and Fortify Foundations

• Pros: Raises the buildings slightly above ground level, reducing flood risk, and adds reinforcement to foundations to withstand storm surges.
• Cons: Costly and may disrupt the surrounding environment; visually noticeable changes could alter the character of the historic area.

Option B: Water-Resistant Barriers and Green Infrastructure

• Pros: Installs flood barriers and integrates natural elements like rain gardens to absorb excess water, maintaining the area’s historic look while managing water flow.
• Cons: Barriers may be less effective in extreme conditions, and green infrastructure needs regular upkeep, which could increase maintenance costs.

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|Your Next Sweater Could Be a Power Station

Ever wished your clothes could do more than just keep you warm?

Well, some clever scientists in Sweden just had a wild idea: they turned regular silk thread into a power station. No, seriously.

The Big Idea 💡

Think about it - you're out for a run, phone battery dying, and your sweater's just... charging it. Sounds lol right? But that's exactly what these researchers at Chalmers University are working on.

What they've created:

• A silk thread that generates electricity
• Powers health monitors without batteries
• Uses your body heat to make energy
• And yes, it's machine washable

How Does This Work?

It's actually pretty neat. They took normal silk thread and coated it with Organic polymer (poly(benzodifurandione)-based). Here's the cool part: it uses the temperature difference between your warm body and the cold air to generate power.

Think of it like this:

But Does It Actually Work?⚡

They tested it out with:

• A smart button (fancy!)
• A piece of fabric (bigger energy)

The Results:

• Created 6 millivolts when there's a 30°C temperature difference
• Could potentially juice up your phone via USB
• Keeps working for a year+
• Still kicks after 7 washes (though it loses some juice)

The Not-So-Great Parts

Look, it's not perfect yet:

• Takes FOUR DAYS to hand-sew
• Can't mass produce it (yet)
• Loses power after washing (but hey, it still works)
• Needs some serious upgrades before hitting stores

This could be huge for:

• Health tracking without annoying battery changes
• Emergency phone charging on the go
• Sustainable power (Mother Earth says thanks)
• Making your clothes work harder than you do

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|Fresh from the oven

1. One of the fastest-spinning stars in the Universe

2. High-Speed 3D Bioprinter Sparks Revolution in Drug Discovery

3. Chemists just broke a 100-year-old rule

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|Your next adventure?

1. Sr Satellite Systems Engineer - ALTEN Technology USA
Join them to keep satellites in orbit—because dropping them is frowned upon.

2. Nuclear Engineer - U.S. Navy
It’s not rocket science; it’s just nuclear science... what could go wrong?

3. Industrial Engineer I - RTX
Streamline like your life depends on it—because here, it actually might.

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