Latest Insights from the EngX Community

  • Payloads of the Past: From Looking Up to Looking Down

    Previously we went on a journey aboard Cold War payloads that were designed to look up and out: Geiger counters hunting for trapped radiation belts; rendezvous kits rehearsing an orbital choreographed dance; and capsules containing a man’s best friend that explored the unknown so that humans could soon follow. This month we pivot from that urgency in orbit to a quieter revolution (arguably like my kids, getting louder everyday) unfolding below, as engineers and technologists learn to treat Earth itself as the most important “target” in the sky, from commercial and government (Defence) standpoints. Early weather and Earth‑observation payloads turned “looking down” from a curiosity into a strategic asset, changing not only how we understood the planet but also how nations planned, traded…

  • The 1953 North Sea Flood: A Turning Point in Coastal Engineering

    On the night of 31 January 1953, an extreme storm surge swept across the North Sea and left a mark on the engineering world that still shapes our thinking today. For many engineers, the 1953 North Sea flood is more than a historical event. It’s a case study in systems failure, cross‑border vulnerability, and the transformative power of engineering when society decides that “never again” must truly mean something. Although more than 70 years have passed, the flood continues to influence coastal defence design, risk modelling, data collection practices, and even community resilience strategies. For engineers, the 1953 flood serves as a powerful reminder of why our work matters. A Perfect Storm Meets Vulnerable Defences The disaster unfolded when a deep Atlantic depression moved southeast…

  • France Sparks Europe’s Tech Resilience Pivot

    Overview France has decided to stop treating “digital sovereignty” like a slogan and start treating it like a risk register. At the first Rencontres de la souveraineté numérique on 26 January 2026, Minister for Digital and AI Anne Le Hénanff launched two practical instruments: the Observatoire de la souveraineté numérique (entrusted to the Haut-commissariat à la Stratégie et au Plan) and the Indice de résilience numérique (IRN) , a private-sector initiative chaired by Olivier Sichel of the Caisse des Dépôts. The Minister’s framing was unusually direct: “La souveraineté commence par la lucidité… Nous devons savoir d’où et de quoi nous dépendons” (Sovereignty begins with clear-sightedness… We must know where and on what we depend). Reference : French Government Press Release, 26 January…

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Latest IET EngX News

  • Innovation, Safety and Systems Thinking: January highlights on EngX

    The start of a new year always brings fresh conversations, new ideas, and thoughtful reflection, and January on IET EngX was no exception. From forward looking technical insights and policy discussions to lively forum debates and career focused questions, our community has been busy sharing knowledge and supporting one another. Here’s a roundup of some of the blogs and discussions that caught our attention during January 2026 and sparked great engagement across the platform. Blogs worth a read From racing cars to electric dreams: the origins of EV innovation One of the standout career‑focused blogs this month explored the career of Sir John Samuel from his early roots of electric vehicle innovation and tracing his journey from motorsport engineering to pioneering EV development. Personal…

  • December Highlights on EngX: Celebrations, reflections and a look to the future

    December on EngX had that familiar end‑of‑year feeling, a blend of celebration, reflection, and excitement for what’s ahead. It was a month filled with stories of global impact, technical achievement, and inspiring people across our engineering community. Celebrating Global Communities and a year of impact One of the most uplifting posts this month came from Mariana Vazquez in Celebrating Our Global Communities: A Year of Impact and Innovation . It offered a wonderful look at just how far the IET’s volunteer‑driven activities reached in 2025. She shared that the IET’s Local and Technical Networks delivered over 900 events globally , welcoming more than 51,000 participants , with activity across 25+ countries . Technical Networks also expanded their reach, with webinars accessed in 101…

  • Safety, Space & stories that inspire: November Highlights on EngX!

    November was all about looking ahead, whether that’s exploring the stars, celebrating the legacy of television, or shining a spotlight on the people who make our community thrive. Here’s what stood out on IET EngX this month: Payloads of the Past: Sputnik II and Laika’s Legacy In a new blog series, Aaron Russell kicked off with Payloads of the Past: Sputnik II and the Legacy of Laika . His post dives into the story behind the second-ever satellite launched into orbit and the brave dog Laika, whose mission paved the way for human spaceflight. It’s a fascinating read that blends engineering history with ethical questions about early space exploration. World Television Day On 21 November, Ian Nock marked World Television Day with a thoughtful reflection on TV’s role in shaping society…

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Latest Partner News

  • Road to Engineering event introduces children to the world of engineering

    BAE System's Submarines Academy for Skills and Knowledge (SASK), Barrow-in-Furness successfully hosted the 6th Road to Engineering event which took place over three action-packed days. Over 200 children from the Furness area participated in the event which aims to inspire future careers in Engineering. This year's theme was 'Adapt and Change' following the British Science week theme. Supporting the event were the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, Barrow District of Associate Engineers and the Royal Institute of Naval Architects who contributed valuable insight, merchandise and STEM packs for schools. Stephen Rowe, Project Director of Engineering Transformation said, "It was a privilege to attend the Road to Engineering event and…

  • H&MV Engineering appointed as principal designer and contractor for the Thorpe Marsh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

    H&MV Engineering has been appointed as principal designer and contractor for the delivery of the 400 kV grid connection and electrical infrastructure for the Thorpe Marsh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) – the largest of its kind in the UK and among the largest in Europe. This landmark project, led by Fidra Energy and backed by major investment from EIG and the UK Government’s National Wealth Fund (NWF), has now reached financial close with construction commencing immediately. Located on the site of the former Thorpe Marsh coal-fired power station in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, the 1,400MW / 3,100MWh facility will be capable of exporting over 2 million MWh annually, supplying clean energy to approximately 785,000 homes. Once operational in mid-2027, it will be three times larger than…

  • In-flight Broadband Connectivity and Experimentation for Beyond 5G Networks “AeroNet”

    This work is supported by the HORIZON-MSCA-2024-SE-01-01, Project ID 101236523 and Innovate UK. Total amount is €1.8 million for five Universities and 3 Industries in EU and UK. Raed A Abd-Alhameed, Viktor Doychinov, Vuong Mai, Ifiok Otung University of Bradford, (UoB), Organisation in United Kingdom London South Bank University (LSB), Organisation in United Kingdom Technische Universität Dresden (TDN) - Organisation in Germany University of Athens (UoA) - Organisation in Greece University of Trento (UDT) - Organisation in Italy Fogus Innovations and Services PC (FGS) - Organisation in Greece Sigint Solutions Ltd (SGT) - Organisation in Cyprus JIO Platforms (JIO) - Organisation in Estonia Fogus Innovations and Service P.C. (FGS), Athens, Greece Sigint Solutions Ltd (SGT), Nicosia, Cyprus…

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Latest articles from E+T Magazine

  • Earth-observation missions redesigned to cut risk of space junk strikes

    Earth-observation satellites deliver data that is critical in monitoring the progress of climate change, but they are increasingly at risk as the upper atmosphere becomes more congested. Now, University of Manchester researchers have developed a way to design Earth-observation satellite missions that could help to protect the space environment and minimise the risk of satellites being struck by space debris. There are currently around 11,800 active satellites in orbit, with some predictions suggesting that this could rise to more than 100,000 by the end of the decade. This would raise the risk of collisions exponentially, further increasing the amount of debris in orbit. Lead author John Mackintosh, PhD researcher at the University of Manchester, said: “Our research addresses what is…

  • Antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in ice cave could help in battle against superbugs

    A bacterial strain discovered frozen in an underground cave is resistant to 10 antibiotics, which could give scientists clues on preventing the rise of antimicrobial resistance. Bacteria have evolved to adapt to Earth’s most extreme conditions, from scorching heat to temperatures well below zero. Ice caves host a variety of micro-organisms representing a source of genetic diversity that has not yet been studied extensively. Researchers have carried out antibiotic resistance tests on bacteria found inside a 5,000-year-old layer of ice in the Scarisoara ice cave in Romania. “The Psychrobacter SC65A.3 bacterial strain isolated from Scarisoara ice cave, despite its ancient origin, shows resistance to multiple modern antibiotics and carries over 100 resistance-related genes,” said Cristina…

  • Driverless cars could soon see around corners with HoloRadar system

    The safety of autonomous vehicles could be boosted with a new system that allows robots to see around corners. Developed by engineers at the University of Pennsylvania, HoloRadar enables robots to see around corners by using radio waves that are processed by AI. Robots equipped with the technology were able to reconstruct three-dimensional scenes outside their direct line of sight, including pedestrians. Unlike previous approaches to non-line-of-sight perception, which have depended on visible light, HoloRadar works reliably in darkness and under variable lighting conditions. “Robots and autonomous vehicles need to see beyond what’s directly in front of them,” said assistant professor Mingmin Zhao. “This capability is essential to help robots and autonomous vehicles make safer decisions…

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