Engineering News Today — October 22, 2026
When powerful women are remembered as witches, we should challenge the historical motive and more — today's engineering signal.
As we navigate the complexities of our world, from the intricacies of human history to the wonders of the natural one, engineers and scientists continue to push the boundaries of knowledge and innovation. The stories of powerful women being misremembered as witches serve as a reminder of the importance of critically examining our past and challenging prevailing narratives, a mindset that also informs our approach to understanding the natural world. Take, for instance, the rediscovery of a venomous primate in Indonesia, which highlights the vast mysteries still waiting to be uncovered in our planet's ecosystems, and the crucial role that scientists play in shedding light on these enigmas.
Meanwhile, significant breakthroughs are being achieved in the fields of materials science and physics. Researchers have made notable strides in developing perovskite lasers that can maintain stable performance over an impressive 400 million pulses, and X-ray free-electron lasers that can produce high-energy pulses with unprecedented brevity. These advancements not only expand our understanding of the fundamental laws of physics but also hold promise for real-world applications. On a more practical note, engineers are also finding innovative ways to harness the power of nature, such as leveraging salt marshes to build climate-resilient coastlines. And yet, despite these many successes, we're also reminded of the psychological and environmental costs of our throwaway culture, where even minor imperfections can lead us to discard perfectly serviceable items – a mindset that engineers, with their emphasis on efficiency and sustainability, are well-equipped to challenge.
Today's signal:
• When powerful women are remembered as witches, we should challenge the historical motive (phys.org)
• Venomous primate thought lost to science for nearly a century turns up in gardens and on roads across Indonesia (phys.org)
• Perovskite laser maintains stable performance over 400 million pulses (phys.org)
• Salt marshes are proving to be powerful allies in building a climate-resilient coastline (phys.org)
• A scuff on your bag, a dent in your mug—and suddenly it feels like time for a new one (phys.org)
• X-ray free-electron laser sets new record for shortest high-energy pulses (phys.org)