Engineering Newswire: Master Sword-Makers' Secrets Revealed

This Engineering Newswire looks at taking aim with a next generation smart gun, moving forward with Musk’s Hyperloop plans and revealing the secrets of master sword makers. The Next-Gen Smart Gun Since 2009, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has been waiting for their new and improved Smart Gun. Until last week when Defense Research and Development Canada (DRDC) and Colt Canda, unveiled the new prototype. The main weapon contains a NATO standard "bullpup" style (with the magazine behind, rather than in front of the trigger mechanism) 5.56 mm NATO-standard caliber, semi-automatic rifle with selectable fire rate. The secondary weaponry includes a 12-gauge (18 mm) shotgun, and a 40-mm, three round capacity grenade launcher. Hyperloop Moves Forward About 3 years ago, Elon Musk began toying with the idea of a “Hyperloop” as a future replacement for bullet trains. It would essentially be a cross between a Concorde, a railgun, and a bullet train, and would be able to travel at around 760 mph. But a couple startups began where he left off. Although the startups are working out the kinks on paper, Musk will most likely be doing the physical construction. Last month he vowed to build a test track in Texas for groups to work on Hyperloop prototypes. So although it’s still a long way off, it appears Musk has not given up on his vision. Master Sword-Makers’ Secrets Revealed Researchers have revealed the skilled craftsmanship used to produce pure, strong steel for a 200-year-old, 75 cm-long shamshir, a curved single-edged Indian battle sword. Using metallography to test the metal’s composition and neutron-diffraction to non-invasively shed light on the forging process and the materials.