The Daily Innovation Newsletter

Enjoying this newsletter? Know someone who would too? Forward this email to them!

Sign up (it’s free) | Advertise

April 17^th 2025

⚡️ Energy

🇸🇬 Singaporean scientists harvest electricity from rain using plug flow in compact energy device

Researchers at the National University of Singapore have developed a simple device that converts falling raindrops into electricity using a process called plug flow, where water moves in uniform slugs through a narrow vertical tube. This setup, described in ACS Central Science, significantly outperforms traditional continuous-flow systems, converting over 10% of the water’s energy into electricity—enough to power 12 LEDs for 20 seconds. The breakthrough offers a promising, low-cost method for renewable energy generation from rainfall on urban rooftops and small structures.

🌎 Sustainability

🇺🇸 US researchers create living concrete that heals itself and could cut construction emissions

A team at Montana State University has developed a self-repairing building material using fungal mycelium from Neurospora crassa and living bacterial cells, marking a major step toward sustainable construction. The material stays viable for over a month—much longer than typical biomaterials—allowing it to autonomously repair damage and potentially clean environmental contaminants. Published in Cell Reports Physical Science, the study highlights how this bio-composite could reduce cement-related emissions and reshape architectural design through its flexible internal structures.

🇺🇸 US researchers discover pollution-fighting genes in microbes from Brooklyn’s toxic Gowanus Canal

A team at NYU Tandon School of Engineering has found that microbes in Brooklyn’s heavily polluted Gowanus Canal possess hundreds of genes and biochemical pathways capable of breaking down industrial contaminants and processing heavy metals. Published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology, the study reveals a rich microbial ecosystem with genetic tools that could lead to cheaper, more sustainable alternatives to disruptive dredging operations. The findings may also aid global bioremediation efforts and uncover new biotech applications in medicine and industry.

🇳🇱 Dutch engineers turn retired wind turbine blade into 3D-printed bridge in circular design leap

Engineers in the Netherlands have built a modular bridge using a decommissioned wind turbine blade as its main girder, demonstrating a creative blend of recycling and large-scale 3D printing. Developed by Poly Products in collaboration with local partners, the 12-meter bridge integrates repurposed composite materials and 3D-printed connectors to fit the blade’s original curved form. Part of the Circular Viaduct project, the innovation showcases how end-of-life infrastructure components can be transformed into new structures with minimal environmental impact.

💉 Biotechnology

🇯🇵 Japanese scientists grow realistic lab-cultured chicken meat using fiber-based bioreactor system

Researchers at The University of Tokyo have developed a bioreactor that mimics blood vessels to grow structured chicken meat with the texture of whole cuts. Described in Trends in Biotechnology, the system uses semipermeable hollow fibers to deliver nutrients and oxygen efficiently, enabling the production of over 10 grams of lab-grown muscle from fibroblast cells. This scalable method could accelerate commercial cultured meat development and has potential applications in regenerative medicine and biohybrid robotics.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 US researchers use gold nanoparticles to partially restore vision in mice with retinal disorders

Scientists at Brown University have developed a minimally invasive method using gold nanoparticles to restore vision in mice with retinal degeneration. Published in ACS Nano, the study shows that when paired with patterned infrared laser light, the nanoparticles stimulate remaining retinal cells—bypassing damaged photoreceptors—to send visual signals to the brain. This potential prosthetic system, requiring only a simple injection and wearable laser goggles, could offer a safer, higher-resolution alternative to existing surgical implants for vision restoration.

That’s all for today, please reply to this email if you have any comments or feedback, we’d love to hear from you about what we can do better!

Have you enjoyed this email? Make sure to share it with your friends and colleagues.

See you soon,

Max

Subscribe (it’s free) | Advertise