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April 18^th 2025

💻 Technology

🇳🇱 Dutch scientists create spray that makes gunshot residue glow green for instant crime scene detection

Researchers at the University of Amsterdam have developed a forensic spray that reacts with gunshot residue (GSR) to form a green-glowing perovskite when exposed to UV light, allowing police to detect traces on suspects or surfaces instantly at crime scenes. The isopropyl-alcohol-based solution converts lead particles into a fluorescent compound, eliminating the need for time-consuming lab tests. Successfully trialed by Amsterdam police, this fast, visible method could greatly accelerate investigations and prevent suspects from escaping before results are confirmed. The research was published in Forensic Science International.

⚡️ Energy

🇺🇸 US company achieves 100× fusion power boost, slashes reactor costs by 50% with new plasma machine

California-based TAE Technologies has unveiled a breakthrough in fusion energy by developing a new machine, “Norm,” that uses a simplified plasma formation method to generate up to 100 times more fusion power output than traditional reactors. Using only neutral beam injection, the system eliminates complex magnetic components, significantly reducing size, cost, and complexity—cutting reactor expenses by 50%. Published in Nature Communications, the advance accelerates the path to affordable, clean fusion power and supports TAE’s roadmap to commercial energy systems.

🦾 Robotics

🇹🇭 Thai AI robot cop debuts with 360° vision and live threat detection to boost public safety

Thailand has launched its first AI-powered police robot, AI Police Cyborg 1.0, to enhance public safety during major events like the Songkran festival. Developed by local police and municipal teams, the robot uses 360-degree smart cameras, facial recognition, and behavior analysis to identify potential threats in real time, including weapons and physical altercations. Integrated with drones and CCTV, it represents a major step in the Royal Thai Police’s adoption of AI surveillance tools.

🇺🇸 US engineers boost oyster farming with AI robots, raising yields and protecting ecosystems

Engineers at the University of Maryland have developed a robotic and AI-powered system that maps oyster beds and guides harvesting to increase yields by at least 10%. Using underwater imaging and sonar from submerged and surface robots, the system generates precise seafloor maps, helping farmers plant and harvest more effectively while minimizing environmental harm. Backed by the USDA, this technology could make oyster farming in Chesapeake Bay more sustainable, efficient, and ecologically beneficial.

🌎 Sustainability

🇪🇺 European scientists develop adaptable robots to safely dismantle e-waste, boosting recycling efficiency

Researchers in the EU-funded ReconCycle project have developed reconfigurable AI-powered robots that can safely and autonomously dismantle complex electronics, addressing a major bottleneck in e-waste recycling. Unlike traditional industrial robots, these flexible systems adapt to varied tasks and device designs, enabling safer removal of hazardous components like lithium batteries. Developed with Electrocycling GmbH, the innovation could drastically improve recycling rates and reduce environmental and economic waste across the EU.

💊 Healthcare

🇹🇼 Taiwanese surgeons achieve world's first nonstop beating-heart transplant, cutting damage and boosting success

Surgeons at National Taiwan University Hospital have performed the world’s first heart transplant in which the donor heart never stopped beating, completely eliminating ischemic time—the period when an organ is without blood supply. Using a custom-built organ care system inspired by life-support technology, the heart was continuously supplied with oxygenated blood during removal, transport, and implantation. This approach significantly reduces tissue damage and improves outcomes, marking a major advance in transplant medicine. The findings appear in Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Techniques.

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See you soon,

Max

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