Daily Innovation News

August 1^st 2024

💻 Technology

🇺🇸 US patient with ALS controls Apple's Vision Pro via a brain-computer interface

A 64-year-old ALS patient has become the first person to control Apple's Vision Pro AR/VR headset using the Stentrode brain-computer interface. Developed by Synchron, this technology bypasses invasive surgery by threading electrodes through the jugular vein to the motor cortex. This breakthrough allows users to interact with the headset via direct thought, enabling activities like playing games, watching TV, and sending messages without hand gestures or speech. This innovation offers a new standard for human-computer interaction for people with paralysis.

🇯🇵 🇺🇸 Japanese and US researchers develop reconfigurable 'solid knitting' machine

Researchers from Japan and the US have developed an innovative 'solid knitting' machine capable of creating firm, reconfigurable objects from yarn. This machine, which works similarly to 3D printing, can produce and then unravel and reuse materials, promoting sustainability. The prototype can currently knit basic shapes, with future goals to create complex objects like chairs. This groundbreaking technique, showcased at the SIGGRAPH conference, represents a significant advancement in digital fabrication. The study was published in ACM Transactions on Graphics.

🚘 Transport

🇺🇸 US researchers develop cylinder sails promising 90% fuel reduction for ships

American engineers have created stationary cylinder sails that could cut cargo ship fuel consumption by up to 90%. The CoFlow Jet system, designed by researchers at the University of Miami, uses non-rotating cylinders that harness wind energy to generate thrust, significantly reducing the need for diesel fuel. This innovative wind-assisted propulsion system can be retrofitted onto existing ships, offering a sustainable solution to decrease shipping emissions. The research highlights a modern approach to an ancient technology, promoting environmental benefits and efficiency.

🚀 Space

🇳🇱 🇺🇸 Dutch and US researchers develop ultra-thin lightsail that could enable spacecraft to reach our nearest stars within 20 years

Scientists from the Netherlands and the US have created an ultra-thin lightsail that could enable spacecraft to reach the nearest stars within 20 years. Using AI-based neural topology optimization, they designed a nanometer-thick silicon nitride sail with enhanced reflectivity and minimal mass. This innovation could achieve speeds up to 20% of the speed of light, making interstellar travel feasible. The project, inspired by Breakthrough Starshot, aims to send tiny spacecraft to Alpha Centauri. The study can be found on arXiv.

🤖 Artificial Intelligence

🇯🇵 Japanese researchers use AI to detect male infertility from blood with 100% accuracy

Japanese scientists have developed an AI tool that predicts male infertility through a simple blood test, demonstrating 100% accuracy in detecting non-obstructive azoospermia. This innovative method analyzes hormone levels and offers a primary screening tool for male infertility, potentially reducing the need for semen analysis. The AI model, based on data from over 3,600 men, simplifies the detection process and provides a reliable alternative for early diagnosis. The study emphasizes future improvements to distinguish between various infertility types.

🇺🇸 US researchers use AI to develop safer, effective antibiotic against resistant bacteria

American scientists have utilized artificial intelligence to create a new antibiotic, showing promise in animal trials. The AI reengineered Protegrin-1, a previously toxic antibiotic, into a safer version named bsPG-1.2, effective against multidrug-resistant bacteria without harming human cells. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for dangerous bacterial infections that have become resistant to current antibiotics. The study was published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 US researchers find non-intoxicating cannabinoid CBG reduces anxiety and stress in human trial

American scientists have discovered that cannabigerol (CBG), a non-intoxicating cannabinoid, significantly reduces anxiety and stress in humans. The study, published in Scientific Reports, showed that 20 mg of hemp-derived CBG reduced anxiety within 20 to 60 minutes after ingestion. Additionally, CBG improved memory recall without the cognitive or motor impairments linked to THC. This research offers promising insights into CBG as a potential treatment for anxiety without the intoxication associated with cannabis.

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