Daily Innovation News

August 22^nd 2024

💻 Technology

🇰🇷 South Korean researchers develop portable air-to-water converter for military and survival use

South Korean scientists have created a portable air-to-drinking water converter that can fit in a backpack, making it ideal for military and survival scenarios. The system efficiently collects, purifies, and converts atmospheric moisture into clean drinking water through a four-step process of absorption, vaporization, condensation, and sterilization. This eco-friendly technology, which doubles the moisture collection efficiency of conventional systems, offers a sustainable solution for water production in remote areas and harsh environments.

🇨🇭 Switzerland launches nationwide drone network for public safety and infrastructure

Nokia and Swisscom have partnered to deploy a nationwide drones-as-a-service network across Switzerland, enhancing emergency response, infrastructure inspection, and public safety. The network, comprising 300 Drone-in-Box units, will allow first responders to quickly gather critical information during emergencies, improving situational awareness. This initiative also supports Industry 4.0 applications, integrating edge computing and enabling autonomous drone operations beyond visual line-of-sight. The project marks a significant advancement in the use of drones for public safety and industrial purposes in Switzerland.

🇺🇸 US researchers develop chalk-based coating to create cooling fabrics for extreme heat

US researchers have developed a chalk-based coating that can reduce temperatures under treated fabrics by up to 8 degrees Fahrenheit, offering a simple and sustainable way to keep people cool in extreme heat. The coating, applied using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, integrates natural calcium carbonate and barium sulfate particles to reflect sunlight and heat. This innovative approach allows for scalable production on commercial fabrics, potentially providing a valuable cooling solution for outdoor activities without requiring any power input.

🌎 Environment

🇨🇦 Canadian technology recycles diverse plastics with low-energy, water-based reactor

Aduro Clean Technologies has developed a water-based continuous flow reactor that efficiently recycles difficult-to-process plastics, including mixed and contaminated types, into reusable hydrocarbons. Operating at lower temperatures and energy levels than conventional methods, this innovative "hydrochemolytic" process achieves up to 95% conversion rates, making it a promising solution for reducing global plastic waste. The technology, which can be integrated into existing industrial systems, offers a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic recycling methods.

🇺🇸 🇰🇷 US and South Korean researchers use quantum computing to develop advanced solar heat-blocking window coating

Researchers from the University of Notre Dame and Kyung Hee University have utilized quantum computing to create a transparent window coating that significantly reduces solar heat, potentially lowering building cooling costs by up to 30%. The coating, made from silica, alumina, and titanium oxide, selectively allows visible light to pass through while blocking heat-inducing solar rays. This innovation, published in ACS Energy Levels, and driven by quantum computing and machine learning, offers a promising solution for enhancing energy efficiency in buildings worldwide.

💉 Biotechnology

🇰🇷 South Korean scientists engineer bacteria to produce the first thermally stable bioplastic

South Korean scientists have engineered bacteria to create the first-ever bioplastic composed entirely of thermally stable aromatic monomers. This breakthrough enables the production of a biodegradable plastic with enhanced rigidity and thermal stability, which could have significant applications in biomedical fields like drug delivery. The innovation, published in Trends in Biotechnology, required designing a unique metabolic pathway in E. coli bacteria to produce and tolerate the polymer, marking a key advancement in the pursuit of sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 US researchers show tirzepatide significantly lowers diabetes risk and sustains weight loss

A US study has demonstrated that the drug tirzepatide can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by 94% in obese and prediabetic individuals, while also supporting significant weight loss. Over a three-year period, participants on the highest dose of tirzepatide lost an average of 22.9% of their body weight. The study, funded by Eli Lilly, highlights the potential of tirzepatide as a powerful tool for preventing diabetes and managing obesity, though some weight gain and increased diabetes risk were noted after stopping the medication.

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