Daily Innovation News

December 12^th 2024

💻 Technology

🇺🇸 US scientists use Matrix-style learning to ‘write’ skills into brain noninvasively

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking technique that uses real-time brain imaging to "write" new skills into the brain without conscious effort. Participants in the study learned to recognize new visual categories through a feedback system that sculpted their brain activity to match predefined patterns. The findings, published in PNAS, suggest potential applications in education, rehabilitation, and treatments for mental disorders, heralding a new era in neuroscience and brain-computer interface development.

🚘 Transport

🇨🇳 Chinese scientists test hypersonic jet capable of 6.5 times the speed of sound

China has successfully tested a jumbo jet prototype reaching Mach 6.56 (5,033 mph), potentially enabling hypersonic travel. The 20-minute test flight tackled key challenges in hypersonic design, such as maintaining usable interior space at extreme speeds. If realized, this technology could drastically cut travel times, making trips like Beijing to New York possible in two hours. While hurdles in power, materials, and structure remain, the project marks a major step toward revolutionizing civilian air travel.

🇩🇪 🇹🇼 German and Taiwanese firms develop EV solid-state battery with 10x capacity and fast charging

FEV and ProLogium have unveiled a Large-Footprint Lithium Ceramic Battery (LLCB) offering 10 times the capacity of current graphite-anode batteries and enabling ultra-fast charging. The silicon anode allows a 60% charge in just five minutes, with a range of up to 625 miles depending on the vehicle. The solid-state electrolyte enhances safety, prevents thermal runaway, and enables modular, recyclable designs. This innovation promises lighter, faster-charging, and more sustainable EV batteries.

🌎 Environment

🇺🇸 US researchers develop sustainable method to extract cobalt from discarded batteries

Scientists have created a breakthrough chemical process to recover cobalt from recycled batteries, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional mining. This innovative technique uses selective precipitation to separate cobalt and nickel efficiently, achieving 99.4% cobalt purity while avoiding harsh chemicals and reducing environmental impact. The method, published in Chem, provides a scalable and cost-effective way to recycle valuable metals, addressing supply shortages and reducing electronic waste.

🇩🇰 Danish researchers create 'superman' bacteria for greener chemical production

Scientists have enhanced E. coli bacteria with a polymer "superman cape" to boost efficiency and sustainability in chemical and pharmaceutical production. The coating strengthens the bacteria, allowing them to perform complex reactions faster, use less energy, and withstand harsh conditions, enabling reuse and reducing waste. This breakthrough, published in Nature Catalysis, could lower the environmental impact of industries reliant on bacterial processes, such as insulin and biodiesel production.

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