February 10th 2025

Author

Max Gray
February 10, 2025

In partnership with

The Daily Innovation Newsletter

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February 10th 2025

💻 Technology

OneCourt has created a tactile feedback device that allows visually impaired users to "feel" live sports games through vibrations on a raised map of the playing field. The device, which receives real-time data via Wi-Fi and 5G, translates ball movement, scores, and key actions into haptic signals. Currently tested with basketball, baseball, and football, OneCourt is being trialed at Portland Trail Blazers games and aims to expand to more sports and home use soon.

🚘 Transport

French startup Flying Whales is developing the LCA60T, a 656-foot-long helium airship designed to transport heavy cargo to remote regions with minimal environmental impact. Powered by 32 electric propellers, initially running on batteries and turbine generators, the airship aims to transition to hydrogen fuel cells for cleaner operation. The LCA60T's ability to carry 60 metric tons without needing landing infrastructure makes it ideal for delivering supplies, humanitarian aid, and even mobile hospitals to inaccessible locations. Flight testing is planned for 2027, with hopes of revolutionizing sustainable cargo transport.

🚀 Space

Scientists at Russia’s Rosatom have developed a plasma electric rocket engine capable of accelerating charged hydrogen particles to 100 km/s, potentially reducing Mars travel time to just one month. Unlike traditional chemical rockets, this engine uses a magnetic plasma accelerator, making space travel more efficient and reducing astronauts' exposure to cosmic radiation. A laboratory prototype has been built and is undergoing testing, with a flight-ready model expected by 2030. If successful, this technology could revolutionize interplanetary travel and space cargo transport.

🌎 Environment

British company Altilium has developed a high-efficiency battery recycling process that recovers 97% of lithium and 99% of graphite from used EV batteries. Its proprietary EcoCathode technology enables the direct reuse of recovered materials in new batteries, addressing the growing demand for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells. Altilium’s Plymouth plant processes up to one EV battery’s worth of waste per day, with a larger Teesside facility set to handle scrap from over 150,000 EVs annually, strengthening the UK’s battery supply chain.

Researchers at Ohio State University have created the Underwater Zooplankton Enhancement Light Array (UZELA), a programmable underwater light that attracts zooplankton to coral reefs, enhancing feeding and resilience. Testing in Hawaii showed that corals exposed to UZELA increased feeding rates by up to 50-fold, improving their survival against environmental threats like heat stress. While not a permanent fix, the device could aid coral restoration for decades. A more scalable version is expected within three years, offering a strategic tool for protecting high-value reefs. The research was published in Limnology and Oceanography Methods.

💊 Healthcare

Scientists from Penn State and Hebei University of Technology have created a flexible sensor that tracks wound healing by separately measuring temperature and strain using laser-induced graphene. This self-powered device detects inflammation and recovery progress without requiring batteries or frequent check-ups. Soft, stretchable, and highly sensitive, the bandage could revolutionize medical monitoring and even be adapted for fire detection. Future versions may include wireless tracking for real-time updates via smartphones. The research was published in Nature Communications.

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