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February 11^th 2025

💻 Technology

🇺🇸 US researchers develop ultra-low-cost radar to track low-flying drones in real time

Engineers at Brigham Young University have created a network of low-cost radar units that can track drones flying below 400 feet, addressing a major gap in current air traffic monitoring. Unlike traditional $10 million airport radar systems, these units cost only a few hundred dollars each and can be deployed on light poles or cell towers. The system synchronizes multiple radars to provide accurate, real-time drone tracking, improving safety in urban and restricted airspaces.

🇪🇸 🇫🇮 🇨🇦 European and Canadian scientists steer electricity through air using ultrasound

Researchers from the University of Helsinki, Public University of Navarre, and the University of Waterloo have developed a method to precisely guide electric sparks through the air using ultrasound waves. By manipulating air density, ultrasound directs plasma around obstacles and onto non-conductive materials, enabling applications like wireless circuit switching and haptic feedback. This breakthrough, published in Science Advances, could pave the way for contactless Braille systems and new bioengineering techniques.

⚡️ Energy

🇺🇸 US firm develops tech to turn heat into electricity with record efficiency

California-based Heat2Power has developed a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) system that converts heat into electricity with over 44% efficiency, surpassing existing technologies. The system can be integrated with thermal energy storage (TES) to provide low-cost, on-demand power for industrial use, reducing energy waste and enhancing renewable energy storage. Using patented air-bridge TPV technology, it can efficiently harvest heat even at lower temperatures, making it a game-changer for waste heat recovery and sustainable power generation.

🚘 Transport

🇺🇸 🇫🇷 US and French researchers test geese-inspired flight technique to cut airline fuel use

Delta and Airbus are advancing "fello’fly," a technique inspired by geese that could cut fuel consumption by 5-10% on long-haul flights. The method, called wake energy retrieval, allows trailing aircraft to ride the uplift created by a lead aircraft, similar to birds flying in formation. A transatlantic test is planned for 2025, with flights from New York and Miami converging midair. If successful, this technique could improve fuel efficiency and reduce aviation emissions.

💊 Healthcare

🇪🇬 Egyptian scientists find gold nanoparticles may outperform Ozempic for fat loss without muscle loss

Researchers from Alexandria University have shown that gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) could be a powerful alternative to current weight-loss drugs, reducing fat by 36% in obese rats while preserving muscle mass. Unlike GLP-1 drugs, which often cause muscle loss, AuNPs improved metabolic markers, blood sugar levels, and even repaired liver and kidney tissue. While promising, the treatment has only been tested in animals, and further research is needed to assess its safety for humans. The findings were published in Science Reports.

🇬🇧 UK researchers develop minimally invasive therapy for hormone-related high blood pressure

Scientists from Queen Mary University of London have developed Targeted Thermal Therapy (Triple T), a minimally invasive procedure that treats high blood pressure caused by primary aldosteronism without surgery. Using ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation, the therapy selectively destroys hormone-producing adrenal nodules in just 20 minutes, potentially eliminating the need for lifelong medication. Early trials showed promising results, with most patients achieving normal hormone levels. A larger study is underway to confirm its effectiveness. The findings were published in The Lancet.

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