February 12th 2025

Author

Max Gray
February 12, 2025

The Daily Innovation Newsletter

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February 12th 2025

💻 Technology

Researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) have found a way for quantum computers to send information using light instead of electricity. This means they no longer need expensive, ultra-cold environments to function. By converting quantum signals into infrared light, their method allows data to travel efficiently through fiber optic cables—just like the internet does today. This breakthrough could help build larger, faster, and more practical quantum networks. The study was published in Nature Physics.

⚡️ Energy

Type One Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) have partnered to develop Infinity Two, a 350MW stellarator fusion power plant at a retired coal site. This project, part of Project Infinity, aims to commercialize fusion energy by leveraging existing infrastructure and modular manufacturing. With support from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the facility could begin generating power by the mid-2030s, marking a major step toward clean, sustainable energy.

🚘 Transport

Boom Supersonic's XB-1 demonstrator has successfully broken the sound barrier three times without producing an audible sonic boom on the ground, thanks to Mach cutoff physics. Using advanced aerodynamics and an efficient Symphony turbofan engine, the aircraft prevents shockwaves from reaching the surface by flying above 30,000 feet. This milestone brings Boom’s Overture passenger jet closer to commercial reality, with airlines already placing 130 orders. The company aims to revolutionize supersonic travel with quieter, faster, and more sustainable flights.

🚀 Space

Researchers at Ghent University have designed a hydrogel-based radiation shield that could protect astronauts from harmful cosmic rays on deep-space missions. The material, made from super-absorbent polymers, traps water to absorb radiation without the risks of leaks or movement in microgravity. It can be 3D-printed to line spacecraft walls and even spacesuits, offering enhanced protection during spacewalks. The European Space Agency is now exploring ways to scale up production for future missions.

🌎 Environment

Scientists at Rutgers University have developed an AI-powered tool that predicts whale habitats by analyzing environmental and movement data. The system creates "probability maps" to help ships avoid critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, reducing deadly collisions. Initially designed for offshore wind planning, the tool has broader applications for sustainable ocean industries, including fishing and shipping. The research was published in Nature Scientific Reports.

💊 Healthcare

Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have created a personalized cancer vaccine that trains the immune system to prevent kidney cancer from returning after surgery. In a small trial, all nine patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma remained cancer-free for nearly three years. The vaccine, designed using each patient’s tumor neoantigens, triggered a strong T-cell response without serious side effects. Larger clinical trials are now underway to confirm its effectiveness. The study was published in Nature.

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