February 17th 2025

Author

Max Gray
February 17, 2025

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The Daily Innovation Newsletter

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February 17th 2025

💻 Technology

Scientists at Hong Kong Polytechnic University have created an AI-driven e-textile that automatically adjusts heating based on the wearer’s comfort. Published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, the fabric combines silver-coated heat-generating yarn with thermochromic yarns that change color to indicate temperature levels. Trained on data from 50 individuals, the AI system predicts optimal warmth, reducing risks like burns or overheating. This innovation could enhance safety in heated clothing, car seats, and even spacesuits.

⚡️ Energy

Researchers at Fudan University have created a lithium-ion carrier molecule that can restore aging lithium batteries, significantly extending their lifespan. Published in Nature, the study describes how injecting this molecule replenishes lost lithium ions, allowing batteries to maintain near-new performance even after 12,000 to 60,000 charge cycles. This breakthrough could dramatically improve battery longevity in electric vehicles, smartphones, and energy storage systems, reducing waste and environmental impact. The technology leverages AI-driven molecular design to find an optimal solution for lithium replenishment.

🚀 Space

Sydney-based Extraterrestrial Power has unveiled ultra-thin, mass-producible solar cells that could reduce space solar power costs by a factor of ten. Supported by the Australian Space Agency, these cells are designed to withstand harsh space conditions while benefiting from terrestrial manufacturing techniques. Having already been tested in space-based solar power experiments, the technology could eventually enable remote solar cell production on the Moon using local materials. This breakthrough paves the way for more sustainable, cost-effective energy solutions for satellites and future space missions.

🤖 Artificial Intelligence

Meta’s FAIR lab, in collaboration with the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language, has developed AI models that can translate brain signals into text with unprecedented precision. Using magnetoencephalography (MEG) and electroencephalography (EEG), the system correctly decodes up to 80% of typed characters, doubling previous accuracy rates. This breakthrough, which maps how thoughts are converted into words, could lead to non-invasive brain-computer interfaces for people with speech impairments. Future research will focus on improving practicality and expanding applications in healthcare and human-computer interaction.

🌎 Environment

Scientists at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa have discovered that Hawaiian marine fungi can degrade plastic, with selective breeding increasing their plastic-eating efficiency by 15% in just three months. Published in Mycologia, the study tested fungi from sand, seaweed, corals, and sponges, revealing that over 60% could break down polyurethane. Researchers aim to target harder-to-degrade plastics like PET and polyethylene, potentially offering a natural solution to ocean plastic pollution, including waste from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

💊 Healthcare

Researchers at ETH Zurich have created a gene switch that uses nitroglycerine to activate implanted therapeutic cells, offering a potential breakthrough in diabetes treatment. Published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the study describes how a skin patch releases nitroglycerine, which the implanted cells convert into nitric oxide, triggering insulin production. This method mimics the body's natural blood sugar regulation, reducing reliance on insulin injections. Though years away from clinical use, this innovation could lead to more precise, personalized therapies for diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

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