The Daily Innovation Newsletter

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February 5^th 2025

🚘 Transport

🇨🇳 Chinese automaker Zeekr sets EV charging record with ‘Golden Battery’

Zeekr has unveiled its new 800V ‘Golden Battery’, which can charge from 10% to 80% in just 9 minutes, setting a world record for EV charging speed. The 75 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery, featured in the Zeekr 7X SUV, achieved a peak charging rate of 460kW, averaging 400kW during real-world tests. This breakthrough rivals gasoline refueling times and aims to accelerate EV adoption globally, with Zeekr expanding its ultra-fast charging network beyond China.

🇬🇧 UK researchers develop self-healing asphalt to prevent potholes and cut repair costs

Scientists from Swansea University and King’s College London have created a self-healing asphalt that uses plant spores filled with recycled oils to repair cracks before potholes form. Traffic pressure releases the oil, softening the bitumen and allowing it to "stitch" itself back together. Powered by AI modeling, this innovation could extend road lifespan by 30%, reduce maintenance costs, and lower carbon emissions.

🚀 Space

🇨🇳 China’s flying robot ‘hopper’ to search for water on moon’s south pole

China’s Chang’e-7 mission, set for 2026, will deploy a smart flying robot to search for water ice in the permanently shadowed craters of the lunar south pole. Unlike traditional rovers, this six-legged detector can jump, crawl, and fly using rocket propulsion, allowing it to explore deep craters and steep slopes. Equipped with a Water Molecule and Hydrogen Isotope Analyzer, the robot aims to confirm water sources for future lunar bases. This mission is a crucial step in China’s goal of landing humans on the Moon by 2030 and establishing a long-term lunar presence.

🌎 Environment

🇩🇪 German AI-powered robot disassembles e-waste autonomously for recycling

Researchers at Fraunhofer IFF have developed an AI-driven robotic system to automate e-waste disassembly, aiming to improve recycling efficiency. Part of the iDEAR project, the robot identifies, analyzes, and dismantles electronic devices such as computers and appliances, extracting valuable components with minimal waste. A recent test demonstrated the system's ability to autonomously remove a motherboard, a complex task. With global e-waste projected to reach 74 million metric tons by 2030, this innovation could reduce landfill waste and recover critical raw materials for future manufacturing.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 US researchers engineer fat cells to starve cancer tumors of nutrients

Scientists at UC San Francisco have used CRISPR to transform white fat cells into calorie-burning "beige" fat, which outcompetes cancer cells for nutrients. When implanted near tumors, these engineered cells deprived five types of cancer—including breast, pancreatic, and prostate—of essential fuel, shrinking tumors in lab tests. Published in Nature Biotechnology, this breakthrough could pave the way for new cellular therapies targeting cancer and metabolic diseases.

🇨🇦 Canadian researchers discover way to stop childhood brain tumors before they form

Scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have identified a key protein, OLIG2, that triggers stem cells to develop into sonic hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastoma, a common childhood brain cancer. By blocking this protein with the small molecule CT-179, researchers prevented tumor formation and relapse in preclinical models. Published in Nature Communications, this breakthrough could lead to early intervention strategies for aggressive brain tumors.

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