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The Daily Innovation Newsletter

January 28^th 2025

💻 Technology

🇺🇸 US Navy develops augmented reality helmet to aid deep-sea divers

The US Navy and Coda Octopus have created the Divers Augmented Vision Display (DAVD), transforming standard diving helmets into augmented reality hubs. The system provides divers with critical data, including 3D sonar maps, navigation, and gas levels, even in murky waters. DAVD has been used in recovery operations and underwater inspections, improving safety and efficiency in challenging environments.

⚡️ Energy

🇨🇳 Chinese scientists set fusion endurance record with over 1,000-second plasma reaction

China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) reactor achieved a 1,066-second sustained fusion reaction, breaking its previous record of 403 seconds. This milestone advances the quest for practical fusion energy, demonstrating stability and efficiency critical for continuous power generation. EAST’s progress supports China’s contributions to the ITER project in France, aiming to develop unlimited, clean energy for the future.

🇺🇸 🇨🇦 US and Canadian researchers develop lignin jet fuel for hydrogen storage

An international team led by Washington State University has discovered a method to store hydrogen in a stable liquid form using lignin-based jet fuel. This innovation eliminates the need for pressurized tanks, making hydrogen transport safer and more efficient. Derived from agricultural waste, the sustainable fuel enhances engine performance and aligns with zero-emission goals. The technology offers scalable, eco-friendly solutions for aviation and hydrogen energy integration. The findings were published in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.

🦾 Robotics

🇨🇳 Chinese firm to deploy 1,000 humanoid robots to tackle labor shortages in manufacturing

UBTech Robotics plans to mass-produce up to 1,000 Walker S Series humanoid robots this year, targeting industries like manufacturing and logistics facing labor shortages. The Walker S robots, equipped with advanced perception systems and AI, are already in use at major automakers like BYD. UBTech aims to integrate these robots into production lines, including those of Apple supplier Foxconn, while competing with new robotics companies in China’s expanding market.

🤖 Artificial Intelligence

🇨🇳 China’s DeepSeek disrupts AI industry with low-cost, advanced reasoning models

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI firm founded in 2023, has introduced its open-source R1 model, rivaling AI giants like OpenAI and Meta. Using reinforcement learning and optimized resource efficiency, DeepSeek achieved state-of-the-art reasoning and mathematical performance at a fraction of traditional costs. Its models, developed on older hardware, challenge US dominance in AI and highlight efficient alternatives to costly proprietary systems. The breakthrough has sparked global competition and reshaped the AI landscape.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 US researchers create AshPhos, a tool to lower prescription drug costs

Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed AshPhos, an eco-friendly chemical tool that simplifies the creation of carbon-nitrogen bonds, essential for over half of all medicines. Made from inexpensive materials, AshPhos enhances efficiency in drug production, reducing costs and waste. Beyond pharmaceuticals, it could aid in clean hydrogen production and breaking down persistent pollutants like PFAS. This innovation, published in JACS, highlights its potential to address medical, energy, and environmental challenges.

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