Daily Innovation News

July 11^th 2024

💻 Technology

🇺🇸 US company unveils world's first instant-tint glasses with fingertip control

Eyewear company Chamelo has launched innovative sunglasses with lenses that change tint or color at the touch of a button. Using liquid crystal lens technology, the Dusk lenses adjust their tint in just 0.1 seconds, while Prismatic lenses can shift through various colors. These smart shades, controlled by hand or app, offer quick adaptation to different light conditions and stylish versatility. With potential applications beyond fashion, this breakthrough could revolutionize eyewear and other glass products.

🇺🇸 US researchers create 'air curtain' hard hat for virus protection

Scientists at the University of Michigan have developed an innovative hard hat that uses a downward-flowing curtain of sterilized air to block airborne viruses, providing face mask-free protection. The device, aimed at factory workers, features air nozzles in a visor and a backpack containing the air handling system and nonthermal plasma module. Tests show it effectively prevents 99.8% of aerosols from reaching the wearer's face, rising to nearly 100% with plasma treatment. This technology promises enhanced safety and comfort in industrial settings.

🚀 Space

🇰🇷 South Korean scientists develop bricks from moon soil using microwave sintering

Researchers from the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology have created a method to produce durable bricks from lunar regolith using microwave sintering. This technology heats and compacts simulated lunar soil, addressing challenges such as thermal runaway and water content to create strong, solid materials. The innovation, published in the Journal of Building Engineering, could significantly reduce the cost of building habitats on the Moon, supporting NASA's Artemis program and future space colonization efforts.

🌎 Environment

🇺🇸 US researchers use laser blasts to break down plastic waste for reuse

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a laser-based method to break down plastics into their smallest parts for reuse. Published in Nature Communications, the technique uses transition metal dichalcogenides and low-power light to create luminescent carbon dots from plastic waste. This innovation could revolutionize plastic recycling, turning non-degradable plastics into valuable materials for various industries and contributing to sustainable waste management.

🇰🇷 South Korean scientists infuse lab-grown meat with grilled beef flavor

Researchers in South Korea have developed a method to give lab-grown meat the taste and aroma of grilled beef. Using a special flavor compound embedded in a gelatin-based hydrogel, they recreated the Maillard reaction that imparts meaty flavors when heated. This innovation, published in Nature Communications, addresses the challenge of flavor in cultured meat, aiming to make it a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional meat.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 US cancer patient’s voice restored with world’s first larynx transplant

Marty Kedian, a U.S. man with rare laryngeal cancer, received the first successful total larynx transplant in February at the Mayo Clinic. The complex 21-hour surgery involved transplanting the voice box and surrounding structures, restoring nearly 60% of Kedian’s vocal function. This groundbreaking procedure offers new hope for patients with severe laryngeal conditions, marking a significant advancement in the field of laryngeal transplantation.

🇨🇦 🇫🇷 Canadian and French scientists discover potential cure for anorexia nervosa

Researchers from McGill University, in collaboration with French scientists, have found that a deficit in acetylcholine in the brain's striatum may cause anorexia nervosa. Published in Nature Communications, their study shows that donepezil, a drug increasing acetylcholine levels, reverses anorexia-like behaviors in mice and has shown promising results in initial human trials. Further clinical trials are planned to confirm its effectiveness, potentially leading to the first neurological treatment for the eating disorder.

🇺🇸 US researchers develop LED device to combat deep-seated cancers with light

Scientists at the University of Notre Dame have created a wireless, implantable LED device for treating deep-seated cancers. This rice-sized device uses light-sensitive dye activated by green light to induce pyroptosis, a type of cell death that alerts the immune system to attack cancer cells. The innovative technology, published in Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy, aims to overcome the limitations of light therapy for internal tumors, with upcoming tests planned on mice.

🇺🇸 US scientists use prime editing to correct cystic fibrosis mutation in lung cells

Researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have developed a prime editing method to correct the most common cystic fibrosis mutation, found in 85% of patients. This technique, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, effectively restores cell function in human lung cells to levels comparable to the drug Trikafta but with fewer side effects. The breakthrough could lead to a one-time, permanent treatment for cystic fibrosis, significantly improving patient outcomes and reducing treatment costs.

🇺🇸 US scientists identify lupus cause and potential reversal method

Researchers from Northwestern Medicine and Brigham and Women's Hospital have discovered a molecular defect that drives systemic lupus erythematosus and demonstrated a potential method to reverse the disease. Published in Nature, the study found that insufficient activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) leads to an overproduction of disease-causing immune cells. By activating the AHR pathway, researchers were able to reprogram these cells, offering a potential cure with fewer side effects than current treatments.

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