Daily Innovation News

July 13^th 2024

🚘 Transport

🇸🇪 Swedish researchers develop weightless carbon fiber battery to make cars and planes 50% lighter

Swedish scientists from Sinonus, a spin-out of Chalmers University of Technology, have created a carbon fiber material that serves as both a structural component and a battery. This innovation could reduce the weight of vehicles and aircraft by up to 50%, leading to more efficient electric cars with extended ranges and lighter aircraft with reduced fuel consumption. The multipurpose composite optimizes energy storage without adding weight, representing a significant advancement in transportation technology.

🇺🇸 US scientists find biology hack to quadruple electric aircraft battery life

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of Michigan have used biological omics techniques to improve lithium-ion batteries, quadrupling their life for electric aircraft. By adding specific salts to the electrolyte, they created a protective coating on the cathode, enhancing performance and resistance to corrosion. This breakthrough, published in the journal Joule, could enable longer, more sustainable electric flights, pushing the boundaries of battery technology for deeper decarbonization in aviation.

🚀 Space

🇺🇸 US scientists develop spacesuit system to convert urine into drinkable water

American researchers have designed a Dune-inspired system allowing astronauts to recycle their urine into drinkable water using their spacesuits. This system, developed by scientists at Cornell University, utilizes a modified absorbency garment that collects urine and processes it through a backpack unit for filtration. The purified water is then fortified with electrolytes and stored in a hydration pack for use during long space missions. This innovation, published in Frontiers in Space Technologies, aims to improve hygiene and conserve water in space.

🪖 Military

🇨🇳 Chinese researchers develop light-speed radar to track Mach-20 missiles

Chinese scientists have created a laser-based radar capable of tracking hypersonic missiles traveling at Mach 20, or over four miles per second. The system, developed by Zheng Xiaoping and his team, combines lasers with microwave communications to achieve high-speed detection and low error rates. Simulations showed the radar could track missiles with an error margin of just 11 inches and estimate speeds with 99.7% accuracy over a range of 373 miles. This advancement could significantly enhance missile tracking capabilities.

🦾 Robotics

🇮🇹 Italian researchers develop flexible artificial foot to help people with limb loss

Scientists at the Italian Institute of Technology have unveiled SoftFoot Pro, a flexible, motor-free prosthetic foot that mimics natural human movement. Designed for all-weather use, this lightweight prosthetic adapts to various terrains, offering improved stability and a more natural walking experience for users. The innovative design features a movable titanium arch and high-strength plastic chains, replicating the human foot's anatomy for enhanced mobility and balance. This development promises significant improvements in prosthetics and robotics.

🇺🇸 US scientists teach a humanoid robot expressive movements, high-fives, and hugs

Researchers at the University of California have trained a humanoid robot to perform expressive actions like dancing, high-fiving, and hugging. Using extensive motion capture data and separate training for the upper and lower body, the robot can now mimic human motions and maintain balance on various surfaces. This advancement aims to improve human-robot interactions, potentially enhancing robots' roles in factories, hospitals, homes, and hazardous environments.

🌎 Environment

🇹🇷 Turkish teens invent drought-defying farming device that cuts fertilizer use by 40%

A team of Turkish high school students has developed Plantzma, a plasma-powered device to combat drought effects on crops and reduce fertilizer use. This device enhances seed germination and irrigation water by utilizing low-temperature plasma, improving crop resilience and yields. The innovation aims to address local and global food scarcity by offering an affordable and scalable solution for farmers.

💊 Healthcare

🇪🇸 Spanish researchers develop light-activated compounds to treat neuropathic pain

Spanish scientists have created light-activated drugs, offering a new method for treating neuropathic pain. By modifying carbamazepine with a molecular switch, the compounds, carbazopine-1 and carbadiazocine, can be activated by amber light, targeting pain without affecting other body parts. Tested on zebrafish larvae and rats, these compounds showed promising results for on-demand pain relief. This innovation, published in Angewandte Chemie, could provide a safer alternative to opioids for managing chronic pain.

🔋 Electronics

🇺🇸 US quantum computer sets new record, surpasses Google by 100-fold

The Quantinuum System Model H2 has achieved a new milestone in quantum computing, outperforming Google’s Sycamore by 100 times. This 56-qubit machine, capable of creating and computing with error-corrected qubits, achieved an XEB score of approximately 0.35, demonstrating significant improvements in reliability and performance. This advancement marks a crucial step toward universal fault-tolerant quantum computers, offering promising applications across various sectors.

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