Daily Innovation News

July 5^th 2024

💻 Technology

🇬🇧 UK innovator develops wearable air purifier for underground train commuters

A recent graduate from Loughborough University has developed Aerate, a wearable air purifier designed to protect underground train passengers from pollution. The device filters harmful particles, creating a clean air bubble around the user’s face. Equipped with fans and Spunbond Polypropylene filters, Aerate captures PM2.5 particles, improving air quality for all passengers. The accompanying Aerate app provides real-time data and helps plan low-pollution journeys. This innovation aims to enhance commuter health and confidence.

🚘 Transport

🇺🇸 US company launches portable solar charger for EVs, enabling recharging anywhere

GoSun has introduced a groundbreaking portable Solar EV Charger to address range anxiety among electric vehicle (EV) owners. This innovative device features high-efficiency, lightweight solar panels that can be easily installed on any roof rack, allowing users to charge their EVs in various locations, including remote sites. The durable design ensures it withstands all weather conditions, providing a reliable and sustainable power source. With declining interest in EVs, GoSun’s solution offers a practical way to boost confidence in EV ownership and support a greener future.

🪖 Military

🇺🇸 US developing light-activated drugs that can precisely control the alertness of fighter pilots

DARPA has launched a project to develop light-activated drugs to help fighter pilots stay alert without the side effects of traditional stimulants. These photopharmacological drugs would use molecular "light switches" to activate and deactivate stimulants like dextroamphetamine with pulses of light. The AWARE program aims to create these drugs and a wearable helmet to direct light pulses to specific brain areas, enabling precise control of alertness and allowing restorative sleep. This innovative approach could revolutionize treatments for sleep deprivation and other brain disorders.

🦾 Robotics

🇯🇵 Japan introduces enormous 12-meter humanoid robot to maintain train lines

Japan's West Japan Railway has unveiled a 12-meter-high humanoid robot designed for maintenance work on train lines. This giant robot, with a Wall-E-like head and coke-bottle eyes, operates remotely from a truck, which can drive on rails. Equipped with powerful arms that can hold tools like paint brushes and chainsaws, the robot will focus on trimming tree branches and painting metal frames. This innovation addresses labor shortages and enhances safety by reducing the risk of falls and electric shocks.

🌎 Environment

🇨🇳 Chinese researchers develop biodegradable aerogel with 104% solar reflectivity that cools ambient temperatures by 16°C

Researchers from Sichuan University in China have created a biodegradable aerogel composed of gelatin and DNA that achieves 104% solar reflectance. This novel material, developed through a water welding process, can cool ambient temperatures by up to 16 degrees Celsius under high solar irradiance. The aerogel's unique layered structure and photoluminescence effect enable exceptional reflectivity, making it a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cooling materials. The study, highlighting the aerogel's repairability, recyclability, and biodegradability, was published in Science.

🇳🇴 Norwegian researchers develop technology that uses waste industrial heat to purify contaminated water

Scientists at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have developed a technology that uses waste industrial heat to purify water. This innovative method involves evaporating contaminated water through water-repellent membranes, resulting in drinkable water on the other side. The approach can address both industrial heat waste and water contamination, potentially benefiting industrialized countries facing water supply challenges. Despite the slow industry uptake, this technology holds promise for sustainable solutions. The research was published in Desalination.

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