Daily Innovation News

July 9^th 2024

⚡️ Energy

🇨🇳 China deploys the world's largest sodium-ion battery

Datang Group has connected a 50 MW/100 MWh sodium-ion battery project to the grid in Qianjiang, Hubei Province. This first phase of the Datang Hubei Sodium Ion New Energy Storage Power Station, using HiNa Battery Technology's cells, is now the world's largest operational sodium-ion energy storage system. With 42 battery containers and a 110 kV transformer station, it ensures robust performance in extreme temperatures and can support 12,000 households daily while cutting CO2 emissions by 13,000 tons annually.

🇨🇳 Chinese researchers develop new solid electrolyte that cuts solid-state battery price by 90%

Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) have developed a novel solid-state battery that dramatically reduces costs by using a new sulfide solid electrolyte called LPSO, which doesn't require expensive lithium sulfide. This breakthrough brings the cost of solid electrolytes down to $14.42 per kilogram, less than 8% of the cost of current materials, while maintaining performance stability and compatibility with high-energy-density anodes. The innovation advances China's position in the next-generation battery technology race.

🚀 Space

🇺🇸 NASA crew emerges from successful year-long simulated Mars mission

NASA’s CHAPEA project, which included simulated Mars operations, tests conditions for future Mars missions. The four-member crew spent over 12 months in isolation at Johnson Space Center, Houston, simulating Mars conditions. They performed "Marswalks," grew vegetables, and managed limited resources and communication delays. The mission focused on the impacts of nutrition and isolation on performance, providing crucial insights for future Mars explorations. The crew emphasized the importance of sustainability and the potential of space to unite humanity.

🪖 Military

🇺🇸 American company launches AI-powered bullet vending machines in US grocery stores

American Rounds has launched AI-powered vending machines that dispense ammunition in Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas. These machines, located in grocery stores, aim to redefine convenience in ammunition purchasing by being accessible 24/7. Equipped with AI, card scanning, and facial recognition, the vending machines verify buyers' details before allowing purchases. The company plans to expand to more states, targeting regions with popular hunting activities. This development raises questions about the impact on gun sales and public safety, considering the high rate of gun ownership in the US.

🌎 Environment

🇺🇸 US scientists prove gene drives effective in wild plants, targeting invasive weeds

Researchers at the California Institute of Technology have successfully implemented gene drives in mustard plants, demonstrating a 99% propagation rate of synthetic genes. This breakthrough, published in Nature Plants, could help control invasive species and improve crop resilience by spreading beneficial genes. The gene drives use a CRISPR-based "toxin-antidote" system to ensure only plants with the desired traits survive, offering a new method for managing agricultural weeds and enhancing food security. Despite potential ecological and regulatory challenges, this technology represents a significant advancement in plant science.

💊 Healthcare

🇦🇺 Australian researchers discover gene regulator controlling development and aging

Researchers at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) have identified Activator Protein 1 (AP-1) as a master regulator that controls gene activity from birth to old age. The study, led by Dr. Christian Nefzger with contributions from Dr. Ralph Patrick and Dr. Marina Naval-Sanchez, revealed that AP-1 progressively activates adult genes while reducing the activity of early-life developmental genes. This process is consistent across cell types and is influenced by stress, inflammation, and age-related proteins. The findings could pave the way for new treatments to enhance the quality of life as people age by targeting AP-1. The study was published in Cell Metabolism.

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