Daily Innovation News

June 12^th 2024

⚡️ Energy

🇬🇧 UK’s first intercity battery train trial advances sustainable rail travel

A collaboration between Angel Trains, TransPennine Express, Turntide Technologies, and Hitachi Rail has led to the retrofitting of a TransPennine Express Class 802 train with a high-power battery system. This battery, replacing one diesel engine, matches its performance without adding weight, potentially reducing emissions and fuel costs by 30%. The trial aims to improve air quality and noise pollution at non-electrified stations, paving the way for fully battery-electric intercity trains and reducing infrastructure costs.

🇨🇦 Canadian researchers develop a method to use algae for renewable electricity generation

Researchers from Concordia University have developed a method to generate electricity from algae during photosynthesis. Using micro photosynthetic power cells, the team extracts electrons produced by algae, creating a carbon-negative energy source. Published in Energies, their study demonstrates that this technology can power low-energy devices and operates even without sunlight. Though not yet as powerful as photovoltaic cells, the system offers sustainable and biodegradable advantages over silicon-based technologies.

🪖 Military

🇺🇸 US study validates virtual reality for reliable shooting performance tracking

Ohio State University researchers have demonstrated that virtual reality technology, using the VirTra V-100 ballistic simulator, can reliably track shooting performance. The study, published in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, found that the simulator accurately measures precision, decision-making, and reaction time, making it a credible assessment tool for law enforcement and military training. This innovation could establish standardized performance scores and enhance training protocols.

🦾 Robotics

🇨🇳 Chinese researchers develop trash-sorting robot with 98.85% accuracy

Researchers from Tsinghua University have created a robot that uses a multi-layered sensor and cascade classification algorithm to sort trash. This sensor, which detects material, pressure, and thermal changes, enables the robot to recognize and classify various objects with 98.85% accuracy. The innovation, published in Applied Physics Reviews, mimics human touch, potentially reducing labor in waste management and aiding in smart life technologies.

🇨🇳 Chinese doctor performs world's first robotic surgery 5,000 miles away

A Chinese surgeon achieved a groundbreaking feat by performing robotic surgery on a patient in Beijing from Rome using the Da Vinci telesurgical system. Conducted between June 5-7, the surgery removed a prostate lesion without signal latency, enabled by a robust 5G network. This milestone demonstrates the potential for remote surgeries in inaccessible areas, marking a significant advancement in medical technology. The project was led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Third Medical Center of the PLA.

🤖 Artificial Intelligence

🇺🇸 Harvard, Google create an AI model to control a virtual rat's brain

Researchers from Harvard University and Google DeepMind have developed a virtual rat model with an artificial brain that mimics real rats' movements. Utilizing AI and high-resolution data from real rats, the model predicts neural activity and movement with high accuracy. This innovation, published in Nature, aims to enhance understanding of brain-controlled movement and could aid in studying neural circuits and diseases. The breakthrough offers significant potential for advancements in motor neuroscience and virtual animal modeling.

🇬🇧 UK AI develops rare-earth-free magnet in just three months, 200 times faster than humans

Materials Nexus and the University of Sheffield have developed a new rare-earth-free magnet, MagNex, using AI technology. This AI-driven process identified and synthesized MagNex in just three months, compared to years using traditional methods. MagNex, made from iron and nitrogen, offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to rare-earth magnets, crucial for the growing demand in electric vehicles and other technologies. The discovery, achieved with the Henry Royce Institute's support, promises significant advancements in sustainable material development.

🌎 Environment

🇺🇸 US researchers use CRISPR to enhance sugarcane yield by optimizing leaf angle

A research team from the University of Florida, under the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI), has utilized CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to fine-tune the leaf angle in sugarcane. By targeting the LIGULELESS1 (LG1) gene, they increased the plant's sunlight capture and biomass production. This groundbreaking study, published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal, highlights the potential of gene editing to improve complex genomes like sugarcane's, resulting in an 18% increase in dry biomass yield in field trials. This advancement supports efforts to produce biofuels and bioproducts efficiently.

🇺🇸 US scientists use CRISPR to engineer high-oil camelina seeds for biofuels

Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have genetically engineered a yellow-seeded variety of Camelina sativa, which produces 21.4% more oil than its brown-seeded counterpart. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, they targeted and deactivated the TT8 gene responsible for the brown seed color and oil synthesis inhibition. This breakthrough, detailed in The Plant Biotechnology Journal, could significantly boost oil production for biofuels, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 US researchers advance precision medicine for children with sepsis

Researchers from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago have identified a clinical pattern in children with sepsis that could respond to targeted treatment. Using AI to analyze extensive clinical data, they found a group with persistent hypoxemia, encephalopathy, and shock (PHES), indicating high inflammation and endothelial activity. This discovery, published in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, suggests that targeted treatments like corticosteroids could benefit this group, advancing precision medicine in sepsis care.

🇺🇸 US researchers develop a portable scent-based tool to detect traumatic brain injury within minutes

The Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has developed the Advanced Military Measure of Olfaction (AMMO) kit, which uses a range of scents to screen for traumatic brain injury (TBI) within minutes. The kit, comprising six scent vials, is designed for use in various scenarios from battlefields to sports fields. It is currently undergoing stability testing and aims to provide a quick, inexpensive, and easy-to-use screening method for TBIs, supporting early intervention and justification for MRI scans.

🇯🇵 Japanese researchers treat rare skin disorders using patient's own genes

Researchers from Nagoya University Graduate School have successfully treated epidermolytic ichthyosis (EI) and ichthyosis with confetti (IWC) by transplanting genetically healthy skin. Using cultured epidermal autografts (CEAs) derived from naturally corrected skin cells, the team achieved significant improvements in patients. This innovative approach leverages somatic recombination to correct genetic mutations, marking a milestone in treating severe skin conditions and offering hope for future therapies. The findings were published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

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