Daily Innovation News

June 13^th 2024

⚡️ Energy

🇺🇸 MIT and Harvard develop energy-storing concrete which could lead to EV-charging roads

MIT and Harvard researchers, led by Dr. Damian Stefaniuk, have created a concrete supercapacitor by combining cement, water, and conductive carbon black. This innovative material stores and releases energy rapidly, making it ideal for capturing excess power from renewable sources like solar and wind. While not a replacement for traditional batteries, it offers significant advantages, including potential applications in off-grid houses, roads that charge electric vehicles, and energy-storing building foundations. The research was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

🇺🇸 Bill Gates breaks ground on first next-gen nuclear plant in the US

Bill Gates, along with TerraPower and the Department of Energy, has initiated the construction of the first Generation IV nuclear reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming. The Natrium reactor, a 345-MWe molten sodium design with a 1-GWh molten salt energy storage system, aims to provide a reliable backup to renewable energy sources. This project marks a significant step towards advancing nuclear technology in the US, with reactor construction expected to begin in 2026, pending regulatory approvals.

🇺🇸 US researchers develop an innovative iron-based battery, using only abundant materials, for large-scale energy storage

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has created a new iron-based flow battery using a liquid chemical formula with NTMPA, typically used in water treatment. This water-based battery boasts a 98.7% capacity retention over 1,000 cycles, offering a stable and economical solution for integrating renewable energy sources. Despite its lower energy density compared to vanadium-based systems, its use of Earth-abundant materials makes it scalable and safe for urban installations. Published in Nature Communications, the research aims to enhance grid energy storage solutions.

🚀 Space

🇺🇸 NASA achieves first two-way laser communication to ISS, sends pet photos

NASA successfully used a new laser communication system to transmit pet photos and videos to the International Space Station at 1.2 gigabits per second. This experiment, demonstrating NASA's first two-way laser relay system, showcases the efficiency of laser communications over traditional radio waves. The pet images were sent through NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) and the ILLUMA-T terminal on the ISS, highlighting potential future applications for high-speed, efficient data transfer in space missions.

🇮🇳 Indian startup 3D prints rocket engine in 72 hours for remote ops

Agnikul, an Indian startup, successfully launched a rocket featuring the world's first single-piece 3D-printed engine, manufactured in just 72 hours. The suborbital launch, conducted at the Satish Dhawan Space Center, reached 6.5 km altitude, validating their rapid manufacturing approach and key technologies. The engine, made from inconel, supports Agnikul's goal of "on-demand" low-cost launches for small satellites. The company aims for its first orbital launch of a larger two-stage rocket, Agnibaan, next year.

🌎 Environment

🇺🇸 US researchers develop super-stretchy, crack-resistant seashell-inspired cement

Researchers at Princeton University have created a new cement composite inspired by the brick-and-mortar structure of nacre found in seashells. This innovative material is 19 times more flexible and 17 times more crack-resistant than traditional cement. By alternating layers of cement paste with a highly flexible polymer, they significantly improved ductility and toughness. This breakthrough could enhance the durability and flexibility of brittle ceramic materials like porcelain and concrete. The findings were published in Advanced Functional Materials.

💊 Healthcare

🇸🇬 Singapore researchers use X-rays to selectively destroy brain tumor cells

A team from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), has developed a method combining X-rays and photodynamic therapy to treat brain tumors. Utilizing a novel compound called MRAP, activated by low-dose X-rays and the CatB enzyme prevalent in cancer cells, this approach generates cancer-killing free radicals without affecting healthy cells. Tests on mice showed halted tumor growth and doubled survival time with no side effects. The findings, promising for safer cancer treatments, were published in Nature Materials.

🇺🇸 US engineers develop living bioelectronics for treating and tracking skin ailments

Rutgers University engineers have created a wearable patch combining sensors, bacteria, and hydrogel to treat and monitor psoriasis. The patch, about 1 inch in diameter, integrates electronic chips and S. epidermidis bacteria to reduce inflammation and monitor healing. The data is wirelessly transmitted to a computer or phone, allowing patients to track progress. This innovation, described in Science, could also potentially treat wounds and skin cancers. Clinical trials on humans are the next step towards commercialization.

🇺🇸 US researchers develop swimming microrobots to treat lung tumors

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have created microrobots to deliver cancer-fighting drugs directly to metastatic lung tumors. These microrobots, made from algae cells and drug-filled nanoparticles, swim through the lungs to target tumors. In mouse trials, the microrobots significantly inhibited tumor growth and extended survival rates. This innovative approach combines biology and nanotechnology, showing promise for treating various lung diseases. The study was published in Science Advances.

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