June 16th 2025

The Daily Innovation Newsletter

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June 16th 2025

💻 Technology

DARPA’s POWER program has successfully transmitted 800 watts of power via laser over 5.3 miles, marking a new record in optical wireless energy transfer. The demonstration used ground-based equipment and aims to scale the technology for drone relays, with future goals of delivering 10 kW over 125 miles. This innovation could transform disaster relief by enabling long-distance, wire-free power delivery.

💉 Biotechnology

Researchers at UC San Diego have identified the gene clusters in soft corals responsible for producing diterpenoids - compounds with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory potential. By inserting these genes into yeast and bacteria, they created a lab-based method to produce these rare chemicals sustainably and in large quantities. Published in Nature Chemical Biology, the breakthrough overcomes major supply challenges and opens new paths for drug discovery from marine organisms.

💊 Healthcare

Researchers at Tufts University have developed a next-generation weight loss drug that combines four gut hormones - GLP-1, GIP, glucagon, and PYY - into a single compound. This "tetra-functional" peptide aims to surpass current drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro by reducing side effects, such as nausea and muscle loss, while potentially achieving up to 30% weight loss comparable to bariatric surgery. The innovation, detailed in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, could also help reduce risks associated with obesity-related diseases.

Scientists at the University of Groningen have developed Penicillin-PPG, a photoactive antibiotic that remains inactive until exposed to green light, allowing precise activation only at infection sites. This approach reduces environmental contamination and antibiotic resistance by preventing the drug from affecting bacteria outside the targeted area. The innovation, published in ACS Central Science, also minimizes side effects by ensuring the antibiotic acts only where needed.

Scientists at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China have developed stretchable smart contact lenses that track eye pressure and movement continuously, including while the wearer sleeps. The lenses use a multi-layer design with copper coils and neodymium-based sensors to detect intraocular pressure and eye motion, transmitting data wirelessly to external devices. Published in Microsystems & Nanoengineering, this breakthrough could enable earlier glaucoma detection and more accurate, at-home monitoring.

Johns Hopkins researchers have developed an ultra-sensitive blood test capable of identifying tumor DNA fragments up to three years before cancer is clinically diagnosed. Using archived blood samples from the NIH-funded ARIC study, the team demonstrated the potential for multicancer early detection (MCED) with significant lead time for treatment. Published in Cancer Discovery, this advance could transform cancer screening and early intervention strategies.

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Max

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