Daily Innovation News

June 19^th 2024

💻 Technology

🇧🇪 🇳🇱 🇩🇪 Europe to launch first international electric plane passenger flights this summer

This summer, Europe will launch its first publicly available international electric flights, offering a zero-emissions travel option between Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. The two-month trial will run from July 1 to August 31, featuring the Pipistrel Velis Electro, a two-seater plane with no luggage capacity. Passengers can book these 16 to 26-minute flights starting at €120 ($129). This pioneering project, led by Electrifly, aims to showcase the future of eco-friendly air travel.

🚀 Space

🇬🇧 British scientists develop 3D printed vacuum system to trap dark matter

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have created a 3D-printed vacuum system to trap dark matter and detect domain walls, potentially advancing our understanding of the universe's mysteries. The experiment involves cooling lithium atoms to near absolute zero, enabling precise detection of scalar field defects, or dark walls. This innovative setup could clarify dark matter and dark energy's roles in the universe's expansion.

🪖 Military

🇪🇺 New European military AI system 'Ground Warden' enhances hidden target detection

European defense supplier MBDA has introduced the Ground Warden, an AI-based system that helps military forces detect hidden targets using beyond-line-of-sight technology. Ground Warden processes data from drones and fired weapons, providing real-time analysis and attack suggestions. The system works with MBDA's assets like the Akeron MP missile system, improving intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. It aims to enhance the effectiveness of military units by leveraging AI while keeping the operator in control.

🇬🇧 British engineers develop hybrid stealth engine to reduce sound and heat signatures in armored vehicles

Rolls-Royce has introduced a hybrid diesel engine designed to enhance the stealth capabilities of armored vehicles. Debuting at the Eurosatory defense trade fair, this new 10-cylinder mtu Series 199 variant delivers over 1,100 kW (1,475 hp) and integrates battery-electric drive to power future systems like energy weapons. The engine improves concealment by reducing noise and heat signatures, enabling vehicles to operate quietly under battery power. Additionally, it enhances fuel efficiency, extending mission range and operational flexibility.

🤖 Artificial Intelligence

🇺🇸 US researchers dissect AI minds and start editing their thoughts to enhance AI safety and control

Researchers from Anthropic and OpenAI have achieved a breakthrough in understanding and editing the internal workings of AI models. By using a technique called 'dictionary learning,' they mapped millions of concepts within AI systems, revealing how these models store and process ideas independently of language and data type. This insight allows scientists to manipulate AI 'thoughts,' enhancing AI safety and control. This pioneering work could help mitigate potential risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 US researchers develop 'SPARROW' AI to optimize drug molecule selection and synthesis

MIT researchers have created an AI framework called SPARROW, designed to streamline the selection and synthesis of potential drug molecules. This framework evaluates billions of molecular candidates, considering synthetic costs and desired properties to identify the most promising and cost-effective options. SPARROW's integration of data on synthesis steps and shared chemical compounds enhances efficiency, aiding rapid and affordable drug development. This innovative approach promises to significantly improve the process of developing treatments for various diseases.

🇬🇧 British researchers develop potential genetic therapy for reversing mole growth

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have created a genetic therapy that could reverse debilitating giant moles in patients with congenital melanocytic naevus syndrome (CMN), potentially reducing cancer risks. This therapy silences the mutated NRAS gene responsible for these moles using silencing RNA, leading to self-destruction of mole cells. Successful trials in mice and human cells suggest the therapy could be a future alternative to surgery for at-risk moles. Further testing is required before clinical trials.

🇦🇺 Australian engineers develop smartphone tool for rapid stroke detection

Biomedical engineers at RMIT University have created an AI-powered smartphone tool that allows paramedics to detect strokes in seconds, potentially saving lives and reducing long-term disabilities. The tool, 82% accurate, uses facial expression recognition to analyze muscle movements and facial symmetry, helping identify stroke victims quickly. Tested on stroke survivors and healthy individuals, the tool aims to improve early detection and prompt treatment, crucial for recovery. Researchers plan to develop the tool into an app for broader use in emergency response.

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