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- June 24th 2025
June 24th 2025
Max Gray
June 24, 2025
The Daily Innovation Newsletter
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June 24th 2025
💻 Technology
Researchers from the University of British Columbia have designed a silicon chip that converts fragile microwave signals from quantum computers into optical signals, and back, without losing quantum entanglement. Using engineered silicon flaws and superconducting components, the device achieves up to 95% signal conversion with minimal noise and ultra-low power use. Published in npj Quantum Information, this breakthrough could form the foundation for secure, long-distance quantum networks and global quantum communication.
⚡️ Energy
Researchers from Linköping University have engineered a three-layer solar material that increases hydrogen fuel production by eight times compared to earlier methods. The structure combines silicon carbide, cobalt oxide, and nickel hydroxide to improve charge separation and water splitting using only sunlight. Published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the innovation brings the world closer to scalable, emission-free hydrogen fuel, essential for decarbonizing heavy transport like trucks, ships, and aircraft.
🚀 Space
🇦🇹 Austrian scientists launch world’s first quantum satellite computer for faster space data processing
An international team led by Austria’s University of Vienna has launched the first quantum computer into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. Designed to survive harsh space conditions, the shoebox-sized photonic quantum processor will perform edge computing tasks, processing satellite data like forest fire detection directly in space, reducing energy use and improving response times. The mission, detailed by the University of Vienna team, could advance quantum hardware for climate monitoring, communications, and space-based research.
🌎 Sustainability
🇺🇸 US researchers 3D-print wheat straw insulation as eco-friendly alternative for homes and buildings
Researchers from the University at Buffalo have developed a 3D-printing process that transforms wheat straw, an agricultural byproduct, into durable, flame-retardant insulation for buildings. This renewable, biodegradable material offers excellent thermal performance while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and agricultural waste. Published in the Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, the work introduces a scalable, sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-based insulation like glass or rock wool.
💉 Biotechnology
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh have developed a method to turn plastic waste into paracetamol using genetically modified E. coli. The bacteria convert terephthalic acid from PET plastic bottles into painkillers through a fermentation process that works at room temperature and produces minimal carbon emissions. Published in Nature Chemistry, this innovation offers a low-emission, sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-based drug production and could help reduce plastic pollution.
💊 Healthcare
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have transformed Aspergillus flavus, a toxic fungus once linked to mysterious deaths in ancient tombs, into a source of cancer-fighting compounds called asperigimycins. These newly discovered fungal molecules showed strong, targeted activity against human leukemia cells, especially after being modified with lipids to improve cell entry, matching the potency of existing leukemia drugs like cytarabine. The study, published in Nature Chemical Biology, highlights the untapped potential of fungal RiPPs as a new frontier for cancer treatment.
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See you soon,
Max
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