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March 12^th 2025

💻 Technology

🇨🇳 Chinese researchers develop silicon-free chip with 40% more speed, 10% less energy use

Scientists at Peking University have developed a groundbreaking semiconductor chip that operates 40% faster than leading silicon-based chips while consuming 10% less energy. Instead of using traditional silicon, the chip is based on two-dimensional (2D) materials, which allow for ultra-thin, high-performance transistors. This innovation, published in Nature Materials, addresses key challenges in chip miniaturization and efficiency, potentially leading to more powerful and energy-efficient computers, smartphones, and AI systems.

⚡️ Energy

🇺🇸 US firm develops electromagnetic drilling to access 700°F superhot geothermal power

Quaise Energy is pioneering a novel drilling technique using electromagnetic waves to melt rocks, allowing access to deep geothermal energy at extreme temperatures of around 700°F (370°C). Traditional geothermal drilling faces challenges in penetrating hard rock at great depths, but this new method vaporizes the rock rather than mechanically cutting it. If successful, it could unlock vast reserves of geothermal energy, offering a sustainable and consistent alternative to fossil fuels. Superhot geothermal energy has the potential to provide continuous, emissions-free power that rivals nuclear and fossil fuel plants.

🚘 Transport

🇸🇬 Singaporean researchers manipulate water waves to control floating objects including boats

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University have developed a technique that allows them to manipulate water waves to control the movement of floating objects. Using a specially designed hexagonal structure, researchers can generate precise wave patterns that pull, trap, or push floating items without any physical contact. This technology, published in Nature, could be applied to guiding boats, cleaning up ocean plastic, and developing new maritime transport systems. By bending waves in controlled ways, scientists are opening up new possibilities for non-contact water-based control methods.

🌎 Sustainability

🇨🇳 Chinese scientists use amino acids to extract 99.99% lithium from old batteries

Chinese researchers have developed an eco-friendly method to recover 99.99% of lithium from used batteries using amino acids. This innovation reduces the need for harsh chemicals, making battery recycling safer and more efficient. They discovered that amino acids can selectively leach lithium ions from the complex mixture of elements in spent lithium-ion batteries. This breakthrough, published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, significantly improves lithium recovery rates while reducing environmental impact, ensuring a more sustainable supply of the critical material needed for electric vehicles and energy storage systems.

💊 Healthcare

🇨🇳 Chinese scientists’ 3D-printed penile implant restores function in animal trials

Chinese researchers have successfully developed a 3D-printed penile implant that restored sexual function in animal models, specifically rabbits and pigs, with damaged penile tissue. The implant was engineered using a hydrogel material that mimics the properties of natural penile tissue, allowing for normal blood flow and erectile function. In trials, animals receiving the implant were able to copulate and reproduce successfully, indicating the implant's functional integration. This breakthrough, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, suggests potential future applications in treating erectile dysfunction and penile injuries in humans, offering a customizable and less invasive alternative to current prosthetic options.

🇺🇸 US scientists develop annual HIV injection offering year-long protection

A long-acting HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir, has shown promise in providing an entire year of protection with just a single injection. This marks a major breakthrough in HIV prevention, as current pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) methods require daily pills or more frequent injections. Lenacapavir, developed by pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, remains active in the body for extended periods, maintaining its effectiveness against HIV. The injection could significantly improve adherence rates, especially in populations at high risk of HIV infection. Researchers are now conducting further trials to confirm its long-term safety and efficacy before seeking regulatory approval. The research findings were published in The Lancet.

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