March 17th 2025

Author

Max Gray
March 17, 2025

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The Daily Innovation Newsletter

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March 17th 2025

⚡️ Energy

Researchers at Northwest Normal University in China have created a nuclear battery using carbon-14, a rare radioactive isotope, capable of lasting 100 years. The battery, which has already powered an LED for over four months, could be used for implantable medical devices, deep-sea exploration, and space missions. It remains stable in extreme temperatures from -100°C to 200°C. Additionally, China has begun mass-producing carbon-14, reducing its reliance on imports and positioning itself as a leader in nuclear battery technology.

🚘 Transport

BYD is set to introduce its "Super e-Platform" with an ultra-fast 1,000 kW charging system, doubling the power of Tesla's V4 Superchargers. This breakthrough could fully charge a 100-kWh battery in just 10 minutes, making EV charging as fast as refueling a gasoline car. The platform will debut with BYD’s Han L sedan and Tang L SUV, featuring high-performance dual motors. If successful, this technology could revolutionize EV adoption globally.

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) is developing a high-speed HyperPort system in Brazil to transport shipping containers at 370 mph (595 km/h) through a vacuum tube. The system could cut travel time between São Paulo and the Port of Santos from hours to just 20-30 minutes, significantly reducing road congestion and CO2 emissions. A feasibility study confirms the project's financial and environmental viability, with potential revenue of $17.1 billion for the initial route. The next phase involves securing government approvals and funding to bring this futuristic freight system to life.

Joby Aviation, in partnership with Virgin Atlantic, is set to introduce electric air taxis in the UK, offering rapid airport transfers at speeds of 200 mph (322 km/h). The five-seat, six-rotor aircraft can cover 100 miles (160 km) per charge, cutting travel times drastically—for example, reducing Heathrow to Canary Wharf from 80 minutes to just 8. Joby is awaiting UK Civil Aviation Authority approval and plans to price rides similarly to premium ground transport.

🌎 Sustainability

A hydrogen farm in Hokkaido, Japan, is transforming cow manure into 18,500 gallons of clean hydrogen fuel each year, reducing methane emissions while powering agricultural vehicles. Using anaerobic digestion, the facility converts manure into biogas, which is refined into hydrogen for local use. Opened by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, the project supports a circular economy by providing fuel for tractors, fish farms, and even a zoo. Similar initiatives in Japan are also turning human sewage into hydrogen for municipal vehicles.

💊 Healthcare

Scientists at the University of Southern California have identified a brain mechanism that may contribute to tinnitus, where the brain amplifies signals from remaining hair cells after hearing loss. Using optical coherence tomography (OCT), they observed how the brain controls the cochlea in real time. Their findings suggest that blocking these reverse nerve signals could help reduce tinnitus and hyperacusis. The team now plans to test drugs targeting this pathway as a potential treatment. The study was published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

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