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March 18^th 2025

💻 Technology

🇺🇸 US researchers develop sound-bending tech for private listening without headphones

Scientists at Penn State have created a system that lets users hear sound without headphones while keeping others undisturbed. Using an acoustic metasurface and ultrasound transducers, the technology directs sound waves to a precise location, creating a "virtual headset" effect. The system, tested in real-world environments, could revolutionize personal audio in cars, classrooms, and public spaces by offering privacy without earphones. The study was published in PNAS.

🚘 Transport

🇪🇸 Driverless electric bus with L4 autonomy navigates busy Barcelona streets

Renault and WeRide have launched an autonomous electric minibus trial in Barcelona, operating on a 2.2-km loop through busy city streets. The Level 4 self-driving bus, equipped with 10 cameras and 8 lidars, can travel 120 km per charge at speeds up to 40 km/h. Following successful tests in France, Renault aims to deploy a commercial service by July 2025, positioning Europe as a leader in autonomous public transport.

🇯🇵 Japan to build world's first 3D-printed train station in just six hours

West Japan Railway Co. (JR West) is set to construct the world’s first 3D-printed train station at Hatsushima in Wakayama Prefecture, assembling it in just six hours overnight. The single-story concrete structure, built by Serendix Inc., will replace outdated infrastructure while cutting costs, labor, and construction time. The project will also test durability against coastal conditions and serve as a model for future railway station upgrades across Japan.

🌎 Sustainability

🇬🇧 UK company converts plastic waste into hydrogen, aiming for 35 tons daily

Powerhouse Energy Group in the UK has launched its Feedstock Testing Unit (FTU) to convert plastic waste into hydrogen using pyrolysis. The system processes 2.5 tons daily but serves as a testbed for a future commercial unit targeting 35 tons per day. The process breaks down plastics into syngas, which is purified to maximize hydrogen yield. This scalable technology could provide a sustainable solution for non-recyclable plastics, turning waste into clean energy.

💊 Healthcare

🇨🇳 Chinese scientists develop cancer therapy that ‘disguises’ tumors as pork, 90% effective

Researchers at Guangxi Medical University have engineered a virus that tricks the immune system into attacking cancer cells by making them appear as pig tissue. Using a modified Newcastle disease virus, the therapy triggered a powerful rejection response, leading to a 90% success rate in early human trials. Patients with advanced cancers, including cervical and lung cancer, showed tumor shrinkage and remission. The study, published in Cell, is now progressing to later-stage clinical trials.

🇨🇳 Chinese researchers use AI to find genes and drugs that may slow brain aging

Scientists at Zhejiang University analyzed brain scans from nearly 39,000 people using AI to identify genes linked to brain aging. The study found seven key genes and pinpointed 28 existing drugs - such as hydrocortisone and resveratrol - that could help slow cognitive decline. The AI also identified brain regions most associated with aging, including those involved in cognition and communication between brain areas. This research, published in Science Advances, could accelerate drug development for neurodegenerative diseases by repurposing already-approved medications.

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