March 27th 2025

Author

Max Gray
March 27, 2025

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The Daily Innovation Newsletter

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March 27th 2025

⚡️ Energy

Brazil has launched the world’s first power plant designed to generate large-scale electricity using ethanol derived from sugarcane, in a joint initiative between Wärtsilä and Energetica Suape II. The trial aims to demonstrate ethanol’s viability as a clean, locally sourced biofuel for reliable electricity generation, supporting Brazil’s energy transition. If successful, the project could transform biofuel use in power systems and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Researchers at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency have developed the first rechargeable battery that uses uranium—specifically depleted uranium (DU)—as an active material, offering a new use for nuclear waste. The prototype achieved stable charge-discharge performance and could help store surplus renewable energy, such as from solar or wind. With over 1.6 million tons of DU stockpiled globally, this innovation may turn radioactive waste into a valuable energy storage resource for controlled environments.

🚘 Transport

Jetson’s first production model of its personal electric flying car, the Jetson ONE, has successfully completed its maiden flight, showcasing stable performance and a safe autonomous landing system. Built with a lightweight aluminum and carbon fiber frame, the eVTOL includes eight motors, redundant battery systems, and can continue flying even if one motor fails. With no pilot license required in the U.S., the aircraft signals a new chapter in personal air mobility.

🚀 Space

China’s Galactic Energy, in collaboration with the Ziyang government and CASIC, is developing the world’s first electromagnetic rocket launch system, aiming for deployment by 2028. The system uses superconducting magnets to accelerate rockets to supersonic speeds before ignition, similar to a maglev train launched vertically. If successful, this innovation could double payload capacity, reduce fuel costs, and position China as a major competitor to SpaceX in commercial spaceflight.

Australian company FOODiQ Global will send oyster mushrooms aboard a SpaceX mission to test their growth in microgravity, marking the first attempt to cultivate edible fungi fruiting bodies in space. The fast-growing, nutrient-rich mushrooms require minimal water and no fertilizer, making them ideal for sustaining astronauts on long missions or future colonies on the Moon or Mars. If successful, the Fram2 mission could advance space farming and support sustainable food systems on Earth.

💊 Healthcare

Researchers have discovered that the existing drug nitisinone can make human blood toxic to mosquitoes, killing them within 12 hours after feeding. Originally used for rare genetic disorders, the drug disrupts mosquito digestion by blocking a key enzyme and remains in the bloodstream longer than ivermectin, offering extended protection. Published in Science Translational Medicine, this breakthrough could become a powerful, eco-friendly tool in malaria control.

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