Daily Innovation News

May 18^th 2024

🪖 Military

🇨🇳 Chinese military showcases machine gun-wielding robot dogs in Cambodia

China demonstrated its machine gun-equipped "robodog" drones during a 15-day military exercise in Cambodia, marking the largest-ever drill between the two countries. The exercise, involving 2,000 troops, highlighted the mobility of these remote-controlled, four-legged robots, although they were not live-fired. This display of advanced unmanned vehicles is seen as enhancing anti-terrorism capabilities and has raised concerns in Washington about China's growing influence in the region, particularly near the strategically significant Gulf of Thailand.

🦾 Robotics

🇪🇪 Estonian researchers create spider-inspired soft robot leg for delicate operations

Scientists from the University of Tartu in Estonia, in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Technology, have developed a soft robot leg inspired by the cucumber spider's limb. This robotic leg, composed of soft and rigid parts connected by a liquid, can handle tiny, fragile objects and navigate complex environments. The innovation could lead to advancements in nanorobotics for medical applications and search-and-rescue operations. The study was published in Advanced Functional Materials.

🤖 Artificial Intelligence

🇺🇸 US scientists use generative AI to solve complex physics problems

Researchers from MIT and the University of Basel have developed a generative AI model to efficiently classify phase transitions in physical systems. This new machine-learning framework can map out phase diagrams for novel materials without requiring extensive training datasets. The approach leverages generative models to improve accuracy and efficiency, potentially aiding in the discovery of new phases of matter. The study was published in Physical Review Letters.

💊 Healthcare

🇨🇳 Chinese scientists develop chemical mix to freeze and thaw brain tissue without damage

Researchers at Fudan University in China have created a chemical mixture, named MEDY, that allows brain tissue to be frozen and thawed without damage. This mix preserved brain organoids and human brain tissue samples, maintaining their structure and function even after 18 months of cryopreservation. This breakthrough could enhance long-term storage for biomedical research and potential future applications in whole-brain preservation. The study was published in Cell Reports Methods.

🇺🇸 US scientists develop new gene delivery vehicle for brain therapy

Researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have engineered a gene delivery vehicle using a human protein to cross the blood-brain barrier and deliver therapeutic genes to the brain. This new adeno-associated virus (AAV) binds to the human transferrin receptor, allowing it to reach brain cells more efficiently than previous methods. This breakthrough could lead to more effective gene therapies for various neurological diseases. The study was published in Science.

🔋 Electronics

🇺🇸 🇨🇳 🇳🇱 US, Chinese, and Dutch scientists advance quantum internet with 22-mile qubit transmission

Researchers from Harvard University, the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), and Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands have made significant strides towards a quantum internet by successfully transmitting quantum bits (qubits) over fiber optic cables. The teams demonstrated different methods for storing qubits in "quantum memory" and achieving entanglement over distances up to 22 miles. This breakthrough could pave the way for secure, long-distance quantum communication and enhance global data transmission networks. The studies were published in Nature.

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