Daily Innovation News

May 22^nd 2024

🚀 Space

🇺🇸 US scientists are developing a pulsed plasma rocket to accelerate Mars travel

NASA and Howe Industries are developing a pulsed plasma rocket (PPR) designed to significantly reduce the travel time to Mars. Capable of achieving speeds up to 500,000 mph, this rocket aims to cut the round-trip duration from two years to around seven months. Utilizing ionized plasma bursts for thrust, the PPR promises hyper-efficiency, fine-tuned control, and reduced fuel payload requirements, making space travel faster and more sustainable. The PPR is part of a NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I study focusing on large, shielded ships for human missions to Mars.

🪖 Military

🇺🇸 US Army-backed AI robot 3D-prints shock-absorbing shape beyond human capability

Researchers at Boston University, supported by the US Army, have developed an autonomous robot, MAMA BEAR, that uses AI and 3D printing to create a shock-absorbing shape beyond human capability. This shape, with a record-breaking mechanical energy absorption efficiency of 75%, holds significant potential for enhancing safety in helmets, packaging, and car bumpers. The robot has produced over 25,000 structures, advancing material efficiency and paving the way for innovative applications in various fields. The study was published in Nature Communications.

🦾 Robotics

🇺🇸 US researchers develop robotic palm mimicking human touch

MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) has created a robotic palm equipped with advanced sensors to replicate the sensitive and precise touch of a human hand. This innovation, featuring the GelPalm with ROMEO fingers, combines flexible materials and color illumination technology to enhance robotic dexterity and human-robot interaction. The new design offers significant improvements for applications in prosthetics and collaborative robots. The study was presented at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA).

🌎 Environment

🇦🇺 Australian researchers develop inexpensive, solar-powered desalination method

Researchers at the Australian National University have created a novel desalination process that uses solar energy instead of electricity, reducing energy consumption by up to 80%. The technique, known as thermodiffusion, employs a temperature gradient within a channel to separate salt from seawater without needing expensive membranes or phase changes. This sustainable method can be deployed in remote and low-income regions, potentially providing affordable fresh water to areas facing severe shortages. The study was published in Nature Communications.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 US researchers develop programmable materials to aid bone healing

Scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Peking University have created a bio-inspired material that mimics human bone's ability to distribute stress, offering a new approach for orthopedic femur restoration. Using a combination of machine learning, optimization, and 3D printing, the material provides optimized support and protection for healing bones. This innovation could enhance the efficacy of orthopedic implants and be adapted for various biological applications. The study was published in Nature Communications.

🇺🇸 US researchers develop copper-coated stainless steel for 90% bacterial elimination

Scientists at Georgia Tech have created a copper-coated nanotextured stainless steel (nSS) surface that eliminates over 90% of bacteria within 30 minutes. This dual-approach material uses nano-sized needle-like structures to disrupt bacterial membranes and copper’s natural antibacterial properties to combat bacteria such as E. coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The innovation aims to reduce bacterial infections in healthcare and food service environments without contributing to antibiotic resistance. The study was published in Small.

🇺🇸 US researchers find gut bacteria boost immune response to fight tumors

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have discovered that the gut bacterium Ruminococcus gnavus enhances the immune system's response to cancer immunotherapy, improving its effectiveness in fighting sarcoma tumors in mice. This bacterium increases the success rate of immunotherapy drugs by mobilizing the body's immune cells to attack tumors more effectively. The findings suggest potential for developing probiotics to boost cancer treatment outcomes. The study was published in Science Immunology.

🇺🇸 US researchers develop a promising inhibitor to prevent flu infection

Scientists at Scripps Research Institute and Albert Einstein College of Medicine have designed drug-like inhibitors that can prevent influenza infection by targeting the virus's hemagglutinin protein. These inhibitors, identified through high-throughput screening and click-chemistry, block the virus from entering respiratory cells. The most potent inhibitor developed, compound 7, shows significant antiviral activity and potential for both preventing and treating seasonal flu. The study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

🇺🇸 US researchers develop new drug to reprogram immune cells and shrink tumors

Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine have created a drug, JHU083, that reprograms immune-suppressing macrophages into immune-activating cells, effectively shrinking prostate and bladder tumors in mice. This prodrug only activates inside tumor cells, reducing harmful side effects and enhancing the immune response against cancer. The therapy shows promise for tumors with immune-suppressing environments and could improve outcomes in cancers resistant to current immunotherapies. The study was published in Cancer Immunology Research.

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