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May 29^th 2025

🚘 Transport

🇺🇸 US researchers design integrated liquid hydrogen system to power and cool future zero-emission aircraft

Engineers at Florida State University have developed a cryogenic hydrogen storage and delivery system that doubles as a cooling mechanism for electric-powered aircraft, optimizing both energy use and thermal management. The design, published in Applied Energy, supports next-gen hybrid-electric planes by achieving a high gravimetric efficiency (62%) and enabling pump-free fuel delivery regulated by tank pressure. This innovation, part of NASA’s Integrated Zero Emission Aviation program, could accelerate the shift to carbon-free aviation.

🚀 Space

🇨🇳 Chinese scientists launch Tianwen-2 to collect asteroid samples and study hybrid comet

China has launched Tianwen-2, a dual-phase mission to sample the near-Earth asteroid Kamoʻoalewa, possibly Moon-derived, and later explore the hybrid comet 311P/PANSTARRS in the asteroid belt. The mission, led by the China National Space Administration, marks the country’s first asteroid sample return and showcases advanced techniques like hover sampling and anchored drilling. With 11 onboard instruments, Tianwen-2 aims to shed light on solar system origins and advance planetary defense.

🦾 Robotics

🇺🇸 US engineers develop real-life transformers for seamless flight-to-ground transitions

Engineers at the California Institute of Technology have created ATMO, a drone-like robot that transforms mid-air to land and drive without stopping, overcoming terrain challenges that typically hinder hybrid robots. The system uses a single motor to shift between flight and ground modes and employs a novel control algorithm, detailed in Communications Engineering, that predicts and adjusts for complex aerodynamic forces during transformation. This innovation could enhance robotic agility and autonomy for use in delivery systems and planetary exploration.

🇦🇺 Australian engineers create robotic cats to comfort seniors and support neurodiverse children

Engineers in Australia have developed MetaCats, realistic robotic cats with beating hearts, LED eyes, and lifelike responses, to provide emotional support for seniors and children. Introduced by the Blue Mountains City Council, the robots are already popular in public libraries, especially among elderly residents seeking companionship and neurodiverse children needing nonjudgmental social interaction. Developed by Elephant Robotics, MetaCats are part of a growing field of robotic pets that may help improve well-being in users with autism, dementia, and other cognitive conditions.

💉 Biotechnology

🇯🇵 Japanese scientists develop cyborg jellyfish to explore oceans with minimal energy and environmental impact

Researchers at Tohoku University have transformed jellyfish into biohybrid robots by attaching tiny electrodes that gently synchronize with their natural swimming rhythms, enabling faster movement without stress. Published in Nature Communications, the study also introduced a lightweight AI system that predicts jellyfish motion using their own body dynamics, enhancing control without external computation. These cyborg jellyfish could one day monitor marine ecosystems, offering a sustainable, low-power solution for long-term ocean exploration.

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Max

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