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Daily Innovation News

May 7^th 2024

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⚡️ Energy

🇮🇱 Israeli company set to test innovative seabed compressed air energy storage system

BaroMar, an Israeli company, is set to test an innovative grid-level energy storage system designed to be the most cost-effective method for long-term energy stabilization. Their system uses submerged concrete and steel tanks held down by rock-filled cages at depths of 200-700 meters to store compressed air. This approach leverages the natural hydrostatic pressure of water, allowing for the use of less expensive tanks compared to traditional high-pressure air tanks on land. The system aims for a 70% round-trip efficiency, comparable to other compressed air energy storage systems but at a potentially lower cost due to the unique undersea setup.

🇫🇷 French tungsten-lined tokamak reactor has set a new nuclear fusion record maintaining plasma for six minutes and injecting 1.15 GJ of energy

A tungsten-lined tokamak reactor at the French CEA has set a new record by maintaining plasma for six minutes and injecting 1.15 gigajoules of energy, confirming its effectiveness via Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. This advancement in nuclear fusion, which mimics the sun’s energy production, could lead to a reliable, waste-free energy source. The tokamak used tungsten lining, which helps sustain longer operation periods crucial for energy efficiency, despite the challenges of working with tungsten due to its cooling effect on plasma.

🚀 Space

🇨🇳 China has released the first high-resolution geological atlas of the moon

The Chinese Academy of Sciences has released a high-resolution geological atlas of the Moon, crucial for supporting future lunar missions and infrastructure development. This detailed atlas, based on data from various lunar explorations, enhances our understanding of the Moon’s geology. It includes updated geological time scales and detailed maps that could improve site selection for missions and deepen our knowledge of Earth and other terrestrial planets. This work marks a significant update over maps from the Apollo era, offering better resolution and comprehensive global coverage.

🇺🇸 NASA is developing a moon-based levitating rail system

NASA is developing an innovative levitating rail system on the moon called FLOAT (Flexible Levitation on a Track), designed to support future lunar bases. This autonomous magnetic railway uses a flexible film track and magnetic robots that levitate, reducing wear from lunar dust. The system could transport payloads and mined regolith efficiently, with robots capable of moving up to 100 tons per day. Part of NASA’s NIAC program, FLOAT aims to facilitate sustainable human presence and operations on the moon.

🇺🇸 NASA makes progress with producing mini nuclear generators for deep space missions

NASA is progressing with its mini nuclear power generator project, aimed at deep-space missions. This compact power source, developed under the Phase 1 project by the Rochester Institute of Technology, utilizes a novel thermoradiative cell (TRC) to convert heat from radioactive decay into electricity, potentially increasing power density and reducing size. Phase 2 will explore using low-bandgap materials in nanostructured arrays to enhance power output. This technology could power smaller spacecraft for missions to distant planets and shadowed lunar regions.

🪖 Military

🇺🇸 US company launches new anti-drone AI-powered electronic warfare system

Anduril has launched Pulsar, a modular and AI-powered electronic warfare system designed to combat electromagnetic threats, including drones. This advanced technology, adaptable to ground vehicles or aircraft, rapidly identifies and neutralizes both known and emerging threats. Pulsar operates by integrating software-defined radio with robust computing capabilities, enabling quick adaptation through radio frequency machine learning. It promises significant advancements in operational capabilities in electromagnetic warfare, ensuring rapid deployment and efficient threat management in highly contested environments.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 US clinical trial shows improved vision in patients after receiving CRISPR-based gene therapy

In a groundbreaking study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers report that approximately 79% of participants in a clinical trial experienced measurable improvements in vision after receiving a CRISPR-based gene therapy for a rare form of inherited blindness. This Phase 1/2 BRILLIANCE trial, led by Oregon Health & Science University, utilized the therapy EDIT-101 to target mutations in the CEP290 gene linked to Leber Congenital Amaurosis, Type 10. The promising results highlight CRISPR's potential in treating genetic disorders and improving quality of life by enhancing visual functions that many take for granted.

🇺🇸 US researchers develop new AI tool for cancer drug discovery

Researchers at UC San Diego have developed POLYGON, an AI tool that enhances drug discovery for cancer by generating new candidate drugs targeting multiple proteins simultaneously. This innovative tool, detailed in Nature Communications, could streamline the drug development process, reducing time and cost significantly. POLYGON focuses on multi-target drugs, which are particularly effective in cancer therapy due to their potential to deliver combination therapy benefits with fewer side effects. The researchers successfully synthesized 32 new drug candidates using POLYGON, marking a significant advancement in the field of precision medicine.

🇦🇺 Australian researchers develop nanotechnology-based oral insulin pill for diabetes patients

Researchers at the University of Sydney have developed a nanotechnology-based oral insulin pill that could potentially replace injections for diabetes patients. This oral medication utilizes nano-carriers to protect and efficiently deliver insulin molecules into the bloodstream, reacting to blood sugar levels to release insulin when needed. Promising tests in animal models have shown effective blood glucose control with minimal risk of hypoglycemia. Human trials are expected to begin in 2025. The findings are detailed in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.

🇬🇧 British researchers develop a method to regenerate spinal cord nerve cells using red-light therapy

Researchers from the University of Birmingham have discovered that applying red-light therapy directly to damaged spinal cords can protect and regenerate nerve cells, thereby restoring motor and sensory functions. This method, known as photobiomodulation, leverages low-intensity red and near-infrared light to stimulate healing, reduce inflammation, and alleviate pain. By enhancing mitochondrial functions in cells, the therapy promotes nerve cell survival and regrowth, offering a potential new treatment avenue for spinal cord injuries. The study, published in the journal Bioengineering & Translational Medicine, highlights both invasive and non-invasive delivery methods, showing promising results in improving neurological recovery and reducing injury size in animal models. Further research is exploring the development of implantable devices for human use.

🇺🇸 US researchers develop a new method to enhance lymph node expansion which boosts anti-tumour vaccine

Harvard researchers have developed a new method to enhance lymph node (LN) expansion using a biomaterial vaccine formulation, which can significantly improve the immune system’s response to vaccines, particularly against tumors. This method maintains the normal structure of LNs while altering their mechanical properties and increasing the presence of various immune cells. Preliminary findings suggest that priming LNs with this method before traditional vaccination leads to stronger and more sustained anti-tumor responses. This discovery could influence future vaccine development and immunotherapies.

🇺🇸 US researchers develop promising small molecule for treating MS

Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center have developed a potential breakthrough for reversing myelin sheath damage caused by multiple sclerosis (MS) and aging. Their study, detailed in the journal Cell, highlights a protein function inhibitor named ESI1 that significantly increases the uptake of gene therapy materials into liver cells, suggesting a pathway for myelin regeneration. This new approach shows promise in treating MS and potentially slowing cognitive decline associated with aging, as demonstrated in tests with mice and human brain cells. Further research is needed to explore ESI1’s clinical applications and potential improvements.

🔋 Electronics

🇺🇸 US researchers develop a new type of memory capable of withstanding extreme temperatures

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a new type of memory technology using ferroelectric aluminum scandium nitride (AlScN), which can endure extreme temperatures up to 600°C. This memory is stable, retains data without power, and withstands harsh conditions, making it suitable for environments like jet engines or space. Published in Nature Electronics, the technology promises to revolutionize devices used in extreme conditions and could enhance computer efficiency by reducing the gap between data storage and processing.

🇦🇺 Australian researchers engineer bacterial protein filaments that produce electricity from air moisture

Researchers at the University of New South Wales have engineered bacterial protein filaments to conduct electricity, using moisture from the air. This breakthrough in nanotechnology could lead to sustainable "green electronics." The team genetically modified E. coli to produce these filaments, incorporating haem molecules to enhance conductivity. The filaments showed increased electric current in 20-30% humidity, leading to a prototype humidity sensor that generates electricity with exhalation. The findings suggest potential for further development in environmentally friendly electronic devices.

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