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Daily Innovation News

May 9^th 2024

💻 Technology

🇺🇸 US engineers develop AI-powered holographic glasses

Stanford engineers have developed a prototype AI-powered holographic AR headset that's as unobtrusive as regular glasses, promising to transform fields from gaming to medical training. This device overlays 3D images directly onto the lenses using advanced holography, offering a richer visual experience without the bulkiness or discomfort of current headsets. The technology uses AI-enhanced holographic imaging and nanophotonic devices, aiming to provide natural and high-quality 3D visuals. You can find more about this study in the journal Nature.

🪖 Military

🇺🇸 US Marines evaluate robotic dogs armed with AI-assisted rifles

The U.S. Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) is evaluating new robotic "dogs" from Ghost Robotics, possibly equipped with weapon systems from Onyx Industries. These robots, designed for various military uses such as surveillance, can be armed with remote weapon systems that feature AI-assisted targeting but require human approval to fire. This development represents a significant advancement in the deployment of unmanned ground vehicles in military operations, highlighting both the technological capabilities and ethical considerations involved in modern warfare.

🦾 Robotics

🇭🇰 Hong Kong researchers develop robotic snails for space exploration

Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong have developed a swarm of tiny, snail-inspired robots that can collaborate to navigate challenging terrains. Unlike actual snails, these robots use a retractable suction cup and magnets within their tank-like tread systems to move and stick to one another, forming structures like staircases and bridges. This innovation, detailed in Nature Communications, which allows them to work solo or in tandem, could be useful in search-and-rescue missions and in space exploration on other planets. Further development aims to make these robots fully autonomous.

🇨🇿 Czech researchers develop microrobots that clean microplastics and bacteria from water

Researchers have developed microrobots that can clean microplastics and bacteria from water, as reported in ACS Nano. These tiny robots, powered by a magnetic field, attract and cluster plastic particles and microbial contaminants, which can then be removed from the water. After collecting pollutants, the robots are decontaminated and can be reused, providing a promising method for addressing pollution in waterways. This study highlights the potential of microrobotic systems in environmental cleanup applications.

🤖 Artificial Intelligence

🇺🇸 Google releases AI model that predicts the structure and interactions of all biological molecules

AlphaFold 3, developed by Google DeepMind and Isomorphic Labs, represents a significant advancement in AI, capable of predicting the structures and interactions of all biological molecules. This model enhances our understanding of biological functions and could revolutionize drug discovery. It builds on AlphaFold 2, enhancing its architecture to include DNA, RNA, and small molecules like ligands. AlphaFold 3 is accessible for non-commercial use through the AlphaFold Server, promising to aid researchers in modeling complex molecular systems efficiently.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 US researchers develop new weight-loss pill that mimics exercise

Researchers at the University of Florida are developing a new pill, SLU-PP-332, which could mimic the effects of exercise for weight loss. This pill, detailed in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, activates specific proteins involved in energy use during physical activity, potentially increasing metabolism and aiding weight loss without the need for physical exertion. Promising initial tests on mice showed significant weight loss and improved physical endurance, suggesting potential for future use in humans to manage weight and combat obesity-related health issues. More research is planned before it can be tested in human trials.

🇦🇺 Australian researchers use insomnia medication to help man recover from alcohol addiction

Researchers at The Florey Institute have used suvorexant, an insomnia medication, to help a 31-year-old man recover from severe alcohol addiction. This case study, detailed in Clinical Case Reports, describes how the drug improved the patient's liver function and resolved his insomnia, leading to complete cessation of his alcohol use after 13 weeks. The drug's success in this case has sparked interest in further trials to explore its potential in treating alcohol use disorder, particularly when coupled with sleep disturbances.

🇬🇧 British researchers develop ‘wraparound’ implant to treat spinal cord injuries

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a new, flexible electronic device that wraps around the spinal cord, offering a novel approach to treating spinal injuries. This device can record and stimulate spinal nerve signals, potentially enabling limb movement and bypassing damaged areas in cases of severe spinal injuries. Unlike traditional treatments that may require risky brain surgery, this device focuses solely on the spinal site, significantly reducing surgical risks. This innovation, published in Science Advances, could also be used to monitor spinal cord activity during surgeries, improving our understanding of and treatments for spinal injuries.

🇬🇧 British researchers develop improved treatment for spitting cobra bites

Researchers at Lancaster University have developed a promising new treatment for the severe tissue damage caused by spitting cobra venom, using the drug varespladib. This drug blocks a key toxin in the venom, preventing dermonecrosis, which is the destruction of skin, muscle, and bone at the bite site. Current antivenoms are ineffective against local damage from these bites, often resulting in disability or amputation. Varespladib shows potential for significant impact in treating these bites, especially in Africa where such incidents are prevalent.

🇸🇪 🇩🇪 🇳🇱 Researchers develop breakthrough implant which could lead to next generation of vision implants

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, University of Freiburg, and the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience have developed a pioneering small implant with neuron-sized electrodes that remain durable inside the body. This breakthrough could enhance future vision implants for the blind by providing detailed, robust stimulation to the visual cortex, significantly improving image resolution for users. This new technology offers potential for long-term, effective solutions in treating blindness.

🇳🇱 Dutch researchers develop new-to-nature enzyme to improve drug manufacturing

Researchers at the University of Groningen have developed an innovative enzyme incorporating boronic acid, enhancing its selectivity and efficiency in catalysis through directed evolution. This enzyme is notable for its potential to produce chiral molecules, which are crucial in pharmaceuticals, by enabling highly selective enantioselective reactions. The new enzyme operates sustainably, working at low temperatures and without toxic solvents, presenting a significant advancement in green chemistry and drug manufacturing. The findings were published in the journal Nature.

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