May 9th 2025

Author

Max Gray
May 09, 2025

The Daily Innovation Newsletter

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May 9th 2025

🤖 Artificial Intelligence

British tech startup Moth, in collaboration with artist ILĀ, released Recurse, the first commercially available track generated using a quantum-powered AI platform called Archaeo. Unlike typical generative AI, Archaeo uses parameterized quantum circuits to learn from small, artist-curated inputs, preserving creative control while enhancing musical complexity. This marks a novel fusion of quantum computing and AI in the arts, pointing toward a future of deeper, collaborative machine-assisted creativity.

🌎 Sustainability

Researchers at Texas A&M University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have created a self-healing concrete system using synthetic lichen - cyanobacteria and fungi that autonomously seal cracks by generating minerals when exposed to light, air, and water. Published in Materials Today Communications, this bioinspired system requires no external nutrients, offering a sustainable, low-maintenance solution that could significantly cut repair costs and extend the life of infrastructure. The technology also holds promise for future applications in extreme environments, including space.

Finnish company Wärtsilä has unveiled a full-scale carbon capture system for ships after a successful trial on the commercial vessel Clipper Eris, where it reduced CO₂ emissions by up to 70%. Developed in partnership with Norwegian shipowner Solvang ASA, the system captures emissions from all onboard exhaust sources and is compatible with multiple fuels and retrofit configurations. Published results position this technology as a cost-effective, scalable tool for helping the maritime industry meet aggressive decarbonization targets.

Researchers from RMIT University in Australia and five Chinese institutions have created a composite sponge-like material, WLG-15, that efficiently captures moisture from the air and releases it as clean water using only sunlight. Built from porous balsa wood, lithium chloride, and iron oxide nanoparticles, the sponge absorbs water vapor in open air and releases it when exposed to solar heat inside a simple cup-like device. Published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, the innovation offers a low-cost, portable, and energy-free solution for providing potable water in disaster zones and remote, arid regions.

💉 Biotechnology

Researchers at Spain’s Centre for Genomic Regulation used generative AI to design synthetic DNA sequences that can selectively turn genes on or off in specific healthy mammalian cells, a first in biotechnology. Published in Cell, the study demonstrates a new approach for gene control using AI-generated enhancers - DNA elements designed to trigger precise gene activity in desired cell types while leaving others unaffected. This innovation could revolutionize gene therapy by enabling treatments that are both highly targeted and safer for patients.

💊 Healthcare

Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Australia have developed a novel mRNA vaccine approach that enhances the formation of stem cell-like memory CD8+ T cells, which can remember threats for decades. Published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, the study demonstrated in mice that this strategy significantly improves long-lasting immune protection, potentially reducing the need for booster shots. The findings open the door to more durable vaccines for viruses and promising cancer immunotherapies.

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See you soon,

Max