Daily Innovation News

November 13^th 2024

💻 Technology

🇺🇸 US researchers create liquid metal cooling material to reduce data center emissions by 65%

A breakthrough liquid metal-based thermal interface material (TIM) developed by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin offers 72% greater cooling efficiency than current commercial solutions, potentially transforming data center operations. Combining Galinstan with ceramic aluminum nitride, this TIM reduces the need for energy-intensive fans and pumps, potentially lowering cooling power usage by 65% and cutting overall data center energy consumption by 5%. If scalable, this technology could help data centers handle growing computational demands with reduced environmental impact. The research findings were published in Nature Nanotechnology.

🦾 Robotics

🇵🇱 Watch: Polish engineers unveil humanoid robot torso powered by water-pumped artificial muscles

Poland’s Clone Robotics has introduced a humanoid torso with water-powered artificial muscles that mimic human movements with uncanny realism. Unlike typical robotic designs, this torso uses a hydraulic system to pump water through artificial tendons, allowing it to replicate human muscle flexibility. Designed for industrial tasks requiring human-like dexterity, such as assembly and handling, this technology could also aid in medical rehabilitation by providing highly controlled, human-like movement in robotic hands. Clone Robotics’ biomimetic approach marks a significant step in creating lifelike robotic movement.

🇨🇳 Chinese developers make world's first electric humanoid robot open-source for rapid integration

China has made its advanced electric humanoid robot, Tiangong, open-source, enabling researchers and companies to develop and integrate humanoid robotics more quickly and affordably. Developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, Tiangong can run, navigate slopes, and adapt its movements in real-time, with applications in industries like power plant patrols and warehouse operations. The open-source release includes structural and software design details, aiming to support China’s goal of mass-producing humanoid robots by 2025. This move may accelerate robotics adoption globally by simplifying development.

🇺🇸 US President-elect Trump gains robot dog security for advanced threat detection

The U.S. Secret Service has enhanced security for President-elect Donald Trump by deploying a high-tech robot dog at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Provided by Boston Dynamics, this robot dog is equipped with advanced surveillance tools, including thermal imaging and bomb detection capabilities, supporting the Secret Service’s protective measures. Part of the Secret Service’s ASTRO program, this robot is designed to autonomously patrol and adapt to potential threats, highlighting a growing trend in robotic security applications in sensitive areas. The use of robotic dogs is expanding in military, police, and rescue operations for added safety.

💊 Healthcare

🇭🇷 Croatian scientist cures stage 3 cancer with lab-grown viruses, sparking ethical debate

A Croatian scientist successfully treated her stage 3 breast cancer by injecting her tumor with lab-grown viruses, a method known as oncolytic virotherapy (OVT). Beata Halassy, a virologist, opted for this unapproved approach rather than conventional chemotherapy, applying two viruses, measles and vesicular stomatitis, to stimulate her immune system against the cancer. Her self-treatment has raised significant ethical concerns, as experts worry that it may encourage others to attempt risky, untested therapies. The case, published in Vaccines, underscores both the potential and the controversy surrounding self-experimentation in cancer research.

🇺🇸 US researchers combine immunotherapy and chemotherapy to extend survival in aggressive cancers

A UCLA-led study has shown that combining pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug, with standard chemotherapy significantly improves outcomes for patients with aggressive small cell bladder and neuroendocrine prostate cancers. In early trials, 43% of participants saw partial or complete disease regression, and 86% of bladder cancer patients lived for two years or more. Notably, this combination approach extended survival for prostate cancer patients to 27 months, far exceeding the average survival rates of 7-9 months. The findings, published in Cell Reports Medicine, suggest a promising new treatment path, warranting further trials.

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