Daily Innovation News

November 21^st 2024

💻 Technology

🇺🇸 US supercomputer achieves 1.35 quintillion calculations per second, advancing science and AI

The Frontier supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory has reached a record-breaking 1.35 quintrillion calculations per second, cementing its position as the world’s second-fastest supercomputer. Using a vast network of thousands of nodes and 90 miles of cable, Frontier excels in double-precision arithmetic for scientific simulations and mixed-precision calculations for AI, speeding up problem-solving tenfold. This achievement supports groundbreaking research in areas like cancer modeling, supernovae, and AI, while redefining computational capabilities globally.

⚡️ Energy

🇺🇸 US researchers discover fusion fuel mix breakthrough to cut tritium needs by 10x

Scientists at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have developed a method to reduce tritium usage in fusion reactors by tenfold. By aligning the quantum spins of deuterium and tritium atoms using spin polarization, the fuel mix becomes more fusion-efficient, generating more power with less fuel. This reduces reliance on the costly and radioactive tritium, enabling smaller, safer, and more affordable fusion plants. The study, published in Nuclear Fusion, marks a major step in advancing sustainable fusion energy.

🇺🇸 US team successfully tests supermagnet 100,000x Earth’s strength, advancing nuclear fusion power

Researchers at Commonwealth Fusion Systems achieved a milestone with their Central Solenoid Model Coil (CSMC), a magnet generating a record-breaking 5.7 Tesla field—100,000 times Earth’s magnetic field. The supermagnet, integral to the SPARC tokamak reactor, uses advanced superconducting technology to control fusion plasma efficiently. This success moves CFS closer to producing carbon-free fusion energy, with plasma experiments expected in 2026 and grid-ready power targeted for the early 2030s.

🦾 Robotics

🇺🇸 US engineers create pigeon-inspired robot with reflexive flight stability for turbulence

Researchers have developed PigeonBot II, a bio-inspired robot using bird-like wing and tail reflexes for stable, rudderless flight. Equipped with real pigeon feathers and adaptive controls, it mitigates Dutch roll instability during takeoff, cruising, and landing, even in turbulent conditions. Inspired by how birds stabilize flight without vertical tails, this breakthrough could lead to more efficient, stealthy autonomous drones. Findings were published in Science Robotics.

💊 Healthcare

🇸🇪 Swedish researchers develop finger-prick Alzheimer's test for wider global accessibility

A new finger-prick blood test developed by Swedish researchers could revolutionize Alzheimer's disease detection. This simple test collects a few drops of blood on a special card, which can be mailed to a lab for analysis using high-sensitivity techniques. It performs nearly as well as traditional venous sampling but doesn’t require complex transport systems, making it ideal for areas with limited medical infrastructure. The innovation is timely, as early detection is critical for emerging treatments like lecanemab.

🇺🇸 US researchers develop needle-free capsule for drug delivery in the digestive system

MIT scientists have created a capsule inspired by squid propulsion to deliver drugs directly into the gut wall, offering an alternative to injections. Designed to administer protein-based medications like insulin, the capsule uses gas or spring-powered mechanisms to eject liquid drugs into tissues without needles, reducing tissue damage. Successful animal tests showed drug absorption comparable to injections, making it ideal for patients needing frequent treatments. This innovation could simplify drug delivery, eliminate sharp waste, and improve patient care.

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