Daily Innovation News

October 7^th 2024

💻 Technology

🇨🇳 China achieves world’s first long-distance terahertz communication, paving the way for 6G advancements

Chinese researchers have successfully transmitted high-definition video signals over a distance of 1.2 kilometers using terahertz wireless communication, marking a milestone in next-gen communication systems. Utilizing superconducting terahertz receivers, this experiment demonstrated high-speed data transfer with minimal energy loss, even at extremely low power. This breakthrough could significantly boost 6G technology, enabling ultra-fast data transfer for applications like real-time video streaming, high-capacity data transmission, and space communication.

⚡️ Energy

🇦🇺 Australian researchers develop wine-based battery components to enhance energy storage and EV performance

Scientists have created a battery component using compounds from food acids found in wine, replacing the environmentally harmful graphite traditionally used in lithium-ion batteries. This new technology promises more energy-efficient and sustainable batteries, potentially extending electric vehicle range and reducing the need for frequent charging. A prototype, similar in size to mobile phone batteries, has already shown the ability to store more energy than graphite-based batteries. Researchers are now working on scaling up production and exploring applications for sodium-ion batteries.

🇨🇭 Swiss startup develops removable solar panels for railway tracks, gains official approval

Switzerland has approved its first removable solar power plant on a railway line, set to deploy an 18 kW pilot system on a 100-meter stretch in Neuchâtel. Developed by Swiss startup Sun-ways, this project will feature 48 solar panels, feeding electricity into the local grid without disrupting train operations or maintenance. Designed for easy installation and removal, the system addresses the need for innovative solar energy solutions by utilizing unused railway space. The success of this pilot could transform solar energy production along railways.

🚘 Transport

🇺🇸 US researchers unveil detonation ramjet engine, paving the way for Mach 6 hypersonic flight

Venus Aerospace has introduced the VDR2, a new engine combining ramjet technology with a Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) to enable sustained hypersonic flight. This breakthrough design allows aircraft to reach speeds of up to Mach 6 and altitudes of 170,000 feet, overcoming the challenges faced by existing hypersonic systems. The VDR2 promises 15% more efficiency than traditional engines. A test flight is planned for next year to bring this concept closer to reality.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 US study uncovers methods to stimulate new neuron production in aging brains

Researchers have identified pathways that can activate neural stem cells in old brains, potentially increasing neuron production. By using CRISPR to knock out glucose transporter genes in mice, scientists observed a twofold increase in new neurons, hinting at the role glucose levels play in neural stem cell activity. This discovery could lead to therapies that promote neurogenesis in aging or damaged brains and suggests lifestyle interventions like glucose restriction as a potential treatment. The study was published in Nature.

🇺🇸 🇬🇧 US and UK scientists discover worm protein for faster, scar-free wound healing

Researchers have found that a protein from the parasitic roundworm Heligmosomoides polygyrus can speed up wound healing and reduce scarring in mice. The protein, known as TGF-beta mimic (TGM), was applied to injured skin, leading to faster recovery and hair follicle regeneration within 12 days. This breakthrough suggests potential future therapies for scar-free healing, though more research, especially human trials, is needed before such treatments become widely available. The study was published in Life Science Alliance.

🇺🇸 US researchers develop glucose-responsive nanomedicine to prevent dangerously low blood sugar levels in diabetics

Scientists have created nanosized particles that release glucagon on-demand, helping prevent dangerously low blood sugar in diabetics. These micelles, designed to respond to hypoglycemic conditions, release the hormone only when blood glucose falls below 60 mg/dL, restoring normal levels within 40 minutes. Additionally, the particles remain inactive unless necessary, ensuring safety and reducing the risk of accidental glucagon release. This innovative approach offers a potential new treatment to avoid insulin-induced hypoglycemia, according to research published in ACS Central Science.

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