Daily Innovation News

September 18^th 2024

💻 Technology

🇺🇸 FDA designates Neuralink's Blindsight as 'breakthrough' tech for vision restoration

Neuralink's Blindsight, a brain-chip implant aiming to restore vision even for those without eyes or an optic nerve, has been granted breakthrough device status by the FDA. Using a microelectrode array implanted in the brain's visual cortex, Blindsight translates signals from an external camera into visual images. While Neuralink's approach is innovative, significant challenges remain, especially in providing realistic vision for individuals born blind. Human trials are anticipated, but full regulatory approval is still years away.

🇺🇸 US neurotech company enables thought-controlled smart home system, rivaling Neuralink

Neurotech firm Synchron has successfully tested its brain-computer interface (BCI), enabling a participant with ALS to control smart home devices like lights and TV using only his thoughts. The BCI, implanted without invasive surgery, translates brain signals into commands for Alexa, bypassing the need for touch or voice. Unlike Neuralink’s more complex system, Synchron’s device is implanted via the jugular vein and can remain in the brain long-term.

⚡️ Energy

🇺🇸 US grants historic permit for first molten salt nuclear reactor in 30 years

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved a construction permit for Abilene Christian University’s Natura MSR-1, the first liquid salt-fueled reactor licensed in the US and the first university research reactor in over 30 years. This 1-megawatt molten salt reactor uses innovative technology for safer, more efficient energy production. It aims to address global energy demands, produce medical isotopes, and provide clean water, marking a significant advancement in nuclear energy.

🚀 Space

🇺🇸 US company achieves first automated oxygen extraction from moon soil simulant

Sierra Space has successfully tested its Carbothermal Oxygen Production Reactor, marking the first automated extraction of oxygen from simulated lunar soil in a lunar-like environment at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. This breakthrough, essential for NASA’s Artemis missions, advances oxygen production technology to support a permanent human presence on the moon. The reactor has reached Technology Readiness Level Six, indicating it's ready for lunar missions as a technology demonstrator.

🌎 Environment

🇸🇪 Swedish startup combines hydroponics and AI to grow fresh vegetables inside supermarkets

Stockholm-based startup SweGreen is revolutionizing food production by growing vegetables directly in supermarkets using hydroponics. This soil-free method reduces water usage by up to 99% and eliminates the need for pesticides or herbicides in sterile environments. SweGreen's AI tool helps manage crop growth based on demand and seasonal trends. With installations in Sweden and Germany, this approach not only minimizes food waste but also ensures fresh, sustainable produce for consumers.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 🇩🇪 US and German scientists 'supercharge' T cells with mitochondria to boost cancer-fighting power

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Leibniz Institute have developed a method to enhance T cells by supplying them with mitochondria from stromal cells, boosting their antitumor activity. In preclinical models, these supercharged T cells penetrated tumors, resisted exhaustion, and prolonged survival. This breakthrough could improve immunotherapy, particularly in adoptive cell therapies for cancer patients. The study was published in Cell.

🇦🇺 Australian startup launches world-first ADHD headband for daily symptom management

Australian company Neurode has developed a non-invasive headband that delivers light electrical stimulation to the prefrontal cortex, aiming to improve focus, memory, and impulse control in people with ADHD. Used for just 20 minutes a day, the device connects to an app that tracks brain activity, offering a personalized approach to managing ADHD symptoms without medication. This groundbreaking technology could offer an alternative to traditional treatments with fewer side effects.

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