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Daily Innovation News

September 23^rd 2024

💻 Technology

🇺🇸 US researchers develop knee exoskeleton with drone motors for safer lifting and reduced fatigue

Scientists at the University of Michigan have created knee exoskeletons using knee braces and drone motors, designed to reduce fatigue during lifting tasks. These exoskeletons support the quadriceps muscles, maintaining proper posture and preventing back injuries, especially in industries like construction. The system uses machine learning and real-time sensors to adapt to user movements, helping workers lift faster and more safely when fatigued. Mass production could make these devices more affordable in the future.

🚘 Transport

🇫🇷 🇨🇭 French and Swiss researchers solve quantum 'pseudogap' mystery, aiding room-temperature superconductor development for levitating trains

Scientists from France and Switzerland have cracked the long-standing puzzle of the pseudogap state in superconducting materials like cuprates. Using the Hubbard model and the diagrammatic Monte Carlo algorithm, they discovered that electron arrangements in these materials form checkerboard patches and stripes as temperatures approach absolute zero, leading to the pseudogap. This breakthrough could accelerate the creation of room-temperature superconductors, which are essential for technologies like lossless power transmission and superfast levitating trains. The study is published in Science.

🦾 Robotics

🇺🇸 US logistics company deploys 20x cheaper autonomous Reflex robot that learns from humans

GXO, the world’s largest contract logistics company, has introduced the Reflex robot, a fully autonomous humanoid capable of learning tasks from human demonstrations. Developed by Reflex Robotics, the robot costs 20 times less than comparable models and is designed to automate repetitive tasks in warehouses. Through its operational incubator program, GXO is piloting the robot across various tasks, enhancing efficiency while allowing human workers to take on more fulfilling roles. The robot becomes fully operational within 60 minutes of deployment.

🌎 Environment

🇺🇸 US scientists use AI and robots to develop advanced photocatalysts to degrade polluting chemicals

Researchers in the US are leveraging artificial intelligence and robotics to create new photocatalysts that can efficiently break down pollutants in air, water, and soil. These materials, when exposed to light, produce reactive oxygen species that degrade harmful chemicals. By using AI to analyze data and robots to quickly test materials, the team is developing hybrid perovskite nanocrystals, which have the potential to revolutionize pollution control by working with visible light and improving chemical reaction efficiency.

💊 Healthcare

🇺🇸 MIT researchers develop new two-shot HIV vaccine method with potential to defeat AIDS

MIT scientists have developed a new HIV vaccination approach that could kill the virus with just two doses. The first, smaller dose primes the immune system, boosting the response to a larger second dose given one week later. This method, which uses an HIV envelope protein, generates a strong immune reaction comparable to multi-dose regimens, offering a more practical solution for mass vaccination. The researchers are now testing the strategy in primates and exploring ways to further enhance the immune response.

🇯🇵 🇺🇸 Japanese and US scientists discover bacterial strains to treat antibiotic-resistant gut infections

Researchers from Japan and the US have identified 18 bacterial strains that can effectively suppress harmful, antibiotic-resistant gut bacteria like Enterobacteriaceae. In mice, these strains compete with harmful bacteria for nutrients, reducing inflammation and promoting a healthier microbiome. This breakthrough could lead to targeted microbial transplants that manage antibiotic-resistant infections with fewer side effects than current treatments. The findings are published in Nature.

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