Daily Innovation News

September 27^th 2024

🚘 Transport

🇨🇳 Chinese automakers launch LFP battery with 200 km range in 5-minute charge

SAIC-GM and CATL have developed a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery capable of charging 200 km (124 miles) in just five minutes, setting a new industry benchmark. With a 6C multiplier, this ultra-fast charging battery cell outperforms previous 5.5C batteries, enabling quicker charging for electric vehicles. Expected to be integrated into GM's Ultium architecture by 2025, the technology will also include advancements like a new structural design and improved cooling, pushing EV charging capabilities further.

🇺🇸 US scientists develop continuous process to turn plant waste into sustainable jet fuel

Scientists have successfully tested a new method to produce jet fuel from lignin-based agricultural waste, using a continuous process. This approach directly converts lignin, a major component of plant cells, into sustainable aviation fuel, potentially improving performance and reducing emissions. The new process could make plant-based biofuels more feasible for commercial aviation, complementing existing technologies in the pursuit of 100% renewable fuel use. The research was published in Fuel Processing Technology.

🦾 Robotics

🇨🇭 Swiss researchers develop a robotic hand that crawls, grasps, and extends its reach

Scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) have created a robotic hand called the "Handcrawler," capable of detaching from its arm, crawling like a spider, and grasping objects before reattaching. This five-fingered design includes two fingers for grasping and three for crawling, providing both mobility and dexterity. The hand's innovative design allows it to lift objects without hindering movement, potentially enhancing robotic systems' flexibility and efficiency. An autonomous version using external localization is already operational in the lab.

🤖 Artificial Intelligence

🇦🇺 Australian AI tool accelerates detective work, completing 81 years of analysis in 30 hours

A new AI tool called Söze has drastically sped up investigative work, completing tasks in 30 hours that would take a human 81 years. Developed by Akkodis, the tool helps investigators quickly find patterns in large, disparate data sets, streamlining analysis for crimes like terrorism, human trafficking, financial fraud, and more. Powered by Microsoft's Azure platform, Söze automates repetitive tasks, freeing analysts to focus on deeper investigative channels. In recent tests, it successfully reviewed evidential material in 27 complex cases, proving its efficiency.

🌎 Environment

🇨🇳 🇺🇸 Chinese and US researchers develop sun-powered tech to extract lithium from seawater

Scientists from Nanjing University and the University of California, Berkeley, have created a membrane-free electrochemical cell that uses sunlight to extract lithium from seawater efficiently. The device, known as the Solar Transpiration-Powered Lithium Extraction and Storage (STLES), utilizes iron phosphate electrodes to selectively capture lithium ions, releasing them into fresh water. This method offers a cleaner, more sustainable alternative to traditional lithium mining and has demonstrated high recovery rates, even in brines with low lithium concentrations. The research is published in Science.

💊 Healthcare

🇬🇧 UK researchers develop new drug to target multiple cancer-driving mutations

Researchers have developed a new "protein degrader" drug, ACBI3, that effectively targets and destroys 13 of the 17 most common KRAS gene mutations, which drive cancer growth. Unlike traditional treatments that inhibit proteins, ACBI3 tags them for destruction, offering a new way to treat cancers previously lacking targeted options. The drug has shown promising results in mouse models, leading to significant tumor regression. This breakthrough could revolutionize treatment for many patients and opens new therapeutic avenues. The findings are published in Science.

🇪🇸 Spanish company implants ‘world’s first’ graphene-based brain chip in a cancer patient

INBRAIN Neuroelectronics has successfully implanted a graphene-based brain-computer interface (BCI) in a human patient, marking a milestone in brain surgery. The device, which can distinguish between healthy and cancerous brain tissue at a microscopic level, was used during a tumor resection. This BCI harnesses graphene's exceptional electrical properties to capture brain activity more accurately than traditional materials. The technology holds potential for high-precision neurological therapies, including treatments for Parkinson's disease.

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