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Oct 28, 2023

Slow-moving quasiparticles make the fastest semiconductor in the world

Posted by in categories: chemistry, computing, mobile phones, transportation

It could improve limits on information transfer speed but is made of a super expensive ingredient that might make it financially infeasible.

Researchers at Columbia University in the US have developed the fastest and most efficient superconductor that works at room temperature, a press release said. The superconductor is made of superatomic material only known by its chemical formula, Re6Se8Cl2.

In a short span of time, silicon has become an integral part of most modern-day equipment ranging from cell phones to cars, computers to smart homes. However, scientists have found that silicon will soon reach its limits. This is because of the atomic structure of the semiconductor.

Oct 28, 2023

Nanotechnology breakthrough: DNA turbine changes direction with salt

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, nanotechnology

A team of researchers from TU Delft, University of Illinois, and MPI Göttingen has developed a nanoscale turbine made of DNA that can rotate in both directions depending on the salt concentration in the solution. This remarkable feat of nanotechnology could pave the way for new applications in drug delivery, biomimetics, and energy harvesting.


Natural turbines using DNA origami

A turbine is a device that converts the kinetic energy of a fluid into mechanical work. These are ubiquitous in our modern world, from wind farms to jet engines. They are also essential for life, as some biological molecules act as turbines to power cellular functions, such as the ATP synthase that produces energy for cells and the bacterial flagella that propel bacteria.

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Oct 28, 2023

Mapping microwave light: $21.4M boost for telescope probing universe origins

Posted by in categories: cosmology, mapping

The new telescope would allow scientists to “understand the beginning, history, and makeup of the universe.”

In a quest to advance the knowledge concerning the beginning of the universe, known as the Cosmic Microwave Background, the National Science Foundation is set to grant up to $21.4 million to the University of Chicago. The agreement will see $3.7 million awarded to the team next year, in a project aimed at developing final designs for a next-generation set of telescopes that will map the light from the earliest moments of the universe.

The project, named CMB-S4, will be led by researchers at UOC and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and aims to construct infrastructure and telescopes… More.

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Oct 28, 2023

China allegedly cracks hypersonic thermal barrier, bringing heat on US

Posted by in categories: materials, transportation

The newly developed material resisted temperatures up to 7,343 degrees Fahrenheit without melting or losing shape during tests when applied to encase the surface of a waverider aircraft.

China’s scientists have claimed a major breakthrough: a successful test of a new surface material for hypersonic jets, which was considered impossible to make earlier.

The development means that the Asian powerhouse has surpassed far ahead of the United States in the hypersonic race, according to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on Monday.

Oct 28, 2023

World’s largest quadcopter drone made from foamboard takes flight

Posted by in categories: drones, materials

A team of engineers from The University of Manchester has created and flown the world’s largest drone, made from a lightweight and eco-friendly material.


The Giant Foamboard Quadcopter (GFQ) is unlike any other drone worldwide thanks to its innovative design. It is made from foamboard, a cardboard type with a foam core and a paper skin.

A team of engineers from The University of Manchester.

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Oct 28, 2023

Airbus’ vision for zero maritime emissions starts with hydrogen engine

Posted by in categories: sustainability, transportation

Airbus unveils a hydrogen-powered engine, marking a significant step toward zero-emission aviation and a greener future for the industry.

European aviation giant Airbus sets its sights on reducing carbon emissions throughout its production process, starting with overhauling its maritime fleet, the company announced in a press release.

In a move to align with its commitment to sustainable aerospace and reduce the carbon footprint of its industrial operations, Airbus is set to upgrade its maritime transport fleet for transatlantic assembly transport. The plan, unveiled in an official release, outlines a comprehensive strategy to reduce CO2 emissions and enhance environmental sustainability in the aerospace sector.

Oct 28, 2023

ALS patients control home devices with their minds using BCI

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, computing, neuroscience

“For those who have lost their ability to communicate due to a variety of neurological conditions, there’s a lot of hope to preserve or regain their ability to communicate with family and friends.”

The term “brain-computer interface” (BCI) refers to a technology that creates a direct line of communication between the human brain and an outside object or computer system, opening up a wide range of possibilities for things like device control and neurological study.


Oonal/iStock.

Continue reading “ALS patients control home devices with their minds using BCI” »

Oct 28, 2023

This Portable Innovation Saves Lives by Bringing Doctors to 30 Lakh Pregnant Women

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, innovation

“High-risk mothers in many parts of rural India are usually identified in the third trimester, which is around the eighth month of pregnancy. However, by this time, it’s often too late to manage complications before labour. This can lead to fatal outcomes,” says Senthil Kumar Murugesan.

An electronics and communications engineer by profession, Senthil is trying to bridge this gap with JioVio Healthcare, an IoT-based maternal healthcare startup that provides early-risk monitoring services at home.

He first encountered the pregnancy healthcare gap when his sister was pregnant in 2016. She is a career-driven woman and would miss her antenatal appointments due to the lack of time. Also, the… More.

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Oct 28, 2023

The Importance of MSI Status

Posted by in category: satellites

High Microsatellite Instability is an emerging biomarker for immune-oncology that can be predictive of positive response to immunotherapy.


Tumors with defects in the expression of functional MMR (dMMR) proteins often have somatic mutations that produce novel or “foreign” proteins. These proteins can be immunogenic. As a result, these tumors are effective at priming an immune response and subsequently susceptible to immunotherapies. Because MSI can be the first evidence of an MMR deficiency, MSI-H status is predicative of a positive response to immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint blockade inhibitors.

Oct 28, 2023

AI Can Screen for Diabetes

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, food, health, mobile phones, robotics/AI, sex, time travel

In America, roughly 40 million Americans have diabetes and about 95% of them have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body cannot correctly process sugar and fuel cells. More specifically, the body does not produce enough insulin to break down sugar into glucose for the cells to use. In this case, treatment includes insulin shots or a pump in addition to a strict diet excluding sweets or high fat meals. Treatment limitations disrupt patient quality of life. Some researchers have been working on better detection for diabetic retinopathy with artificial intelligence (AI), but research is limited on how to better detect diabetes itself. Thus, many researchers are working to detect diabetes early on and discover better treatments.

Klick labs, located in multiple cities across the world, is trying to detect type 2 diabetes by having a patient speak into a microphone for 10 seconds. Klick labs believes this technology can better detect diabetes and help patients get treatment earlier. The study was published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health, which details how patients spoke for 10 seconds and combined with health data, including age, sex, height, and weight, created an AI model that discerns whether a person has type 2 diabetes or not. After further tests, scientists determined it has 89% and 86% accuracy for women and men, respectively.

In the study, Klick Labs collected voice recordings of 267 people, either non-diabetic or diabetic. The participants were asked to record a phrase into their smartphones six times a day for a total of 2-weeks. Over 18,000 recordings were taken and analyzed to distinguish 14 acoustic features that helped distinguish non-diabetic to type 2 diabetic individuals. The research highlights specific vocal variations in pitch and intensity that could lead to how the medical community screens for early-onset diabetes. A major barrier to early detection includes time, travel, and cost, which many people do not have. Voice diagnosis can help eliminate those barriers and improve detection and treatment in diabetic patients.