Impact Lab – Page 249 – A Laboratory of the Future Human Experience

Robotic capsule could replace injected biologics

December 2, 2022

MIT researchers have developed a robotic capsule that tunnels through mucus in the GI tract to deliver large oral protein-based drugs like insulin.

Scientists at MIT have demonstrated that a novel robotic capsule could potentially replace conventional biologic injection methods by tunnelling through the intestinal mucus barrier to deliver insulin.

The research, published in the journal Science Robotics described how the new drug delivery system can transport large protein and small-molecule drugs, like vancomycin, an antibiotic peptide.

Traditionally, delivering protein drugs orally has been challenging. The mucosal lining of the small intestine prevents large molecules passing into cells. The acidic nature of the digestive tract also presents a barrier by breaking down drugs before they can be absorbed.

To solve this problem, the team at MIT developed a multivitamin-sized capsule that tunnels through mucus.

The RoboCap capsule carries its drug payload in a small reservoir at one end and carries the tunnelling features in its main body and surface. The capsule is coated with gelatine that can be tuned to dissolve at a specific pH.

Once dissolved, the change in pH triggers a motor to start spinning inside the capsule. This motion helps the capsule to tunnel into the mucus and displace it. The capsule is also coated with small studs that brush mucus away. The spinning action helps to erode the compartment that carries the drug, so the drug can be gradually released into the digestive tract.

New Inventions

A wave-powered prototype device is aiming to produce drinking water from the ocean

December 1, 2022

Ocean Oasis’ Gaia system has been designed to use wave power to desalinate water.

By Anmar Frangoul

KEY POINTS

Ocean Oasis says its technology will enable “the production of fresh water from ocean waters by harnessing the energy of the waves to carry out a desalination process.”
Development of the prototype has received financial backing from a range of organizations including Innovation Norway and the Gran Canaria Economic Promotion Society.
The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean.

Plans to use marine energy to desalinate water received a further boost this week, after a Norwegian firm presented a system that will be put through its paces in waters off Gran Canaria.

In a statement Monday, Oslo-headquartered Ocean Oasis said its wave-powered prototype device, which it described as being an “offshore floating desalination plant,” was called Gaia.

The plant — which has a height of 10 meters, a diameter of 7 meters and weighs roughly 100 tons — was put together in Las Palmas and will undergo testing at the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands.

Ocean Oasis said its technology would enable “the production of fresh water from ocean waters by harnessing the energy of the waves to carry out a desalination process and pump potable water to coastal users.”

Batteries

A game-changing new hybrid EV battery recharges in only 72 seconds

November 30, 2022

The new technology could massively boost small-city EV adoption.

By Chris Young

A new battery technology developed by Swiss startup Morand could see electric vehicle (EV) batteries charge in less time than it takes to fill an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle at a gas station, the company reveals.

The new technology, which can charge electric cars in only 72 seconds, is a hybrid system that uses technology from traditional batteries and ultracapacitors.

AI

Real-Life ‘Invisibility Cloak’ Stops AI Cameras From Recognizing People

November 30, 2022

Scientists have developed a real-life “invisibility cloak” that tricks artificial intelligence (AI) cameras and stops them from recognizing people.

By PESALA BANDARA

Researchers at the University of Maryland have created a sweater that “breaks” AI systems of human recognition and makes a person “invisible” in front of AI cameras.

“This stylish sweater is a great way to stay warm this winter,” writes the researchers on UMD’s Department of Computer Science website. “It features a waterproof microfleece lining, a modern cut, and anti-AI patterns — which will help hide from object detectors.”

The researchers note: “In our demonstration, the YOLOv2 detector was able to fool the detector with a pattern trained on a COCO data set with a carefully constructed target.”

Trending

Metaverse will have a virtual economy of itself, Gartner

November 30, 2022

Gartner Identifies the Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2023

The top strategic technology trends for 2023 identified by Gartner are:

Sustainability
Sustainability traverses all of the strategic technology trends for 2023. In a recent Gartner survey, CEOs reported that environmental and social changes are now a top three priority for investors, after profit and revenue. This means that executives must invest more in innovative solutions that are designed to address ESG demand to meet sustainability goals. To do this, organizations need a new sustainable technology framework that increases the energy and material efficiency of IT services, enables enterprise sustainability through technologies like traceability, analytics, renewable energy and AI, and deploys IT solutions to help customers achieve their own sustainability goals.

Pioneer
Metaverse
Gartner defines a metaverse as a collective virtual 3D shared space, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical and digital reality. A metaverse is persistent, providing enhanced immersive experiences. Gartner expects that a complete metaverse will be device-independent and won’t be owned by a single vendor. It will have a virtual economy of itself, enabled by digital currencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). By 2027, Gartner predicts that over 40% of large organizations worldwide will use a combination of Web3, AR cloud and digital twins in metaverse-based projects aimed at increasing revenue.

Superapps
A superapp combines the features of an app, a platform and an ecosystem in one application. It not only has its own set of functionalities, but it also provides a platform for third parties to develop and publish their own mini-apps on. By 2027, Gartner predicts that more than 50% of the global population will be daily active users of multiple superapps.

“Although most examples of superapps are mobile apps, the concept can also be applied to desktop client applications, such as Microsoft Teams and Slack, with the key being that a superapp can consolidate and replace multiple apps for customer or employee use,” said Karamouzis.

brain hacking

‘Brain-Like Computing’ Possible At Molecular Level, Reveal Scientists

November 30, 2022

By Amelia Podder

A breakthrough discovery at University of Limerick in Ireland has revealed for the first time that unconventional brain-like computing at the tiniest scale of atoms and molecules is possible.

Researchers at University of Limerick’s Bernal Institute worked with an international team of scientists to create a new type of organic material that learns from its past behaviour.

The discovery of the ‘dynamic molecular switch’ that emulate synaptic behaviour is revealed in a new study in the international journal Nature Materials.

The study was led by Damien Thompson, Professor of Molecular Modelling in UL’s Department of Physics and Director of SSPC, the UL-hosted Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Pharmaceuticals, together with Christian Nijhuis at the Centre for Molecules and Brain-Inspired Nano Systems in University of Twente and Enrique del Barco from University of Central Florida.

Stem cells

Using induced pluripotent stem cells to recreate the adrenal gland in a petri dish

November 30, 2022

By Emily Henderson, B.Sc.

Sitting atop the kidneys, the adrenal gland plays a pivotal role in maintaining a healthy body. Responding to signals from the brain, the gland secretes hormones that support critical functions like blood pressure, metabolism, and fertility.

People with adrenal gland disorders, such as primary adrenal insufficiency, in which the gland does not release sufficient hormones, can suffer fatigue, dangerously low blood pressure, coma, and even death if untreated. No cure for primary adrenal insufficiency exists, and the lifelong hormone-replacement therapy used to treat it carries significant side effects.

A preferable alternative would be a regenerative medicine approach, regrowing a functional adrenal gland capable of synthesizing hormones and appropriately releasing them in tune with the brain’s feedback. With a new study in the journal Developmental Cell, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine coaxed stem cells in a petri dish to divide, mature, and take on some of the functions of a human fetal adrenal gland, bringing that goal one step closer.

This is a proof-of-principle that we can create a system grown in a dish that functions nearly identically to a human adrenal gland in the early stages of development. A platform like this could be used to better understand the genetics of adrenal insufficiency and even for drug screening to identify better therapies for people with these disorders.”
Kotaro Sasaki, senior author and assistant professor at Penn Vet

3D Printer

How 3D printing is reshaping the future of supply chains

November 30, 2022

Supply chain disruptions continue to plague global economies, especially within the manufacturing industry. In Australia, manufacturers with offshore operations are experiencing significant supply chain issues that threaten productivity and financial stability.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), more than a third of all businesses experienced supply chain disruptions in February 2022. Of those businesses, 88 per cent reported increased time to receive products from suppliers, while 80 per cent reported that existing suppliers were unable to provide products.

Recent changes to the supply chain emerged shortly after the global pandemic was announced, particularly during COVID-19 lockdowns, due to abrupt shifts in demand that created bottlenecks at ports worldwide. Australia’s strong reliance on international trade and foreign investment has made the impact on some supply chains significant. This reflects temporary trade restrictions, reduced transport options, and increased port loading and unloading times.

Supply chain issues started with COVID-19; however, they’re also affected by intensifying geopolitical tensions, increased consumer demand, labour shortages, inflation, depleted inventory levels, and increased freight costs.

The Australian manufacturing sector was, and continues to be, impacted in several ways. According to data from the ABS, the most common supply chain issue facing businesses is domestic and international delivery delays, followed by supply constraints and increased prices. However, soaring transport costs and a significant shortage of parts and raw materials also affect the industry.

Robots

Light autonomous robots is the answer to soil compaction in the future

November 29, 2022

Soil compaction has become a major issue in crop farming in recent years. Saving soils is a hot topic all over the world. The differences in yields, depending on good or bad soil management, can equate to 10-15%.

No wonder farmers all over the world are applying new technologies in order to minimise soil compaction, such as utomated path planning and accurate guidance. Lightweight autonomous vehicles could also be the answer. We asked Topcon 5 questions about soil compaction and what famers can do to minimise it. Brady Bjornson, senior product manager at Topcon Agriculture provides answers.

Has Topcon collected and analysed data from fields that shows the impact of soil compaction?
“Many extensive studies have demonstrated the impact of compaction on yield and farm profitability, indicating that soil compaction can reduce farm production efficiency by increasing the costs of production whilst simultaneously reducing crop yield. In fact, research in the UK suggests that avoiding soil compaction can actually increase gross margins by more than USD 132 per hectare.

Farmers don’t really know how much compaction they do or don’t have on their farm, or its yield limiting affects

“The reason compaction is considered a silent thief when it comes to crop yield is because farmers don’t really know how much compaction they do or don’t have on their farm, or its yield limiting affects. Differing soil types also contribute as they can cause different levels of compaction – wet clay soils cause the most extreme forms of compaction, while sandy soils cause the least.

AI

a BREakthrough AI can track real-time cell changes revealing a key mystery in biology

November 29, 2022

The study shows how deep learning can be used to detect cell image analysis.

By Brittney Grimes

Researchers have found a way to observe cell samples to study morphological changes — or the change in form and structure — of cells. This is significant because cells are the basic unit of life, the building blocks of living organisms, and researchers need to be able to observe what could influence the parameters of cells, such as size, shape, and density.

Conventionally, cell samples were observed directly through microscopes by scientists to observe and discover any changes of the cells. They would look for morphological changes in the cell structures. However, they can now use artificial intelligence to make observations. Through using both computer science and a subset of artificial intelligence known as deep learning, researchers can now combine the methods to detect cell analysis.

The study was published in the journal Intelligent Computing.

3D Printer

We just built the world’s largest 3D-printed aerospike rocket engine.

November 29, 2022

Algorithmically engineered aerospike rocket engine printed in copper at AMC

Last night, EOS sister company AMCM completed the print of the world’s largest aerospike rocket engine. It was engineered completely in Hyperganic Core using advanced software algorithms and has never seen a single piece of manual CAD. It’s likely the most complex AM part ever produced — it broke all conventional workflows. AMCM printed it in copper in their massive 1m build volume machine. The engine stands at 80cm tall.

This aerospike rocket engine is a demonstration of what’s possible when you combine the power of software algorithms with the world’s most advanced Additive Manufacturing systems.

People have been trying to build aerospikes for a long time. The Space Shuttle was supposed to have a linear one. But nobody could make it work at the time, given the manufacturing methods. The aerospike has significant advantages over traditional bell nozzle designs. It’s altitude compensating and does away with the heavy nozzle extension, with a spike in the middle instead. It’s easily 15-20% more efficient than bell nozzle engines. This is a dramatic improvement in the field of rocketry where even fractions of percentage points are worth pursuing. The challenge was always cooling the spike in the middle of the extremely hot exhaust gas.

Electric Vehicles

Creating an identity for the world’s first fully electric high-speed ferry

November 27, 2022

A positive user experience is the basis for good design. When it comes to this electric high-speed ferry, the aim is that passengers shall feel that they are traveling in a transport system of the future, and enjoy it.

By Håvard Egge

Scientists have now found out how to optimize the functional and aesthetic character of the world’s first fully electric high-speed ferry. The aim is to persuade passengers to opt for fossil-free transport.

The world’s first fully electric high-speed ferry has arrived. It was launched only recently in Stavanger in south-western Norway, where it will be transporting the inhabitants to and from the islands that lie north of the city. The ferry can carry 147 passengers and 20 bicycles and has a cruising speed of 23 knots.