DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF by Maryanne Kane, Journalist

 DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF

                                                                      

                 By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane

GAMECHANGING DISCOVERY:  METAL CAN HEAL ITSELF

 

                             

                           

                                                            Source: Sandia National Lab & Stock

• Scientists at the US Government's Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico have made an amazing discovery:  metal can heal itself
• It's a finding that scientists have been theorizing about and pursuing for decades
• The breakthrough discovery was made at the nanoscale level
• Tiny pieces of pure platinum and copper spontaneously healed cracks caused by metal fatigue
• The scientists believe that the process can be engineered into metal to make self-healing machines & structures in the relatively near future
• Researchers call the process "cold welding"
• The healing that was observed and documented at the nanoscale level and now scientists need to discover how to control the process and replicate it in metal used for the real world
• This discovery has huge potential for self-healing car, planes and bridges that develop metal fatigue cracks and self-heal before ending in catastrophic failures.

BMW'S FLAGSHIP ELECTRIC CAR & UNIQUE STRATEGY

                                                                    Source:  BMW

• German luxury automaker BMW has added to its electric lineup a flagship - the new i7 battery-powered luxury car, which is BMW's most expensive sedan
• i7 is BMW's showcase for innovative technology and luxury
• Here are the key details:

1. AWD
2. 536 hp
3. 300 mile range
4. i7X Drive 60
5. Priced to start on top model at $119,300
6. Also V8 powered gas version

• BMW's differentiating strategy among luxury brands: company says it's developing all of its new vehicles to be built with internal combustion engines, electric engines or hybrid engines that combine electric and gas power
• BMW says their unique luxury car approach gives them maximum flexibility to increase or decrease production of electric, hybrid or internal combustion engine vehicles depending on demand.

SCIENTIFIC QUEST FOR SUPERBLUEBERRIES

                       Source:  James Hutton Institute & Stock

• Scientists at Scotland's James Hutton Institute, world famous for innovative plant science & sustainable land use, are developing the perfect superblueberry
• They're in the process of crossing 40 varieties of blueberries to create the ultimate in blueberries that can even be successfully grown in he tough weather and soil conditions of Scotland
• The scientists say it will be the size of a strawberry or 3-times its normal size
• It's being cultivated to be much more flavorable, much juicier and crunchier
• Blueberries are superfoods, loaded with antioxidants and known to help prevent heart disease, enhance memory, accelerate muscle repair after injury and a lot more
• The Scottish plant scientists are on the verge of innovating a super big, super delicious, superblueberry
• They hope this will help blueberries flourish in Scotland, where they have not, and create a new business line for farmers
• Blueberry lovers hope they can market these potentially very nutritious gems internationally.

"Daily Innovation Brief" © By Edward Kane