Important Innovations

May Be World's Ultimate Toothbrush  Green, Clean and Neat Tooth Cleaning Robotic Tech from UPENN A cross-disciplinary team of scientists from UPENN Dentistry, Engineering and Biology have developed this new micro-bot system to clean teeth of plaque and potential decay.  They call it CARs.  It's a crew of microscopic robotics cleaners for your teeth. A first of its kind. For more details go to Important Innovations Collection: Tiny, Robotic Teeth Cleaners : Army of Microrobots Wipe Out Dental Plaque Source: UPENN's Microrobot Teeth Cleaners New Innovation from the University of Pennsy...

Researchers from UK and Spain Identify Eco-friendly Solid for Cooling Source:  University of Cambridge Air Conditioners  Replaces Polluting Gases Scientists at the University of Cambridge UK and Universität Politecnica de Catalunya in Spain have come up with a breakthrough in refrigeration/cooling technology.  Plastic crystals of neopentylglycol (NPG) that when put under pressure is competitive with conventional coolants.  The conventional coolants in refrigerators and air-conditioners are toxic and when released into the air are pollutants. Our Appliances: A Global Energy and Environmental Issue Refrigerators and air-conditioners use 20% of the energy produced globally.  The vast majority of these appliances use hydrocarbons and hydrofluro-carbons in the cooling system that are toxic, flammable and when released into the air add to global warming. Materials Science To solve this cooling problem, materials scientists have sought an alternative solid refrigerant.  UK and S

World First:  Converting Eggshells into Electrodes Source:  KIT, Germany Potentially New, Better Batteries This is a breakthrough discovery by an international team of scientists at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany.  It's the first time that bio-waste - discarded eggshells - have been converted into electrodes.  The innovation can lead to green energy storage systems and better, new batteries.  For a news blog on it, go to Important Innovations Collection: Eggshells -Green Sustainable Energy Storage : World First - From Biowaste to Electrode Source:  KIT Better, New Batteries This is a world first.  A sustainable green energy storag...

Bell Helicopter Is Committed to Delivering on Bell Nexus Source:  Bell Helicopter Aerial Taxis in Operation by 2025 This is part of your travel future.  The Bell Nexus aerial taxi.  It looks like it's straight out of science fiction.  But it is real.  Bell has developed a full body model.  And they have a timetable of test flights leading up to delivering the vehicle for flight operations by 2025.  For a great news blog on this developing aviation innovation, go to Important Innovations Collection: Future of Air Taxi Mobility : Bell Nexus - Flying Over Congested Cities Full Size Model - Bell Nexus For Flight The Bell Nexus is one of the prototype  air taxi mod...

China's EHANG 184 Aerial Autonomous Vehicle Autonomous, Electric, Green Passenger Drone China based company EHANG expects to roll out commercial version of its breakthrough, passenger flying drone The EHANG 184 in 2019.  The drone is autonomous, all electric, green and the first drone in the world to demonstrate the ability to fly a passenger. Take off and landing happens with one click.  It's a new way to commute that ready for takeoff.  For a news blog on this travel innovation, go to Important Innovations Collection: World's 1st Passenger Drones : China's EHANG 184 Source:  The EHANG 184 Drone Transit China is leading the way in passenger carrying drones.  The world's 1...

Zero Emissions 18-Wheeler Wonder Add caption All Electric Big Rigs Coming to a Highway Near You The semi-truck pictured above is considered one of the top 50 innovations of 2018.  It's been converted from a fossil fuel burning tractor trailer into a sleek, all electric, zero emissions big rig.  The innovation technology behind the conversion has been developed by a Los Angeles based start-up company Thor.  The e-rig is named ET-One and  can carry 80,000 pounds for 300 miles on one charge.  For a news blog on this breakthrough innovation, go to Important Innovations Collection: The Electric Tractor-Trailer : Eco Friendly Big Rig Source:  Thor -  ET-One 18 Wheeler, ET-One It's a very sleek electric big rig with zero emissions.  ET-One...

Pizza Hut's Pie Maker on the Road with Zero Emissions Source:  Pizza Hut As Fresh as It Gets - Green Pizza Pizza Hut has a prototype robot that cooks pizza on the way to customers' homes.  It's a mobile pizza factory in a Toyota pickup truck.. The pizzas are as fresh as they can get. Zero Emissions Pizzas The pizza robot with 4 wheels includes a refrigerator, a pair of robotic arms and a portable conveyor oven.  The system runs on the truck's hydrogen fuel electric powertrain.  It was unveiled at the SEMA show on automotive specialty products in Las Vegas.  It's a green delivery system of green pizzas with zero emissions. "The Kitchen" The robotic pizza system is called "The Kitchen" and Pizza Hut thinks it has the potential to deliver fresher pizzas to wider delivery areas.  Futuristic means of food delivery are in vogue.   Uber reportedly is looking into delivering food by drones.  And Alphabet, Google's parent, is teamed w

Sustainable Breweries Source:  Stock Photo A Toast to a Cleaner Environment Beer, especially craft beers, are a growing, energy intensive industry.  The number of US breweries grew 200% in the past decade and production has increased 12% per year. Saving the Planet Per 6-Pack To cut greenhouse emissions and save energy, a growing number of breweries are investing in sustainable production technologies.  But will it pay off?  New research by Indiana University says yes it will.  A majority of US beer drinkers are willing to pay the extra cost.  In fact, according to the University's survey, 59% are willing to pay extra.  On average, sustainable beer production practices tack on an extra $1.30 per 6 pack. Sustainable Innovation Innovative, energy saving, sustainable practices now being implemented by a growing number of breweries include solar power, onsite wastewater treatment plants, insulated brewery vessels and recaptured steam from the brewing process.  Beer is one

No Wheels, No Engine, No Noise, No Pollution, No Problem Maglev Train So Why Aren't They at a Train Station Near You? They're green, clean, fast, quiet.  No wheels, one track. Maglev stands for magnetic levitation.  They glide on a cushion of air.  Because of the way Maglev works, there's now little chance of derailment.  The higher the train gets from the track, the stronger the magnetic force pushing it back.  It's a greener transit solution.  One problem - they're very expensive. Magnetic Levitation Travel  The tech uses magnetic fields to lift the train a small distance above the track and make it move. It's much faster than a regular train.  A Maglev in Japan has broken a world record at 600 mph. A trip from Toronto to Vancouver is forecast to take 3 hours on Maglev by 2035. All Aboard in Asia Only a handful of commercially viable systems have been built.  Only 3 survive - all in Asia.  China likes the system so much it plans to launch it in 1