Important Innovations

Swiss Scientists Use Virtual Reality to Help Amputees Feel Prosthetics as Part of their Body Scientists at Switzerland's Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) combined virtual reality with artificial tactile sensation to help two amputees feel their prosthetic hand as part of their body.  They also demonstrated that the phantom limb actually grows into the prosthetic hand. Mind-Body-VR Connections The basis of this breakthrough approach is how the brain identifies what belongs to its own body.  Their breakthrough was combining two senses - sight and touch.  According to the lead scientist Giulio Rognini of EPFL:  "We showed exactly how vision and touch can be combined to trick the amputee's brain into feeling what it sees" thru VR. Portable Therapy This process is portable and could be turned into therapy to help patients embody their prosthetic limbs permanently.  It's a case of VR providing life enhancing feeling and experience.

Charging as Quick as Pumping Gas Source:  University of Glasgow - Scottish Battery Tech New Supercharge Battery A team of scientists from the University of Glasgow in Scotland have developed a new battery technology that charges electric and hydrogen powered cars in seconds.  It could make these renewable, alternative energy vehicles real contenders. Nano-molecu les This battery breakthrough is a big deal because currently it takes hours to charge electric cars. The new Scottish system uses nano-molecules that allow energy to be stored and then outputted as electricity or hydrogen gas.  Both are emissions free. "Exotic Rust" According to the scientists, the secret ingredient in their battery breakthrough is "exotic rust".  It's a metal oxide that when added to water can be charged with electricity.  The battery is at the prototype stage. Fill-er-Up The new technology allows electric or hydrogen car refueling much the same as getting gas at a

Sounds of Invisibility Penn State researchers have created an underwater ground cloaking technology that's capable of redirecting sound waves so objects appear invisible.  What's different here is sound waves not light waves are used to cloak.  And it's not just theory.  It's been tested and works. Super Metaterials The cloak uses a metamaterial not found in nature.  It allows sound wave to bend around objects as though they weren't there. Put to the Test The Penn State scientists tested their cloaking tech.   They created a 3 foot tall pyramid of steel and placed it underwater.  They used a hydrophone to produce sound.  The metamaterial redirected the sound waves around the pyramid, making it invisible. Cloaking Emerges from Science Fiction According to Asst. Prof. Amanda Hanford their metamaterial is real and works. "We're working to open the floodgates to see what we can create with these materials."  In the past couple of years, there

Technical University of Vienna's Landmark Cloaking Technology Research Source:  Technical University of Vienna - Light Beams of Invisibility - Cloaking Tech Viennese Cloaking Cloaking technology has been a source of fascination in Star Trek and Harry Potter adventures.  It's also among the Holy Grail for technologists.  According to a study by physicists at Technical University of Vienna, it could become a reality with a specially designed material that can mask itself from other forms of light when it's hit with a "beam of invisibility".  The Viennese have developed a special light wave, masking technology that they think delivers cloaking.  They're experimenting with it and developing it. Shining the Light on New Cloaking Tech The concept involves shining a beam, like a laser, onto material from above to pump it full of energy. Here's the trick.  The pattern that's projected into the object to render it invisible has to perfectly match the

Nuclear Energy Hot in UK  Nuclear Facility UK British Small Nuclear Plants Britain is leading the way in the use of small nuclear power plants as a renewable energy source. The purpose is to replace coal and gas and to power a growing fleet of electric cars. The UK has 2 new and large nuclear plants going on line in 2025 and there are plans for more. The British government has pledged $71 million for R&D on small plants and hopes to have them operational in the 2020's. Aging Energy Infrastructure Britain's old coal and nuclear facilities are scheduled for shutdown by 2025.  Because of that, there is strong demand for sources of low-carbon electricity to meet energy needs and also meet the nation's clean energy goals.  That's the rationale and attraction for small nuclear power plants. Small Nukes and Unprecedented Energy Demands Experts say in the next decades there's going to be unprecedented demand for low carbon electricity capacity to replace c

Brighter, Lighter Smart Phones & TVs Scientists have developed a process that could open a new generation of high definition technology. This will pave the way for lighter, brighter and more energy efficient smartphones and TVs. Quantum Dots They've discovered that quantum dots, which are small semiconductors that radiate bright colors, improve screen displays of televisions and smartphones.  The research was done by scientists at Queen's University Belfast and ETH Zurich. Connecting the Dots They clustered the quantum dots which are highly valued for their vibrant colors.  By putting the dots together they were even more brilliant and florescent. They also created their own quantum dots which enhanced the vibrancy. 50% More Color for Screen Displays The researchers say this will increase the number of colors displays can present by 50%. They add, this new process is ushering in a new generation of high definition technology within 3 years.

World Economic Forum Innovation Winner Evoware of Indonesia & Its Seaweed Bioplastics Global Bioplastics Contender from Seaweed Evoware, an Indonesia-based company, makes edible bioplastics from seaweed for use as food wrappings and packets.  Their nature based innovation in bioplastics landed them as a top winner in the World Economic Forum's Global Design Challenge to rid the world of plastic throwaways that are jeopardizing our oceans and environment.  Here's a look at what a common natural substance like seaweed can do to make an environmental difference. Bioplastics that Are Edible, Biodegradable & a Lot More This is an edible alternative to commonly used multi-layered plastic wrappings.  It's directly manufactured from plant material making it edible and nutritious.  According to the New Plastics Economy, an initiative led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, you can eat your burger with this wrapping or dissolve your coffee packet in hot water and drink