Important Innovations

D A ILY INNOVATION BRIEF   By Journalists Edward  Kane & Marya nne Kane LET THE ROBOT DO THE HEAVY LIFTING                                         Source:  Boston Dynamics A number of global companies, including BMW, Amazon and Hyundai are developing humanoid robots to perform heavy duty tasks in their warehouses.  A new example is Boston Dynamics' new robot called Atlas.  Here are some key facts: Atlas is a highly agile and large humanoid robot designed to lift objects in warehouses that are too big for humans to lift and carry It's the replacement for Boston Dynamics famed HD Atlas who loved to dance and is now officially retired Unlike the original, this Atlas can be purchased The robot is a breakthrough - it's all-electric not hydraulic Its flexibility is unprecedented including lifting itself from a collapsed position on the ground, doing 360-degree rotation of its torso and its knees can swivel backwards Boston Dynamics will start testing it in Hyundai factories n

D A ILY INNOVATION BRIEF   By Journalists Edward  Kane & Marya nne Kane WORLD'S FIRST HUMAN-WHALE CONVERSATION                                                                                Source:  Twain & Stock A team of scientists from SETI, University of California Davis and the Alaska Whale Foundation say they've had the world's 1st human conversation with a humpback whale.  Here's what we know: Whales are highly intelligent, huge and very complex animals They make groans, whoops, thrup noises, sing lengthy songs and are rhythmic They speak a complex, elusive language, until now with this new research Scientists recorded humpback whales and played the recordings to other whales with an underwater speaker One female, named Twain, heard the recording, then mimicked it for 20 minutes and kept circling the boat that was the source of the recording Twain also repeatedly responded to the whales' recorded greeting calls & matched the time they took to resp

D A ILY INNOVATION BRIEF   By Journalists Edward  Kane & Marya nne Kane ANCIENT ROMAN   WINE IS BETTER THAN TODAYS                                                                                Source:  Stock A recent scientific study of ancient earthenware vessels used in wine fermentation challenges age-old negative views and makes a case that ancient wines may have rivalled fine wines of today.  Here's what we know: Previous misconceptions about the poor quality of ancient Roman wines developed from the lack of insight into fermentation in clay jars It's been scientifically found that the Roman winemaking procedure and current processes produce comparable aromas and tastes One big difference:  metal and concrete containers are used in modern winemaking; clay jars were used by the Romans, which unlike modern vessels, would expose Roman wine to air during fermentation Another difference:  no anti-insect or preservative chemicals on the grapes The new study concludes that a

NEW SCIENCE: ROMAN WINE FROM 2000 YEARS AGO BETTER THAN TODAYS                                                                                Source:  Stock A recent scientific study of cearthenware vessels used in wine fermentation challenges age-old negative views and makes a case that ancient wines may have rivalled fine wines of today.  Here's what we know: Previous misconceptions about the poor quality of ancient Roman wines developed from the lack of insight into fermentation in clay jars It's been scientifically found that the Roman winemaking procedure and current processes produce comparable aromas and tastes One big difference:  metal and concrete containers are used in modern winemaking; clay jars were used by the Romans, which unlike modern vessels, would expose Roman wine to air during fermentation Another difference:  no anti-insect or preservative chemicals on the grapes The new study concludes that ancient Roman wine may have been equal to or better than current

D A ILY INNOVATION BRIEF   By Journalists Edward  Kane & Marya nne Kane STONEHENGE: A PRE-HISTORIC ROCK VENUE?                                                                           Source:  University of Salford Created by ancient people thousands of years ago, the purpose of the iconic stone monuments at Stonehenge is shrouded in mystery.  Perhaps until now with the use of new technologies.  Here's what you need to know: UK scientists from the University of Salford have created a 3D scaled acoustic model of the fabled megalith at Stonehenge, composed of stones in a circular arrangement that are in alignment with certain nighttime celestial bodies They called the model Stonehenge Lego and modeled it to duplicate its form in pre-history It enabled then to mimic what a ceremony might have looked like and sounded like there thousands of years ago in the hopes of determining the purpose of the rock creation They focused on acoustic possibilities They added 27 missing stones Wha

D A ILY INNOVATION BRIEF   By Journalists Edward  Kane & Marya nne Kane STONEHENGE: A PRE-HISTORIC ROCK VENUE?                                                                           Source:  University of Salford Created by ancient people thousands of years ago, the purpose of the iconic stone monuments at Stonehenge is shrouded in mystery.  Perhaps until now with the use of new technologies.  Here's what you need to know: UK scientists from the University of Salford have created a 3D scaled acoustic model of the fabled megalith at Stonehenge, composed of stones in a circular arrangement that are in alignment with certain nighttime celestial bodies They called the model Stonehenge Lego and modeled it to duplicate its form in pre-history It enabled then to mimic what a ceremony might have looked like and sounded like there thousands of years ago in the hopes of determining the purpose of the rock creation They focused on acoustic possibilities They added 27 missing stones Wha

  D A ILY INNOVATION BRIEF   By Journalists Edward  Kane & Marya nne Kane PLANE TO FLY LONDON TO SAN FRANCISCO IN 1 HOUR                                                  Source:  Venus Aircraft Venus Aerospace just successfully tested a demonstrator drone/plane designed to fly passengers at incredible speeds.  Here's what we know: Texas-based Venus Aerospace is developing a passenger aircraft called Stargazer to fly at Mach 9 That is 6,900 mph or 9-times the speed of sound At that speed, you could travel from London to San Francisco in 1 hour The rocket engine in the aircraft is revolutionary and hypersonic It's called a "rotating detonation rocket engine" The 1st flight test of the Venus drone demonstrator was successful The "supersonic" drone flew 10 miles, hit an altitude of 12,000 feet and a top speed of Mach 0.9 or 680 mph  It flew on a hydrogen peroxide monopropellant engine for the inaugural test The startup company says the test has given them hi