Important Innovations

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

 Medical Tests Possible on Coin Sized Chip University of Buffalo Success Researchers at the University of Buffalo have done what many others have tried without success.  They're created medical tests on a chip the size of a coin.  They've demonstrated how their chip accurately determines the eight blood types based on the time it takes each to flow thru the chip. Medical Tech Breakthrough This is a breakthrough.  The obstacle has been finding a reliable and efficient way to mix and move blood and other fluids thru a chip's tiny pumps and valves.  The UB team have done it.  They fabricated a chip that uses two different types of forces - capillary & vacuum driven - to move the fluids in micro and nanosized channels.  This advance solves a difficult problem that has been an obstacle to labs on a chip. Big Vision for Med Labs on Chips The expectations for the use of labs on chips are big, including in the developing world, on battlefields and in our homes.  Ima

World's 1st Driverless Grocery Deliveries Start in Phoenix This Fall Nuro Kroger, the nation's largest supermarket chain, and California-based driverless car company Nuro have teamed-up for what they call "the world's first, driverless grocery delivery service".  They're offering to Phoenix residents inexpensive, same day delivery thru Kroger's ClickList ordering system and Nuro's app. It rolls out this fall. Nuro's Vehicles "Teleporting" The vehicles are all electric, with no seats and no humans onboard.  Nuro co-founder Dave Ferguson says "we can deliver anything, anytime, anywhere.  We like to call it a local teleportation service." As you can see in the photo, the vehicles looks a bit like a toaster on wheels.  It weighs 1500 pounds, most of which is the battery that powers the electric motor.  It's about the length of an SUV but it's only 3.5 feet wide. Nuro's No-Passenger Mantra Nuro's strategy

Biodegradable, Hybrid Biobatteries Take-off Researchers at the State University of New York at Binghamton have developed a breakthrough biobattery, that's been eluding the engineering and scientific communities for decades.  It's paper-based, eco-friendly and hybrid.  On top of that, it's inexpensive and performs well. The problems this SUNY team have overcome are making the battery easy to produce, really biodegradable and powerful enough. Eco-Friendly Alternative The hybrid paper battery is easy to produce, flexible and biodegradable.  It has much higher power-to-cost ratio than previously reported paper-based microbial batteries.  This one uses a hybrid of paper and engineered polymers.  The polymers are the key to making it biodegradable. Powered to Start Ending Electronic Waste There's been a dramatic increase in electronics waste and the new biobattery is a start to reduce that.  Also, SUNY Asst. Professor Sean Choi says the battery's power can be

Underwater Canyon off Irish Coast Pulls CO² from Air Porcupine Bank Canyon  What a discovery!  A research expedition of scientists from University College Cork to a huge underwater canyon off the Irish coast discovered a hidden natural process that pulls greenhouse gas carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Mission to Map Underwater Porcupine Canyon They towed a drone out on Porcupine Bank to the Porcupine Bank Canyon, which is a huge, cliff walled underwater trench. It's at the point where Ireland's continental shelf ends.  The scientists are building a detailed map of the canyon's interior and boundaries.  That was the purpose of their just completed journey. Discovery Process Along the way, they spotted a process at the edge of the canyon that pulls CO² from the atmosphere and buries it deep in the sea.  All around the canyon's rim live cold-water coral which thrive on dead plankton.  The plankton build their bodies on carbon from CO² in the air.  When