Important Innovations

Very Rare but Yes - New Research Organ Transplant Surgery European Case It's well known that organ transplants can pass on infectious diseases from the donor to the recipient in rare cases.  New scientific research shows that passing cancer from a donor to a transplant recipient is extraordinarily rare but can happen.  In fact, a donor's undetectable cancer cells caused 4 transplant recipients, including a man, to develop breast cancer.  3 of them died.  This case emerged in Europe and was published in the scientific journal Transplant. Donor History of No Detectable Cancer The 53 yr old donor died of a stroke and had no detectable signs of cancer.  But doctors traced back the DNA in the cancer cells found in the 4 recipients.  The DNA matched that of the donor.  Scientists say the chance of something like this happening is 1 to 5 in 10,000 cases.  But, it's important research findings and something to be aware of.  The incidences are extraordinary rare but po

SNOO Smart Sleeper SNOO Smart Cradle Sensors, Robotics and Microphones Concealed It's called the SNOO and was designed by a Swiss innovator.  Its sensors immediately pick up your baby's cry and automatically rocks the baby back to sleep.  It customizes the best white noise and rocking motions for the child.  The manufacturers claim it's able to add an hour or more to your baby's sleep every night.  For parents of newborns that means an hour or more for them too. Sleep Sack Another important feature.  It has a special sleep sack that attaches to the bed to swaddle the baby and importantly has the baby sleeping on their back, which is the safest position.  Swiss designer Yves Behar calls his innovation "technology with a deep sense of humanity" as it performs an important function for parents and babies. Minimalist Design The minimalist design conceals the sensors, robotics and microphones.  All the white, the SNOO encloses the baby in soft, was

Quest to Forecast Ice Melt, Rising Waters and Climate Change Helheim Glacier Collapse Helheim Glacier Collapse Several scientists and a Reuters news team in 2018 witnessed the collapse of the huge Helheim glacier in Greenland.  Billions of tons of ice collapsed into the sea.  A 4 mile wide chunk of the glacier broke apart leaving a huge breach and demonstrating the impact of climate change. NASA & NYU Research NASA and NYU scientists are in Greenland and Iceland to discover how warming oceans are melting the ice from below.  It's part of their Oceans Melting Greenland (OMG) research mission.  They're measuring loss to the country's ice with highly sophisticated technology both on the ground and from planes.  This is very important research because scientists lack clarity on how fast warming oceans are melting polar ice sheets.  As a result projections on rising sea levels vary widely and some question if Climate Change is happening. Many Chilling Signs B

Turning Objects into Connected Technology by Spray Drexel University's Spray on Antenna Being Applied New Research Development from Drexel Labs This is extraordinary scientific research  and results.   Spray on antennas for a wide variety of objects and surfaces without adding weight, circuitry or requiring rigid surfaces.  Scientists at Drexel University in Philadelphia have done it.  They've developed a method to spray on invisibly thin antennas onto flexible materials.  The exceptional conductivity of the material allows it to transmit and direct radio waves. Exciting Possible Uses The potential exists that this new technology could unlock new opportunities in the future of communications.  Antennas are crucial for communications between devices.  The spray on antennas offer new ways to set up networks and collect data.  Drexel researchers believe they will make wearable monitors, smart clothes, industrial and medical sensors much more effective because the ant

16th Century Ship Called Biggest Marine Archeological Find of the Century Marine Archeologist at the Shipwreck Ancient Buried Treasure Found by Divers with 21st Tech Maritime archeologists found the shipwreck off the Portuguese city of Cascais near Lisbon.  They believe it sunk between 1525 and 1625. Treasures Aboard They found Chinese ceramics from the Ming Dynasty, spices including pepper and cowpies which are a type of shell that was used as currency in the slave trade.  They also found the ship's bronze cannons engraved with the Portuguese coat of arms.  The scientists believe the ship was returning to Lisbon from India. Dives and Discovery Continue The ship was discovered as part of an underwater investigative project by the Portuguese government and Navy, the city of Cascais and Nova University of Lisbon.  The ship was under 40 feet of water.  Divers continue to explore and document the shipwreck and researchers are trying to identify the name of the ship.

Turns Everyday Objects into Robots Courtesy of Yale University:  Robotic Skin Robotic Skin Yale University researchers just turned tech around.  Robots are usually rigid, solid and built for specific purposes.  According to the Yale roboticists, their robotic skin is breakthrough innovation and can change everyday objects into robots and animate the inanimate. NASA Partnered on the Research NASA partnered on this research with the lab of Asst. Professor Rebecca Kramer-Bottiglio and her team of mechanical engineers and materials scientists. The soft robotic system is a collection of sensors and actuators.  It's mounted on a flexible substrate that's placed on a flexible object that serves as the structure. Make Your Own Robot The scientists say this tech will allow you to create multi-functional robots. For instance, when placed on a toy horse, it can make the horse's legs move.  The researchers say it can be used for everything from search and rescue to wear

Japan Makes Space  Innovation History Rover Photo of the Asteroid.   Source: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Rovers Already Taking Photos Japan just made history.  It's landed 2 hopping rovers on the asteroid Ryugu.  The rovers are in good condition and have already started transmitting data and photos, as you can see in the above photo. Historic The rovers' mobility on the asteroid is historic.  NASA landed a spacecraft on an asteroid in 2001 but it was stationary.  The rovers are equipped with 7 cameras.  They hop around the asteroid which has a low gravity environment.  The rovers are the world's 1st, man-made objects to explore movement on the surface of an asteroid. Rich Resource Asteroids greatly interest scientists researching the history and origins of the universe.  Some experts believe they also have tremendous commercial potential for mining valuable metals like platinum.  The hopping rovers are part of Japan's MINERVA-ll1 program.  A la

Space X CEO Elon Musk Unveils His Base on Mars Source:  Space X Rendering of Mars Base Alpha Space X CEO Elon Musk provided this artist's rendering of his planned Mars Base Alpha.  He plans to settle people on Mars in 2024.  In 2023 he'll send a manned mission to explore Mars.  In 2022, he plans on cargo missions to Mars.  And in order to keep on schedule, he started test launches of his Big  Falcon Rocket (BFR) space ship in 2019. Powerful Space Launch Vehicle Space X Artist Rendering of BFR Interplanetary Travel Musk provided an updated version of the BFR.  When it's finished he claims it's going to be the largest, most capable and most powerful launch vehicle ever built.  Musk says it's an interplanetary transport system capable of going from Earth to anywhere in the solar system. Lunar Mission with Tourists on Board Musk is planning Space X trips to the moon.  BFR will take off, have booster separation, go into orbit, fly around the moon and

World First & No Emissions Germany's Hydrogen Train Emission Free Rail Travel The train is officially called the Coradia iLint.  It's clean energy rolling through northern Germany. It provides regular passenger service in the Lower Saxony Region.  This is the first time that commercial trains powered by hydrogen-based cells have gone into use for passengers. French Manufacturer Two trains are in service. 14 more are on order for 2021. They're being manufactured by French based Alstom, which is one of Europe's biggest railway manufacturers.  The hydrogen trains are being touted as important innovation delivered by Germany and France. Train Green Tech The trains are low noise, have zero emissions and can reach speeds of 140 kmh. Germany specifically invested in them to reduce diesel fuel train emissions.  The fuel cells convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity to power the trains. Many Advantages Over Diesel The trains are refueled at a mobile h

Soaring Like a Bird AI Glider Nature Inspired Breakthrough Innovation Scientists at the University of California, San Diego have built an artificial intelligence powered glider - an autonomous, fixed wing drone - that learns to fly with the dexterity and maneuverability of birds.  This is another fascinating example of highly advanced technology imitating nature.  It also has ramifications for future drones. By riding air currents, they'd be able to fly longer and more efficiently. Advanced Algorithm They've equipped the drone with an advanced algorithm and control system.  That enables it to navigate wind currents like birds do.  The glider is totally dependent on the wind. It has learned to seek updrafts which enable it to stay aloft indefinitely. Very Smart Glider Bottom-line:  this is a very smart glider.  It can tell when it's approaching an updraft and then use the wind to maximize its time in the air.  The scientists' research and results were j

Space First for Japan and the World Japan's  Hayabusa-2 Spacecraft Japan Making Space & Innovation History with the Asteroid Ryugu If touchdown goes as planned, Japan will be the first to land rovers, two of them, on an asteroid.  Japan's Hayabusa-2 spacecraft started on the mission in 2014 and has recently arrived on the 3000 foot wide Ryugu asteroid. Mission Possible for Japan 2 of the 4 onboard rovers will be deployed on Friday 9/21/2018.  They're 7 inch wide devices that will hop around the space rock to take photos and temperature readings.  They hop rather than roll because of the asteroid's low gravity readings. Next Stops - Incredible Research Opportunities About the Earth 2 larger landers will be released to collect data and rock samples over the next year. The spacecraft will depart in 12/2019 and bring back the samples and data to researchers.  The Japanese research mission is looking for evidence of water and organic materials similar t

Controlling Drones and Aircraft by Brain Waves Image from DARPA Mind over Matter The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA is working on highly innovative technology that enables humans to control drones and full-sized aircraft by their minds' brain waves.  It's command and control by thoughts. Microchip Implant that Sends and Receives Data For the DARPA research, a micro-chip was implanted into a volunteer's brain. In simulations with drones on computer screens, the person was able to command and control the drones. DARPA also disclosed at a recent symposium the system works with swarms of drones and multiple aircraft.  The user is able to steer multiple jets at once. The user of the microchip can send and receive signals from the aircraft and understand the dynamics of its environment. Innovative & To Some Controversial Thinking To some this is controversial research.  DARPA's mission is to provide the US military wi

New  Scientific Research:  Dolphins Cooperate, Coordinate & Synchronize to Problem Solve Common Dolphins Coordinated Success Scientists at the Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys have taught teams of dolphins to accomplish complex tasks through teamwork.  The Dolphins coordinated and timed their actions with precision to receive rewards. Cooperation and Precision The task for the dolphins was to swim to the end of a lagoon and press a button simultaneously as a team of 2 dolphins.  Once the dolphins realized the task required cooperation with each other, they were able to coordinate their actions with precision.  They even waited for their teammate to catch up to them so that they could press the button at the same time.  They did so with precision - on average within 1/3 second of each other. Language to Solve Problems The scientists just published their findings in the journal Proceeds of Royal Society B.  The scientists observed that teamwork comes natu