Important Innovations

Quadruped Spacebot that Leaps, Roams and Flies Source:  ETH Zurich Designed for Low Gravity Environments like Moon, Mars and Asteroids This is extraordinary innovation from a team of PhD to undergraduate students at ETH Zurich in Switzerland.  It's a Quadruped Robot that leaps up to 6 and a half feet, soars in flight and roams low gravity environments like Mars, asteroids and the Moon. The lower the gravity, the longer it flies.  It is now being tested at the European Space Agency.  It is something to be aware of.  For more, go to Important Innovations Collection: Spacebot from Switzerland : To Roam the Moon, Mars and Asteroids Source:  ETH Zurich Dynamic Walking & Flight Phases The Spacebot, a quadruped robot, was cr...

Lab Grown Meat:  Addresses Concerns about Animal Welfare, Health and Environment Source:  Aleph Farms On the Menu Soon Israeli startup Aleph Farms claims to be the first company to have developed steak in a lab.  The company's "Minute Steak" will debut in select, global restaurants in 2021.  It's targeted at eco-conscious diners who are concerned about animal welfare, human health and the environment. Cow Cells The lab grown steak is produced from cow cells taken from live cows.  It eliminates the need to slaughter the animals or use antibiotics which can be harmful to humans. New Trends Lab grown steak joins other new items on the menu like lab grown hamburgers and chicken.  This is feeding off a growing consumer trend concerning real meat safety, the health impact on humans, the impact on the environment and animal welfare. Costs Coming Down Aleph Farms says it's in talks with high end restaurants in Europe, Asia and the US to have the Minute S

NASA's Plan to Install Telescopes on the Moon Source:  Moon stock image Robotic Arm to Deploy the Telescopes Using a rover and a robotic arm, NASA plans to install a network of small, highly advanced satellites on the far, dark side of the Moon.  Work on the project is being done at a NASA funded lab at the University of Colorado in Boulder.  For more details, go to Important Innovations Collection: Robot to Install Telescopes on Moon : NASA Funded Project Source:  Stock image of  Moon Telescopes to Look Deep Into the Universe A NASA funded lab at the University of Co...

New Hydrogel Invention from Singapore to Harvest Fresh Water from Ocean Air Source:  Stock Ocean Image Huge Water Resource Scientists from the National University of Singapore have invented a system to pull fresh water out of ocean air.  They've developed a hydrogel using a zinc based material that is able to absorb more than four time its weight in water.  Huge amounts of water evaporate every day from the ocean, lakes, rivers and reservoirs.  The team in Singapore has found an innovative way to harvest the water in the humid surface air above the water surface. Secret Ingredient - Sunlight The system has been successfully tested.  The team put the gel in devices floating on the ocean surface where it collected water vapor created during evaporation.  By placing the gel in a glass container in sunlight, fresh water was created and harvested.  The salt content in the water was negligible. Renewable, Reusable Energy Rather than relying on electricity, the new hydroge

"List of Best New Innovations"  by Journalist Edward Kane Important Guidebook of Executive News Summaries on the Latest, Top Global Innovations This book is a great resource on the biggest, global innovations of 2019 and 2018.  As journalists, we've written a series of executive news summaries that contain a synopsis of all you need to know about the innovations.  For details on a free borrow on Kindle, the e-book and paperback on Amazon go to Important Innovations Collection: "List of Best New Innovations" by journalist Edwar... : “List of Best New Innovations” by journalist Edward Kane amazon.com/author/ekane   ASIN: B07NTWC3FW My book is a compendium of ...

JellyfishBot Source:  Max Planck Institute Tiny, Soft, Swimming Robot with Big Potential Scientists at The Max Planck Institute in Germany have invented a remarkable tiny soft robot.  Inspired by jellyfish, the robot swims and performs a number of functions including transporting beads and mixing liquids.  It has significant potential for medical and environmental uses.  For a detailed news blog, go to Important Innovations Collection: Jellyfishbot : German Scientists Invent Remarkable Jellyfish Robot Source:  Max Planck Institute Big Potential for Medical and Environmental Applica...

New Human-Canine Communications Source:  Ben Gurion University Wireless, Remote Controlled Dog Vest to Guide the Dog Engineers at Ben-Gurion University in Israel have invented a haptic vest for search and rescue, military and service dogs.  It enables the handlers to direct the animal even when they are out of sight or out of vocal range.  Haptic technology simulates the sense of touch and motion.  The system operates by wireless remote control. Remote Controlled Guidance and Commands The team used a standard dog vest and placed four, small motors inside that operate by remote control.  They vibrate against the dog's back and sides.  The dog is trained to understand the vibrations and respond properly to them.  It enables the animal to be guided remotely. Proof of Concept The team calls the haptic vest a "proof of concept" that shows very promising results.  They say it opens the way toward using haptics as a new form of human-canine communications.  In their

 . Mother of Pearl Innovation Source:  McGill University New Tough Glass from Oyster Shell Mother of Pearl Structure  McGill University Inventors This is new innovation, a shatterproof glass inspired by oyster shells.  It's three times stronger than current glass options available.  This is bioinspired glass invented by scientists at McGill University in Canada, based on the beautiful Mother of Pearl inside of an oyster shell. Mother of Pearl Tough Glass The McGill scientists took the microstructures of the Mother of Pearl structure inside oyster shells and replicated it.  The blocks inside the microstructure slide apart on impact.  This new glass bends under pressure and doesn't shatter. It breaks into bigger parts.  The McGill team composed the new substance using borosilicate glass and laminated it. It's a new invention that works three times better than available glass.  Once again, innovation inspired by nature. ..

Pioneering Pilot by Mondi Group Source:  Mondi Group Less Plastic Waste by Innovative Re-Use Mondi Group, the global packaging and paper company, has created flexible packaging from recycled plastic used and discarded by consumers.  They've developed a usable pouch prototype that contains 20% post consumer waste, considered one of the nastiest forms of plastic waste that is polluting the planet. Circular Economy The company, which lists headquarters in London, Vienna and Johannesburg, says this brings them one step closer to a circular economy.  The program is called Project Proof and it's an Ellen McNamara Pioneer Project that Mondi is leading.  The plastic waste comes from mixed household waste.  And the flexible pouch that they've produced from it is suitable for items like detergent. Proof of Concept Mondi Group says this demonstrates it is possible to use unclean and raw, post consumer recycled content to create flexible, new packaging.  Mondi will now dev

Big Discovery in Space Source:  Rice University.  Image on left is color enhanced to show planet and disk First Observation of a Moon Forming Disk Around a Planet Astronomers from Rice University have scored a first.  They have documented for the first time a moon forming disk around a planet.  They did so by using the world's most powerful telescopes at ALMA Observatory in Chile.  This is important science because it has been believed by astronomers that the moons orbiting Jupiter were created by a similar disk four billion years ago.  For a news blog with more details, go to  Important Innovations Collection: Distant Big Discovery in Space : Moon Forming Disk 370 Light Years Away Source:  Rice University World First Astronomers from Rice University have just spotted a moo...

For Runners:  New Tech for Wind Conditions Source: Styrd  Meter Pod Power Meter Measures Environment During Your Run For runners, wind, rain, heat and other environmental conditions make a big difference in your run.  So this new, real-time monitor is of interest.  It's called the Stryd power meter to monitor conditions for your every stride.  It's a pod that attaches to the laces of your running shoes.  The sensors tell you how the wind is impacting your running.  It also includes the impact of other environmental conditions while you are running like temperature and humidity. Real-Time Data and For Later Review The data is stored onboard, transmits in real-time and for later reviews.  The new Stryd has a better air flow design that can measure wind speeds and tells you if you're running into a head wind or not. This new invention lets you know with accuracy how you are running against real-time environmental conditions.  It's brings a brand new accurate mean

Fierce Competitors Combine Forces to Cut Costs & Gain Scale Source:  VW Electric Concept Cars New Technologies Driving Big Automotive Changes VW and Ford just announced they're teaming up and sharing costs to develop self-driving and electric cars.  VW will invest $2.6 billion in Ford's self-driving vehicle business unit.  The two global automakers will also share electric car components. New Tech Alliances This alliance is part of a seismic change in the automotive industry.  Expensive, new self-driving and electric vehicle technologies are driving it.  Ford and VW are working together to share costs on the new technologies.  And, they say while they remain fierce competitors, teaming up gives them significant global scale. Changing Automotive Landscape The Ford-VW tie-up is the latest in a series of big automotive alliances. About a week ago, BMW and Daimler announced they're teaming up to develop autonomous vehicles.  Honda has invested nearly $3 billi

India Launching Space Mission to the Unexplored South Pole of the Moon Source:Add caption Take-off on Monday, July 15 India is building up a space leadership position for itself.  On Monday, it will launch its second lunar mission within a year.  What is exciting about this one is there's a rover onboard and the destination is the unexplored South Pole of the Moon.  For more details, go to Important Innovations Collection: India Racing to the Moon : Second Unmanned Lunar Mission Source:  Stock Image Rover to Land at Unexplored South Pole "Boldly going to where no country has...