Sci-Tech News
SpaceX's Starship Achieves Historic Mid - Air Booster Capture in Fifth Test Flight
On October 13th, local time, SpaceX, the American space exploration technology company, conducted the fifth test flight of its new - generation heavy - lift launch vehicle, Starship. This test flight witnessed a remarkable achievement as the rocket's booster was "caught" by a robotic arm nicknamed "chopsticks" on the launch tower during its descent, achieving the first mid - air capture and recovery. Subsequently, the Starship spacecraft splashed down in the Indian Ocean.
AI-Powered Brain Implant Enables Bilingual Communication for Speech-Impaired Individual
A recent study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) has revealed a groundbreaking achievement. An artificial intelligence (AI) system integrated with a brain implant has, for the first time, assisted a person with speech impairments in communicating in two languages.
Austria: Nobel Laureates and Technological Advancements
As of the end of 2023, Austria has seen 23 of its citizens honored with Nobel Prizes, a remarkable testament to the nation’s intellectual prowess and its long - standing contributions to global knowledge. These accolades span various fields, reflecting Austria’s diverse academic achievements and innovative spirit.
U.S. Department of Defense Secures $200M AI Contracts with OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, xAI for National Security
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced on July 14 it has awarded up to $200 million in AI contracts to OpenAI, Google parent company Alphabet, Anthropic, and xAI, aiming to accelerate the deployment of advanced AI capabilities across national security systems. The contracts, managed by the DoD’s Chief Digital and AI Office (CDAO), will fund the development of "agentic AI workflows" to address critical defense challenges, including cybersecurity, intelligence analysis, and operational decision-making .
US Surgeons Complete World's First Living Human Pig Kidney Transplant
On March 16, a surgical team at Massachusetts General Hospital in the United States accomplished the world's first living human transplant of a pig kidney. The recipient, 62-year-old Richard Slayman, was suffering from end-stage renal failure. The transplant operation was permitted under the "compassionate use" approval of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
U.S. Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Ban "Adversarial AI" from Foreign Adversaries
U.S. bipartisan lawmakers introduced a new bill, the No Adversarial AI Act, on June 25 local time. It aims to restrict federal government procurement and use of AI technologies developed by "foreign adversaries" like China, strengthening technical security for national critical systems.
Hitachi's Proton Beam Therapy Equipment Widely Adopted by Renowned Global Hospitals
Hitachi's proton beam cancer radiotherapy equipment has been utilized in over 2,400 cases at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in the United States, which ranks first in the world's hospital oncology departments. This remarkable achievement showcases the high - quality and reliability of Hitachi's technology.
UK Unveils New Policies to Bolster AI, Quantum Computing with Funding and Talent Drive
The UK government has introduced a series of new policies to significantly boost support for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing. On June 22, it announced the establishment of a “Global Talent Fund” with an investment of £54 million to attract world-leading researchers to the UK. A “Global Talent Taskforce” was also set up, dedicated to recruiting scientists, engineers, and creative talents—with a special focus on key areas like AI and green technology—and encouraging them to innovate and develop long-term in the UK.
Global Semiconductor Equipment Landscape: U.S.-Japan Dominance and Technological Barriers
The global semiconductor manufacturing equipment sector remains firmly dominated by the United States and Japan, with both nations controlling critical technologies that underpin the production of advanced microchips. From etching systems to precision materials, their technological edge is so significant that many of these tools are subject to strict export controls, reflecting their strategic importance in modern electronics and global supply chains.
Latigo saddles up with $150M to spur non-opioid pain drugs through the clinic
About 8.6 million Americans reported misusing prescription opioids in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The huge market for pain relief and urgent public health need for nonaddictive treatment options has led numerous biotechs to attempt developing opioid alternatives.
Hydrogen Plasma - based Extraction of High - Purity Iron from Red Mud Drives Green Metallurgy
European scientists have developed a new method that uses hydrogen plasma to reduce iron oxide in red mud, capable of producing liquid iron with a purity of over 95% in just a few minutes. This process contains almost no harmful elements and is suitable for steel - making. Meanwhile, it can consume red mud, an industrial solid waste, and is expected to solve the environmental problem of 180 million tons of red mud produced annually.
Sweden's Nobel Triumphs: A Showcase of Innovation and Heritage
As of the end of 2023, Sweden has seen 33 of its citizens honored with Nobel Prizes, a remarkable achievement rooted in the nation’s long - standing dedication to education and scientific research, as well as its rich cultural fabric. This accomplishment not only highlights the individual brilliance of Swedish laureates but also underscores the country’s holistic approach to fostering intellectual growth and innovation.
Medical Breakthroughs to Transform Healthcare Over Next 30 Years
Over the next three decades, scientific and technological advancements will revolutionize medicine. Genomics will enable truly personalized drugs, allowing treatments tailored to individual genetic profiles to tackle cancer, cardiopulmonary diseases, Alzheimer's, and other currently intractable illnesses.
Researchers Publish 15 Papers, Unveiling the Largest Brain Gene Regulatory Network Map
In a significant scientific endeavor, researchers have recently published 15 papers across the journals Science, Science Advances, and Scientific Reports. They claim to have mapped out the largest and most advanced multi - dimensional atlas of the brain's gene regulatory network to date. This comprehensive atlas details numerous regulatory elements that coordinate the brain's biological pathways and cellular functions.
UK Startup Allotrope Energy Secures $6.7M for Revolutionary Supercapacitor, Partners with Brazilian Pulp Firm
UK-based Allotrope Energy, a 2016-founded battery capacitor startup, has unveiled a groundbreaking super EDLC (electrochemical double-layer capacitor) set to disrupt automotive tech. It secured $6.7 million from Brazil’s Suzano Ventures, partnering with the pulp producer—known for paper products—to manufacture the innovation.
Overseas PV Daily News Express
SUNfarming and France SPIE Join Hands to Build 753MW German Agricultural PV Project
Another U.S. high-tech company, IBM, pulls out of China and lays off thousands of employees
Corporate global strategic adjustment: Changes in business layout: IBM may reconfigure its R&D resources according to its global business development strategy. For example, shifting the focus of R&D to other regions with more potential or cost advantages in order to adapt to market and technology trends. For example, the company may believe that certain regions have better innovation ecosystems, talent pools or policy support in specific technology areas, and thus make the decision to withdraw from the China R&D department.