Tag: #152

Renewable energy can be stored as heat in sand. Silica, meanwhile, is making energy savings possible in the cold chain network. Certainly for the transportation of vaccinations, enzymes and even DNA. Knowing that biologically active molecules in medical substances are thermally unstable and prone to decomposition when temperatures fluctuate, a UK-based startup has developed a new solution: to encase...

Placeholders can protect personal data from AI chatbots. So-called large language models provide the basis for established AI systems. Many of these were trained using all available online data - only some respect copyright laws. Now, a Swiss-based research team is focusing on only mining data that is publicly accessible and legally usable. 15 billion data units from 1,000+...

Lunar micturition comes with unexpected benefits. The role human excretions play on earth has recently preoccupied an American-based research team. More specifically, the biochar made from solid human excrement, which has proved ideal as fertiliser once microplastics and chemicals have been removed from it. Mixing the biochar with nutrients from urine could provide 15% of the phosphorus needed to...

A foam-based pressure bandage helps treat serious wounds. When bones break badly, medical practitioners often use metal plates or 3D-printed implants. Now, a research team in South Korea has developed an easy-to-use glue stick instead. The stick is made from biodegradable plastic, which melts at low temperatures, a phosphate mineral occurring naturally in bones and antibiotics. Using a modified...

Chickpeas are a readymade replacement for coffee. Coffee grounds, meanwhile, can be used for sustainable building projects. A Warsaw-based startup identified the waste product’s potential for the circular economy and developed a patented technology to extract valuable resources from it. Initial attempts a few years ago were certainly helpful. The team’s latest system is set up so that coffee-industry...

An armband concept detects and prevents hot flushes. Meanwhile, an Irish startup is focused on females of other species. The team’s sensor recognises the start of contractions in pregnant cows and heifers, denoted by specific movements of the tail. The sensor is registered in an app and connected with two telephone numbers. 3-4 days before calving it’s attached to...