IDTechEx

CRISPR Based COVID-19 Test Detects the Virus Even When it Mutates

A team of scientists has developed a diagnostic test that can detect the virus that causes COVID-19 even after it has gone through mutations. Called the VaNGuard (Variant Nucleotide Guard) test, it makes use of a gene-editing tool known as CRISPR, which is used widely in scientific research to alter DNA sequences and modify gene function in human cells under lab conditions, and more recently, in diagnostic applications.

First Battery Energy Storage System for Saskatchewan

A battery storage system will help balance the power system when power demand spikes for short periods of time. It will also act as a support to intermittent generation options, like wind and solar. The system will be able to power up to 20,000 homes for one hour.

Apple's New Energy Storage Project, Renewable Energy Solutions

Apple today announced over 110 of its manufacturing partners around the world are moving to 100 percent renewable energy for their Apple production, with nearly 8 gigawatts of planned clean energy set to come online. Once completed, these commitments will avoid over 15 million metric tons of CO2e annually — the equivalent of taking more than 3.4 million cars off the road each year.

Scientists Create Synthetic Cell That Grows and Divides Normally

Five years ago, scientists created a single-celled synthetic organism that, with only 473 genes, was the simplest living cell ever known. However, this bacteria-like organism behaved strangely when growing and dividing, producing cells with wildly different shapes and sizes. Now, scientists have identified seven genes that can be added to tame the cells' unruly nature, causing them to neatly divide into uniform orbs.

Graphene Foam Doubles Longevity of Running Shoes

Sports footwear firm inov-8 has unveiled the world's first running shoe to use a graphene-enhanced foam in the sole, bucking the widespread trend for carbon-plate technology and doubling the industry standard for longevity.

Energy-efficient Autonomous LS-EV for Future Mobility

Teijin Limited together with Applied Electric Vehicles has developed a highly energy-efficient low- speed electric vehicle prototype for autonomous driving systems and other mobility applications that are expected to help realize zero-emission mobility.

Microsoft Wins Contract to Supply US Army with Headsets

The United States Army announced that it will work with Microsoft on the production phase of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System program as it moves from rapid prototyping to production and rapid fielding.

Electrolyzers are the First Step Toward Green Hydrogen Production

The strong potential of hydrogen is driven by the fact that it is impossible to electrify some of the most polluting sectors, including the steel, ammonia, and glass industries. In these sectors, hydrogen will be produced from renewable energy employing electrolyzer systems.

Fastest All-Electric Passenger Ship to Launch in Stockholm

The all-new foiling Candela P-30—the world's fastest all-electric passenger ship—will hit Stockholm's waterways in 2022, shuttling passengers to and from the archipelago above the waves without wakes, noise and CO2 emissions.

Automated Embryo Selection Could Have Success in Infertility Treatment

Researchers have applied artificial intelligence methods to evaluate data of human embryo development. The AI based system photographs the embryos every five minutes, processes the data of their development and notifies any anomalies observed. This increases the likelihood of choosing the most viable and healthy early-stage embryo for IVF procedures.

Leveraging the 5G Network to Wirelessly Power IoT Devices

Researchers have uncovered an innovative way to tap into the over-capacity of 5G networks, turning them into "a wireless power grid" for powering Internet of Things devices that today need batteries to operate.

ADS-TEC Large Scale Storages Stabilise Swiss Power Grid

In Graubünden, a new 1.25 megawatt large-scale battery has put into operation. At the beginning of 2020, the largest Swiss indoor battery with 1.35 megawatts was connected to the grid in Thurgau. Both storage power plants support Swissgrid with primary and secondary control energy, stabilize local grids and serve to avoid peak loads.

Yotta Energy Teams up with Flex on PV-Coupled Energy Storage System

Yotta Energy has selected Flex as its manufacturing partner for the production of its PV-Coupled energy storage system. This partnership will allow Yotta to rapidly scale its technology for commercial and industrial markets.

Event Summary: Flex2021

In late February 2021 IDTechEx attended the Flex2021 conference. Conference talks and attendees were a mix of primarily early-stage companies and academics. This premium article covers a selection of the most interesting and/or commercially relevant talks.

Meatable

Meatable is a Dutch company developing technology for producing cultured meat - slaughter-free meat products created from cultured animal cells. In March 2021, IDTechEx Senior Technology Analyst Michael Dent spoke with Daan Luining, CTO and co-founder of Meatable.

Non-Invasive Glucose Sensing Technologies

In this premium article, IDTechEx examines various approaches that have been made in developing non-invasive glucose sensors for diabetes management.

Reversing the Move to Cities

While technologies are emerging for cities to be independent in food, water and energy, safe and pleasant, progress is mostly poor and global warming threatens migrants overwhelming cities. By all means, let us see the smart city advances take place that are in the IDTechEx report, "Smart Cities Market 2021-2041: Energy, Food, Water, Materials, Transportation Forecasts", but it would be prudent to try to reverse the move to cities that the UN and others see resulting in 70-80% of us in them by 2050.

Wisk to Begin eVTOL Trial in New Zealand This Year

Wisk, the Urban Air Mobility company behind the first all-electric, self-flying air taxi, is progressing with its Transport Trial, which will advance autonomous passenger transport under the New Zealand Government's broader Airspace Integration Trial Programme. Wisk is working towards rolling out the implementation phase later this year.

3D Printed Porous Carbon Aerogels for Space Exploration

Exploration of extremely cold environments, from Earth's polar regions to the moon and Mars, requires technology that can rapidly store and deliver electricity at ultralow temperatures. NASA's Perseverance rover, for example, needs heaters to keep the rover's battery system from freezing in Martian temperatures averaging about -81 F (-62 C).

Machine Learning Ranks Cancer Drugs in Order of Efficacy

Researchers have developed a machine learning algorithm that ranks drugs based on their efficacy in reducing cancer cell growth. The approach may have the potential to advance personalised therapies in the future by allowing oncologists to select the best drugs to treat individual cancer patients.