Recently, the development of technology has been happening so rapidly that our life is simply inconceivable without various high-tech technological innovations. Thanks to a variety of innovations, people with a creative approach to science are given the opportunity to change the future. It could be a revolution in terms of doing everyday things or dealing with illnesses. Modern technology can forever change the world that we know now.
More recently, scientists have made several breakthroughs, including the invention of a microchip that provides biometric protection, as well as the creation of a machine that receives many liters of water simply from the air. These innovations are amazing and allow us to dream about how we can improve life on Earth and make it more balanced.
We invite you to plunge into the world of modern technology with us, having studied the 10 most outstanding discoveries made literally “the other day”.
1
Universal implants
Swedish residents line up for the latest microchips that are implanted in their hands. Their size does not exceed rice grain, and the manufacturer of the novelty is the Swedish company BiohaxInternational. Microchips simplify the life of users, eliminating many worries. With the help of simple cotton, people will be able to open their offices, offices, or gain access to the gym. The chips also contain information about the owner and his contact details, which may be needed in emergency situations. With it, you can get information about the profile in social networks, find out the schedule of trains and concerts, and even make their order.
Microchips are implanted in the thumb with a syringe, which is used during classical vaccination. The cost of the procedure is approximately 180 dollars, more than 400 Swedes have already become customers of the company. The largest railway company in Sweden became a project partner, allowing the use of chips instead of ordinary tickets. Recently, there has been active talk about the possibility of paying for purchases in stores and restaurants using microchips from Biohax International.
2
3D metal printing
3-D printing is a modern production method using various types of plastic to make things. Now, companies such as GE and HP have decided to create printers that allow the use of new types of additives for the manufacture of metal products. HP recently introduced the new HP Metal Jet 3-D printer, designed to manufacture high-quality metal parts. Premium metal is used in the manufacture, and the process itself is characterized by high speed and low cost. Giants such as Parmatech have already purchased a printer for installation in their factories. The first batch of products manufactured by HP MetalJet went to customers from Wilo, Volkswagen, as well as representatives of the vertical market OKAY Industries and Primo Medical Group.
GE Addictive, not wanting to lag behind competitors from HP, announced the release of their printer, which will be called Arcam EBM Spectra H. This 3-D printer with high heat transfer rates, will use metal prone to fission as a raw material. Operating at temperatures above 1 thousand degrees Celsius, it will “print” titanium aluminide and Inconel 718. By 2019, manufacturers from GE also hope to include nickel alloy in the materials. These two printers will be the last word in the industry of three-dimensional printing, forever changing the industry.
3
Synthetic embryos
Dutch scientists have made a grand leap in the field of embryonic science. They created synthetic mouse embryos, without the use of sperm or eggs. This achievement can help solve the problem of infertility in people. Employees of the Dutch institute of artificial insemination MERLN used mouse cells to create a structure similar to a blastocyst. The mixing of two types of mouse stem cells led to the beginning of the process of embryo formation. The structure was placed in the uterus of female mice, after which they began to develop.
This type of biomedical technology can help in the study of infertility, especially in the study of the causes of miscarriages. Dr. Nicholas Rivron said that he will be able to implant more embryos, for a detailed study. This will help to understand the reason for the impossibility of implantation of some embryos, as well as to identify medications that help in fertilization. On the other hand, progress can be slowed down by opponents of genetic engineering struggling to maintain moral standards.
4
AI painting sells for $ 432,000
The Artificial Intelligence program, developed by Paris-based art company Obvious, produced a painting that was sold at auction for $ 432 thousand. Before the start of sales in New York, analysts predicted its sale for only $ 7 to $ 1 thousand. The painting is called “Portrait of Edmond Belami,” and its creation was made possible through the use of an algorithm that took into account the data of 15 thousand portraits painted between the XIV and XX centuries.
The auction, organized by Christie employee Richard Lloyd, caused increased excitement among the media. According to Lloyd, AI (artificial intelligence) is just one of several technologies that can have a huge impact on the art market in the future. It is worth noting that other representatives of the art industry are not in a hurry with forecasts.
5
Drones lifting objects 40 times their own weight
Swiss researchers at the Lausanne Federal Polytechnic School (EPFL), as well as Stanford University, have developed a new line of drones that move objects 40 times heavier than their own weight. The drones are called FlyCroTugs (flying robots micro-tugs). They are equipped with a winch system, adhesives and microchips, allowing drones to catch on any surface. Despite the fact that robots have some invariable details (winches), owners will be able to customize them, depending on the situation.
For example, the clamps can be moved depending on the seating surface. And it is also possible to attach additional parts, for example, wheels, necessary for the ground movement of cargo.
If it is necessary to lift the object, the clamps cling to the object using suction cups, without the use of a sticky substance. Capture is made at the intermolecular level, if it is not enough, you can use metal spikes that look like fishing hooks. Robots can come in handy during rescue operations. During testing, scientists were able to open the door by grabbing its handle and pulling it to gain access to the room. During another test, the developers attached a camera to the drone, which allowed to study the situation in the collapsing building.
6
Robot Farm
In the California city of San Carlos, startup company Iron Ox has established a fully autonomous farm. This is a hydroponic indoor farm, the main work of which is performed by two robots for planting, care and harvesting. The first car the size of a car weighs about 450 kilograms. She collects trays of plants and transport them through the greenhouse. The second machine is made in the form of a hand responsible for planting and transplanting plants.
As soon as the tray with the plants grew, the robot transferred it to the processing zone. After that, a robotic “hand” moves the grown sprouts from the tray into containers with more space. One of the owners of Iron Ox, Brandon Alexander claims that his farm's 0.4 hectare farm output is equal to that of 12 hectares of open farm. The company plans to expand by building several more farms based in close proximity to major cities, which will allow delivering only fresh products to stores. At the moment, Iron Ox grows herbs and healthy herbs, but in the future it is going to start production of other crops, for example, tomatoes.
7
Electric Vehicle Charging Road
Sweden plans to refuel vehicles by 2030, without the need for fuel. The government took the first steps in this direction, equipping some of the roads near Stockholm with special electric charges, which allowed them to “charge” electric cars in the process of movement. The project is called eRoadArlanda, it uses technology similar to the power line for trolleybuses and trams. The difference is that the cables are built in on the road. As soon as the modified car enters the electrified road, the “hand” drops, charging the vehicle’s battery. The mechanism works regardless of the weather.
Although the system is designed to charge trucks, it will be able to fuel cars and buses. Payment will be made depending on the energy consumed by each vehicle. At the moment, eRoadArlanda has completed laying a 2.01-kilometer section, which will be used as an experiment. In case of successful testing, the road will be extended, being introduced throughout the country.
8
The first commercial robot from Boston Dynamics
Boston Dynamics is known worldwide for its mobile robots. Now the company's engineers are about to release the first commercial product - a robot dog called SpotMini. The release was announced in the spring of 2018, and in the summer of 2019 it is planned to begin production of robots in the amount of 1 thousand copies per year. The aim of the project is to provide users with a flexible platform for downloading various applications used for construction, delivery of goods, home assistance and security. The closest "relative" of the announced model, made by the company's specialists, weighs 73 kilograms, and its growth reaches 1.2 meters. The product video was uploaded to the YouTube channel, where you can see the incredible capabilities of the “car”, ranging from navigation to adaptability to a different landscape, which allows the robot to remain on its “feet”.
SpotMini is made in a streamlined design, its weight is 25 kilograms and a height of 0.9 meters. It can take place in places inaccessible to large robots, and a special retractable hand allows you to open the doors. And also the product supports the connection of additional tools due to the presence of a special port. As the developers assure, very little time will pass, and SpotMini in various modifications will become an ordinary assistant in performing daily tasks.
9
Cancer Accelerator App
DreamLab application is a program that works on the background of the switched off phone, using the energy spent to perform complex calculations for research purposes. Vodafone staff recently reported that application users have helped researchers complete the Genetic Profile project. This project involves the study of genetic similarities between the brain, lungs, melanoma and sarcoma. Now the application will help in completing the next project, helping to link physical qualities and their genetic basis. Is this not the best example of the “collaboration” of high technology and medicine?
Cancer is a DNA disease, and for its better understanding, doctors should analyze the data of healthy people or those infected with the disease. This is exactly what DreamLab is needed for, which reads user data. Residents of New Zealand made about 220,000 calculations during the "sleep" of the phone, which allowed us to perform various calculations three times faster than the usual time.
By the way, on most-beauty.ru there is a very interesting article about the TOP 10 amazing discoveries in the field of genetics.
10
The machine producing water from rarefied air
The California development team was able to create machines that produce hundreds of liters of water per day directly from the air. This achievement brought developers a prize and a premium of $ 1.5 million. The machines are called Skywater and were created by scientists from the Skysource / Skywater Alliance, based in California, Venice. The devices are located in huge metal tanks and are generators of water from the atmosphere, which process steam, turning it into drinking water. Cars are powered by solar energy or by burning biofuels.
The development team received an award from the nonprofit organization XPRIZE, which holds competitions in solving global environmental problems. The aim of the last competition was to solve water supply problems through the use of modern technologies.
David Hertz, one of the leaders of the Skysource / Skywater Alliance, was very glad that his invention was able to help people living in regions with a lack of drinking water. According to him, the air contains enough steam to get water. In fact, he claims that at any time in the atmosphere there are more than 140 quadrillion liters of water, and these fresh water reserves are greater than those contained in all the rivers of the Earth.