- The Techno-Optimist.
- Posts
- Accelerating Artificial Sun Reactors, Internet Speeds, and Self-Healing Concrete.
Accelerating Artificial Sun Reactors, Internet Speeds, and Self-Healing Concrete.
Jae Lee
April 05, 2024
Dear reader,
There’s this common notion that all the low-hanging fruit of big ideas have all been picked clean. That the future world will look relatively the same. That we should strive for stagnation, nay, even revert back to a more agrarian society.
It is true that for the past three Industrial Revolutions, there has been a Cambrian explosion of innovations and inventions that each invariably changed our lives.
From steam power to electricity power to nuclear power, from farm machinery to assembly lines to robotic automation, from the postal service to telephones to computers; every aspect of our work and life has been upended for the better.
Where do we go from here?
Pundits would claim that the modern world has become just too increasingly complex. That specialized expertise and larger investments are required to advance an industry to hit a significant breakthrough. That regulations and ethnical constraints impede the scientific improvements of today (e.g. stem cell research, nuclear energy, neural technology). But worst of all is the growing pessimism of our human capabilities for innovation.
American author Octavia Butler once said, “There’s nothing new under the sun - but there are new suns.”
I believe that if we view all the knowledge humanity has acquired over the last thousand years as a single apple tree picked bare, then all the knowledge in the universe is an almost infinite orchard of apple trees.
There’s still so much to discover.
Are you curious enough to find out?
What’s On The Menu?
Artificial sun reactor sets 100 million degree record.
Internet breakthrough accelerates speed by 4.5 million fold.
Cough diagnosis through AI can detect diseases.
Self-healing concrete breakthrough from microbiologists.
Ancient DNA used to construct 6th-century Chinese emperor.
Korean "Artificial Sun" Reactor Sets Record at 100 Million Degrees.
TL;DR:
South Korean scientists have attained a new global record using the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) device, an "artificial Sun" nuclear fusion reactor.
They managed to generate plasma temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius lasting 48 seconds, exceeding the previous record of 30 seconds set in 2021.
The ultimate goal of these experiments is to acquire a net positive amount of safe and pollution-free energy through fusion reactions.
So what…?
These advancements in fusion energy research could fundamentally change the way we generate power, yielding a cleaner, safer and more abundant source of energy and greatly reduce our reliance on finite fossil fuels.
“the power of the sun, in the palm of my ha— ow that’s hot!“
Aston University Breakthrough Accelerates Internet Speed 4.5 Million Times
TL;DR:
Researchers at Aston University have developed a method for data transmission that is 4.5 million times faster than the average home broadband using already established fibre optics infrastructure.
The record-setting speed was achieved by using new wavelength bands, not previously harnessed in fibre optic systems, enabling a transfer rate of 301 terabits per second.
Big whoop, and…?
As digital demands increase, this new breakthrough could significantly enhance our connectivity and internet experiences, providing lightning-fast data transmission while utilizing a 'greener' solution by maximizing use of the existing fibre network.
“back in my day, we had to wait a whole 10 seconds to download our movies“
AI Could Used To Diagnose Disease Based On Person’s Cough.
TL;DR:
Google has developed a machine-learning tool called Health Acoustic Representations (HeAR) that can evaluate sounds like coughing and breathing to monitor health conditions, with potential to diagnose diseases such as COVID-19 and tuberculosis.
The tool, trained with millions of human audio clips, might also assess lung function. The innovation here is the massive dataset HeAR uses and its ability to multitask.
Who cares…?
This advancement in AI could revolutionize disease diagnosis, making it quicker, easier, and more accessible for people around the world.
It offers a non-invasive method for health monitoring and can be further refined for use in medical research and healthcare applications.
“*coughs once* ‘you have cancer’ - AI“
Bacteria-Coated Fibers Could Lead To Self-Healing Concrete.
TL;DR:
A team of materials scientists and microbiologists at Drexel University is exploring a technology that infuses concrete with BioFiber (a bacteria-coated polymer) to enable self-healing in concrete structures.
The BioFiber can heal its own cracks, prevent them from growing wider and remain intact inside the concrete when there are no cracks.
And that means…?
No more bumpy roads.
This innovation has the potential to significantly extend the lifespan of concrete structures, potentially reducing costs and disruptions associated with repair work, and positively impacting infrastructure management and sustainability.
“still doesn’t beat roman concrete tho“
Archaeologists Used Ancient DNA To Construct the Face of The Sixth-Century Chinese Emperor.
TL;DR:
Archaeologists recovered and analyzed DNA from the sixth-century Chinese Emperor Wu, using it to reconstruct his physical appearance.
Their findings, which included details about Wu's hair and skin colour and potential susceptibility to stroke, were described in a study published in Current Biology.
This contributes significantly to the limited knowledge we have about the nomadic Xianbei group Emperor Wu belonged to.
Why does this matter…?
This combination of archaeology, genetics, and forensics not only gives us a unique glimpse into ancient history but also showcases the advancing capabilities of science in reconstructing past lives, shaping our understanding of cultural and genetic evolution.
Ever wonder what Cleopatra looked like? We might be actually get to know now.
“this ancient chinese guy most likely had black hair and brown eyes - AI“
That’s it for this week!
If you were forwarded this e-mail and enjoyed this issue, please subscribe to the Early Bird Special here!
Cheers,
Jae
Reply