Science and technology strategy
The United States Department of Defense's Office of Strategic Capital seeks public comment on loan programs to support critical technologies and supply chains
According to the Office of Strategic Capital of the United States Department of Defense on July 24, the Office of Strategic Capital of the United States Department of Defense solicited public comments on loan programs to support key technologies and supply chains. The Office of Strategic Capital said it is actively preparing to establish its Lending Program Office to manage loans involving critical technologies and supply chains, and to expand private capital investment in key technologies and supply chains. The key technologies and assets sought under the Loan Program are the 31 technology portfolios identified under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 in the following technology areas: Advanced Bulk Materials; advanced manufacturing; autonomous mobile robots; battery storage; Biochemistry; bioenergetics; biomass; cybersecurity; decision science; edge computing; Hydrogen; off-grid communication; Microelectronics; nanomaterials and metamaterials; open RAN； optical communications; sensor hardware; Solar energy; space launches; Spacecraft; space-based services; synthetic biology; quantum computing; quantum security; Quantum sensing.
The European Commission approves amendments to Germany's state aid program to support gigabit network deployment
According to the European Commission on July 23, the European Commission approved the amendment to the Germany state aid plan to support the deployment of ultra-high-capacity broadband networks with gigabit speeds in Germany. The revised plan, which runs until December 31, 2028, aims to make gigabit networks available to every home, company and public institution in Germany by 2030. The amendments will increase the budget by 26 billion euros, bringing the total budget to 38 billion euros. It is reported that the download and upload speed of the gigabit network can reach more than three times that of the existing network.
Information
The U.S.-China joint research team uses digital twin technology to improve the speed and reliability of wireless networks
According to TechXplore on July 24, a joint research team from United States North Carolina State University, the University of Miami and the University of Hong Kong Chinese has developed a new method called "D-REC", which uses digital twin technology to predict what data wireless network users need, optimize edge caches, and improve the speed and reliability of wireless networks. This method solves the challenge of storing data and decision-making storage in the edge cache, simulates network behavior through digital twins, and improves the accuracy of network prediction data demand. The results show that D-REC is better than traditional methods in improving network performance and balancing data storage, and can identify potential problems in advance, which is expected to improve the performance and reliability of wireless networks in practical applications.
creature
The United Kingdom Biobank received £8 million in funding from Amazon Web Services
According to the news on the official website of the UK on July 25, United States Amazon Web Services (AWS) will provide about 8 million pounds of cloud computing storage access to support biomedical databases United Kingdom biobanks to store and use health data, and develop research on new prevention, diagnosis and treatment methods for diseases such as Parkinson's, dementia and cancer.
The United Kingdom Research and Innovation Agency has launched eight new research networks to tackle antibiotic resistance
According to the UKRI official website on July 24, the United Kingdom Research and Innovation Agency launched eight new research networks to address antibiotic resistance (AMR), namely the Interdisciplinary Network on Antibiotic Resistance in Agri-Food Systems (AMAST); the Planetary Health Framework for Studying the Impacts of Climate Change on AMR (CLIMAR) Network; an accurate, rapid, robust and cost-effective health diagnostic network for antibiotic resistance (ARREST-AMR); Fungal One Health and Antibiotic Resistance Network; Future AMR Network (FAN); IMPACT AMR (Interdisciplinary Network); human AMR networks; Interdisciplinary AMR Genomics (TARGet) Network.
Researchers in United States have developed new gene-editing technologies that reduce the cost of producing the desired variety
According to the NSF official website on July 24, researchers at the Donald · Danforth Plant Science Center in United States and the University of South Carolina at Aiken have developed transposase-assisted target site integration (TATSI) technology. This is a "cut-and-paste" system for plant genomics that better integrates complete custom DNA into the plant genome by utilizing naturally occurring transposable factors or "skipping genes" in the plant genome to improve plant disease resistance, nutrient levels, or create better oil composition.
For the first time in China, a foreign patient with β-Eastern Mediterranean anemia was cured through base editing therapy
According to the news of Biovalley on July 23, the clinical study of CS-101, a base-editing drug for severe β-Eastern Mediterranean anemia, carried out by Zhengxu Biology and the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, successfully cured the first overseas patient to China, achieved continuous freedom from blood transfusion dependence for more than two months, and the total hemoglobin concentration stabilized to more than 120 g/L, and has returned to normal life, realizing the first gene editing cure of foreign patients in China.
BARDA funded the first decentralised pharmacy-based clinical trial under the NextGen project
According to the ASPR official website on July 23, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) under the United States Strategic Preparedness and Response Administration (ASPR) provided $25 million in Project NextGen project funding to Walgreens, a United States pharmacy chain, to conduct decentralized clinical trials of new coronavirus vaccines to improve technology.
CEPI expands its collaboration with Valneva to support wider access to the world's first chikungunya vaccine
According to the official website of CEPI on July 22, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has expanded its partnership with vaccine company Valneva SE to provide $41.3 million in funding for Valneva over the next five years with the support of the European Union's "Horizon Europe" program to support low- and middle-income countries to more widely access the world's first chikungunya vaccine, IXCHIQ. CEPI-EU funding also supports the transfer of vaccine drug product technology to other vaccine manufacturers, expanding access to vaccines in low- and middle-income countries in Asia that are vulnerable to chikungunya.
energy
The United States Department of Energy's International Laboratory has developed liquid lithium technology to cool fusion reactors
According to controlled nuclear fusion on July 25, researchers at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) of the United States Department of Energy have developed liquid lithium technology to cool fusion reactors. The temperature inside the fusion reactor reaches more than 100 million degrees Celsius, which can damage the internal and overall structure of the fusion reactor. The scientific community believes that flowing liquid metals have the potential to deal with the heat problem, but in previous experiments, prolonged flows of liquid metals may also overheat the inside of fusion reactors and cause metals to evaporate. Researchers at PPPL use an electric current to direct the flow of liquid metal, ensuring that it is only briefly exposed to plasma. Subsequently, the liquid metal flows along the channel to the bottom shunt of the equipment, where it is cooled and sent back to the top of the slats to flow down again. In the experiment, the researchers achieved a uniform flow of liquid metal in the reactor vessel at a rate of one meter per second by using a current of 900 amperes. The researchers also plan to develop a system that can remove used liquid lithium and add new liquid lithium to participate in cooling.
India company launches the world's first cold fusion technology for power generation
According to ManufacturingToday on July 21, India startup HYLENR obtained a patent for low-energy nuclear reactor technology from the India government. Cold fusion, also known as a low-energy nuclear reaction (LENR), is a nuclear fusion reaction that occurs at close to normal temperature and pressure and under relatively simple equipment conditions. The key challenge in achieving cold fusion is how to bring two or more atoms close enough together at relatively low temperatures for a fusion reaction to occur. The principle of HYLENR's LENR technology is to generate heat energy by amplifying the input electrical energy, and the company's reactor uses a few milligrams of hydrogen and a small amount of electricity to stimulate fusion, generating excess heat that produces more heat than the input energy. HYLENR claims to have achieved 1.5x continuous heat amplification capability in a live demonstration at T-HUB's advanced R&D facility in Hyderabad, India, converting 100 watts of electrical input into 150 watts of heat. If India companies achieve cold fusion and energy gain, it will have a significant impact on the current development of fusion energy and the application of fusion energy in space and other fields.
The Germany government announced a funding of 72.5 million euros to support the development of large-scale liquid organic hydrogen storage projects
According to FuelCellChina on July 25, the Germany federal government and the Bavarian state government of Germany announced a joint allocation of 72.5 million euros to support the development of the "Blue Danube Green Hydrogen" (Hydrogen@Blue Danube) project. The project, which aims to establish a green hydrogen supply hub using innovative LOHC technology, will deploy a large 3.2 GW electrolyzer, build a 2,700-kilometer hydrogen transmission pipeline and focus on transporting green hydrogen to southern Germany using new liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) technology. The project has been selected as an "Important Project of Common European Interest" (IPCEI) in the field of hydrogen "Hy2Infra" recognized by the European Union. The project is expected to have the capacity to supply 1,800 tonnes of green hydrogen to the Bavarian industrial region of the Danube region from 2028.
Spain researchers have developed a new catalyst for hydrogen production by electrolysis of water
According to the Science Intelligence Think Tank on July 22, researchers at the Institute of Science in Barcelona, Spain, have developed a new cobalt tungstate catalyst that can improve the efficiency of hydrogen production. Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) technology is a clean hydrogen production technology with the advantages of high current density and high hydrogen purity, but it relies heavily on precious metals such as iridium (Ir) and ruthenium (Ru) as catalysts for oxygen evolution reactions. In response, researchers have developed a novel cobalt tungstate catalyst that uses interlayer stripping and water-hydroxide ion exchange strategies to improve the activity and stability of the catalyst. The study shows that the new cobalt tungstate catalyst has a low overpotential under acidic conditions, achieving a current density of 1.8 amperes per square centimeter with only 2 volts, while operating stably for 600 hours in an industrial environment of 80 degrees Celsius. This research further advances the efficient and sustainable production of hydrogen energy. The research results were published in the journal Science.
ocean
India's first domestically produced Project 11356 "Talwa"-class frigate was launched
According to defence.in news on July 24, the first domestically produced Type 11356 "Talwa" class frigate built by India Goa Shipyard (GSL) was recently launched. According to reports, the Talva-class frigates were first built by Russia shipyards, and in recent years Russia has transferred technology to India's Goa shipyard for construction. The ship has a full load displacement of about 4,300 tons, adopts a stealth design, and the latest mature models are applied to the ship's electrical weapons, with a relatively balanced anti-submarine, anti-ship and anti-aircraft fire configuration, and it is planned to build two ships.
Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation cooperates with United States Raytheon Corporation to produce US Navy radars
According to Navy News on July 24, Japan's Mitsubishi Electric signed a contract with Raytheon, a subsidiary of the United States company RTX, to cooperate in the production of SPY-6 (V) radar components for United States Navy ships. The SPY-6(V) series radar, manufactured by Raytheon, is one of the most advanced radars currently available and is expected to be deployed on 65 U.S. Navy ships over the next decade. It is understood that Mitsubishi Electric will participate in the defense equipment supply chain of the United States Navy in the future, and provide defense equipment and maintenance services to United States in accordance with the "Three Principles for Defense Equipment Transfer".
aviation
The United States company Boeing plans to transform the F-15EX fighter into an electronic attack aircraft
According to the website of TheDefensePost on July 24, United States Boeing plans to transform the F-15EX "Eagle" fighter into an electronic attack aircraft similar to the EA-18G "Growler". United States Boeing said that the F-15EX fighter is now equipped with the "Hawk passive active early warning and survival system", which has the ability to operate electronic warfare, and will be transformed into an electronic attack aircraft in a relatively short time period and with less upgrade cost. If converted into an electronic attack aircraft, the F-15EX fighter will be equipped with advanced jamming pods and other equipment to obtain long-range electronic attack capabilities to support modern combat needs.
United States Raytheon successfully completed several tests of the "Storm Saboteur" anti-zone precision strike air-launched missile
According to the TheDefensePost website on July 24, United States Raytheon completed multiple "StormBreaker" (StormBreaker) defense area precision strike missile test launches, with a success rate of 100%. United States Raytheon said that the company completed a total of 28 "Storm Breaker" stand-off precision strike weapons in 2023, including 14 airborne test launches of the US Navy's F-35C "Lightning"-2 (Lighting II) carrier-based fighter; The Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, F-15E Strike Hawk and F-35B Lightning-2 completed a total of 14 test launches. It has been learned that the "Storm Saboteur" is an air-launched out-of-zone precision strike weapon, equipped with a three-mode seeker and other payloads, to support precision strikes against the enemy's moving and stationary targets in bad weather.
The U.S. Marine Corps plans to equip each squad with anti-drone equipment
According to drone countermeasures on July 24, U.S. Marine Corps officers revealed that the Marine Corps plans to equip each squad with a complete set of tools to shoot down drones. It is reported that the anti-drone system sought by the US Marine Corps can identify drones within 800 meters and can shoot down drones weighing about 25 kilograms. The U.S. Marine Corps will hold a competition in September to test different types of anti-drone equipment to determine specific options.
space flight
The U.S. Army awarded SES a $3.6 million contract to provide satellite communications services to Army units
According to the SpaceNews website on July 24, the U.S. Army awarded SES a contract worth $3.6 million to provide satellite communications services for Army units. The contract is part of a pilot project launched by the Army in September 2023 to explore the feasibility of satellite communications hosting services, commissioning commercial companies to provide integrated services such as satellite capacity, ground infrastructure and network management to the military. According to the plan, SES will use its geostationary and medium Earth orbit constellations to provide satellite communications network support to U.S. military combat commands in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
The U.S. Space Force will deploy a new type of ground-based jamming system, the "Remote Modular Terminal," which can carry out communication jamming on enemy satellites
According to the DefenseMirror website on July 23, the US Space Force will deploy a new ground-based jamming system "long-range modular terminal", which can carry out communication jamming on enemy satellites. It is reported that the United States Department of Defense has conducted the first test of the system in 2024, and plans to complete the early deployment of 11 systems in the second half of the year, complementing anti-satellite systems such as "anti-communication systems" (CCS) and "meadowlands". According to the U.S. Space Rapid Capabilities Office, the "long-range modular terminal" is a small, mobile, low-cost satellite jamming device that can provide protection for the U.S. military in a complex combat environment.
Materials
Chinese researchers have developed new high-performance polymeric thermoelectric materials
According to Science and Technology Daily on July 25, researchers from the Institute of Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a new high-performance polymer thermoelectric material - PMHJ film. Compared with ordinary polymer films, this material greatly improves the thermoelectric performance of materials, and provides a new idea for the research of high-performance plastic-based thermoelectric materials. In addition, using two different polymers, the researchers have developed PMHJ films with different structural characteristics, showing that the film can not only ensure efficient charge transport, but also efficiently scatter phonon and phonon-like propagation. This study breaks the cognitive limitations of existing high-performance polymer thermoelectric materials that do not depend on thermal transport regulation, and provides a new path for the sustainable development of the field of plastic-based thermoelectric materials. The research results were published in the journal Nature.
Advanced manufacturing
Rice University engineers in United States use foam fluidics to innovate circuit design
According to the TechXplore website on July 25, the research team at United States Rice University has realized digital computing and analog sensing without electronic components through the principle of foam fluidics. Researchers have developed foam-based fluid resistors that are capable of restricting airflow in pneumatic circuits, similar to those found in electronic circuits. By taking advantage of the softness and porosity of foams, this technology enables the sensing of force applied to the user and the conversion of digital signals to analog signals, simplifying circuit design and improving device performance. This innovation improves the reliability and ease of operation of the device, opening up more possibilities for the design of future soft robots and wearable devices. The research results were published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in United States has developed the SimPLE method to improve the precise pick-and-place ability of robots
According to the TechXplore website on July 24, researchers at the United States Massachusetts Institute of Technology have launched a new learning technology called SimPLE (Simulation to Pick Localize and placE), which trains robots to perform accurate pick-and-place tasks through simulation. This technology uses CAD models to learn how to pick, regrip, and place different objects through simulation learning. SimPLE technology consists of three main modules: Task-Aware Grip, Visual-Tactile Perception, and Planning. These modules work together to enable the robot to efficiently handle objects of all shapes and sizes. The advantage of SimPLE over traditional methods is that the robot learns without the need to interact with actual objects, speeding up the learning process. This technology is expected to be applied to the automation industry, especially in semi-structured environments such as automotive manufacturing and medical laboratories to increase the level of automation.
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