Buzz
Solving problems usually seems simple—find the issue and neutralize it with a drone, or just throw money at it until it disappears. Yet, not everyone chooses the simplest path. In fact, some opt for the most convoluted route imaginable.
10. Developing a Dangerous Flu
Anyone familiar with vaccines and disease treatments knows that the approach involves weakening the illness first, then conquering its milder version. Sounds like a solid plan, right? Well, enhancing diseases is so outlandish that even scientists wouldn’t consider it, but that’s exactly what they did.
Researchers in the Netherlands have proposed creating a more contagious and lethal version of the bird flu virus—the same virus that caused widespread deaths in African and Asian nations. They aim to study this more dangerous version to better understand how the virus operates and to develop a vaccine.
Creating vaccines is a complex task, requiring researchers to understand individual genes and how they function to fight the body’s defenses. Decoding each gene's role is crucial in this process. The researchers reassure us that it’s entirely safe, as they follow strict safety protocols and are monitored closely.
9. Vampire Robots
Blood clots can be both tricky and perilous, especially when they occur in the brain. It’s understandable that surgeons would want to make dealing with them easier, but the approach they’ve taken is undeniably unsettling. Doctors and engineers at Vanderbilt University have collaborated to design a robot that helps remove blood from clots.
This robot features a slim needle and a cannula, a multi-layered tube used to clear blood clots from inside the skull. Guided by a CAT scan, the robot navigates to the target area, where it inserts the tube into the brain. The needle then moves through the tube and, assisted by an external pump, extracts the blood.
In most lab experiments, this technique was able to eliminate 92 percent of a blood clot on a brain simulation test. In future versions, the robot will learn how healthy brain tissue shifts around clots, incorporating this information into its calculations. It may not be long before robots are poking around in our brains to fix us.
8. Smart Paper
Smartphones, smart homes, smart watches—can there really be an end to what can be made 'smart'? Apparently not. GE researcher David Moore and scientists from the University of Washington are working on developing smart paper that could help diagnose illnesses.
About the size of a deck of cards, this portable medical tool can detect pathogens in your body in under an hour using a simple nasal swab. After the sample is applied, a pattern of spots appears, which the corresponding smartphone app decodes. Of course, for more serious infections, you’d still need to see a doctor, but it would be pretty cool to know if you're seriously ill before you get there.
7. Mosquito Drones
Drones aren't just weapons of destruction—they also serve as weapons against mosquitoes. If you've ever been annoyed by a swarm of mosquitoes on a trip to Florida, the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District understands your frustration. They are currently testing a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles to see how effective they are at eliminating these bloodsuckers.
While the image of drones shooting missiles at mosquitoes might be amusing, the reality is far more practical. The drones will primarily be used to locate stagnant water, and then vans from FKMCD will move in to clean up the areas.
6. Turning Seizures Into Music
Seizures are far from pleasant. They’re not only physically uncomfortable but also unpleasant to hear— or are they? A collaboration between music and neurology experts has made it possible to capture the sound of a seizure. This unexpected partnership created an audio EEG of brain activity, both during normal and seizure states. By translating the rapid firing of neurons into music, they hope to help others understand what happens in the brain during a seizure and allow for greater empathy with the patient.
The team is now working on transforming this technology into a user-friendly version that caregivers and parents can use at home to detect oncoming seizures. While it's not yet ready for the market, this device could eventually offer tremendous help to people with epilepsy and cancer.
5. Weather-Controlling Lasers
Storms represent nature’s power, emphasizing humanity's vulnerability in the face of uncontrollable forces. However, with ongoing scientific advancements, that may not be the case for much longer. Some researchers have found that lasers can be used to manipulate water condensation in the air, potentially allowing us to control rainfall.
It may sound insane, but it’s realistic enough that the second Conference on Laser, Weather, and Climate will be held this year in Geneva. If everything goes as planned, we could soon control the weather in certain regions—although, let’s hope it doesn’t become a deadly weapon.
4. Space Bullets
Scientists focused on extraterrestrial life often show particular interest in Europa, Jupiter’s moon. This makes sense, as it houses one of the largest ice reserves in the solar system, and with ice and water linked to life, it’s a prime target for research. But, being human, they face limitations. To overcome this, they’re developing a space bullet to break through Europa’s ice.
British engineers have already tested a smaller version of the space bullet, weighing 20 kilograms (45 lbs) and traveling just under the speed of sound. This projectile successfully shattered the test ice into dust while remaining intact. The full-sized version, weighing several tons, would need to have the same effect on Europa for the mission to succeed. Although it's still years away, sci-fi fans are rumored to be eagerly awaiting the outcome.
3. Food Delivery Drones
Forget about taking down rogue mosquitoes in Florida—who cares when you need your sister’s wedding cake delivered right away? A bakery in Shanghai called Incake has answered the call of its customers who demand top-quality cakes delivered yesterday. The bakery had two main goals: deliver cakes swiftly while maintaining an eco-friendly approach. The answer? Drones.
The drones were fitted with six rotors, giving them enough lift to carry a small cake-sized package across the city. Unfortunately, the drones only managed to deliver five cakes before the program was halted by the company following complaints from the police.
However, such complaints haven’t stopped Domino’s Pizza’s UK branch from releasing a concept video showcasing the same drone delivery method in London. It’s an innovative idea, but most people would likely prefer the hassle of picking up a pizza rather than dealing with a neighborhood drone strike.
2. Making Rain
Indonesia has recently been plagued by a surge of wildfires. The smoke and haze have caused significant disruptions for individuals, businesses, and the government. In an effort to tackle this crisis, the Indonesian government has turned to rain-making. Yes, you read that correctly.
In their attempt to control the weather, the Indonesian government deployed a fleet of aircraft to 'seed' the clouds. Cloud seeding involves introducing substances like silver iodide, dry ice, or liquid propane into the clouds, which encourages rainfall. The operation was moderately successful, with the fires being somewhat diminished.
1. Mind-Reading Brain Scans
By now, it's no secret that science has unlocked some pretty amazing abilities when it comes to your brain—like, for example, reading your thoughts. That's right, scientists now have the ability to peer into your mind. Through the use of MRI scans, researchers have demonstrated how they can use brain data to determine exactly which letters a person is looking at during the scan.
This technique could be incredibly useful for individuals who struggle with communication. The research team is focused on enhancing both the accuracy and usefulness of this technology to improve its potential applications.
