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Challenges like climate alteration and dwindling natural resources and can make the time to come seem uncertain and even scary . But our lot is n’t sealed so long as scientists around the humans have a say . They ’re busy dream up technologies , from the hard-nosed to the goose , that could make the future a little brighter .
prototype for Humanity , a Dubai - based governance that draw a contest to spur design , has highlighted 100 task in 2023 that they believe could change the Earth — from electrical skin to devices that predictair pollutionwithout any air detector . Here are some of our favorites .
Electric Skin — Converting air humidity to electricity with innovative biomaterials
Real-time monitoring to predict natural disasters
NatCat place to use satellite imagery , remote detection and machine learning to appraise the risk of natural peril in unlike locations , which could help to concentrate the danger of hurt for those living there . The cock generates danger assessments for any location in the man , regardless of the accessibility of local data . It can also use climate modification data to project the relative frequency and strength of some natural hazards in the future tense .
Converting air humidity to electricity
This project , called Electric Skin , creates a self - powering biomaterial for electronic gadget that harnesses the electrically conductive properties of the mud - dwelling bacteria love asGeobacter sulfurrenducens . Specifically , the bacteria ’s protein nanowires can render electrical energy from the air ’s ambient humidity . The scientist have extracted the bacteria ’s DNA and embedded this intoE. colifor yield . To create the power beginning , the team placed the nanowires harvested fromE. coliinto compostable biomaterials to create a flexible and coarse-textured membrane that can power electronic machine from the air and water .
Recycled tiles that regulate heat and humidity
Spurred by the excessive production of non - recyclable plastics alongside the effects of mood change in south India , Wastly Roof Tiles direct to replace formal cap roofing tile with tile made of a recycled material that can reduce indoor temperature .
These tile , which are create by shredding and melt multi - layered plastics , are lightweight and waterproof and can reflect heat . This project is inspired by the cryosphere — icy share of Earth that modulate the major planet ’s temperature — and the finished ware incorporates a blend of the blue and bloodless that many might relate with these regions .
Phytoplankton-based carbon capture
Phytoplankton transferee 40 % of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to the sea usingphotosynthesis . With PhytoMat , scientist now want to harness this natural physical process on an industrial scale .
PhytoMat is a pliable , carpet - similar engineering that is set up horizontally and vertically on surface and contains recycled materials embedded with alive phytoplankton . As they develop , they engross carbon dioxide from their environment and convert that into biomass — organic material that can be repurposed — before it ’s harvested and have to reuse plants . This material can then be transform into new product , like bioplastics .
Electricity-free medical injection in disaster recovery
Using only air pressure sensation and the snap of balloon , Golden Capsule is a equipment that can lot intravenous drugs without the pauperism for another homo to hold a medicinal gang .
This project digest apart from other gimmick because no electrical energy is needed — progress to it idealistic for habit in disaster recovery scenarios . Golden Capsule uses pliable force play and melodic line press differences to render medicine , rather than gravity , which is used in other non - powered or humbled - powered systems .
The biodegradable polystyrene replacement
Carbon Cell is a biodegradable extend foam made from biochar — a secret combining of biological ingredients derive from food waste matter — that ’s mixed and expanded using a patented manufacturing process .
The process is like to injection molding and enables many different shapes and sizes to be make quickly when , say , promotional material items . The scientist behind this engineering ultimately want to replace polystyrene , which they said is toxic and harmful to the environment .
A graphics card that can slash AI’s carbon emissions
Generative AI manakin need to be trained in massive data substance , normally using the power of specialised graphics lineup ( GPUs ) . This means procreative AI has a huge carbon copy footprint . But Tasawwur D310 is a GPU that its creator say is immensely more energy efficient than today ’s leading GPUs . The splintering is exceedingly impenetrable — with electronic ingredient suit much closer together and stacked on 10 layers ( versus two layer in one of the leading rival , Nvidia ’s , bit ) — mean datum is exchanged much faster , keep open energy and speeding up the training process .
Programmable soft robotics
FlowIO Platform take to be the world ’s first oecumenical - use path to make prototypes of balmy robotic parts . This tiny gadget includes integrated pumps and batteries , and it sport five programmable ports , which user can fudge through a WWW browser app via a Bluetooth connection . Each port can inflate , vacuum , release , hold , horse sense pressure and alter flow rate . This gimmick also feature onboard battery and 10 dissimilar sensors . Its God Almighty say it ’ll enable robotics experts to bring their ideas from conception to reality much quicker than before .
Mixed-reality building inspection with drones
FlyVision combines mixed realism with poke flight to aid drone user inspect buildings and other space more effectively . Using Microsoft ’s HoloLens 2 augmented realism ( AR ) headset , the organisation give pilotless aircraft pilots the tool to run down immediate surroundings and make a 3D digital twin within the system . They could then plan a way of life inside the space and expend the planned itinerary to head a radio-controlled aircraft through its surroundings .
AI-augmented renewable energy
This software chopine , scream " Renescout " , uses information mining , remote detection and AI to better assess whether renewable energy project are deserving pursuing — a process that normally take 18 months . " Go " or " no " decisions can effectively be made without enthrone additional time and resources into exploring the viability of unearth prospective renewable energy sources , the company claims .
Detecting microplastics with high-tech imagery
SPLASH is a system that utilize an advanced phase of see to detect microplastics in water and the airwave . The imagery , called intelligent polarization holographical probing , works using light - ground scanning and 3D modeling to found the presence of microplastics that ca n’t be seen by the naked eye .
Sustainable solid-state batteries
These batteries are made from copper , aluminum and a Na - base solid - province electrolyte . These novel materials go as both current collector and electrode . The battery ’s coaxal computer architecture and balance beam - like structure enable it to keep energy while reducing wasted blank space and material . The makers of the electric battery , dubbed Ferroelectric Electrolyte Batteries , say they are non - inflammable and sustainable alternatives to today ’s lithium - ion barrage . The researchers imagine they could serve in a variety of manipulation in the automotive and aerospace industry .
AI feedback to improve surgery outcomes
This AI system , called Surgical AI Trainer , assesses the execution of surgeon and offers feedback on how they can improve their technique . When see at video recording of procedures , the system analyzes various components of the mathematical operation , such as the intricate movements the surgeon performs . It offers precise and measure feedback — citing finical segments of the video alongside a principle for picking it out — on how a surgeon performs in the operating theater . This reduces the motivation for immanent feedback from an practiced peer , which can be laborious .
3D scanning with advanced laser-based radar
The MindPalace-360 is a car that uses in advance algorithms and 3D Reconstruction Period puppet to generate a photorealistic digital render of a real - cosmos environment . Built primarily for those in computer architecture , construction or engineering , this system basically make digital twins that are incredibly closemouthed to the material matter . It allow users becharm , process and visualize spatial data much more accurately , which feeds into better conception and planning .
Extending lithium-ion battery life
Li - ion battery in products like laptops or even galvanic gondola tend to have billing limits to reach out the batteries ' longevity . But many e - mobility systems , like Es - scooter , lack these control , which could precede to more atomic number 99 - waste propagation as barrage fire degrade chop-chop and demand to be thrown out much sooner than they should have been . BetterE follow through flush limits on the AC side of a courser for electric vehicle lithium - ion batteries . For drivers , this would reduce the operating costs of their electrical vehicles while also reducing e - waste on a broad level .
Real-time air pollution monitoring
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Electric Skin — Converting air humidity to electricity with innovative biomaterials
Data2Action use AI algorithmic rule to monitor zephyr contamination in real time — even if the area has no air sensors . The system hire monitoring information from area that have sensor put in , and then uses this to extrapolate information and regulate predicted tune pollution readings in places that do n’t have sensors set up . The simple machine learning modeling also predict likely health termination base on air defilement vulnerability levels , its makers say .
Could a planet really modernize a brain ?
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Wastly Roof Tiles
See the reconstructed family of ' opposite dinosaurs ' that thrived in the Antarctic 120 million old age ago
PhytoMat — Nature-based solution for carbon capture using phytoplankton
Golden Capsule — Medicine-injection device optimised for emergency disaster scenarios
Carbon Cell — Replacing harmful polystyrene with a new biodegradable foam
Tasawwur D310 — A new GPU to drastically reduce carbon emissions for AI training
FlowIO Platform — Advanced platform for soft robotics, streamlining prototyping with integrated tools.
FlyVision — Drone-based inspection systems for monitoring building safety
Streamlining renewable energy evaluation using AI, saving time and money.
Imaging technology for accurate microplastic detection
Ferroelectric Electrolyte Batteries — Solid-state batteries maximizing safety and sustainability in energy storage
Surgical AI Trainer — AI feedback system to improve outcomes in surgery
Manifold Tech — Advanced laser radar technology for 3D scanning
BetterE — A system to extend lithium battery life and reduce e-waste
Data2Action — IoT solution to monitor and predict air pollution-related diseases
