The Better World Project

“RocketStar has not just incrementally improved a propulsion system, but has taken a leap forward by applying a novel concept, creating a fusion-fission reaction in the exhaust,” said Adam Hecht, Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the University of New Mexico.

World’s 1st nuclear fusion-powered electric propulsion drive unveiled - Interesting Engineering RocketStar Inc. has showcased its advanced nuclear-based propulsion technology called the FireStar Drive.

The non-hormonal pill was 99% effective at preventing pregnancy in mice, new research found.

A Birth Control Pill for Men Could Start Human Trials This Year

Whereas the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines instruct cells to make the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, priming the immune system against the virus, the same technology can deliver a potential heart attack cure by carrying the code for proteins that stimulate the growth of new heart cells, PharmaTimes reported.

mRNA breakthrough offers a potential heart attack cure King’s College London researchers have used mRNA to regenerate cardiac tissue in pig hearts, what they hope is the first step towards a heart attack cure.

"If this technique translates to humans, it could help to combat difficult-to-reach brain tumors by establishing "proof-of-concept" for precise treatment of cancers like glioblastoma, the most common form of brain cancer, and prostate, which could benefit from less invasive therapies."

Scientists just created magnetic 'seeds' to heat up and kill cancer Researchers at University College London used an MRI scanner to guide a tiny magnetic "seed" through the brain to heat and destroy cancer cells.

It is still unclear how the viral infection could be triggering MS but researchers hypothesize an Epstein-Barr virus vaccine may prevent the neurological disease from developing in the first place

More evidence a common virus is primary cause of multiple sclerosis A unique study led by researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has reported some of the first robust evidence to affirm multiple sclerosis (MS) is primarily caused by infection from the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Tracking more than 10 million US military personnel over a…

A cancer treatment that uses messenger RNA to launch an immune attack on cancer cells can completely shrink tumours in mice and is now being tested in people.

mRNA cancer therapy now in human trials after shrinking mouse tumours An mRNA cancer treatment developed by BioNTech and Sanofi is being tested in people after shrinking tumours in mice, and is hoped to repeat the success of mRNA covid-19 vaccines

"...the ship was created in partnership with technology firm Kongsberg Maritime and shipbuilder Vard. Capable of carrying 103 containers and with a top speed of 13 knots, it will use a 7 MWh battery, with "about a thousand times the capacity of one electrical car"

World's first crewless, zero emissions cargo ship will set sail in Norway The Yara Birkeland is what its builders call the world's first zero-emission, autonomous cargo ship.

Renewables have now crossed the 25% threshold of total U.S. available installed generating capacity.

Renewables now second only to natural gas in capacity, generation

"In the study, the researchers created nanometric structures of the engineered material, and with the help of advanced nanotechnology tools, applied mechanical pressure on them. The experiment revealed that the material does indeed produce electric currents and voltage as a result of the pressure."

Innovative New Nanotechnology Will Enable “Healthy” Electric Current Production Inside the Human Body The innovative material that creates green energy through mechanical force. A new nanotechnology development by an international research team led by Tel Aviv University researchers will make it possible to generate electric currents and voltage within the human body through the activation of var

"In the spirit of limiting the growth of China's defense and surveillance technology, the Biden administration is amending E.O. 13959 to include a prohibition on U.S. citizens or companies' making new investments or "engaging in the purchase or sale" of any of the 59 companies listed in the order. All 59 companies represent major China-based companies involved in aviation, defense, and surveillance ostensibly linked to the Chinese military-industrial complex."

The President Just Banned All US Investment in Huawei. The Tech Wars Have Begun The President just banned US investors from investing in 59 heavy-hitting tech giants in China! Check out whether the executive order will stand.

"...if large-scale solar panels were installed at the airports, they would generate 10 times more electricity than the city's 17,000 residential panels, while offsetting 151.6 kilotons of greenhouse gasses annually"

Airports could generate enough solar energy to power a city: Study A new study has found Australia's government-owned airports could produce enough electricity to power 136,000 homes, if they had large-scale rooftop solar systems installed.

“If you were to use this paint to cover a roof area of about 1,000 square feet, we estimate that you could get a cooling power of 10 kilowatts,” Purdue professor Xiulin Ruan said in a statement. “That’s more powerful than the central air conditioners used by most houses.”

The Whitest Paint Ever Could Block the Sun and Cool Earth It might make your air conditioner obsolete.

"According to a draft of its upcoming rules, obtained by POLITICO, the European Commission would ban certain uses of "high-risk" artificial intelligence systems altogether, and limit others from entering the bloc if they don't meet its standards."

Europe eyes strict rules for artificial intelligence Non-compliant companies could face a fine of up to €20 million or 4 percent of turnover.

"A patient suffering from a genetic form of childhood blindness regained and retained vision for more than a year after receiving just a single shot of an experimental RNA therapy directly into the eye, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Medicine."

A Single Shot Restored Vision to a Blind Child for an Entire Year Scientists restored visual acuity of a blind child! While only short-term, this is a breakthrough.

“By covering canals with solar panels, we can reduce evaporation and avoid disturbing natural and working lands, while providing renewable energy and other co-benefits,” says environmental engineer Brandi McKuin of the University of California, Merced, and the University of California, Santa Cruz, lead author on the paper.

Why Covering Canals With Solar Panels Is a Power Move Covering waterways would, in a sense, make solar panels water-cooled, boosting their efficiency.

"European countries have taken another step towards introducing a universal "right to repair" on consumer electronic goods, which aims to cut e-waste and encourage manufacturers to make durability and repairability a key part of product design. "

Right to repair moves forward for your broken devices. But campaigners want to go much further New rules mean certain electrical goods sold in Europe need to be repairable for at least 10 years. But smartphone and laptop owners can't celebrate just yet.

“If we increase the demand for clean power, we will necessarily decrease the demand for polluting power,” Malkin said. “And if we decrease the demand for polluting power, that stuff will come off the grid.”

The Empire State Building and its related buildings are now powered by wind The Empire State Building and its 13 related properties are buying wind power, making it the nation's largest real estate portfolio to go green.

“The number one barrier to the adoption of electric vehicles is no longer cost, it is range anxiety,” said Doron Myersdorf, CEO of StoreDot. “You’re either afraid that you’re going to get stuck on the highway or you’re going to need to sit in a charging station for two hours. But if the experience of the driver is exactly like fuelling [a petrol car], this whole anxiety goes away.”

Electric car batteries with five-minute charging times produced Exclusive: first factory production means recharging could soon be as fast as filling up petrol or diesel vehicles

"Researchers managed to improve reverse osmosis efficiency a whopping 30% to 40% by analyzing nanoscale reconstructions of the filtering membrane using an electron microscope, then running the output data through a supercomputer."

Desalination Breakthrough Could Lead to Cheaper Clean Water A major advancement in water filtration technology revealed Thursday may lead to lower water prices and greater availability throughout otherwise dry areas of the globe.

"In the new study, published Dec. 1 in the open-access journal eLife, researchers showed rapid restoration of youthful cognitive abilities in aged mice, accompanied by a rejuvenation of brain and immune cells that could help explain improvements in brain function—and with no side effects observed."

Drug Reverses Age-Related Mental Decline Within Days, Suggesting Lost Cognitive Ability is Not Permanent ISRIB, a new drug that reboots protein production in cells can reverse aging declines in memory and cognition in mice, with no side effects.

"“Housing First”, on the other hand, reverses the path: Homeless people get a flat – without any preconditions. Social workers help them with applications for social benefits and are available for counselling in general. In such a new, secure situation, it is easier for those affected to find a job and take care of their physical and mental health."

Finland ends homelessness and provides shelter for all in need - scoop.me In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Why? The country applies the "Housing First" concept agains homelessness.

"Toxic air pollution is a public health crisis, especially for our children," he said in a statement. "Today must be a turning point so that other families do not have to suffer the same heartbreak as Ella's family."

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/16/uk/air-pollution-death-ella-kissi-debrah-uk-gbr-intl/index.html

Air pollution a cause of UK girl's death, finds global landmark ruling A 9-year-old girl who died after an asthma attack is thought to be the first person in the world to have air pollution listed as a cause of death in a landmark coroner's ruling.

"From 2009 through 2019, the cost of electricity from new solar power plants fell 89%, overtaking cheap sources like coal and some gas. And the cost of electricity from new onshore wind fell 70%."

https://singularityhub.com/2020/12/13/why-the-price-of-new-solar-electricity-fell-an-incredible-89-in-the-last-decade/

Why the Price of New Solar Electricity Fell an Incredible 89% in the Last Decade Over a relatively short span between 2009 and 2019, the cost of utility-scale solar went from impractical to one of the cheapest around.

"The technology is a potential cure-all for the drawbacks facing electric vehicles that run on conventional lithium-ion batteries, including the relatively short distance traveled on a single charge as well as charging times. Toyota plans to be the first company to sell an electric vehicle equipped with a solid-state battery in the early 2020s. The world's largest automaker will unveil a prototype next year."

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Toyota-s-game-changing-solid-state-battery-en-route-for-2021-debut

Toyota's game-changing solid-state battery en route for 2021 debut Japan's government to join forces with industry to supercharge development

"Research shows cutting meat consumption is vital in tackling the climate crisis and some scientists say this is the best single environmental action a person can take."

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/02/no-kill-lab-grown-meat-to-go-on-sale-for-first-time

No-kill, lab-grown meat to go on sale for first time Singapore’s approval of chicken cells grown in bioreactors is seen as landmark moment across industry

“Every generation is born with a yoke around its neck from the infrastructure built by the previous generation. They have to maintain it and fix it. We have to change in order to stop this vicious cycle.”

https://news.umich.edu/roads-bridges-would-last-longer-save-money-with-new-concrete-formula/

Roads, bridges would last longer, save money, with new concrete formula https://youtu.be/7vrpkWC8Tr4 ANN ARBOR—Passing beneath a crumbling overpass or rumbling over a pothole-riddled street in Michigan and many other parts of the country this time of year, it's hard not to wonder: Why don't they make these things out of something that lasts longer? Fifty years ago

Hope for dementia and Alzheimer patients!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqB1sCivIXY

ISRIB Reverses Memory Failure from Traumatic Brain Injury In an unprecedented finding, UC San Francisco scientists used an experimental drug to completely reverse severe learning and memory impairments caused by tra...