Snapshot: Innovations

What are the latest innovations that could have an impact on your future – and your investment decisions?

US, CALIFORNIA UK

MOROCCO NETHERLANDS

Solar panels go 24/7

Researchers at Stanford University have constructed a photovoltaic cell that captures energy at night as well as during the day. Once the sun goes down, the cell harvests energy from the warmth of the earth. These cells are affordable and could, in principle, be used almost anywhere.

Covid research technology could help cure heart attacks

The RNA technology that is behind the Covid vaccines could potentially cure heart attacks, according to researchers from King’s College London. Using virus vectors similar to those in the vaccines, they have delivered RNA to damaged pig hearts, and this has sparked the growth of new cardiac muscle cells.

Algae could capture huge amounts of carbon

Directly capturing carbon from the air would help us slow climate change, and one London start-up thinks it has a simple solution. Brilliant Planet has created algal blooms in its Moroccan facility that it believes show this could be an affordable, scalable way to capture and sequester up to two gigatons of carbon each year.

World’s first superconductor could make computers 400 times faster

The first-ever, one-way superconductor has been demonstrated by a team of researchers from Delft University of Technology. This has the potential to make computers up to 400 times faster, while also reducing energy losses.

JAPAN PORTUGAL AUSTRALIA SOUTH KOREA

Massive robots could take over on construction sites

Enormous humanoid construction robots have been developed in Japan, each one operated via a VR headset. This is just one of many advancements in construction robotics that look set to completely transform the industry, making it much safer and more efficient.

Massive floating solar park launches

Europe’s largest floating solar park has just launched in Portugal’s Alqueva reservoir – a huge array the size of four football pitches, and made up of 12,000 solar panels. It will supply 1500 families with power.

Faster, cheaper: seed-planting drones fight deforestation

An Australian start-up is using autonomous drones to plant over 40,000 seed pods per day – 25 times faster and 80 per cent more cheaply than traditional methods. They’re using it to fight deforestation, but it also has applications for forestry and agriculture.

Quantum batteries could charge an EV in nine seconds

A new quantum battery that will make it possible to charge an EV in nine seconds has been proven to work, according to scientists in South Korea. Researchers at the Institute for Basic Science say quantum charging could work on a range of devices including consumer electronics.