Tech Breakthroughs

Technology

Tech Breakthroughs Passwords are so passe

The era of the password is set to, well, pass. Instead, we are moving at rapid speed into new forms of authentication. This can be as either a link sent via email, a push notification, or a biometric scan. These methods are more easily accessible and much more secure.

Virus tracking

Human intelligence is such that we learn from the setbacks we encounter, and that is certainly the case as far as Covid is concerned. In the aftermath of the global pandemic, we are now much better equipped to recognise, survey and track viruses around the world, allowing faster diagnosis and a quicker response time.

Iron-based batteries

During key times and major national events, there is a profound demand for electricity, and our systems can’t always cope. However, with the use of iron battery technology, grid operators will be able to store energy for longer. Not only are they made using abundant materials, they are also said to be cheaper and more practical than other types of grid storage.

Protein flooding

The trick to targeted ridding our bodies of disease comes down to figuring out our protein structure, and that can take months. However, a new AI called AlphaFold2 has solved this longstanding biological puzzle, which could make it possible to quickly design drugs for a wide range of diseases.

Bitcoin energy usage

While crypto has become a buzzword for profitability and flexibility, huge quantities of energy are used in the verifying of crypto transactions. However, a new Proof of Stake system adopted by Ethereum will use less than one-thousandth of the energy currently required, and is set to be introduced soon.

Carbon removal

A factory just opened in Iceland can remove carbon dioxide from the air, with its perceived success potentially opening up a drive to build other plants across the world.

Aging clocks

If someone could tell you how long you’re going to live, would you be brave enough to reveal the answer? Aging clocks can do just this. Most work by estimating a person’s biological age based on patterns of epigenetic markers - specifically, chemical tags called methyl groups that are layered onto DNA and affect how genes are expressed. Others, meanwhile, act more like a speedometer, tracking the pace of aging, with clocks having been developed for specific organs of the body. Scientists hope our ability to know how long we have left may well spark us into undertaking healthier lifestyles.