Category: Tech

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have designed a sustainable hydrogel to combat the threat of microplastics in water. These minuscule plastic pieces, which are present in even the most isolated areas, such as the deep oceans and polar ice caps, pose a threat to both human health and the ecosystem.

Utilising a polymer network, the innovative hydrogel created by IISc binds and breaks down microplastics when exposed to UV light. This environmentally friendly alternative to clogging filtering membranes uses 3D hydrogels that intertwine layers of chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyaniline. Nanoclusters of copper replacement polyoxometalate that are embedded in hydrogel help break down microplastics when exposed to UV light.

To mimic real-world scenarios, the team created microplastics from crushed household plastics. They included a fluorescent dye inside the microplastics so they could monitor the hydrogel’s durability and effectiveness. The hydrogel demonstrated durability at different temperatures and a high degree of efficiency in eliminating up to 95% of microplastics at a pH close to neutral.

The substance continued to be effective after up to five cycles of removing microplastic. Furthermore, the hydrogel can be recycled into carbon nanoparticles to extract heavy metals from contaminated water after use.

This invention presents a viable countermeasure to the pervasive hazard of microplastic contamination.

President Biden announced that a Japanese astronaut will soon become the first non-American to step foot on the moon during one of NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions, as discussed in a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida. The announcement comes just a few days after a captivating solar eclipse, which gives the common goal of lunar exploration a cosmic feel.

This statement highlights how the United States and Japan have a strong scientific and educational connection that transcends national borders.  

NASA’s Artemis programme, which aims to send astronauts back to the lunar surface and establish a permanent presence, is evidence of humanity’s renewed dedication to lunar exploration. Japan plays a crucial role in this complex project by supplying a pressurised rover, improving astronaut mobility, and allowing longer missions on lunar soil.

Looking back over history, only a few people have ever had the incredible pleasure of walking on the moon. During the Apollo missions in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to achieve this feat, leaving a lasting impression on history.

Humanity’s influence grows farther into space as states and private organisations collaborate, inspiring future generations and deepening our knowledge of the cosmos.

The US recently conducted its first outdoor test to ease global warming effects. Engineer Matthew Gallelli experimented on a retired aircraft carrier in San Francisco Bay. He evaluated a method to brighten clouds and reflect sunlight back into space, offering a temporary cooling solution. 

The primary objective of the experiment was to confirm that the device could reliably spray salt aerosols outside of laboratory environments. If successful, cloud composition overseas could change.

This initiative explores “sun blocking,” reflecting sunlight to cool the Earth, termed solar radiation modification (SRM). With record climate change, the University of Washington team spearheading the project emphasises exploring alternatives. SRM, like stratospheric aerosol injection, disperses sun-blocking particles into the upper atmosphere, as proven effective by Mount Pinatubo’s 1991 eruption’s temporary cooling impact by 0.5 degrees Celsius.

The UN Environmental Programme advises against large-scale SRM deployment, emphasising the priority of reducing greenhouse gas emissions despite witnessing potential benefits. Greenpeace International’s David Santillo raises concerns about altering solar radiation’s impacts on climate patterns, advocating caution. 

Director of the climate and energy justice programme at Friends of the Earth U.S., Karen Orenstein, criticises SRM as a dangerous distraction. According to her, the best way to address climate change is to stop burning fossil fuels, not by modifying solar radiation.

On Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced a $6.94 billion investment in artificial intelligence (AI) by 2027 to strengthen the country’s semiconductor industry. This initiative includes a $1.4 trillion fund to support AI semiconductor firms.

South Korea aims to compete with global leaders like the United States, China, and Japan in semiconductor technology. Semiconductors are crucial to South Korea’s export-driven economy, with chip exports hitting a 21-month high in March at $11.7 billion.

Yoon emphasised the fierce global competition in semiconductor production, calling it an “industrial war” between nations. The investment aims to boost research and development in AI chips, focusing on neural processing units and high-bandwidth memory chips.

The nation also plans to advance next-generation artificial general intelligence and safety technologies. Yoon aims for South Korea to rank among the top three countries in AI technology and capture over 10% of the global system semiconductor market by 2030. He expressed confidence in South Korea’s ability to lead in AI chips, likening it to its dominance in memory chips over the past 30 years.

On Monday, South Korea launched its second domestically developed spy satellite from the US via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This move enhances its ability to monitor potential threats, particularly from North Korea, which has announced plans to launch multiple reconnaissance satellites this year.

The satellite, equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, can produce high-resolution images regardless of weather conditions. It successfully entered orbit after launching from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida and establishing communication with ground stations.

South Korea plans to launch five spy satellites by 2025 under a contract with SpaceX. This comes as tensions escalate on the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea launching its first spy satellite in November and South Korea following suit in December. The launches have strained relations, prompting concerns about breaching agreements to reduce military tensions.

South Korea’s defence ministry suspects North Korea may launch another spy satellite by mid-April. Despite South Korea’s successful satellite launch in 2022, experts suggest using SpaceX rockets for cost efficiency and stress the need for more launches to ensure rocket reliability.

Although South Korea is facing regional threats, these developments represent significant advancements in its space capabilities.

On Wednesday, Ivory Coast inaugurated a 37.5 megawatt (MW) solar power facility, marking the beginning of its renewable energy agenda. Being the world’s top producer of cocoa, the country plans to become a major power supplier in West Africa. It generates about 2,250 MW of power, mostly from gas and oil, which it exports to surrounding countries, including Ghana, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, and Mali.

Ivory Coast wants to acquire 45% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. Following the achievement of this milestone, Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly, Minister of Mines, Power, and Electricity, celebrated the country’s first step towards cleaner energy.

The operating Boundiali Solar Power Plant in the northern town of Boundiali is scheduled to expand from its existing 37.5 MW to 83 MW by April 2025. Plans are in place to increase solar power output by 678 MW by 2030.

Recently, the government approved a loan exceeding 33 billion CFA francs from the German development organisation Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) to support sustainable development, which includes building a 25 MWp photovoltaic solar power plant in Sérebou.

Additionally, a public-private partnership (PPP), spearheaded by the Emirati company Amea Power, will also establish a 50 MWp photovoltaic solar power plant in Bondoukou.

India is actively seeking processing technology from key critical mineral producers, following the rollout of auctions for critical mineral mines.

Ongoing discussions are being held regarding collaboration with the US, UK, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, and Argentina. The signing of agreements is expected to occur shortly.

The aim is to establish India’s first critical mineral beneficiation and processing plant within 3-5 years to develop processing and extraction capabilities simultaneously. Beneficiation improves the quality of ore by eliminating undesirable minerals, which is vital for the advanced chemistry cell manufacturing industry in India.

India’s Ministry of Mines is developing strategies to speed up the mining, processing, manufacturing, and recycling of critical minerals to reduce reliance on imports. These initiatives focus on industries such as telecommunications, defence, agriculture, electric vehicles, cobalt, graphite, lithium, and rare earth elements, which are critical minerals.

In June 2023, India established a list comprising 30 critical minerals, which included platinum group elements, copper, nickel, and nickel, with the dual objectives of enhancing domestic development and resource security.

By forming strategic alliances with producers of critical minerals and implementing cutting-edge processing technologies, India aims to advance its industrial and technological objectives and improve its position as a global leader in critical mineral production.

The United States and Mexico are partnering to strengthen the semiconductor supply chain, aligning with the U.S. CHIPS Act of 2022. This collaboration involves assessing Mexico’s semiconductor ecosystem, regulatory framework, and infrastructure needs. Stakeholders like state governments, educational institutions, and companies, along with Mexico’s Secretariat of Economy, will participate in this analysis.

The automotive and medical device industries will profit from this partnership, which is essential for the stability and competitiveness of the global semiconductor supply chain. It expands on already-existing structures for collaboration, including the trilateral North American Leaders Summit process and the bilateral High-Level Economic Dialogue. Additionally, it backs regional initiatives that emphasise workforce development and semiconductor competitiveness, such as the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity.

President Biden’s CHIPS Act of 2022, which provides $500 million over five years to enhance the security and diversification of the semiconductor supply chain, established the International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund. With the help of partners and allies, this financing will enable new projects and programmes.

The U.S.-Mexico collaboration aims to reduce reliance on China and Taiwan for semiconductor technology while fostering economic growth and strategic advantages for both nations.

Japan and the United States are all set to announce high-tech collaboration in cutting-edge domains like artificial intelligence (AI). The Asahi Shimbun newspaper first revealed the impending declaration on Saturday.

During Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s scheduled meeting with US President Joe Biden on April 10, this alliance will be viewed as a “global partnership.” As per the published report, the partnership will emphasise reinforced cooperation in artificial intelligence and semiconductor technologies.

It added that the United States and Japan are expected to create a formal framework to support AI research and development, possibly incorporating major participants in the sector like Arm, Nvidia, and Amazon, among others.

Recent aggressive steps by the US to limit Beijing’s access to breakthrough AI processors have been made against the background of increased geopolitical tensions, especially with China. By keeping China from obtaining cutting-edge US technology, which might strengthen its military capabilities, this calculated action seeks to stop that from happening.

These kinds of projects demonstrate the increasing significance of technological collaboration and strategic partnerships in the international scene, especially in the areas of high-tech innovation and security.

On Monday, a Soyuz spacecraft carrying three astronauts from Belarus, Russia, and the United States successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS). The launch was postponed from its original Thursday schedule due to the power supply.

The three astronauts, Novitsky, Vasilevskaya, and Dyson, join the ISS crew, including NASA’s O’Hara, Dominick, Barratt, and Epps, alongside Russians Kononenko, Chub, and Grebenkin. Dyson will spend six months before returning with Kononenko and Chub, concluding their year-long mission. Novitsky and Vasilevskaya, Belarus’ first astronauts, will spend 12 days before returning with O’Hara.

The failure of the MS-25’s launch on Thursday sparked doubts about the dependability of Russia’s space programme. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Moscow has had several failures, including the loss of two Mars missions and a lunar probe in August of last year. Amid strained US-Russia relations, space remains an area of cooperation.

Russian Soyuz launches were the sole means of ferrying astronauts to the ISS for almost a decade after NASA ended its Space Shuttle programme. However, the US now relies on privately-built SpaceX rockets, breaking Russia’s monopoly on manned launches.