Necessity might be the mother of invention, but that being the case necessity has really been upping its wish-list of late. Admittedly an algae that could become the future of eco-friendly light sources will undoubtedly change the world for the better, but we’re not so sure tattoo-based telepathy is quite so necessary. However, who are we to stand in the way of those grappling on the very fringe of new science? Without further adieu:
Taking control
Charles Q Choi at io9 reports on a temporary tattoo – actually holding within its membrane astonishing microchip technology – that has been created to allow users to operate machinery with their minds. This might be to control drone vehicles, for instance, or to allow thoughts to transmit messages via smartphone. It’s the sort of leap in advancement that sounds absolutely unreal, but one which isn’t far away from realization. While it’ll be a long time – if ever – until this kind of technology is publicly available, the tiny (less than 100 micron thick) devices can change the way we interact by reading signals sent directly from the brain. The first practical use could be to ensure the safety of potentially epileptic babies, post-seizure. Utterly incredible.
Microalgae or mightyalgae?
Over to the University of Aberdeen, where marine microalgae is being used to create new biofuels which could eventually power the vehicles we drive among many other things. It’s a new train of thought which has also recently been considered by those looking into street lighting and co2 management – the microalgae are subjected to different instances of light and heat to determine potential products that could be subsequently be produced as fuel. It would be an energy solution to cut off any crisis at its pass, so the 4m Euros of EU funding here come as no surprise.
Graphene in film
As James Condliffe at Gizmodo points out, Graphene itself is no new revelation. However, it has never been quite as well demonstrated – in particular in terms of its use in superconductors – as in this new video. It tackles the concept of a battery power that could be charged in seconds and last easily as long as conventional battery materials, and the video itself has been nominated in the GE Focus Forward Film maker competition. We can only see this as an astonishing hint of things to come, and can only hope that the appropriated tech is used responsibly and without the high price tag that many are already predicting… fingers crossed indeed.
22/02/13
