The future’s bright…
As a remedy to all the bad news that dominates the airwaves, let us prescribe you a small dose of feel-good science. Each issue, we’ll give you a rundown of the latest breakthroughs that hope to solve humanity’s biggest threats. From algae-powered tech to drones that aid pollinators, here you’ll find multiple reasons to feel hopeful for our future…
Years to go 25-20
A eye taken from an organ donor has been brought back to life by a team at the University of Utah. The researchers were able to restore the function of photoreceptors that had been dead for five hours. The finding could help to establish the causes of macular degeneration.
Years to go 20-15
A miniaturised Deep Brain Stimulation system is showing promise in treating Parkinson’s disease in trials at Southmead Hospital, Bristol. It delivers electrical impulses to targets deep within the brain, overriding abnormal brain cell firing patterns caused by the disease.
A growth factor found in the brain fluid of young mice can boost memory in older mice, a Stanford University study has shown. The researchers now plan to investigate the potential for using the same technique in humans.
Future generations of tech could be powered by algae. Researchers at Cambridge University have created a system the size of an AA battery that can power microprocessors using photosynthesis.
Scientists at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University are aiming to create variants of elements never before seen on Earth. These new isotopes could help us to learn more about the fundamental forces of physics.
Years to go 15-10
Patients undergoing robot-assisted surgery for bladder cancer removal and reconstruction spent 20 per cent less time in hospital and had 52 per cent less chance of readmission, a clinical trial led by scientists at UCL and the University of Sheffield has found.
SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell said they will “put people on Mars within the next decade”. The energy needed to launch a spacecraft to Mars depends on the positioning of it and Earth: the next lowest-energy launch period occurs in 2033.
Years to go 10-5
Satellites and drones could help to protect pollinators from extinction, according to a team at the University of Exeter. The images produced by the devices could help researchers to better identify habitats and behaviour to aid conservation efforts.
Non-invasive brain stimulation has been found to help smokers quit by reducing their cravings. Using the technique, patients were 139 per cent more likely to stay off cigarettes for three to six months after their last smoke.
Years to go 5-0
The world’s first flying taxi and delivery drone airport was opened in Coventry for summer 2022, and will later be redeployed in cities around the world. The port can run using on-site hydrogen fuel cells that generate zero carbon emissions.
The cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-4 launched to deliver supplies, fuel and experiments to China’s new Tiangong Space Station, which is still under construction. The Chinese Manned Space Agency hopes to finish the new station before the end of 2022.