Show Notes 25 April 2025
Story 1: Scientists turn gunshot residue into glowing semiconductors to crack shooting cases – This game-changing forensic tech is already being used by Amsterdam police to gather evidence.
Source: Interesting Engineering Story by Aamir Khollam
Link: https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/forensic-tech-makes-gun-residue-glow
See research paper here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0379073825000532
- This article describes a groundbreaking forensic technique developed by researchers from the AMOLF [a research institute located in Amsterdam] and the University of Amsterdam that transforms gunshot residue into glowing semiconductors.
- Side note – AMOLF stands for FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics. It is a research institute in the Netherlands that focuses on fundamental research in physics and the design principles of complex matter. The institute explores topics like nanophotonics, nanophotovoltaics, designer matter, and living matter to develop new functional materials and solutions for challenges in renewable energy, green ICT, and healthcare.
- This innovative method works by converting the lead particles found in gunshot residue into a material that emits a vivid green glow under ultraviolet (UV) light.
- As the research paper notes, this is novel forensic method for detecting gunshot residue (GSR) using photoluminescent perovskites is presented. And this is the first application of perovskite semiconductors in forensic science.
- Even if the residue has been partially washed off—a common challenge in crime scene investigations, the glowing effect makes the residue easily detectable.
- The enhanced sensitivity and speed of this detection method make it possible for forensic teams to gather evidence far more effectively than with traditional techniques.
- This advancement also makes it easier to connect a suspect to a crime scene even when minimal gunshot residue remains visible.
- Forensic experts at the Amsterdam police force have already begun testing the light-emitting method in actual investigations.
- Beyond its immediate forensic applications, this technology opens up exciting possibilities for other crime scene investigations where detecting trace amounts of materials is crucial.
- One might wonder how similar techniques could be applied to other types of forensic evidence, such as latent fingerprints or trace chemical residues, pushing the boundaries of current investigative science even further.
Story 2: Lab-grown chicken nuggets have been cooked up in a robotic bioreactor
Source: IFL Science Story by Maddy Chapman
See also: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1080163
- First some background – The lab-grown meat industry is expanding rapidly, with numerous companies pioneering this innovative food technology. While an exact count is difficult to pin down, some sources list at least 10 major companies leading the charge in 2025. These include Mosa Meat, Aleph Farms, Eat Just, Upside Foods, Believer Meats, Gourmey, Meatable, Mission Barns, Steakholder Foods, and Bluenalu.
- Now for the news – Scientists at the University of Tokyo have created nugget-sized bits of chicken meat in a bioreactor that can mimic the blood vessels to deliver nutrients and oxygen to the artificial tissue.
- Side note – A bioreactor is a controlled vessel or system designed to support and carry out biological processes, typically for growing cells, microorganisms, or tissues. It provides an environment with optimal conditions—such as temperature, pH, oxygen levels, and nutrients—to facilitate these processes. Bioreactors are widely used in various industries, including pharmaceuticals, food production, and environmental science.
- Here’s the challenge – Creating lifelike tissues in a lab is not easy, especially when it comes to making sure all the cells get enough nutrients and oxygen. There are ways around this, but most current methods can’t deliver this evenly on a large scale.
- To solve this challenge, researchers at the University of Tokyo developed a new tool called a perfusable hollow fiber bioreactor. Note – The word perfusable refers to something that can be perfused, meaning it can be permeated or suffused with a liquid, typically through natural channels like blood vessels.
- The system uses tiny, tube-like fibers that act like artificial blood vessels, distributing nutrients and oxygen throughout the entire tissue.
- These fibers do not just keep cells alive, but they also help guide cell growth in the right direction, thanks to “micro-anchors” that hold it all in place.
- When used to grow chicken muscle in the lab, this technique led to stronger muscle structures and (apparently) improved both texture and taste, making it ideal for realistic cultured meat.
- To speed things up and make the process scalable, a robotic system is designed to help place these fiber networks. This, the University of Tokyo researchers say, could eventually lead to a full automation of this approach in the near future.
Story 3: Scientists develop record cold refrigerator that could unlock full potential of quantum computers – Its developers say the refrigerator can help pave the way for more reliable quantum computation.
Source: Euro News Story by Roselyne Min
- Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and the University of Maryland in the United States have successfully developed a record cold refrigerator that could help quantum computers work better.
- Qubits, the fundamental units of quantum computers, must be kept at temperatures close to absolute zero to function without errors.
- A new cooling technology developed by researchers may bring us closer to realizing the full potential of quantum computing.
- Refresh on Quantum Computing – A traditional computer uses bits as the basic unit of information, which can be either a 0 or a 1. Think of it like a light switch that’s either on or off. These computers process tasks by following specific sequences of instructions in a binary way. A quantum computer, on the other hand, uses quantum bits, or “qubits,” which can exist as 0, 1, or both at the same time (a concept called superposition). This allows quantum computers to explore many possibilities simultaneously, making them potentially much faster at solving certain complex problems, like factoring large numbers or optimizing huge systems.
- The cooling systems used today, called dilution refrigerators, bring the qubits to about 50 millikelvins above absolute zero.
- Side note – Dilution refrigerators are fascinating devices used to achieve extremely low temperatures, often just a few millikelvins above absolute zero. They are essential in fields like quantum computing and condensed matter physics. Here’s a simplified explanation of how they work:
- Helium Isotopes: The system uses a mixture of two helium isotopes—helium-3 (³He) and helium-4 (⁴He). These isotopes have unique properties that allow them to remain in a mixed state even at very low temperatures.
- Phase Separation: When cooled below about 0.87 kelvin, the helium mixture separates into two phases: a concentrated phase rich in helium-3 and a dilute phase with a small amount of helium-3 dissolved in helium-4.
- Cooling Mechanism: The cooling happens in the “mixing chamber,” where helium-3 atoms move from the concentrated phase into the dilute phase. This process requires energy, which is absorbed as heat from the surrounding environment, thereby cooling it.
- Continuous Operation: The system is designed to circulate helium-3 continuously, maintaining the cooling effect without any moving parts in the low-temperature region.
- In an experiment, a new quantum refrigerator brought the qubits to 22 millikelvins, a factor 10,000 times colder than the room temperature, according to the research team.
- The closer to absolute zero or zero Kelvin, which is equivalent to minus 273.15 degrees Celsius, the more reliable quantum computation can be. Minus 273.15°C is equivalent to 523.67°F!
Story 4: A Grain of Brain, 523 Million Synapses, and the Most Complicated Neuroscience Experiment Ever Attempted – Using a speck of mouse brain matter the size of a grain of sand, scientists have created the first precise, three-dimensional map of a mammal’s brain.
Source: SciTechDaily Story from Allen Institute
See also: Scientists reveal advance in brain research once thought impossible
- This article outlines a groundbreaking neuroscience experiment—the MICrONS Project—that achieved an unprecedented mapping of a minuscule piece of mammalian brain tissue [i.e. mouse brain tissue].
- Side note – The MICrONS Project stands for Machine Intelligence from Cortical Networks. It is an ambitious initiative aimed at revolutionizing machine learning by reverse-engineering the algorithms of the brain.
- A team of more than 150 scientists spent seven years using cutting-edge AI, high-resolution microscopy, and intensive computational techniques to reconstruct more than 200,000 brain cells and an astounding 523 million synapses from a sample no larger than a grain of sand.
- The achievement is the result of nearly a decade of research by 22 institutions, including the Allen Institute for Brain Science, Baylor College of Medicine, and Princeton University.
- This technical feat produced a complete wiring diagram of a brain region, revealing unexpected new rules about how inhibitory neurons regulate neural networks. These insights could transform our understanding of the mechanisms behind thought, memory, and even the onset of brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
- This research is poised to have a transformative impact on neuroscience, drawing comparisons to landmark projects like the Human Genome Project.
Honorable Mentions
Story: WD Touts New Hard Drive Recycling Process As ‘Blueprint’ for Domestic Reuse – Mining old hard drives for rare earth elements could facilitate ‘large-scale, domestic recycling,’ and ease US reliance on China, Western Digital says in a new white paper.
Source: PC Magazine Story by Michael Kan
Link: https://www.pcmag.com/news/wd-touts-new-hard-drive-recycling-process-as-blueprint-for-domestic-reuse
- Western Digital has developed a way to mine old hard drives for rare earth elements, which promises to ease the tech industry’s dependence on carbon-heavy mining.
- A Western Digital white paper released Thursday says it worked with Microsoft to recycle “47,000 pounds of end-of-life hard disk drives (HDD), solid state drives (SSD), and caddies” into critical and valuable metals for the US supply chain.
- The company’s blog post adds that the newly developed recycling process can “result in ~90% high-yield elemental and rare earth recovery and ~80% capture rate of all shredded material.”
- Currently, if you recycle an old hard disk drive, it’s shredded into tiny bits that electronics manufacturers can reuse for new parts. But existing recycling processes have struggled to extract the rare earth elements used in HDDs, such as Neodymium, which is widely used as a magnet in today’s electronics. “Currently, only 1–2% of REEs produced globally are recovered through recycling processes,” says a 2024 paper from the US International Trade Commission.
- Western Digital adds that “rare earths are often melted down with steel because many recovery processes involve a highly corrosive process that is not eco-friendly nor economical—and the rare earths are lost.”
- In response, the company explored using an 8-year-old “acid-free dissolution recycling (ADR)” process from Critical Materials Recycling, an Iowa company that specializes in reclaiming rare earths from old electronics.
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Story: Cyborg 1.0: Thai Robocop patrols streets with 360° eyes, live face-tracking power – AI Cyborg 1.0 analyzes CCTV and drone data in real time with 360° cameras linked to a command center for rapid response
Source: Interesting Engineering Story by Jijo Malayil
Link: https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/ai-thai-robocop-patrols-streets?group=test_a
- Thailand has unveiled its first AI-powered police robot, deployed during the Songkran festival in Nakhon Pathom province to boost public safety.
- The Royal Thai Police (RTP) introduced the robot on April 16 via a Facebook post.
- Named “Pol Col Nakhonpathom Plod Phai,” meaning “Nakhon Pathom is safe,” the robot was stationed at the Tonson Road festival venue in Muang district.
- The robot, named “AI Police Cyborg 1.0,” made its debut during the Songkran festival in Nakhon Pathom province. Developed collaboratively by Provincial Police Region 7, Nakhon Pathom Provincial Police, and Nakhon Pathom Municipality, this Robocop-style unit is equipped with advanced surveillance and threat detection technologies.
- AI Police Cyborg 1.0 uses onboard AI to immediately process and analyze data by integrating real-time data from aerial drone footage and local CCTV networks. Rapid reaction coordination is made possible by the robot’s in-built 360-degree smart cameras, which are immediately connected to the province’s Command and Control Center and backed by video analytics software.
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Story: Clean energy from rain? Scientists generate electricity from falling droplets
Source: Euro News Story by Rebecca Ann Hughes
- Researchers from the National University of Singapore have used rain-like droplets moving through a tube to generate enough energy to light up 12 LEDs.
- Their method uses the principle that when two materials come into contact, charged entities on their surfaces get a little nudge, like how rubbing a balloon on the skin creates static electricity.
- Likewise, water flowing over some surfaces can gain or lose charge.
- Water that falls through a vertical tube can generate a substantial amount of electricity by using a specific pattern of water flow: plug flow.
- Side note: Plug flow is a concept in fluid mechanics where the velocity of a fluid is assumed to be uniform across any cross-section of a pipe. This means the fluid moves as a “plug,” with no mixing in the axial direction (forward or backward). It’s often used as a model in designing chemical reactors, such as plug flow reactors, to predict how substances react as they flow through a system.
- This plug flow pattern could allow rain energy to be harvested for generating clean and renewable electricity.
- Running water is already widely used to generate electricity by moving a turbine – but this is constrained to locations with large volumes of water, like rivers.
- The researchers say harnessing charge separation is a solution for smaller and slower volumes of water.
- This phenomenon produces electrical charges as water moves through a channel with an electrically conductive inner surface.
- However, charge separation can be extremely inefficient because the area where energy can be harvested is restricted to the surface that the water moves over.
- To improve the output, the team designed a simple setup whereby water flowed out the bottom of a tower through a metallic needle and spurted rain-sized droplets into the opening of a tube.
- The head-on collision of the droplets at the top of the tube caused a plug flow: short columns of water interspersed with pockets of air.
- As water flowed down the inside of the tube, electrical charges separated. The water was then collected in a cup below the tube. Wires placed at the top of the tube and in the cup harvested the electricity.
- The plug flow system converted more than 10 per cent of the energy of the water falling through the tubes into electricity.
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Story: Memory Is Not Confined to Our Brains, Scientists Discover
Source: ScienceAlert.com Story by Tessa Koumoundouros
Link: https://www.sciencealert.com/memory-is-not-confined-to-our-brains-scientists-discover
- “Learning and memory are generally associated with brains and brain cells alone, but our study shows that other cells in the body can learn and form memories, too,” says neuroscientist Nikolay Kukushkin.
- Better understanding of how this process works could lead to more effective treatments for learning and memory problems, Kukushkin explains.
- Many learn the hard way that cramming for exams doesn’t create the most reliable or long-term memories. Multiple cycles of chemical activity through repeated behavior is what triggers the memory-formation process among our neurons, encoding incresasingly stronger memories. This phenomenon is called the massed-spaced effect and is highly conserved in all animals at both the cellular and behavioral levels.
- By exposing non-brain nerve and kidney cells to similar chemical patterns in the lab, Kukushkin and colleagues showed for the first time that these tissues experience massed-spaced effect too. Genes associated with memory formation in neurons also seemed to be activated within these cells, based on measures of a byproduct of the genes’ expression called luciferase.
- “The ability to learn from spaced repetition isn’t unique to brain cells, but, in fact, might be a fundamental property of all cells,” explains Kukushkin.
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