Show Notes 16 May 2025
Story 1: Liquid Hydrogen Storage Breakthrough Puts Zero-Emission Aviation Within Reach – Student Team Pulls Off First Flight Test of Liquid Hydrogen-Powered Electric Aircraft
Source: Hydrogen Fuel News Story by Frankie Wallace
- In a big leap forward for zero-emission tech in aviation, a group of Dutch students from AeroDelft just nailed a world first: successfully testing a liquid hydrogen-powered electric propulsion system.
- The test happened at the TNO research facilities in Ypenburg and marks the debut of a flight-ready aircraft running on cryogenic hydrogen—an incredible step toward cleaner skies, especially for long-distance flights.
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Side note:
- Cryogenic hydrogen refers to hydrogen that has been cooled to extremely low temperatures, typically around -253°C (-423°F), to become a liquid. This process allows hydrogen to be stored and transported more efficiently compared to its gaseous form, as liquid hydrogen has a much higher energy density.
- Cryogenic hydrogen is widely used in various industries, including aerospace, where it serves as a fuel for rockets, and in emerging clean energy technologies like hydrogen-powered vehicles.
- However, storing and handling cryogenic hydrogen requires specialized equipment due to its extreme cold temperatures and flammability
- Why This Test Changes the Game
- Gaseous hydrogen has already made some waves in aviation, but liquid hydrogen? That’s the next level. It packs about 2.8 times the energy density of its gaseous cousin, which means longer flights without the weight headache you get with batteries.
- That’s a huge deal for electric planes that need to travel several hours and still stay light in the sky.
- So how does it work? The system keeps hydrogen super cold—-253°C kind of cold—inside a specially designed, vacuum-insulated cryogenic tank. Then, using an electrical heat exchanger, the fuel warms up just enough to feed a PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell safely and efficiently.
- Side note – A proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is a type of fuel cell that converts the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxygen into electricity through an electrochemical reaction. It operates at relatively low temperatures (50–100°C) and uses a proton-conducting polymer electrolyte membrane to facilitate the movement of protons while blocking electrons.
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How It Works:
- Hydrogen gas is supplied to the anode, where a catalyst (usually platinum) splits hydrogen molecules into protons and electrons.
- The protons pass through the electrolyte membrane to the cathode, while the electrons travel through an external circuit, generating an electric current.
- At the cathode, oxygen molecules react with the protons and electrons to form water, which is the only byproduct.
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Advantages:
- High efficiency compared to combustion-based energy sources.
- Zero emissions—only water is produced.
- Compact and lightweight, making them ideal for applications like electric vehicles and portable power sources.
- PEMFCs are widely used in transportation, stationary power generation, and portable energy applications. They are considered a promising alternative to traditional fossil fuel-based energy systems.
- Hydrogen Storage Gets a Major Boost
- If you’ve ever wondered why hydrogen storage is such a hurdle in flight, it comes down to managing heat, stopping fuel “boil-off,” and keeping the system structurally safe. This test checked off all those boxes.
- The prototype didn’t just survive those extreme conditions—it thrived, delivering a steady 75 kW of power.
- That’s enough juice to fly a small, 4-seat electric aircraft. Add in the unmatched energy density of liquid hydrogen, and suddenly, we’re looking at an actual path forward for practical, long-range zero-emission aviation.
Story 2: Breakthrough sensor material brings human-like touch to robots at low cost
Source: Interesting Engineering Story by Jijo Malayil
Link: https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/low-cost-sensing-for-robotic-skin-technology
Find the research paper here: https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aelm.202400848
- Researchers from Northwestern University and Tel Aviv University discovered a flaw in widely used silicone rubber composites that was interfering with electrical sensing in robotic skin.
- The flaw was an ultrathin insulating layer forming on the surface of conductive elastomer composites, which affected the accuracy of touch sensors in robots.
- By sanding down this layer, researchers improved electrical contact, making robotic skin more sensitive and precise in detecting shapes, curves, and edges.
- They developed a calibration method to measure the thickness of this insulating layer, providing a new way to troubleshoot sensor performance.
- The study was published in Advanced Electronic Materials and calls for more rigorous testing standards in touch sensing and flexible electronics research.
- This could make robotic touch more human-like and accessible at a lower cost!
Story 3: Glass out, plastic in: New fiber optic technology set to be deployed in AI data centers is both cheaper and faster
Source: TechRadar.com Story by Wayne Williams
- This article reports on a breakthrough plastic optical fiber (POF) technology developed by researchers at Keio University in Japan.
- This new multicore, graded-index plastic optical fiber can transmit data at speeds of up to 106.25 Gbps per core, making it especially attractive for AI data centers where short-range, high-speed communications between GPUs and accelerators are critical.
- Side note – A graded-index refers to a type of optical fiber where the refractive index of the core gradually decreases as you move away from the center. This design helps light rays travel in curved paths rather than bouncing sharply, reducing signal distortion and improving data transmission.
- Side note – In this context, the “core” refers to the central part of the optical fiber where light signals travel. Optical fibers consist of a core surrounded by cladding, which helps guide the light through the fiber using a principle called total internal reflection.
- Instead of using traditional glass, the researchers have turned to plastic—which enables a simplified, single-step extrusion molding process to produce the fibers.
- This manufacturing method not only cuts production costs by a factor of 10 to 100 compared to conventional glass fiber techniques, but it also reduces the complexity typically associated with ribbonizing and connecting multiple glass fibers.
- Remarkably, the bit error rates were reduced by between 10,000- to 100,000-fold relative to traditional glass systems.
- Beyond its immediate application in AI data centers, this breakthrough hints at a larger shift in data transmission technologies. With steep cost reductions, simplified manufacturing, and enhanced performance, plastic optical fibers might soon play a crucial role in revolutionizing high-speed communications across various sectors.
Story 4: New rice-sized microrobot could slip into brain to treat inoperable tumors
Source: Interesting Engineering Story by Jijo Malayil
Link: https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/minimally-invasive-microrobot-navigates-brain
See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugEqTLOfEg4
- This article describes a revolutionary neurosurgical microrobot—roughly the size of a grain of rice—designed to navigate the brain with unmatched precision.
- Developed by the French startup Robeauté [pronounced “roh-boh-tay”], the device moves at a gentle pace of about 3 mm per minute, utilizing rotating silicone rings to delicately part brain tissue without damaging cells.
- This innovative technique promises to offer a far less invasive way to perform procedures like microbiopsies on brain tumors, potentially transforming the treatment of cases deemed inoperable with traditional, rigid surgical tools .
- Traditional brain surgery often relies on instruments that move in straight lines (such as needles or electrode holders), which can limit a surgeon’s ability to avoid critical regions responsible for motor and cognitive functions.
- In contrast, this microrobot can meander through the complex structure of the brain safely, providing accurate information and access to areas that were previously hard to reach.
- Clinical trials are slated to begin in 2026, marking this breakthrough as a crucial step toward safer and more precise neurosurgical interventions .
- Beyond its immediate application in tumor diagnosis and therapy, this microrobot represents a broader shift in medical robotics toward minimal invasiveness and enhanced precision.
- This innovation not only paves the way for future robotic-assisted procedures but also invites further exploration into other delicate operations where precision is paramount.
Honorable Mentions
Story: Soft Auditory Brainstem Implant to Improve Upon Hard Auditory Brainstem Implant
Source: The Hearing Review
- Researchers at EPFL have developed a soft auditory brainstem implant (ABI) that improves tissue contact and reduces side effects compared to conventional rigid implants. The new implant uses flexible, micrometer-scale platinum electrodes embedded in silicone, allowing better conformity to the brainstem’s shape and minimizing unwanted nerve activation.
- In behavioral experiments with macaques, the implant delivered stimulation that the animals treated similarly to natural sounds, showing no signs of discomfort. The device demonstrated stability over several months and could soon be tested intraoperatively in humans, marking a significant step toward clinical application.
- This innovation aims to provide more precise hearing restoration for individuals whose cochlear nerve is too damaged for standard cochlear implants.
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Story: 3D printing with sunlight
Source: Techno-Science Story by Adrien Bernard
Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/3d-printing-with-sunlight-%EF%B8%8F/ar-AA1DcRPq
- Scientists have designed a new family of molecules capable of hardening resins under simple exposure to daylight, revolutionizing the field of 3D printing. More efficient and less toxic than current photoinitiators, these compounds pave the way for greener manufacturing of objects for numerous applications, particularly in medicine.
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Story: Researchers develop microelectronics for space and aerospace applications
Source: Carnegie Mellon University Story by Krista Burns
Link: https://engineering.cmu.edu/news-events/news/2025/04/25-space-tolerant-chips.html
- Carnegie Mellon University researchers have developed space-tolerant computer chips designed to withstand the harsh radiation environments of space. Traditional radiation-hardened (rad-hard) electronics exist, but this new design achieves equivalent or better radiation tolerance while being more compact. The innovation focuses on reducing the area of flip-flops (FFs)—a common data storage element in chips—without sacrificing radiation resistance.
- Instead of using triple modular redundancy, which requires three copies of the same circuit block, the researchers re-use components within a single FF to maintain radiation tolerance while minimizing chip size. This leads to lower manufacturing costs, higher performance, and better energy efficiency, which are crucial for space applications.
- The team, collaborating with Sandia National Labs, won a Best Paper Award at the Design, Automation and Test in Europe (DATE) Conference. They are now working on full system-on-a-chip prototypes, with plans to test and deploy on a cubesat in 2026.
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Story: Nighthawk: NASA plans massive Mars helicopter to scan ancient volcanoes for life
Source: Interesting Engineering Story by Mrigakshi Dixit
Link: https://www.yahoo.com/news/nighthawk-nasa-plans-massive-mars-095605020.html
- NASA is developing a new Mars helicopter mission called Nighthawk, designed to explore the Eastern Noctis Labyrinthus region of Mars. This area features deep canyons, dunes, and remnants of ancient lava flows, making it a prime location for studying Mars’ geological history and potential signs of life.
- Unlike the Ingenuity helicopter, which relied on the Perseverance rover, Nighthawk will operate independently using a six-rotor, six-blade system optimized for Mars’ thin atmosphere. The mission aims to assess Noctis Landing as a possible site for future human exploration, investigate water features, and analyze volcanic formations.
- Nighthawk will carry three scientific instruments:
- OCCAM: An omnidirectional color camera for navigation and geological context.
- NIRAC: A spectrometer and context camera for surface analysis.
- PMWS (Puli Mars Water Snooper): A neutron detector to map subsurface water abundance.
- This ambitious project represents a significant leap forward in Mars exploration, potentially paving the way for future human missions