Washington: A team led by an Indian-origin scientist has developed a rapid, <keyword id="10402460" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ultrasensitive-covid-19-test">ultrasensitive Covid-19 test</keyword> using a paper-based <keyword id="10402462" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="electrochemical-sensor">electrochemical sensor</keyword> that can detect the presence of the novel coronavirus in less than five minutes. The researchers from the University of Illinois in the US created a graphene-based <keyword id="10402461" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="electrochemical-biosensor">electrochemical biosensor</keyword> with an electrical read-out setup to selectively detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material. <br /><br />According to the research published in the journal ACS Nano, there are two components to this biosensor: a platform to measure an electrical read-out and probes to detect the presence of viral RNA. <br /><br />To create the platform, the researchers led by professor Dipanjan Pan first coated filter paper with a layer of graphene nanoplatelets to create a conductive film. <br /><br />They then placed a <keyword id="10403665" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="gold-electrode">gold electrode</keyword> with a predefined design on top of the graphene as a contact pad for electrical readout. <br /><br />Both gold and graphene have high sensitivity and conductivity which makes this platform ultrasensitive to detect changes in electrical signals, the researchers noted. <br /><br />"Graphene exhibits unique mechanical and electrochemical properties that make it ideal for the development of sensitive electrochemical sensors," said Maha Alafeef, a graduate student at the University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering. <br /><br />Current RNA-based Covid-19 tests screen for the presence of the N-gene (nucleocapsid phosphoprotein) on the SARS-CoV-2 virus, they said. <br /><br />In the new research, the team designed antisense oligonucleotide (ASOs) probes to target two regions of the N-gene. <br /><br />Targeting two regions ensures the reliability of the sensor in case one region undergoes gene mutation, according to the researchers. <br /><br />The gold nanoparticles (AuNP) are capped with these single-stranded nucleic acids (ssDNA), which represents an ultra-sensitive sensing probe for the SARS-CoV-2 RNA. <br /><br />The team tested the performance of this sensor by using Covid-19 positive and negative samples. <br /><br />The sensor showed a significant increase in the voltage of positive samples compared to the negative ones and confirmed the presence of viral genetic material in less than five minutes. <br /><br />The sensor was able to differentiate viral RNA loads in these samples. Viral load is an important quantitative indicator of the progress of infection and a challenge to measure using existing diagnostic methods. <br /><br />The researchers noted that this platform has far-reaching applications due to its portability and low cost. <br /><br />The sensor, when integrated with microcontrollers and LED screens or with a smartphone via Bluetooth or wifi, could be used at the point-of-care in a doctor's office or even at home, they said. <br /><br />Beyond Covid-19, the research team also foresees the system to be adaptable for the detection of many different diseases.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/what-is-pm-wani-public-wifi-platform-launched-by-union-cabinet/articleshow/79642267.cms">Government’s plan for public Wi-Fi lets anyone from the kirana store owner to tea shop stalls sign up to provide the internet</a><br /></strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/the-33-billion-itc-one-of-indias-most-trolled-stock-in-recent-weeks-seems-to-have-turned-a-corner/articleshow/79641456.cms"><strong>The $33 billion ITC, one of India’s most-trolled stock in recent weeks, seems to have turned a corner</strong></a><br />

Indian-origin scientist's paper-based test can detect COVID-19 in less than five minutes

In an extraordinary breakthrough, scientists have recently uncovered a phenomenon that might reshape our understanding of life on <keyword id="19912640" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="earth" source="keywords">Earth</keyword> — and beyond. Dubbed "<keyword id="22522490" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dark-oxygen" source="keywords">dark oxygen</keyword>," this newly discovered form of <keyword id="20075793" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="oxygen" source="keywords">oxygen</keyword> is produced deep <keyword id="20372239" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="underwater" source="keywords">underwater</keyword>, far below the sunlit zones where <keyword id="22965692" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="photosynthesis" source="keywords">photosynthesis</keyword> has long been thought to be the sole producer of oxygen on our planet. This finding, announced in late July 2024, has not only challenged long-standing beliefs about the origins of aerobic life but has also sparked renewed interest in the search for <keyword id="21077288" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="extraterrestrial-life" source="keywords">extraterrestrial life</keyword>.<br /><h3 style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">The <keyword id="20313609" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="discovery" source="keywords">discovery</keyword> and how it works</h3>The discovery took place in the depths of the Pacific Ocean, within the mysterious <keyword id="22522492" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Clarion-Clipperton-Zone" source="keywords">Clarion-Clipperton Zone</keyword>, a vast underwater region renowned for its polymetallic nodules — metal-rich deposits scattered across the seafloor. For over a decade, researchers led by Andrew Sweetman of the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) encountered perplexing data indicating the presence of oxygen in this lightless environment. Initially dismissing these findings as sensor errors, the team eventually confirmed that the oxygen was indeed real and originating from the nodules themselves.<br /><div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112655642" title="&amp;#39;Alien: Romulus&amp;#39; director Fede Álvarez said he had to fight Disney to keep its extreme ending" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>The key to this process lies in the electrochemical properties of the polymetallic nodules. These nodules, composed of metals like cobalt, nickel, and manganese, act like "geobatteries" capable of generating small electrical currents through a process called seawater electrolysis. This reaction splits water molecules, producing both hydrogen and oxygen. The voltage required is minimal — comparable to that of a standard AA battery — but when nodules are clustered together, their collective energy is sufficient to produce significant amounts of oxygen.<br /><h3 style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:14pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">Implications for <keyword id="20144488" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="alien-life" source="keywords">alien life</keyword></h3>This discovery has profound implications for the search for extraterrestrial life. Previously, the existence of oxygen was considered a strong indicator of photosynthetic life forms. However, if oxygen can be produced in such an unconventional and lightless environment on Earth, it opens the door to the possibility that similar processes might occur on other celestial bodies with comparable conditions. This raises the tantalising prospect that life — or at least oxygen production — could exist on planets or moons without the need for sunlight.<br /><div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112860594" title="Space startup Reflect Orbital plans to sell &amp;quot;sunlight on demand&amp;quot; — how will it work?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>While the discovery is thrilling, it also presents challenges, particularly in the context of deep-sea mining. As industries look to exploit the mineral wealth of the ocean floor, there's now a pressing need to consider the environmental impact of such activities. The destruction of these oxygen-producing nodules could have severe consequences for <keyword id="22965693" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="deep-sea-ecosystems" source="keywords">deep-sea ecosystems</keyword>, potentially creating more "dead zones" where life struggles to recover.<br />

Dark oxygen: How the discovery of new oxygen deep underwater has reignited the search for alien life

Researchers at the Department of Instrumentation and Applied Physics (IAP), Indian Institute of Science (<keyword id="19910180" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IISc" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="IISc" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="IISc">IISc</keyword>), and collaborators have designed a new <keyword id="23052480" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="supercapacitor" source="keywords">supercapacitor</keyword> that can be charged by shining <keyword id="19982220" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="light" source="keywords">light</keyword> on it. The supercapacitors can be used in various devices, including streetlights and self-powered electronic devices such as sensors, Bengaluru-based IISc said in a press release. <br /><br />"Capacitors are electrostatic devices that store energy as charges on two metal plates called <keyword id="20675368" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electrodes" source="keywords">electrodes</keyword>. Supercapacitors are upgraded versions of capacitors - they exploit electrochemical phenomena to store more energy," Abha Misra, Professor at IAP and corresponding author of the study published in the 'Journal of Materials Chemistry A", was quoted as saying in the release. <br /><br />The electrodes of the new supercapacitor were made of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanorods grown directly on Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide (FTO), which is transparent. It was synthesised by Pankaj Singh Chauhan, first author and CV Raman postdoctoral fellow in Misra's group at IISc. <br /><br />Both ZnO and FTO are semiconductors with appropriately aligned energy levels, enabling superior performance of the photo-rechargeable supercapacitor, the release said. <br /><br />FTO, being transparent, allows light to fall on the optically active ZnO nanorods, which charges the supercapacitor. <br /><br />Chauhan explained that two electrolytes -- a liquid and a semi-solid gel -- were used as the conducting medium between the electrodes. <br /><br />The capacity for storing charges (<keyword id="23053496" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="capacitance" source="keywords">capacitance</keyword>) is inversely proportional to the distance between the electrodes, it said. <br /><br />"As the distance becomes very small, the capacitance shoots up," Misra stated. <br /><br />"In electrostatic capacitors, maintaining a small distance between electrodes is difficult. However, in a supercapacitor, the electrodes' charges attract the electrolyte's oppositely charged ions, resulting in the formation of a charge layer just atoms away from each other - called an electric double layer or EDL. This results in the high capacitance of supercapacitors," the release stated. <br /><br />When the researchers shined ultraviolet (UV) light on their supercapacitor, they noticed a huge increase in the capacitance, several times higher than previously reported supercapacitors. <br /><br />They also noticed two unusual properties. First, while capacitance generally decreases as the voltage increases, they found the reverse - their supercapacitor's capacitance under light illumination actually increased with increasing voltage. <br /><br />"We call it necking behaviour," said A M Rao, Professor at Clemson University, the USA, and co-author. He explained that this may be due to the high porosity of the electrodes. <br /><br />Second, the energy stored within the supercapacitor typically decreases when it is charged faster, because the ions in the electrolyte do not move fast enough to respond to the increased charging rate, the release said. <br /><br />However, with the liquid electrolyte, the team found that the energy stored in the supercapacitor surprisingly increased upon fast charging under UV light, it was noted. <br /><br />Mihir Parekh, a postdoctoral researcher in Rao's group, developed theoretical models to explain these novel observations. The findings open the doors to developing simultaneously fast-charging and energy-dense supercapacitors, according to him. <br /><br />To design their present supercapacitor, the team explored two key ideas. First, the surface area of the electrodes was increased by combining two optically active semiconductor interfaces in a way that maximises interaction with light, leading to higher charge generation. <br /><br />Second, a liquid electrolyte was used to ensure an effective EDL. Together, these resulted in superior performance. <br /><br />"The ideas were simple - but when combined together, they worked very well," Misra explained. <br /><br />She added that tweaking the design of the supercapacitor can enable its charging with visible and infrared light as well. The IISc-Clemson team aims to further explore and better understand the novel phenomena observed to design better supercapacitors. <br /><br />"Supercapacitors have lots of applications," Misra explains. For example, they can potentially replace solar cells used in streetlights. <br /><br />They have a high power density, so they can release charge more quickly than batteries. They can also be used to power chips in electronic devices like cell phones. <br /><br />"We have miniaturised supercapacitors to the micron scale so that they can be integrated along with these microelectronic chips," Misra added.

IISc researchers, collaborators design supercapacitor that can be charged by shining light on it

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have developed a reliable, affordable and portable sensor that can detect the glycemic Index (GI) of common food sources in about five minutes and help people with <keyword id="6359018" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="diabetes" source="Orion">diabetes</keyword> or those managing their blood sugar through diet. The GI is a measure that ranks carbohydrate-containing foods based on how they affect blood sugar levels when consumed.<br /><br />High-GI food can cause a rapid spike in blood glucose levels, followed by a swift decline.<br /><br />Moreover, these high-GI foods stimulate an increased demand for insulin, contributing to the risk of developing Type-2 diabetes.<br /><br />Importantly, low-GI food helps to prevent diabetes, <keyword id="22908" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="heart-disease" source="Orion">heart disease</keyword>, <keyword id="6364492" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="obesity" source="Orion">obesity</keyword>, and <keyword id="6355291" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cancer" source="Orion">cancer</keyword>.<br /><br />As the trend of fast-food increases among the world's working population, the need for a portable device that can immediately detect and guide the user about the GI of the food arises.<br /><br />The point-of-care-testing (POCT) prototype developed by the team can detect the glycemic Index of common food sources in approximately five minutes.<br /><br />"We developed a composite nanoenzyme by combining gold nanoparticles with alpha-amylase to break down long-chain starch molecules into simpler sugars. We found that this nanoenzyme of approximately 30 nanometre size has remarkable heterogeneous catalytic properties to rapidly degrade starch into maltose at room temperature," said Prof. <keyword id="12725555" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="dipankar-bandyopadhyay" source="Orion">Dipankar Bandyopadhyay</keyword>, Department of Chemical Engineering, at <keyword id="186684" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="iit-guwahati" source="Orion">IIT Guwahati</keyword>, explaining the detection methods.<br /><br />The amount of maltose produced is then electrochemically detected to classify the food sources into <keyword id="19193394" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rapidly-digestible-starch" source="Orion">Rapidly Digestible Starch</keyword> (RDS) and Slowly Digestible Starch (SDS) along with Resistant Starch (RS).<br /><br />"When we tested the device on fast foods like crackers, biscuits, chips, and bread, we found that crackers have the most RDS, followed by potato chips, and then brown bread. Notably, the SDS/RS of brown bread releases maltose slowly, causing a gradual increase in glucose levels and a lower response from insulin in the body," Prof. Bandyopadhyay said.<br /><br />The research findings have been published in the journal Sustainable Chemistry &amp; Engineering.<br />

What's the right carb for you? IIT Guwahati's device helps detect glycemic index in 5 mins

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5cef3aeb11e2052635560db4-2400/2019-05-30t020631z1lynxnpef4t048rtroptp4usa-hydrogen-aircraft.jpg" alt="Alaka'i Technologies unveils a model of a working prototype of Skai, a hydrogen fuel cell powered multi-rotor aircraft the company designed to carry up to five passengers, during an event in Newbury Park, California, U.S., May 29, 2019.  REUTERS/Andrew Cullen" /><p>Hello, and welcome to Power Line, a weekly clean-energy newsletter from Business Insider. </p><p>Here's what you need to know:</p><ul><li><a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/power-line">Sign up here</a> to get Power Line in your inbox every Friday.</li><li>Most of our coverage is available exclusively to BI Prime subscribers. If you're looking for a discount on a subscription to BI Prime, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/prime-discount?r=birefer-bjoneshttps://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/prime-discount?r=birefer-bjones">click here</a>.  </li><li>I'm looking for people who have moved from the oil sector to clean-energy focused companies. Is that you? Or do you know someone? <a href="mailto:bjones@businessinsider.com">Send me an email</a>.</li></ul><p>After two days in Miami - where I did not get even the suggestion of a tan - I jumped into a few little-known industries that experts say are shaping the future energy economy. And seeing as it's the last day of January, I took one last opportunity to look back at 2019. </p><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e34512a24306a1d8d59b473-1929/gettyimages-1188722052.jpg" alt="Hydrogen gas tank" /><h2><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-hydrogen-fuel-industry-explainer-2020-1"><strong>Do you eat? Then you probably rely on hydrogen gas - and chances are, it's dirty.</strong></a></h2><p><strong>First, some context:</strong> Hydrogen is an element - the lightest one, actually. </p><ul><li>So light, that we once used it to make blimps like the Hindenburg float. </li><li>We don't do that anymore, thankfully. But hydrogen gas still plays a major role in our economy.</li><li>It's used in the production of steel, refined oil, and ammonia - which is used, in turn, to make fertilizer to grow food. </li></ul><p><strong>The big problem:</strong> Today, pretty much all of that hydrogen comes from fossil fuels. Of course. </p><ul><li>The industry emits <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-hydrogen-fuel-industry-explainer-2020-1">830 million metric tons</a> of carbon dioxide each year as a result, according to the International Energy Agency. </li></ul><p><strong>The big opportunity: </strong>You can also make hydrogen gas by splitting molecules of water using a process called electrolysis. </p><ul><li>It requires electricity, as the name would suggest, but if you use renewable power then the resulting hydrogen gas is emissions-free. Industry calls it green hydrogen. </li><li>Green hydrogen is becoming more economically viable as the price of renewables plummets. </li><li>Plus, as more clean energy comes online, there are periods when there is literally too much energy on the grid. Experts say: Why not use it to make hydrogen?</li></ul><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e34514d5bc79c15be401293-2400/gettyimages-1049237212.jpg" alt="Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car" /><h2><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-hydrogen-fuel-industry-explainer-2020-1"><strong>Hydrogen could really do so much more </strong></a></h2><p>Yep, we're still talking about this gas. Because like this Sunday's halftime show, it has BIG potential. (Don't expect any more sports references from me.)</p><p>And here's why:</p><ul><li>When you burn hydrogen as a fuel source it produces a ton of energy and only water and heat as byproducts. No carbon emissions.</li><li>You can also use it in a fuel cell, which is similar to an electrochemical battery. </li></ul><p>So then, where are my hydrogen cars and helicopters at? </p><ul><li>There are, in fact, thousands of hydrogen vehicles on the road, sold by Toyota, Hyundai, and other automotive giants. <a href="https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/alakai-skai-fuel-cell-electric-helicopter/">There's a chopper in the works, too. </a></li><li>But owing to its chemical properties, hydrogen is difficult to transfer and store. As a result, it's still expensive and fueling infrastructure is limited. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-hydrogen-fuel-industry-explainer-2020-1">(Startups are working out this problem.)</a></li><li>Experts I spoke to said hydrogen fuel cells will become more common - but they'll most likely be adopted by heavy duty vehicles and trains, for which lithium-ion batteries are less practical. </li></ul><p>If you're looking for more hydrogen, read <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-hydrogen-fuel-industry-explainer-2020-1">my full story here</a>. I'm ready to move on. </p><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e32e74024306a0c2f07a847-2400/140d2cb9690b45bcb2813bdb242ed708.jpg" alt="FILE - In this Nov. 26, 2018, file photo, a Pacific Gas &amp; Electric lineman works to repair a power line in fire-ravaged Paradise, Calif. Pacific Gas &amp; Electric said Wednesday, June 19, 2019, that it discovered around 1,000 high-priority safety risks on its transmission lines and distribution poles over several months of inspections, though several have been fixed. A PG&amp;E official said most of the problems have been fixed. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)" /><h2><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/3-little-known-industries-shaping-the-future-global-energy-economy-2020-1"><strong>The other little-known industry I'm watching</strong></a></h2><p>A leading clean-tech research firm <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cleantech-group-report-reveals-trends-shaping-the-energy-industry-2020-1">released its list</a> of the top 100 startups last week, and a large chunk of them fall into the category of distributed energy resource (DER) management.</p><p><strong>OK, OK</strong> … that word jumble isn't likely to bring anyone to the edge of their seat, but it really should. </p><p><strong>What is DER?</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/3-little-known-industries-shaping-the-future-global-energy-economy-2020-1">I cover it here</a>, but basically it's a fancy way of describing something that could store or discharge power to the grid that's not part of the region's central energy source, such as the utility. </p><ul><li>That includes things like Teslas, in-home battery packs, rooftop solar panels, and even refrigerators. </li></ul><p><strong>And DER management? </strong>It's essentially tools or software to make sure that all of those different energy sources on the grid are integrated.</p><ul><li>DER management a win-win for customers and utilities: Theoretically, the consumer would be compensated for discharging energy back to the grid, while the utility has more power sources to draw from in times of need. </li><li>By times of need, I mean when there's a lull in clean energy sources, such as during long cloudy spells in a region dependent on solar. </li></ul><p><strong>FYI: </strong>Experts told me another sector to watch is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/3-little-known-industries-shaping-the-future-global-energy-economy-2020-1">building energy management</a>. That includes everything from smart thermostats to sensors that measure the energy use of individual appliances in your home. </p><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e31c8c024306a58286b16f8-1667/vc battery storage funding.png" alt="vc battery storage funding" /><h2><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/9-battery-startups-that-scored-the-biggest-vc-deals-2019-2020-1"><strong>These battery startups scored the biggest deals in 2019</strong></a></h2><p>It's funny. When I started on this beat, a prominent clean energy investor said "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/clean-energy-investor-tom-blum-wont-bet-on-batteries-2020-1">don't invest in batteries</a>." But last year, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/9-battery-startups-that-scored-the-biggest-vc-deals-2019-2020-1">VC funding of battery tech doubled</a>. Ha ha. </p><p>So who scored the biggest deals? <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/9-battery-startups-that-scored-the-biggest-vc-deals-2019-2020-1#northvolt-1-billion-9">The full list is here</a>, with data supplied by Mercom Capital Group.  </p><ul><li>Startups developing lithium-ion batteries, largely for electric vehicles, like Sweden's Northvolt were big winners. Li-ion is likely to dominate the battery market for years to come, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/form-energy-battery-startup-disrupting-the-industry-2020-1">analysts say</a>. </li><li>Companies developing alternative technologies for long-duration storage like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/form-energy-battery-startup-disrupting-the-industry-2020-1">Form Energy</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/form-energy-battery-startup-disrupting-the-industry-2020-1">which I profiled last week</a>, also scored deals. If we want to get close to 100% renewable energy, experts say we need longer-lasting batteries. </li></ul><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e33663662fa813a150efbd3-2400/solar csp 1.jpg" alt="Engie Solar CSP 1" /><h2><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-10-clean-energy-firms-sold-most-power-last-year-2020-1"><strong>The top energy firms supplying clean energy to corporate giants in 2019</strong></a></h2><p>This morning, I took a look at the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-10-clean-energy-firms-sold-most-power-last-year-2020-1">winners in a record year for corporate buying</a> of clean energy. </p><ul><li>Corporations like Google and Facebook signed contracts to purchase 19.5 gigawatts of renewable energy in 2019 - 44% more than in 2018, which was already a record year. </li><li>BloombergNEF, which supplied the data, says corporate sustainability commitments - which are raining from the sky - have something to do with it. </li></ul><p><strong>So you know:</strong> A watt is a measure of the amount of energy used in a given moment, and a gigawatt (GW) is a billion watts. </p><ul><li>That's a lot of power, equivalent to the energy capacity of a little over 3 million solar panels, 431 utility-scale wind turbines, or 100 million LED bulbs, according to the US Department of Energy.</li></ul><p><strong>What I'm interested in: </strong>the companies on the other side of these deals that are supplying all of that renewable energy. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-10-clean-energy-firms-sold-most-power-last-year-2020-1#3-apex-clean-energy-651-mw-8">See the list of top 10 here.</a> </p><ul><li>They're mostly big US-firms like 7X Energy. And that makes sense because US companies bought most of the power in 2019 (though the top company was French). </li><li>Twice as much of the energy is coming from wind vs. solar in these deals. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hedge-fund-lansdowne-partners-is-investing-in-wind-vs-solar-2020-1">Read why some mega investors think wind is a way better investment.</a></li></ul><h2><strong>3 big stories I didn't cover </strong></h2><ul><li><strong>Planting billions of trees won't simply solve climate change.</strong> James Temple outlines several shortcomings to that approach for <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/s/615102/tree-planting-is-a-great-idea-that-could-become-a-dangerous-climate-distraction/">MIT Technology Review.</a> </li><li><strong>Renewable energy is on pace to overcome natural gas in the US. </strong>Last year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said natural gas would remain the top energy by 2050.<a href="https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo/"> Now, it says renewables will take the top spot. </a></li><li><strong>It was a good year for Tesla's storage and solar businesses, <a href="https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/has-tesla-ended-its-solar-slide">Greentech Media's Emma Foehringer Merchant reports</a></strong>. </li></ul><h2><strong>Finally, a few updates </strong></h2><ul><li>The carbon capture startups <strong>Climeworks </strong>and<strong> Svante</strong> <a href="https://www.climeworks.com/global-carbon-capture-technology-leaders-svante-and-climeworks-agree-to-collaborate-on-solutions-for-a-net-zero-emissions-world/">announced</a> they're forming a partnership to scale up their technologies. They'll remain financially independent. </li><li>Smart-grid startup <strong>AutoGrid</strong> <a href="https://www.auto-grid.com/news/autogrid-and-schneider-electric-announce-a-fully-integrated-adms-and-derms-solution-to-digitize-the-electric-grid-of-the-future/">announced</a> a partnership with Schneider Electric. </li></ul><p>That's it! Have a great weekend. PS: Here's a cute lizard I saw in Miami. </p><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e34528c62fa812b0668eb26-2400/img1355.jpg" alt="Lizard" /><p class="tagline"><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/bi-intelligence-daily?IR=T&amp;itm_source=businessinsider&amp;itm_medium=ctgr_bii&amp;itm_term=ctgr_subscription&amp;itm_content=microsoft&amp;itm_campaign=bi-intelligence-daily"><img src="https://static.businessinsider.com/image/5dc428a57eece546b8629657" alt="Signup Today: Free Daily Newsletter from Business Insider Intelligence" style="width: 100% !important" /></a></p>

Power Line: Top battery startups, and a look inside the booming hydrogen industry

<p><em><a href="http://www.horizons.gc.ca/eng" target="_blank">Policy Horizons Canada</a> worked with futurist and data visualizer <a href="http://www.michellzappa.com/" target="_blank">Michell Zappa</a> of <a href="http://envisioningtech.com/" target="_blank">Envisioning</a> to produce a report called <a href="http://www.horizons.gc.ca/eng/content/metascan-3-emerging-technologies-0" target="_blank">MetaScan 3: Emerging Technologies</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/emerging-technologies-that-will-change-the-world-2014-4">accompanying infographics</a>. We are reproducing the summary for <a href="http://www.horizons.gc.ca/eng/content/nanotechnology-and-materials-science">emerging nano technologies and materials science.</a><div class="KonaFilter image-container full"><div class="image"><a href="http://www.horizons.gc.ca/eng/content/metascan-3-emerging-technologies-0"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5358200aeab8ea88076f7e30-1024-576/8536981794_8fe6af7d5a_b.jpg?maxX=800" border="0" alt="Quantum Hydrogen on Graphene" width="800" /></a><p class="source"><span>Erlend Davidson (Thomas Young Centre, London)/UCL Mathematical and Physical Sciences </span></p><p class="caption">Graphene. </p></div><p></p></div></em>Next-generation materials include super-light materials and active materials that react to changes in their environment and ultimately smart materials that explain how they are doing. Functional materials follow by borrowing ideas from biology to improve performance and add new behaviours. Self-assembling materials are about making large-scale products that are more precise, enabling better properties (strength, tear resistance, conductivity, etc.).</p>
<p>We have included predictions based on consultation with experts of when each technology will be scientifically viable (the kind of stuff that Google, governments, and universities develop), mainstream (when VCs and startups widely invest in it), and financially viable (when the technology is generally available on Kickstarter).</p>
<h2>Next-Generation</h2>
<p><strong>Superomniphobic materials:</strong> Inspired by water bugs that float on liquid surfaces, these materials repel both oily and watery fluids.</p>
<p>Scientifically viable today; mainstream and financially viable in 2015.</p>
<p><strong>Auxetic materials:</strong> When stretched, auxetic materials become thicker perpendicular to the applied force. This occurs due to their hinge-like structures, which flex when stretched. Auxetics may be useful in applications such as body armor, packing material, knee and elbow pads, robust shock absorbing material, and sponge mops.</p>
<p>Scientifically viable in 2016; mainstream and financially viable in 2017.</p>
<p><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5006f118ecad044e31000001-590-415/aerographite-four.png" border="0" alt="Aerographite" /><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.uni-kiel.de/aktuell/pm/2012/2012-212-aerographit-e.shtml">TUHH</a></span></p><p class="caption">Aerographite, the lightest material in the world. </p></div><p></p></div></div>Aerogel:</strong> A synthetic porous ultralight material derived from a gel, in which the liquid component of the gel has been replaced with a gas. The result is a solid with extremely low density and thermal conductivity which feels like polystyrene (styrofoam) to the touch. Potential applications include improved thermal insulation, chemical absorber for cleaning up spills, electrochemical supercapacitors and shock absorption.</p>
<p>Scientifically viable in 2015; mainstream in 2019; and financially viable in 2021.</p>
<p><strong>Thermo-bimetals:</strong> Thermally activated bimetals would allow for panes of glass capable of becoming shades when exposed to the sun, self-regulating energy consumption throughout the day.</p>
<p>Scientifically viable in 2019; mainstream in 2021; and financially viable in 2022.</p>
<p><strong>Smart materials: </strong>Designed materials that have one or more properties that can be significantly changed in a controlled fashion by external stimuli, such as stress, temperature, moisture, pH, electric or magnetic fields.</p>
<p>Scientifically viable in 2021; mainstream in 2025; and financially viable in 2027.</p>
<h2>Functional</h2>
<p><strong>Biomaterials:</strong> Derived either from nature or synthesized in the laboratory, biomaterials can be used to enhance or replace natural functions in the body. Already used to a small degree, future biomaterials have the potential of improving drug delivery (by permitting extended drug release) or to improve grafting in transplants.</p>
<p>Scientifically viable in 2014; mainstream in 2016; and financially viable in 2017.</p>
<p><strong>Meta-materials:</strong> Materials with a precise shape, geometry and arrangement which can affect light and sound in unconventional manners. Potential applications are diverse, including remote aerospace applications, infrastructure monitoring, smart solar power management, public safety, improving ultrasonic sensors, and even shielding structures from earthquakes.</p>
<p>Scientifically viable in 2018; mainstream in 2019; and financially viable in 2021.</p>
<p><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/4e1c0d23ccd1d5ca6d0a0000-750-600/750px-Graphen.jpg" border="0" alt="graphene" /><p class="source"><span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Graphen.jpg">en.wikipedia.org</a></span></p><p class="caption">The molecular structure of graphene. </p></div><p></p></div></div>Graphene:</strong> A substance composed of pure carbon with atoms arranged in a regular hexagonal pattern similar to graphite, but in a one-atom thick sheet. With a 1-square-meter sheet weighing only 0.77 mg, the material is incredibly light yet strong. Potential applications are incredibly diverse, and include: Components with higher strength to weight ratios, lower cost solar cells, lower cost display screens in mobile devices, storing hydrogen for fuel cell powered cars, medical sensors, faster charging batteries, ultracapacitors, chemical sensors and many others.</p>
<p>Scientifically viable in 2016; mainstream in 2022; and financially viable in 2025.</p>
<p><strong>Nanoelectricmechanical systems (NEMS): </strong>Devices integrating electrical and mechanical functionality on the nanoscale. NEMS typically integrate transistor-like nanoelectronics with mechanical actuators, pumps, or motors, and may thereby form physical, biological, and chemical sensors.</p>
<p>Scientifically viable in 2023; mainstream in 2025; and financially viable in 2027.</p>
<h2>Self-Assembling</h2>
<p><strong><br /><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/535ecbcbecad0442321f732b-686-417/screen%20shot%202014-04-28%20at%205.44.06%20pm.png" border="0" alt="Self-healing concrete" /><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJc8Xyk3w9o">Totally Concrete Club/YouTube</a></span></p><p class="caption">Self-healing concrete. </p></div><p></p></div></div>Self-healing materials:</strong> A class of smart materials that have the structurally incorporated ability to repair damage caused by mechanical usage over time. The inspiration comes from biological systems, which have the ability to heal after being wounded. A material (polymers, ceramics, etc.) that can intrinsically correct damage caused by normal usage could lower production costs of a number of different industrial processes through longer part lifetime, reduction of inefficiency over time caused by degradation, as well as prevent costs incurred by material failure.</p>
<p>Scientifically viable in 2016; mainstream in 2018; and financially viable in 2019.</p>
<p><strong>Controlled self-assembly:</strong> Machines that manipulate individual atoms with organism-like self-replicating abilities. These bottom-up, atomically precise 3D printers would be able to carefully create sequences of DNA, RNA or protein.</p>
<p>Scientifically viable in 2013; mainstream and financially viable in 2022.</p>
<p><strong>Large-scale self-assembling materials:</strong> A process in which a disordered system of pre-existing components forms an organized structure or pattern as a consequence of specific, local interactions among the components themselves, without external direction. Such materials could potentially heal themselves and grow/contract on cue.</p>
<p>Scientifically viable in 2023; mainstream in 2024; and financially viable in 2025.</p>
<p><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5241ed646bb3f73f76ab832e-750-600/750px-n2_2.kesit.jpg" border="0" alt="nanofiber" /><p class="source"><span>Wikimedia</span></p><p class="caption">Nanofibers. </p></div><p></p></div></div>Nanofactories:</strong> A proposed system in which nanomachines would combine reactive molecules via mechanosynthesis to build larger, atomically precise parts. These, in turn, would be assembled by positioning mechanisms of increasing size to build macroscopic (human-scale) products that remain atomically precise.</p>
<p>Scientifically viable and mainstream in 2026; financially viable in 2027.</p>

13 Emerging Nanotechnologies And Materials That Will Change The World

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/551328566da811ac5a3dfda9-1200-924/david-eagleman-ted-2015.png?maxX=600" border="0" alt="David Eagleman TED 2015" width="600"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/david_eagleman_can_we_create_new_senses_for_humans">TED</a></span></p><p class="caption">Eagleman wears a vest that translates sound into vibration and plays that vibration against his skin - something that he's shown can work as a hearing replacement for a deaf person - and it's 40 times cheaper than a cochlear implant and doesn't require brain surgery.</p></img></div><p></p></div>We see a pitiful percentage of what's happening around us at all times.<p>It's not just that we're not looking. It's that our the parts of our body that we use to process the world around us - eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin - have a very limited range.</p><p>We talk about the visible light spectrum and the range of sound we can hear, but that slice of the world that we perceive (which of course has a German word to describe it, "umwelt") is "less than a 10-trillionth" of what's out there, according to neuroscientist David Eagleman, <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/david_eagleman_can_we_create_new_senses_for_humans">speaking at TED 2015</a> in Vancouver.</p><p>But there might be ways for us to learn to change that so we can see more of what's out there. Technology and neuroscience together could potentially give us new senses that open up far more of the world.</p><p>The key, as Eagleman explains, is the brain's ability to take in information and interpret it in a way that we understand.</p><p>The senses that we have take in visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile information; but all they send to the brain are electrochemical signals.</p><p>"Amazingly," says Eagleman, "the brain is really good at taking in these signals and extracting patterns and assigning meaning, so that it takes this inner cosmos and puts together a story of this, your subjective world."</p><p>Already, some deaf and blind people whose external senses don't function can get cochlear or retinal implants. These aren't real eyes or ears but still take in audio or visual data and send signals to the brain that it can read. Using those constructed devices, we've essentially replaced natural sensory inputs.</p><p>That's impressive, but the brain is even more flexible and more able to take in information than that, Eagleman says.</p><p>Cochlear and retinal implants require a direct, surgically-implanted connection to the brain, but there are other non-invasive inputs that can replace our senses.</p><p>One new fascinating device conveys information from a camera into a little plug that a blind person can put on top of their tongue. The plug translates the video feed into little bumps that can then be felt and are interpreted by the part of the brain that helps people "see," the visual cortex.</p><p>In the video below, you can see someone learning to "see" using the device, called a brainport.&#xa0;</p><div><div><iframe width="480" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xNkw28fz9u0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div><p>More experienced users are even able to shoot baskets.</p><p>During the TED talk, Eagleman demonstrated a <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/324375300/vest-a-sensory-substitution-neuroscience-project">vest his lab has designed</a> that can do the same sort of sensory substitution for the deaf. It turns sound into vibration that a wearer feels through the vest. He shows a video in which a deaf person who has just learned to use it over the past few days can "listen" to someone else, using the vest, and write the words they are saying on a whiteboard.</p><p>The vest is still being developed and according to his <a href="http://www.eagleman.com/research/sensory-substitution">website</a>, the research is still under review, so it isn't proven technology yet, but this could potentially open up a much cheaper way to restore hearing for people around the world.</p><p>Even though those signals don't go through the ear to the brain (or in the case of the brainport, the eye to the brain), the brain is still able to interpret them.</p><p>That's still sensory substitution. The potential future here - and one thing that Eagleman's really excited about - is sensory addition.</p><p>Look at all the strange peripheral inputs you find in nature.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5514399eecad04f635fff1e1-1200-706/screen%20shot%202015-03-25%20at%205.23.14%20pm.png" border="0" alt="animal sensors"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/david_eagleman_can_we_create_new_senses_for_humans">TED</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>The star-nosed mole has appendages that feel the world around it, many birds can sense the magnetic fields of the planet, some snakes have heat pits that function as infrared sensors, and fish like the ghost knifefish above have electroreceptors so they can detect other living things.</p><p>If we had different sensory inputs, or as Eagleman refers to them, "peripheral devices", would our brains come up with a way to understand that new data?</p><p>Very possibly.</p><p>Eagleman's lab is already testing it, using the same vest to let drone pilots feel the "pitch and yaw and orientation and heading" of their quadcopter, something that he says improves their ability to fly.</p><p>So what's next?</p><p>As Eagleman says:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">As we move into the future, we're going to increasingly be able to choose our own peripheral devices. We no longer have to wait for Mother Nature's sensory gifts on her timescales, but instead, like any good parent, she's given us the tools that we need to go out and define our own trajectory. So the question now is, how do you want to go out and experience your universe?</p><p>Check out the full TED talk:</p><div><div><iframe src="https://embed-ssl.ted.com/talks/david_eagleman_can_we_create_new_senses_for_humans.html" width="854" height="480" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/beauty-standards-family-values-china-2015-2">What the Chinese saying 'The ugly wife is a treasure at home' actually means</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="A2ZDA2czqSqbJOFG5SDDrvRmvRoUjAPm" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'A2ZDA2czqSqbJOFG5SDDrvRmvRoUjAPm',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

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