Emerging technologies are targeting significant challenges in both the energy and medical sectors. In the field of nuclear power, which currently accounts for approximately 9% of global electricity, researchers are exploring laser enrichment as a method to improve fuel production. By utilizing lasers to isolate specific uranium materials from existing waste, companies like Global Laser Enrichment are preparing to test the viability of this process at a commercial scale, potentially supporting the development of new reactors.
Simultaneously, the medical field is seeing progress in the difficult task of organ preservation. Traditionally, freezing organs results in irreparable damage due to the formation of ice crystals. However, a research team has successfully supercooled pig kidneys to -4 °C (25 °F), allowing the organs to be preserved for several days before being reimplanted. This development marks a notable step forward in the ongoing effort to extend the viability of donor organs outside the body.
Source: MIT Technology Review
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.