DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF by Maryanne Kane, Journalist

 DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF              

By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane

MY PLANTS ARE SWIFTIES

                                    

                                                                Source:  Stock

• New research indicates that plants benefit from the sound of music. When surrounded by an environment with audible music, presumably including Taylor Swift, plants grow more leaves, produce more fruit and absorb more sunshine.  Here's what we know about this groundbreaking research:

1. New research demonstrates that plants surrounded by music produce 10% more leaves, provide more fruit and absorb more sunshine than plants not surrounded by music
2. In fact, the impact of music on plants is immediate and significant
3. The findings come from scientists at China's Tiajin Normal University
4. They subjected duckweed, which is a common pond plant, to 5 hours of music - The Purple Butterfly by Bandari - over 7 days and got healthier plant results
5. These findings are so remarkable, it's generating discussion of a new form of farming - acoustic farming with music for plants to help them thrive.

RADICAL NEW TYPE OF FLYING CAR

                                          Source:  LuftCar

• Florida-based flying car startup LuftCar just received a $100 million investment, from the private equity group GEM, to scale its prototype vehicle for commercialization.  Here's what we know:

1. This is a flying and driving vehicle whose design is radically different than other flying cars we're covered
2. It looks like a car being flown by the airplane above it  
3. The flying component, called the Forklift, attaches to the ground vehicle for flight
4. It's an eVTOL - all electric with vertical takeoff and landing
5. Powered by hydrogen fuel cell
6. Currently a 2-seater but will be a 5-seater
7. Can hit an altitude of 4000 feet
8. Range of 300 miles
9. Speed in the air up to 200 miles
10. Modular vehicle design
11. Targeted for multiple uses, including regional passenger commuting, emergency service and cargo shipping

• LuftCar has substantial investment backing, unique aviation & car technology and is a hot new flying car to watch develop.

SWEDISH FLAT-PACKABLE CAR - ONE OF A KIND

                                                                            Source:  Luvly

• Luvly O is a light, urban commuting vehicle, a microcar that's built for safety, that Sweden's Luvly EV maker just unveiled. It's uniquely designed to be delivered in flat-packed pieces. Here's what we know:

1. This car is designed for packable, stackable, flat delivery like an IKEA piece of furniture
2. Unlike other ultra-light cars, it is styled on a F1 racecar with a "sandwich structure" that includes a large sheet of aluminum padded on both sides with foam for protection in the event of an accident
3. It is ready for self-assembly, but to be road legal, it has to be assembled by a licensed car plant
4. Range - 62 miles
5. Top speed - 55 mph
6. Weight - 992 pounds
7. Runs on two rechargeable 16 kilogram batteries that are swappable
8. Launches in 2024 at $10,500
9. Very unusable electric vehicle designed with Swedish minimalism and for a better environment
10. Vehicles like this are likely to be a big part of the future of zero-emissions driving. 

 "Daily Innovation Brief"© By Edward Kane