DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF by Maryanne Kane, Journalist

DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF 

By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane

TIME FOR LUNAR WINE?

                                                                Source:  NASA & Stock

• NASA plans to grow plants on the lunar surface during the Artemis Mission 2026.  Here's what we know:
• First steps are underway to grow samples in miniature lunar greenhouses that will test whether plants will be able to grow in lunar colonies, called the LEAF experiment
• A series of capsules or growth chambers will be deployed to the Moon containing plant samples that will protect plants from radiation and sunlight
• Astronauts will monitor growth
• Goal:  plants will play an important role in establishing human colonies in space
• Initial plants selected:

1. Duckweed - Fast growing and high in protein
2. Thale Cress - Fully genome mapped so easy to spot mutations
3. Brassica Rapa - relative of the cabbage that could test viability of future crops

• No word on planting wine grapes yet
• But if lunar wine tastes fine, it could be an other-worldly experience for all of us.

TIME FOR LUNAR POWER? 

                                       Source:  Stock & Tesla

• Elon Musk is attempting to generate energy from moonlight with his LunaRoof powered by AI.  Here are some key facts:
• This is groundbreaking solar technology that also works with moonlight
• The new solar panels harvest energy from the sun and bright moonlight
• Very innovative approach to generating alternative source of energy
• Musk and his team have developed a new class of solar molecules that harvest energy even from moonlight
• Called the LunaRoof and just unveiled by Tesla
• Tesla has developed new technology that capitalizes on what's being called a new engineering wonder, Chronolithyst, a synthetic crystal
• The Chronolithyst is coated over the solar panel and is combined with AI tech to extract energy from both the Sun and Moon
• Tesla and Musk collaborated with Stanford University on this breakthrough that essentially amplifies moonlight coming into the system to allow it to be harvested
• It's being called a nighttime energy revolution
• Traditional solar power systems lose their ability to produce energy at sunset; this one extracts energy from moonlight
• Ultimate goal:  24x7 solar panel energy production
• More testing on the system is needed but 1st deliveries are targeted for early 2025.

"Daily Innovation Brief"© By Edward Kane