Important Innovations

First Arab Mission to Mars Source:  Launch of H-2A rocket with Hope onboard Source:  NASA Artist Rendering Spectacular Launch and Congratulations from NASA A Japanese H-2A rocket launched the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Hope Mission to Mars this morning.  Within an hour of the flight, the rocket's upper stage released the Hope Mission satellite.  Hope is using its solar panels to power its systems, including its communications system. Hope notified controllers at the Space Center in Dubai of the successful separation.  The Dubai Center is overseeing the orbiter's 306,957,369 mile journey at 75,185 miles per hour speeds to Mars. First Arab Interplanetary Mission This is the first Arab interplanetary mission.  The Hope mission is designed to demonstrate the UAE's scientific, technological and space capabilities.  Hope is a 2,976 pound satellite designed and developed at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) in the UAE.  It will ar...

ASU's Thunderbird School of Global Management 2020 Grads Source:  Arizona State University - Dean Khagram Virtual Graduation Ceremony with Robots At Arizona State University, there will be a graduation ceremony for the Thunderbird School of Global Management Class of 2020 graduates. But it will be technologically awesome, memorable  and very different.  In the middle of the pandemic and lock-down in Arizona, telepresence robots, known as avatar robots,  have come to the rescue and saved the day.  It's graduation by telepresence and it's a virtual graduation ceremony.  May 11, 2020 is graduation day. Technology to the Rescue The telepresense robots will give students a chance to "walk in" the ceremony.  The robots will stand in place and be awarded each students' degree in a virtual ceremony. Live audio and video on each robot will allow the students to experience the ceremony in real-time. Much ...

First Arab Nation to Launch Interplanetary Mission Source:  Emirates Mars Probe/University of Colorado UAE To Launch Mars Probe to Document Martian Climate and Atmosphere The United Arab Emirates has big space ambitions and plans.  It is going to launch a mission to Mars in 2020, making it the first Arab nation to launch an interplanetary mission.  The Hope Mars probe will deploy the Hope Satellite to study the climate on Mars. Destination Mars 2021 When the Hope satellite reaches Mars in 2021, it will show how Mars' climate conditions change throughout the year.  The satellite will be launched from Japan in June 2020.  It will reach Mars in February 2021 and collect data for two years.  The mission could be extended through 2025.  Interesting, a female scientists is a key player behind the mission.  Sarah Al Amiri is deputy project manager of the Mars Mission and Chairperson of the UAE Council of Scientists.  90% of th...

Mechanical Trees Pull Carbon Dioxide from the Air Source:  Arizona State University New Technology for a Cleaner Environment Researchers at Arizona State University have invented Mechanical Trees, a new technology that pulls carbon dioxide out of the air and captures it for reuse.  Just 12 trees are capable of removing 1 metric ton of CO2 a day for less than $100 a ton.  That's a significant cost advantage and the team says the technology is ready for commercialization.  For more details, go to Important Innovations Collection: Mechanical Trees For Cleaner Environment : New Tech to Cut, Capture & Reuse CO2 Source:  Arizona State University A Start to Reducing Climate Change A team at Arizona Sta...

American-Chinese Scientists Collaborative Success in Fighting Cancer Medical Nanorobots Chinese and American scientists have successfully developed nanorobots using DNA origami that shrink cancer tumors by cutting off their blood supply.  The team includes scientists from Arizona State University and the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of the Chinese Academy of Science. Tiny But Effective Therapy The nanorobots are composed of DNA origami which is 1000 times smaller than the width of a human hair.  DNA origami is expected to revolutionize medicine.  In this cancer breakthrough, a blood clotting enzyme is attached to the surface of the nanorobots.  In effect, this therapy cuts off the blood supply to the tumor, stopping its growth and leading to tumor tissue death. Nanomedicine First This is the first, fully autonomous DNA robotic system for targeted cancer therapy.  The nanorobots are programmed to attack cancer cells.  They did so ...