Important Innovations

  D AILY INNOVATION BRIEF                                                                                                          By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane WORLD 1st: SPACE SOLAR POWER BEAMED TO EARTH                                                                 Source:  Caltech & Stock In a world first, scientists from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have wirelessly beamed clean space solar power to earth It's a powerful source of sustainable energy, never blocked by clouds or darkness & was first envisioned by science fiction writer Isac Asimov in 1941 Wireless beaming was achieved by an instrument called MAPLE (Microwave Array for Power Transfer Low-orbit Experiment) that's aboard the spacecraft Space Polar Power Demonstrator, which was created and launched by Caltech to harvest solar power in space and send it to Earth to specific locations as a permanent energy source It's estimated that space-based harvesters can pull i

   D AILY INNOVATION BRIEF                                                                                                          By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane WORLD 1st: SPACE SOLAR POWER BEAMED TO EARTH                                                                                        Source:  Caltech & Stock In a world first, scientists from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have wirelessly beamed clean space solar power to earth It's a powerful source of sustainable energy, never blocked by clouds or darkness & was first envisioned by science fiction writer Isac Asimov in 1941 Wireless beaming was achieved by an instrument called MAPLE (Microwave Array for Power Transfer Low-orbit Experiment) that's aboard the spacecraft Space Polar Power Demonstrator, which was created and launched by Caltech to harvest solar power in space and send it to Earth to specific locations as a permanent energy source It's estimated that space-bas

  24/7 Clean Energy Source From Space                                   Source:  Caltech Solar Space Project Wireless Energy Transfers Beamed From Space The concept is brilliant and it goes back to the 19th century when the great innovator Nikola Tesla mused about a "wireless energy transfer".  Now in the 21st century, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) researchers are developing a system of wirelessly beaming solar energy from outer space to Earth.  They envision the launch of huge numbers of tiny solar panels into outer space where the Sun never sets.  The panels would beam back to Earth solar energy 24/7.  It has the potential of being a game changing source of clean, green energy for worldwide distribution.  According to lead researcher Michael Kelzenberg of Caltech, the unique beauty of space solar power is its ability to deliver huge quantities of solar energy both day and night. Testing Starts in 2022 Space solar power is not a dream for the distant future. 

California Institute of Technology's New Space-Based, Solar Energy Generating System                             Caltech space-based solar power system                                                                                 Wireless Power Transfer                                                                                  Photovoltaics                                                       Source:  Caltech Ultralight Structures $100 Million Donation Helping to Fund the Research Researchers at California Institute of Technology are preparing to test what they call a "breakthrough" space-based, solar power generating technology system that would beam solar energy to Earth.  Caltech and its Space-based Solar Power Project have received a $100 million donation from Caltech Board of Trustee member and Chairman of the Irvine Co. Donald Bren to fund the research.  The technology that they are preparing to test is phenomenal.  It aims to ultimately produce a global su

Caltech's Solar Power System For Earth From Space                             Caltech space-based solar power system                                                                                 Wireless Power Transfer                                                                                  Photovoltaics                                                       Source:  Caltech Ultralight Structures $100 Million Donation Helping to Fund the Research Researchers at California Institute of Technology are preparing to test what they call a "breakthrough" space-based, solar power generating technology system that would beam solar energy to Earth.  Caltech and its Space-based Solar Power Project have received a $100 million donation from Caltech Board of Trustee member and Chairman of the Irvine Co. Donald Bren to fund the research.  The technology that they are preparing to test is phenomenal.  It aims to ultimately produce a global supply of affordable, renewable energ

  New California Institute of Technology Research                                                                 Source:  NASA Milky Way Likelihood of Alien Life on the Milky Way Physicists at California Institute of Technology have used astronomy and statistical modelling to map the probable existence of life on the Milky Way.  Three Caltech physicists have precisely mapped where and when life is most likely to exist in the Milky Way.  Essentially they modelled the evolution of the Milky Way over time.  They used key factors necessary for the development of intelligent life such as Sun-like stars accompanied by Earth-like planets, time necessary for intelligent life to evolve and the frequency of deadly radiation from supernovas. Findings The scientists used time and space metrics to measure the  most likely locations for the presence of life.  They found the greatest probability of the existence of life at 13,000 light years from the galaxy center and 8 billion years after the galax

  Quantum Teleportation                               Source: Quantum Teleportation Image Quantum Internet From NASA, Caltech, Fermilab Scientists from NASA, Caltech and Fermilab have achieved long distance quantum teleportation, which lays the groundwork for quantum internet and quantum computing.  Their achievement is a world first and they sustained the quantum internet for 27 miles.  The exciting potential of this is internet networks that carry data faster than the speed of light.  The scientists add the networks would be un-hackable. Breakthrough Technology The team built a 27 mile long quantum internet linking their California labs.  It teleports signals instantly.  This is the first time that long distance quantum teleportation - the instant transfer of  quantum information or qubits - was demonstrated to work.  It lays the groundwork for  quantum internet, which would revolutionize computing and communications. Working At the Speed of Light Quantum systems are more secure than

US Scientists Enable Jellyfish to Swim 3-times Faster Source:  Caltech New Invention with Big Potential to Monitor Health of Oceans Scientists at Stanford University and Caltech have created a pacemaker-like device that enables natural jellyfish to swim three times their normal speed.  The microelectronic, pulsing, tiny, prosthetic device generates electric jolts that make the fish triple their speed while using just twice as much energy.  The scientists and engineers involved in the project says the device causes no additional stress to the sea creatures.  They say the potential for this system is as vast as the ocean itself. Network of Live Ocean Monitors The scientific team says the combination of speed and energy efficiency from this device opens the possibility of using jellyfish to gather data from across the world's oceans. They envision equipping the jellyfish with sensors to track ocean temperatures, salinity and oxygen levels.  They say this could

Shapeshifter Exploring New Distant Worlds Source:  NASA/CalTech Concept Source:  NASA Drone of Drones NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab at Caltech has just introduced the drone of drones.  Right now, it separates into two different units:  two shapes to explore new distant worlds and new habitats.  It's a prototype and is made of several small, quadcopter drones calls cobots.  The cobots have propellers and fly independently and the system reassembles to roll on the ground. The future for the concept is much bigger.  The Shapeshifter would be made up of a number of small robots that can easily self-assemble into larger robots and disassemble as the mission requires, particularly in space. The mini-robots will be able to fly, roll, float and swim and then morph into a single machine. Morphing Robots On the ground, the cobots come together to form a roller-wheel like drone to explore the ground in places in space like Titan, where there is very limited information about t

Bipedal Locomotion Drone - Just Like a Bird California Institute of Technology's Leonardo Caltech has achieved a significant advancement in drone technology.  They've developed a drone that walks and hovers in flight like a bird.  Most drones either walk or fly, not both.  The drone's uses included search and rescue on earth and planetary exploration.  For a great news blog on this, go to Important Innovations Collection: Caltech's Leonardo Drone Walks, Hovers : Bird Inspired Robotics Source:  California Institute of Technology's Leonardo Bipedal Locomotion - Hovers in Flight and Walks, Jus...

Findings:  Caltech Time Traveling Illusions Trick the Brain Source:  California Institute of Technology Rabbit Illuson How the Brain Retroactively Computes Rapid Audio & Visual Stimuli Researchers at California Institute of Technology have developed 2 new illusions to document time travelling.  The illusions, called The Rabbit Illusions as tracked above, reveal how the senses influence each other as they are received at rapid speed by the brain.  In particular, how sound can trigger and create visual illusions after the fact. Time Travel through "Postdiction" by the Brain With the onrush of sensory perceptions to the brain, the illusions occur so rapidly that they trigger a brain phenomenon called postdiction as opposed to prediction.  Postdiction happens when a stimulus that occurs later can retroactively affect our perception of an earlier event.  That's time-traveling at the pure scientific research level. Innovative and Breakthrough Neuroscience Th

Thwarting Bird Strikes on Planes Miracle on the Hudson Caltech, Imperial College London & South Korean scientists have just developed an autonomous flying drone that herds birds out of airspaces.  They investigated the problem of flocking birds hitting aircraft, which happens daily, putting passenger lives in danger.  They've developed a robotic aerial device - a robo bird that herds.  Their research was inspired by the "Miracle on the Hudson" - the US Air jet hit by birds that the pilot landed on the Hudson River. Robo Bird Just one of the new drones can redirect an entire flock of birds.  It has a new herding algorithm.  The algorithm enables a flying drone to herd a flock of birds away from an airspace without hurting them or breaking their formation.  The scientists and engineers created the algorithm by carefully observing flock dynamics and how the flock interacts with flying objects. Successfully Tested The herding drone was successfully tested in So

Robo-Sub Developed by Caltech and ETH Zurich University It's a motor-less, mini-sub, with no power or propulsion supply, created by engineers at California Institute of Technology and ETH Zurich.  The 3D printed tech wonder moves through water without any engine.  It's utilizing a new propulsion concept designed for swimming robots.  The sub paddles through the water without motor power. Strokes like Rowing By responding to water temperature changes, the robo-sub moves its paddles back and forth.  The motion is very similar to rowing.  The swimming sub propels itself by driving its oars back. The oars are activated by "shape memory polymer strips" that act like muscles.  The tech developments in this 7.5 centimeter mini-sub with paddles is awesome.  And it was created by 3D printing. Future Journeys The scientists intend to scale up their mini-sub and develop it for ocean exploration.  They also expect to be able to activate the propulsion not jus