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- DTN 088: The Race to Commercialize Nuclear-Powered Batteries
DTN 088: The Race to Commercialize Nuclear-Powered Batteries
Plus: China takes lead in robot density, first CRISPR treatment making its way to patients, battery-free bioelectronic implants, nanorobots nearing first human clinical trials, and more.
“Nuclear batteries can provide long-lasting power to pacemakers, sensors embedded in buildings and bridges, and even planetary rovers. While the technology has existed for decades, recent advances mean that many research organisations and companies are now exploring a range of new opportunities to grow the batteries’ use in commercial applications. These micronuclear devices harness the energy released during the natural decay of radioactive isotopes, but are much smaller than any nuclear reactor. In general, nuclear batteries produce just microwatts or even nanowatts of electricity. ‘The level of power these things can produce is way, way lower than if you’re [splitting] the atom,’ says Michael Rushton, a materials scientist at Bangor University in the UK. Nevertheless, this small – yet reliable – energy output still makes them suitable for certain applications like powering sensors, especially under extreme temperatures or in locations with no available sunlight. The long lifespan of these batteries is another advantage, ranging from decades to hundreds of years or more.” (Chemistry World)
Battery unicorn Northvolt files for bankruptcy, upending Europe’s industrial plan
Future Google supplier Kairos gets approval to build two small nuclear reactors
Microsoft and Atom Computing will launch a commercial quantum computer in 2025
Nuclear startups face new competition as energy giant Enel enters the ring
Raven Space Systems opens up a whole new category of industrial 3D printing
Led by Anduril, defense tech funding sets a new record this year
Nuclear power was once shunned at climate talks. Now, it’s a rising star.
Fusion leader wants to turn old coal plants into breakthrough nukes
After raising nearly half a billion dollars, ABL Space pivots from launch vehicles to missiles
Sam Altman will co-chair San Francisco mayor-elect Daniel Lurie’s transition team
Google.org commits $20M to researchers using AI for scientific breakthroughs
Dawn Aerospace has flown its rocket-powered aircraft past the speed of sound.
Dawn Aerospace's Mk-II Aurora rocket plane has broken the sound barrier, reaching Mach 1.1 and an altitude of 25 km during a test flight in New Zealand. This achievement marks a significant step toward the company's goal of developing hypersonic aircraft for commercial operations, including low-cost space access and satellite transport, with plans to compete with major players like SpaceX. (via TNW)
Exotic powder pulls carbon dioxide from the air at a record rate
Elon Musk’s Neuralink cleared to start brain chip trial in Canada
Surgeons remove 2.5-inch hairball from teen with rare Rapunzel syndrome
Inexpensive catalyst recycles methane emissions at room temperature
Nanoink and printing technologies could enable electronics repairs, production in space
New ion speed record holds potential for faster battery charging and biosensing
Experiment suggests quantum computers can coordinate actions of moving devices
Invisible touch: Researchers give AI the ability to feel and measure surfaces
New on-chip device uses exotic light rays in 2D material to detect molecules
Physicists predict exotic form of matter with potential for quantum computing
First successful synthesis of elusive antibiotic compounds since their discovery 50 years ago
Addressing key challenges of photoresponsive, visible light 3D printing
Cracking the code of performance degradation in solid oxide cells at the atomic level
Transforming marine waste and carbonated water into hydrogels via CO₂ release behavior
Skytree picked for $100M wind-powered carbon capture plant in Texas
Candela brings electric flying ferry to US shores after $40M raise
Blue Bear Capital lands $160M to back AI founders in climate, energy, and industry
Freya Biosciences, a biotech company specializing in women’s health, raises $11.8M
€1B Nato Innovation Fund’s founding and managing partners depart a year after launching fund
Nvidia-Backed Enfabrica locks up $115M as it prepares new chip
Vitara Biomedical, a neonatal technology company, raises $50M in additional financing
Valora Therapeutics, a immunotherapy biotechnology company, raises $30M in seed financing
Converge Bio’s ‘everything store’ for biotech LLMs brings in $5.5M seed
Fusion startup Tokamak Energy attracts $125M for its egg-like reactor design
OneCell Diagnostics bags $16M to help limit cancer reoccurrence using AI
Beta Bionics, a developer of advanced diabetes management solutions, closes $60M Series E financing
Radiopharmaceuticals company C Ray Therapeutics completes over $100M Series A+ financing
Quanta Dialysis Technologies closes over $60M Series E funding to transform kidney care
The Exploration Company raises $160M as it looks to compete with SpaceX
Brain-inspired AI chip startup Gemesys raises €8.6M pre-seed round
Advanced nuclear tech startup Radiant raised a $100M Series C led by DCVC
‘I went to Greenland to try to buy it’: Meet the founder who wants to re-create Mars on Earth / You Can Now Buy Lab-Grown Foie Gras / Could Ocean Engineering Pull Carbon from the Atmosphere as a Last Resort against Climate Change? / Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 arrives with a “full digital twin” of Earth / Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have spelled out their plans for DOGE / FCC Tees Up Rules to Tighten National Security on Subsea Cables / Advancing urban tree monitoring with AI-powered digital twins / Why NSA Rules Say No to Smartphones, No to Texting, Yes to Podcasts / Exploring the Cost and Feasibility of Battery-Electric Ships / Child safety org launches AI model trained on real child sex abuse images / Hollywood techniques help NASA visualize supercomputing data / All Life on Earth Today Descended From a Single Cell. Meet LUCA. / Kim Kardashian has befriended Optimus, the Tesla bot / The Arecibo Message, Earth’s First Interstellar Transmission, Turns 50 / Love in the Age of AI Companions / The US Patent and Trademark Office Banned Staff From Using Generative AI / Norwegian fishermen hunting for halibut caught a US nuclear sub / Pakistani religious body declares using VPN is against Islamic law / Four dead in fire as Tesla doors fail to open after crash / Could DOGE cut $2T? The legal and practical reality of government reform / A $12k Surgery to Change Eye Color Is Surging in Popularity / Scientists discover laser light can cast a shadow / Moving graphene from the lab to fab: How 2D materials could transform everyday electronics / Trump’s pro-fracking energy secretary pick has also invested in geothermal and nuclear startups
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