Computer America

Computer America

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Computer America episodes

  • Magnetic Muscle, Biofuel Research, Lithium From Brine w/ Ralph Bond
    Show Notes 22 November 2024



    Story 1: Soft as skin, strong as steel: Powerful magnetic muscles lift 1000x their weight


    Source: Interesting Engineering Story by Mrigakshi Dixit


    Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/soft-as-skin-strong-as-steel-powerful-magnetic-muscles-lift-1000x-their-weight/ar-AA1tRMVm



    Story 2: Novel electrochemical reactor can extract lithium from brine to address growing demand 


    Source: TechXplore.com Story from Rice University announcement


    Link: https://techxplore.com/news/2024-11-electrochemical-reactor-lithium-brine-demand.html#google_vignette


    See also their research paper here: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2410033121


    Story 3: New chemical process makes biodiesel production easier, less energy intensive - Discovery by UC Santa Cruz researchers could accelerate biofuel’s adoption


    Source: UC Santa Cruz News Center Story by Jasmin Galvan

    Link: https://news.ucsc.edu/2024/11/biodiesel-easier-process.html

    For a tutorial on Biodiesel Vs. Diesel: What's The Difference, see: https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/biodiesel-vs-diesel-what-s-the-difference/ar-BB1m2ylb?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=ENTPSP&cvid=4926c33f368e4ba8afdca6d9069698bb&ei=68



    Story 4: Scientists turn blood into bone-repairing superpower to fight injuries and  diseases


    Source: Interesting Engineering Story by Mrigakshi Dixit 


    Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/scientists-turn-blood-into-bone-repairing-superpower-to-fight-injuries-diseases/ar-AA1u8dtI?ocid=BingNewsSerp




    For more info, interviews, reviews, news, radio, podcasts, video, and more, check out ComputerAmerica.com!
    45 min
  • Cheap Solar Still, CO2 Removal Powder, Hyundai Initium w/ Ralph Bond
    Show Notes 15 November 2024




    Story 1: Researchers devise a unique upcycling use for old tires: Producing drinking water.


    Source: Anthropocene Magazine Story by the staff


    Link: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2024/11/researchers-devise-a-unique-upcycling-use-for-old-tires-producing-drinking-water/


    See also: https://newatlas.com/environment/solar-still-old-tires-purifies-15-cups-water-per-day/


    See also: https://www.dal.ca/news/2024/10/31/saltwater-desalination-device.html




    Story 2: Half a pound of this powder can remove as much CO₂ from the air as a tree, scientists say


    Source: Los Angeles Times Story by Karen Kaplan


    Link: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-10-23/this-powder-can-remove-as-much-co2-from-the-air-as-a-tree


    See also: https://news.berkeley.edu/2024/10/23/capturing-carbon-from-the-air-just-got-easier/



    Story 3: Hyundai Initium Hydrogen Concept Shows Where Design Is Headed Next - It’s powered by a hydrogen fuel cell that provides a maximum range of 404 miles.


    Source: InsideEVs.com Story by Andrei Nedelea


    Link: https://insideevs.com/news/739422/hyundai-initium-concept-design-language/


    See also: https://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/hyundai-hydrogen-car-innovation/8567996/




    Story 4: Bioprinter rapidly mimics tissues from brain to bone - Researchers at the University of Melbourne have developed a new 3D bioprinting technique that can rapidly create accurate analogues of virtually any human tissue.

    Source: TheEngineer.co.uk

    Link: https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/bioprinter-rapidly-mimics-tissues-from-brain-to-bone


    For more info, interviews, reviews, news, radio, podcasts, video, and more, check out ComputerAmerica.com!
    38 min
  • In-Wheel Engine, Throwable Thermal Camera, Sweat Powered Monitor w/ Ralph Bond
    Show Notes 8 November 2024




    Story 1: China’s compact in-wheel engine promises 201 brake horsepower output, and enhanced EV range


    Source: Interesting Engineering Story by Abhishek Bhardwaj


    Link: https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/china-gac-in-wheel-engine-evs




    Story 2: Throwable thermal imaging: World’s 1st 360° ball-like camera for battlefield safety


    Source: Interesting Engineering Story by Sujita Sinha


    Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/throwable-thermal-imaging-world-s-1st-360-ball-like-camera-for-battlefield-safety/ar-AA1rkdYN?ocid=BingNewsSerp


    See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgpPYOYkywo and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nKQJHekS8U


    Additional articles:

    See also: https://bounceimaging.com/worlds-first-thermal-360-throwable-camera-revealed-at-ntoa/


    See also: https://thedefensepost.com/2024/09/26/bounce-imaging-throwable-camera/
     


    Story 3: Edible Electronics Advance: Toothpaste-Based Transistor Developed


    Source: Science Blog Story from Italian Institute of Technology


    Link: https://scienceblog.com/548049/edible-electronics-advance-toothpaste-based-transistor-developed/



    Story 4: Finger wrap uses sweat to provide health monitoring at your fingertips - A sweat-powered wearable has the potential to make continuous, personalized health monitoring as effortless as wearing a Band-Aid.


    Source: Science Daily Announcement by University of California, San Diego


    Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240903144927.htm


    See also: https://interestingengineering.com/health/sweat-powered-finger-senso-tracks-health


    For more info, interviews, reviews, news, radio, podcasts, video, and more, check out ComputerAmerica.com!
    44 min
  • Azure Printed Homes, New ~10 MILE WiFi Tech, AI Glasses For The Blind w/ Ralph Bond
    Show Notes 1 November 2024




    Story 1: Startup recycles plastic water bottles into remarkable 3D-printed homes — and it could help address the nation's housing crisis

    Source: The Cool Down Story by Rick Kazmer

    Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/home-and-garden/startup-recycles-plastic-water-bottles-into-remarkable-3d-printed-homes-and-it-could-help-address-the-nation-s-housing-crisis/ar-AA1rKytX


    See also: https://www.azureprintedhomes.com/




    Story 2: New Wi-Fi Tech Tested At 9.9 Miles, Setting A New Record


    Source: WonderfulEngineering.com Story by Shaheer Shahzad


    Link: https://wonderfulengineering.com/new-wi-fi-tech-tested-at-9-9-miles-setting-a-new-record/


    See also: https://www.morsemicro.com/


    See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBMgZah2Z7g




    Story 3: Scientists grow blood stem cells in breakthrough that could end need for bone marrow donors


    Source: The Telegraph via MSN Story by Sarah Knapton


    Link: https://www.msn.com/en-sg/health/other/scientists-grow-blood-stem-cells-in-breakthrough-that-could-end-need-for-bone-marrow-donors/ar-AA1pRKBD



    Story 4: Raspberry Pi powered ‘third eye' helps visually impaired people navigate the world with AI


    Source: Tomshardware.com Story by Ash Hill


    Link: https://www.tomshardware.com/raspberry-pi/raspberry-pi-powered-third-eye-helps-visually-impaired-people-navigate-the-world-with-ai


    See also: https://www.hackster.io/taifur/third-eye-for-blind-82bcd5


    For more info, interviews, reviews, news, radio, podcasts, video, and more, check out ComputerAmerica.com!
    44 min
  • World's Biggest Battery Proposal, Origami Robot, Vibrating Cancer Treatment w/ Ralph Bond
    Show Notes 20 September 2024




    Story 1: World’s Biggest Battery Will Provide 85 Megawatts to New England Grid


    Source: Singularityhub.com Story by Edd Gent


    Link: https://singularityhub.com/2024/08/23/worlds-biggest-battery-will-provide-85-megawatts-to-new-england-grid/


    See also: https://formenergy.com/massachusetts-new-england-states-selected-to-receive-389-million-in-federal-funding-for-transformational-transmission-and-energy-storage-infrastructure/




    Story 2: Origami-inspired 'transformer' robots could help build habitats in space - These configurable bots could launch flat and then be assembled in space


    Source: Space.com Story by Samantha Mathewson


    Link: https://www.space.com/origami-inspired-robot-space-habitats


    See also: https://news.ncsu.edu/2024/07/transformer-bot/


    See also: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-50497-5


    See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA6fGJC8TFQ




    Story 3: New engineering approach could lead to widespread adoption of photonic chips in consumer electronics


    Source: TechXplore.com Article by TMOS


    Link:  https://techxplore.com/news/2024-09-approach-widespread-photonic-chips-consumer.html


    See also: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41377-024-01570-7





    Story 4: Scientists Destroy 99% of Cancer Cells in Lab with Vibrating Molecules


    Source: ScienceAlert.com Story by David Nield


    Link: https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-destroy-99-of-cancer-cells-in-lab-with-vibrating-molecules


    See also: https://news.rice.edu/news/2023/molecular-jackhammers-good-vibrations-eradicate-cancer-cells


    For more info, interviews, reviews, news, radio, podcasts, video, and more, check out ComputerAmerica.com!
    34 min
  • AI 3D Model Maker, AI Scientist, Reversing Brain Age Research w/ Ralph Bond
    Show Notes 13 September 2024




    Story 1: This new AI modeler can turn pictures into 3D sculptures in seconds 


    Source: TechRadar.com Story by Eric Hal Schwartz


    Link: https://www.techradar.com/computing/artificial-intelligence/this-new-ai-modeler-can-turn-pictures-into-3d-sculptures-in-seconds


    See also: https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.00653


    See also a Tom’s Hardware feature about VFusion3D: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/ai-driven-technique-can-generate-quality-3d-assets-from-2d-images-in-seconds



    Story 2: Researchers built an ‘AI Scientist’ — what can it do? -- The large language model does everything from reading the literature to writing and reviewing its own papers, but it has a limited range of applicability so far.

    Source: Nature.com Story by Davide Castelvecchi


    Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02842-3





    Story 3: New memory tech unveiled that reduces AI processing energy requirements by 1,000 times or more - New CRAM technology gives RAM chips the power to process data, not just store it.


    Source: Tomshardware.com Story by Jeff Butts


    Link:  https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/researchers-detail-new-technology-for-reducing-ai-processing-energy-requirements-by-1000-times-or-better


    See also: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44335-024-00003-3


    See also: https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/cram-in-memory-reduces-ai-energy-1000x/


    See also: https://www.techno-science.net/en/news/thanks-to-this-technique-ai-could-consume-2500-times-less-energy-N25401.html




    Story 4: Cleaning up the aging brain: Scientists restore brain’s trash disposal system


    Source: ScienceBlog.com Story by University of Rochester


    Link: https://scienceblog.com/546904/cleaning-up-the-aging-brain-scientists-restore-brains-trash-disposal-system/


    See also: https://neurosciencenews.com/csf-neurology-aging-27549/


    For more info, interviews, reviews, news, radio, podcasts, video, and more, check out ComputerAmerica.com!
    39 min
  • NASA Solar Sail, Battery Sky Scrapers, Honorable Mentions w/ Ralph Bond
    Show Notes 6 September 2024





    Story 1: The next world’s tallest building could be a 3,000-feet-high battery


    Source: CNN Story by Amy Gunia


    Link: https://www.cnn.com/style/skyscraper-batteries-som-energy-vault-spc/index.html


    Story 2: Japan Introduces Magnetic Levitation Car Technology


    Source: ElectricTechnology.org Link: https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2024/08/japan-magnetic-levitation-car-technology.html#google_vignette


    See also: https://www.oist.jp/news-center/news/2024/4/8/innovative-magnetic-levitation-new-material-offers-potential-unlocking-gravity-free-technology


    See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klegk2dZmmg  I recommend starting the video at the 4-minute mark – previous is tutorials on maglev.
     

    Story 3: NASA's solar sail successfully spreads its wings in space


    Source: Space.com Story by Meredith Garofalo


    Link: https://www.space.com/nasa-solar-sail-deployment


    See also: https://www.nasa.gov/general/nasa-next-generation-solar-sail-boom-technology-ready-for-launch/


    See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfYLnbw7iu8


    Story 4: Building new bones with help from 3D printing


    Source: MedicalXpress.com Story by University of Waterloo


    Link: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-bones-3d.html


    For more info, interviews, reviews, news, radio, podcasts, video, and more, check out ComputerAmerica.com!
    39 min
  • Regrowing Cartilage Research, Hydrogen Fuels, Bio-Integrated Buildings w/ Ralph Bond
    Show Notes 30 August 2024



    Story 1: A recipe for zero-emissions fuel: Soda cans, seawater, and caffeine


    Source: MIT News  Story by Jennifer Chu


    Link: https://news.mit.edu/2024/recipe-for-zero-emissions-fuel-with-cans-seawater-caffeine-0725#:~:text=MIT%20engineers%20have%20found%20that%20when%20the%20aluminum,engine%20or%20fuel%20cell%20without%20generating%20carbon%20emissions


    See also: https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physical-science/fulltext/S2666-3864(24)00399-0


    See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIowXoHPeFk&t=2s



    Story 2: City unveils world's first 'hydrogen apartment' block — here's how this technology could revolutionize the future of housing


    Source: The Cool Down Story by Kristen Lawrence


    Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/city-unveils-world-s-first-hydrogen-apartment-block-here-s-how-this-technology-could-revolutionize-future-of-housing/ar-AA1oCdcr


    See also: https://fuelcellsworks.com/news/korea-ulsan-unveils-worlds-first-hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered-apartment-complex/


    See also: https://interestingengineering.com/energy/hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered-apartment-korea


    Story 3: New living building material draws carbon out of the atmosphere


    Source: TechXplore.com Story by University College London


    Link: https://techxplore.com/news/2024-08-material-carbon-atmosphere.html#google_vignette
     

    Story 4: New Biomaterial Regrows Damaged Cartilage in Joints


    Source: Northwestern University Engineering News Story by Amanda Morris


    Link: https://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/news/articles/2024/08/new-biomaterial-regrows-damaged-cartilage-in-joints/


    For more info, interviews, reviews, news, radio, podcasts, video, and more, check out ComputerAmerica.com!
    36 min
  • Robot Pants, Retinal Scans Detect Heart Disease, Band-Aid For Your Heart w/ Ralph Bond
    Show Notes 23 August 2024




    Story 1: These New Powered Pants by Google’s X Labs Will Allow You to Skip Up Mountains


    Source: Wonderful Engineering Story by Taimur


    Link: https://wonderfulengineering.com/these-new-powered-pants-by-googles-x-labs-will-allow-you-to-skip-up-mountains/


    See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKdbyWbbxkc


    See also video loop on the company’s website - https://www.skipwithjoy.com/
     



    Story 2: Retinal images could predict future risk of heart or lung disease 


    Source: NewScientist.com Story by Timmy Broderick


    Link: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2414090-retinal-images-could-predict-future-risk-of-heart-or-lung-disease/


    See also: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.adg4517



    Story 3: MIT spinout Arnasi begins applying LiquiGlide no-stick technology to help patients - The company that brought you no-stick toothpaste is moving into the medical space, with a lubricant for ostomy pouches and other products that could improve millions of lives.


    Source: MIT News Story by Zach Winn


    Link: https://news.mit.edu/2024/mit-spinout-arnasi-begins-applying-liquiglide-to-help-patients-0730
     



    Story 4: A Band-Aid for the heart? New 3D printing method makes this, and much more, possible


    Source: University of Colorado, Boulder Story by Lisa Marshall and Nicholas Goda


    Link: https://www.colorado.edu/today/2024/08/01/band-aid-heart-new-3d-printing-method-makes-and-much-more-possible


    See also https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adn6925



    For more info, interviews, reviews, news, radio, podcasts, video, and more, check out ComputerAmerica.com!
    36 min
  • Dune Inspired Space Suits, Stretchy Batteries, 3D Printed Blood Vessels w/ Ralph Bond
    Show Notes 16 August 2024



    Story 1: Dune-inspired spacesuit recycles astronauts’ urine into drinkable water


    Source: Engadget.com Story by Mat Smith


    Link: https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-dune-inspired-spacesuit-recycles-astronauts-urine-into-drinkable-water-111540921.html


    See also: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/space-technologies/articles/10.3389/frspt.2024.1391200/full


    See also: https://www.frontiersin.org/news/2024/07/12/real-life-stillsuit-dune-inspired-upgrade-for-spacesuits-allow-astronauts-to


    See video here explaining “stillsuits” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvcihrciJes
     



    Story 2: A scientific leap towards smart, self-watering, self-fertilizing soils


    Source: Anthropocene Magazine Story by Emma Bryce


    Link: https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2024/07/a-scientific-leap-towards-smart-self-watering-self-fertilizing-soils/



    Story 3: Soft, stretchy 'jelly batteries' inspired by electric eels


    Source: TechXplore.com Story from University of Cambridge


    Link: https://techxplore.com/news/2024-07-soft-stretchy-jelly-batteries-electric.html


    See also: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adn5142
     


    Story 4: 3D-Printed Blood Vessels: A Game-Changer for Heart Bypass Surgery


    Source: ScienceBlog.com


    Link: 3D-Printed Blood Vessels: A Game-Changer for Heart Bypass Surgery - ScienceBlog.com


     

    For more info, interviews, reviews, news, radio, podcasts, video, and more, check out ComputerAmerica.com!
    32 min

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Computer America is the nation's longest running talk show on Computers and Technology, spanning 25+ years of industry guests and analysis.