Science and technology strategy
Japan's Cabinet approved the draft defense budget for fiscal year 2024
According to the Associated Press on December 22, Japan's cabinet approved the draft government budget for fiscal year 2024, totaling up to $56 billion (7.9496 trillion yen), an increase of about 16% from last year. Japan plans to spend 43 trillion yen ($300 billion) to bolster its military by 2027, with an annual budget of about 10 trillion yen ($68 billion). According to the Associated Press, the core of Japan's 2024 defense budget is "the early deployment of 'stand-off' missiles." In addition, the current meeting of the Japanese Cabinet approved the relaxation of Japan's export restrictions, allowing Japan to provide complete lethal weapons and ammunition to other countries under certain conditions. It is reported that the budget plan will be examined and approved by the Japanese Diet in the future.
The U.S. Department of Defense approves new directives on the implementation of digital engineering
According to ExecutiveGov.com on December 22, the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering approved and released a new document for digital engineering, which sets out policy requirements and basic processes for the use of digital engineering in the development and maintenance of defense systems. The document includes digital engineering responsibilities for Department of Defense officials, including the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Assurance, the Director of Operational Testing and Evaluation, the Chief Information Officer, the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer, and department leaders with acquisition authority; The document will direct the U.S. Department of Defense to apply digital engineering technologies, practices, and methodologies throughout the lifecycle of defense acquisition programs and systems to support research, engineering, and management activities, the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering said.
Information
Google has developed a new algorithm that translates physics problems into a quantum language
According to China Science and Technology Network on December 22, the research team of Google in the United States has developed a new algorithm that can transform complex physical problems into the language of quantum physics. According to the research team, ball and spring systems can describe many physical problems, including most wavy systems, such as neuronal activity maps or light reflected from surfaces. By observing the similarity between the two equations and using symmetry, the research team converted the distance and speed of the spring into the language of the Schrödinger equation and the qubits used by quantum computers. The study was published in the journal Physical Review X.
creature
OpenAI of the United States announced an AI hazard management plan to deal with safety risks such as biological and chemical weapons
According to Pandora's official website on December 25, OpenAI, an American artificial intelligence research company, has developed a framework plan for solving model safety problems to curb catastrophic risks such as biological, chemical or nuclear weapons. The dedicated team is closely monitoring and assessing potential risks for follow-up feedback and updates.
115 biomedical-related organizations in the U.S. have called on Congress to reauthorize PAHPA
According to Pandora's official website on December 25, Senate Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Senior Member and Senator Bill Cassidy highlighted 115 organizations' requirements for Congress to reauthorize the bipartisan Pandemic and Total Hazard Preparedness Act (PAHPA). The bill works to strengthen public health preparedness, as well as tools to respond to the next health crisis or emergency. The bill passed a bipartisan vote on reauthorization legislation in July, but has yet to receive full reauthorization from Congress until it expires on Sept. 30.
A research team in China and the United States has developed a novel culture system for co-culturing embryonic stem cells and extraembryonic stem cells
According to the news of Biovalley on December 22, researchers from Kunming University of Science and Technology in China, China Agricultural University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and other institutions have developed a new culture system that can co-culture embryonic stem cells and extraembryonic stem cells, which may provide important insights into the causes of congenital malformations and early developmental disorders. This study revealed new uniform growth conditions for embryonic stem cells and extraembryonic stem cells and the key interactions between them, such as the inhibitory effect of embryonic extra-endodermal cells on pluripotent cell growth, and identified common and unique factors involved in the regulation of embryonic extra-endodermal stem cells in different species. The study, which provides the ability to mimic the natural embryonic environment in vitro, could greatly advance the study of early human development and disease, promising to lead to new therapeutic and preventive strategies. The relevant research results were published in the journal Cell.
U.S. researchers have genetically modified bacteria to improve their efficiency in purifying rare earth elements
According to ScienceDaily on December 18, researchers at Cornell University in the United States have genetically modified Vibrio natremis to improve its ability to bioadsorb or extract rare earth elements. The researchers used plasmid MP6 to alter the genome of the bacterium to increase its bioadsorption capacity for rare earth elements. The research provides a way to safely bring rare earth elements and mineral processing back to the U.S. and can also be used to improve the purification efficiency of elements in smartphones, computers, electric vehicles, and wind turbines, helping to boost global economic supply chains. The research results were published in the journal Synthetic Biology.
Swedish researchers have developed artificial e-soil for hydroponic cereals
According to Phys on December 25, researchers at Linköping University in Sweden have developed a conductive "soil" eSoil for soilless cultivation, which is specifically used for hydroponics. Hydroponics can be grown vertically in large towers to maximize space efficiency, but grains are not typically grown in hydroponics. eSoil is made of cellulose, which consumes very little energy and is not at high pressure. When the barley root system was electrically stimulated by this cultivation medium, the average growth of barley seedlings increased by 50%, suggesting that barley seedlings could be cultivated hydroponics and that their growth rate was better due to electrical stimulation. The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
energy
The United States and Ukraine signed a memorandum of cooperation on nuclear and radiation safety
According to the China Nuclear Think Tank on December 25, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the State Nuclear Regulatory Oversight Service of Ukraine (SNRIU) signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of nuclear and radiation safety. U.S. and Ukrainian regulators will continue to strengthen cooperation on regulatory and oversight of the safety and security of nuclear facilities and radioactive materials, safeguards, and the environmental impact of nuclear facilities and radioactive materials. Specific areas include: studying the safety assessment practices of U.S. nuclear power plant sites, in particular the deployment of modular small reactors, to revise and update relevant regulatory requirements in Ukraine, studying the safety of U.S. reactor technology that may be built in Ukraine, developing safety assessment guidelines for the dismantling of the old sarcophagus of Chernobyl Unit 4 under a new steel enclosure, the development of a safety assessment methodology for packaging for the transport of radioactive materials, supporting the Ukrainian Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate to strengthen emergency preparedness and response, strengthening the infrastructure of the Ukrainian Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate to ensure that regulatory functions are carried out under military control, and modernizing the accounting system for ionizing radiation sourcesand the experience study of the regulatory activities of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the decommissioning of uranium mining and processing facilities.
Japan's energy-efficient desalination system demonstration project in Saudi Arabia was successful
According to the double carbon information on December 25, Japan's New Energy Industry Technology Development Organization (NEDO) announced the success of the energy-saving seawater desalination system demonstration project carried out by Hitachi and Toray in Saudi Arabia's Brine Conversion Company (SWCC), achieving about 20% energy saving and consumption reduction. The project has set up a "low-pressure multi-stage high-yield seawater desalination system" developed by Japan, which can produce 10,000 tons of drinking water per day from seawater. The system uses a new reverse osmosis membrane method that delivers high performance at low pressure, and the multi-stage membrane unit reduces energy consumption such as high-pressure pump operation by about 2 percent, which is more energy-efficient than desalination by conventional evaporation and conventional reverse osmosis membrane methods.
ocean
A number of new types of weapons of the Iranian Navy have been listed
According to CCTV military news on December 26, the Iranian Navy recently displayed a number of new weapons that have just been received, including the Taraya cruise missile with a range of up to 1,000 kilometers, as well as the first reconnaissance helicopter and the first electronic warfare helicopter. The new weapons are all designed and produced by Iranian military-industrial enterprises, and the Taraya cruise missile is a "smart" missile that can change its target during flight.
Russia formed a "mixed aviation corps" to protect the Arctic shipping lanes
According to the Global Times on December 26, Russia's Arctic shipping lanes will be protected by a newly formed hybrid aviation corps in Russia. The corps, which is currently part of the Russian Northern Fleet, has begun operational missions and consists of two fighter aviation regiments, one mixed aviation regiment and one helicopter regiment, whose main task is not only to protect the Arctic shipping lanes, but also to protect the northern islands from enemy air, ground, surface and underwater forces. According to Russian media reports, this series of military adjustments is being carried out against the background of Finland's accession to NATO and Sweden's imminent accession.
aviation
The U.S. Army plans to equip it with precision strike missiles and long-range hypersonic weapon systems in 2024
According to Microvision Aerospace on December 26, the US Army plans to equip two new missile systems in 2024, including precision strike missiles and long-range hypersonic weapon systems. It is reported that the precision strike missile has an estimated range of up to 499 kilometers and will replace the traditional Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). The long-range hypersonic weapon system is expected to have a range of about 2,776 kilometers and an attack speed of more than Mach 5. These two systems are the key weapon systems of the U.S. Army's Multi-Domain Task Force and Strategic Intermediate-Range Firepower Company, which will help it achieve long-range precision attack capabilities.
The U.S. Congress asked the Department of the Air Force to submit a 2050 Air Force and Space Force Force Design Plan to support the need to meet national defense strategic needs
According to the AirAndSpaceForce website on December 20, the U.S. Congress requires the Department of the Air Force to submit the 2050 Air Force and Space Force Force Force Design and Planning Report in the "2024 National Defense Authorization Act" to comprehensively review whether the capabilities, organizational structures and policies of the two services meet the needs of the national defense strategy. Congress noted that the U.S. Air Force needs to clarify its force mix options, specify its long-term goals and vision, and explain the real reasons for key decisions such as the Air Force's retirement, organizational restructuring, and personnel realignment. In addition, Congress asked the Air Department to formulate several long-term plans: first, the structural plan of the fighter force for the next 12 years, the second is the force maintenance and support plan for close air support, combat search and rescue, and airborne combat management, and the third is the integration of the space force and the resilient satellite communications architecture and the nuclear modernization of the LGM-35 "Sentinel" ballistic missile.
space flight
Germany has successfully launched two military synthetic aperture radar reconnaissance satellites to support the formation of a constellation of space-based radar surveillance systems
According to the SpaceX website on December 24, the United States SpaceX successfully launched "Sarah"-2 (SARah-2) and "Sarah"-3 (SARah-3) two German military synthetic aperture radar (SAR) reconnaissance satellites at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, and sent them into low earth orbit. The two satellites, which are part of the German Space-Based Radar Surveillance System (SARah) constellation, are designed to replace the Synthetic Aperture Radar-Magnifier (SAR-Lupe) constellation to provide all-day, all-weather images with a resolution of 35-40 cm. It is reported that the SARah constellation consists of a total of three satellites, of which the "Sara"-1 (SARah-1) satellite was launched in June 2022.
Japan plans to develop space-based surveillance capabilities for next-generation communications satellites to support the protection of space assets and the reduction of potential threats
According to TheJapanNews on December 25, Japan plans to increase space-based surveillance capabilities for next-generation communications satellites to provide support for the protection of space assets and the reduction of potential threats. At present, Japan plans to start developing a payload for a small surveillance device mounted on a satellite in 2024, and plans to conduct an in-orbit demonstration and verification of the payload in 2030. According to the plan, Japan's next-generation communications satellite is planned to be launched into geosynchronous orbit at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers above the earth, and will provide highly concealed communication services between various units of the Self-Defense Forces.
Materials
Researchers in the United States have improved key material recovery technologies for recycling battery waste
According to the website of Oak Ridge National Laboratory on December 21, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in the United States have improved membrane solvent extraction (MSX) technology, which is used to recover cobalt, nickel and lithium from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries. The technology uses a module consisting of a polymer hollow fiber membrane to recover, separate, and purify rare earth elements from waste permanent magnets in e-waste, with the advantages of low cost, low temperature operation, and high scalability. By adjusting the chemistry of the membranes and adding new processes to the process, researchers can separate and recover cobalt, nickel, and lithium from battery waste, or increase the number of membrane modules for greater yields. In partnership with Momentum Technologies, the research team plans to use bipartisan infrastructure bill grants to provide recycled lithium-ion battery materials to Cirba Solutions and ORNL's electrification and energy infrastructure sectors. The technology is also expected to be used to build a national stockpile of critical materials for aerospace and defense applications.
Advanced manufacturing
Chinese researchers have developed a new method for reversible 3D printing of magnetron phase change
According to the Antarctic Bear 3D Printing Network on December 25, researchers from Beijing Jiaotong University and Shenzhen International Graduate School of Tsinghua University in China collaborated to propose a reversible 3D printing method for magnetron phase change using a similar protosol-gel conversion mechanism. The research contents are as follows: firstly, a magnetron binary suspension system with strong thixotropic properties is constructed, and its microscopic self-assembly structure is characterized. Secondly, the yield properties, linear viscoelastic properties and thixotropic recovery characteristics of the magnetic thixotropic fluid were studied by steady-state and dynamic shear measurement methods, and the optimal rheological parameters suitable for printing were determined. Thirdly, a 3D printing platform with coordinated control of magnetic field and motion system was built to conduct in-depth research and further optimization of the printing process. Finally, the array magnetic field was used to control the composite structure formed by the printing to realize an amoeba-like movement, and the concept of rheological robot (Rheobot) was proposed. Magnetron phase change reversible 3D printing and rheological robots can provide new ideas for many fields such as space exploration, biomedicine, and military reconnaissance. The findings were published in the journal Applied Materials Today.
Australia's Luyten will build the first owner-occupied 3D printed home in the Southern Hemisphere
According to 3dnatives on December 23, Australian 3D printing company Luyten announced that it will cooperate with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) to develop a 3D printed house in Melbourne, and this new additive manufacturing house will become the first owner-occupied 3D printed house in the southern hemisphere. Luyten will use its Platypus 3D construction printer series, which combines artificial intelligence technology and is specifically designed to manufacture 3D printing of large buildings. At the same time, UNSW's Arch_Manu (Next Generation Building Manufacturing) research group will be responsible for the design of the building and collect project data in order to set a new standard for 3D printed construction projects in Australia.
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