Science and technology strategy
The United States and France held the second meeting of the Comprehensive Space Dialogue and issued a joint statement
According to the U.S. State Department on March 26, the U.S. and French governments held the second meeting of the U.S.-France Comprehensive Space Dialogue in Washington from March 20 to 21 and issued a joint statement. The dialogue underscored the importance of the U.S.-French alliance's more than 60-year relationship in space and recognized the growing interconnectedness between civil, commercial, and national security space activities and the trend toward increasing interconnectedness in all three domains. At the meeting, U.S. and French officials exchanged information on their respective national space policies, including the U.S. framework for new space activities and France's forthcoming national space law. The two sides reaffirmed their firm determination to expand bilateral cooperation in various areas, including addressing the climate crisis, advancing national security space cooperation and information sharing, and strengthening bilateral commercial space cooperation.
The U.S. Defense Innovation Department is hosting a technology challenge with AUKUS Pillar II
According to the U.S. Department of Defense on March 26, the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) held a technology challenge through the AUKUS Pillar II mechanism. This year's event will be co-organized by ASCA in Australia, DASA in the United Kingdom, and DIU in the United States. The Technology Challenge will focus on the field of the electromagnetic spectrum: find, repair, track, target, engage, evaluate.
Information
A multinational joint research team has developed a communication technology that is 4.5 million times faster than the average broadband speed
According to TechXplore on March 26, a joint research team from Aston University in the United Kingdom, the National Academy of Information and Communication Technology in Japan and Nokia Bell Labs in the United States achieved a data transmission speed 4.5 million times faster than ordinary home broadband by using unused bands in optical fiber systems. Researchers have developed new optical amplifiers and optical gain equalizers that use a single standard fiber to transmit data at a rate of 301 terabits per second, far exceeding the speeds of ordinary home broadband. The results of this study use more available spectrum to increase system capacity, help reduce costs, and are a greener solution.
South Korea's SK hynix plans to invest $4 billion to build a chip factory in Indiana, USA
According to Reuters news on March 27, South Korea's SK hynix plans to invest about $4 billion to build an advanced chip packaging factory in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA, which is expected to start operation in 2028. The plant is expected to provide 800 to 1,000 jobs. Currently, SK hynix has started production of next-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips for AI chipsets, and the first shipments will be delivered to NVIDIA. SK hynix is also the only supplier of HBM3 high-bandwidth memory currently used by NVIDIA. SK hynix predicts that HBM chips for AI chipsets will account for more than 10% of its DRAM chip sales by 2024.
The National Institute of Scientific Research develops ultra-high-speed cameras that can capture 156.3 trillion frames per second
According to NewAtlas on March 26, researchers at the National Institutes of Scientific Research (INRS) of Canada have developed the world's fastest camera, which can capture 156.3 trillion frames of images per second. The camera system, called Scan-Coded Aperture Real-Time Femtosecond Photography (SCARF), is able to capture events occurring in the femtosecond range, such as shock waves passing through matter or living cells, by emitting ultrashort laser pulses and processing them. The application of this technique is expected to advance research in fields such as physics, biology, chemistry, materials science, and engineering.
The U.S. Army is strengthening its "all-domain awareness" capabilities
According to BreakingDefense on March 26, James Rainey, commander of the U.S. Army's Future Command, said that the U.S. Army will transform the existing cross-functional team (CFT) into a "global awareness" team. The team's mission is to focus on the following key areas: studying sensing architectures, processing and disseminating information, and using artificial technology to aid operations. The U.S. Army hopes that through the reform, it will be able to achieve goals such as detecting the maximum distance of a shot, what happens after a shot, and AI-assisted decision-making.
Researchers from Virtue have developed a new laser-cooled quartz glass technology with record cooling amplitudes
According to the China Science and Technology Network on March 26, the joint research team of the Fraunhofer Institute of Applied Optics and Precision Engineering in Germany and the University of New Mexico in the United States successfully cooled the quartz glass from room temperature by 67 Kelvin for the first time through laser refrigeration. The research team has demonstrated for the first time that ytterbium-doped (Yb)-doped quartz glass can be cooled by a laser, and this time they have optimized the preparation process of the doped material to exceed the previous cooling limit. This research contributes to the future development of extremely stable lasers and low-noise amplifiers for precision measurements or quantum experiments. The study was published in the journal Optics Letters.
creature
Japan's Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's red yeast rice health supplement caused the death of two users
According to Japan's Kyodo News Agency on March 26, the Japanese Ministry of Health said that 2 people have died in the users of the red yeast rice dietary supplement produced by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, and the number of hospitalizations has reached 106. The Japanese government said it would conduct an emergency inspection of the food products it was responsible for, and Kobayashi Pharmaceutical also asked all companies that use the red yeast rice it provides to recall related products, which affects a range of products such as sake, candy, bread and miso, as well as foods and seasonings made with red yeast rice. At present, the related products of domestic e-commerce platforms have been removed from the shelves.
A South Korean research team uses 3D bioprinting to help personalize the treatment of gastric cancer
According to the news of China Science and Technology Network on March 25, the scientific research team of Pohang University of Science and Technology and Yonsei University in South Korea developed patient-specific vascular organoid models through 3D bioprinting, and realized the prediction of the potential effect of anticancer drugs in patients in the preclinical stage. The model highly restores the actual vasculature and biological conditions of gastric cancer, and accurately simulates the clinical response of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, breaking through the current clinical limitation of human epithelial cell proliferation factor receptor as the only target, which is conducive to the study of cancer mechanism and the premise evaluation of the effectiveness of anticancer drugs. The study provides a new paradigm for the implementation of precision medicine for cancer and creates new possibilities for a wider range of treatments. The research results were published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.
The U.S. research team has developed the most detailed atlas of human blood stem cells to date, which is expected to provide a new treatment for leukemia
According to China Science and Technology Network on March 25, Cincinnati Children's Hospital in the United States has drawn the most detailed human blood stem cell map so far through game theory and machine learning technology, which is expected to provide new treatments for leukemia. The atlas reveals previously hidden cellular states such as the most primitive stem cells and 69 antibodies in 23 cellular states, which is helpful for clinical monitoring and treatment of leukemia patients. The study provides the most in-depth insight to date into the characterization of bone marrow stem cells and progenitor cells, which is expected to accelerate the discovery of more cellular and molecular regulators of blood diseases.
The German research team offers new avenues for rapid and targeted drug development
According to the news on the official website of MPI on March 23, the team of the Max Planck Institute for Land Microbiology in Germany has discovered a new "fusion site" for bacteria, which can be used for faster and more targeted drug development. Combining synthetic biology with a high-throughput approach, the team modified the functional properties of the enzyme complexes and found new "fusion points" for the targeted production of functional NRPS hybrids that could support the binding of NRPS sequences from completely different organisms, such as bacteria and fungi. The study shows great potential for bacterial natural products as a basis for new drugs, which can be used in the future to develop customized biologic drugs with improved therapeutic properties.
A biosafety level 3 laboratory in Canada was awarded $10 million to modernize
According to the Global Defense Network on March 25, the only high-containment facility (THCF) in the Toronto area (GTA) in Canada, received $10 million for modernization. The facility is a biosafety level 3 laboratory that supports the research and clinical needs of the Emerging and Pandemic Infections Consortium to safely and reliably study high-risk pathogens such as coronavirus, HIV, tuberculosis and monkeypox, and has partnerships with the University of Toronto and five hospital research facilities. This investment will transform the institution into Canada's largest academic, high-containment/high-restriction research center, while maintaining research programs and an agile response to future outbreaks.
The U.S. research team has designed a "multi-tailed" mRNA that can dramatically increase mRNA activity levels in mice
According to the news on March 25, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University's Broad Institute have designed a new mRNA structure that can express proteins more sustainably - "multi-tail mRNA", that is, by adding multiple synthetic Poly(A) "tails" to the molecule. This new mRNA can increase the level of mRNA activity in cells by about 5-20 times, and can last up to 14 days to produce protein in just one dose, which is twice the duration of previous mRNA technology. The technology is expected to be used to treat refractory diseases that require gene editing or replacement of defective proteins.
energy
Japan's JERA and ExxonMobil have partnered to develop a low-carbon hydrogen ammonia project in the United States
According to Reuters news on March 26, JERA, Japan's largest power company, announced that it had reached an agreement with ExxonMobil to jointly explore the development of low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia production projects in the United States. ExxonMobil is developing the world's largest low-carbon hydrogen production plant at its Baytown, Texas facility, which is expected to start production in 2028 with an annual production capacity of about 900,000 tons of hydrogen and more than 1 million tons of ammonia. JERA will invest in the project and purchase about 500,000 tons of low-carbon ammonia from the project every year to meet Japan's low-carbon energy needs. It is reported that Japan plans to increase the demand for ammonia fuel to 3 million tons by 2030.
South Korea completes high-density research reactor fuel irradiation test
According to the China Nuclear Think Tank on March 26, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) recently completed the irradiation test of high-density uranium silicide plate research reactor fuel. The uranium density of the fuel for the test was 5.3 grams of uranium per cubic centimeter, which is about 10% higher than the fuel currently used. In order to be able to maintain the high performance of the operation of research reactors (using HEU fuel) while using LEU fuel, the uranium density in the fuel needs to be increased. In 2020, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAE) launched research and development of high-density uranium silicide fuel, developing the world's only "centrifugal spray nuclear fuel powder manufacturing technology" that enables the manufacture of fuel plates with a density of 5.3 grams of uranium per cubic centimeter or more.
ocean
The U.S. company has launched a new underwater glider with significantly improved endurance and speed compared to the previous generation
According to the news of the Guangzhou Sea Bureau on March 26, the United States Marine Equipment Research and Development Corporation (TWR) released a new underwater glider "Slocum Sentinel", and plans to display it at the International Marine Technology and Engineering Equipment Exhibition (OI) held in London in March. With a diameter of 33 centimeters and a length of more than 2.4 meters, the new glider has a lithium-ion battery capacity of 3.5 times that of the previous generation "Slokum", has a range of more than 2 years, and can be equipped with 8 different sensors or hardware-integrated modules. In addition, the Slokum Sentinel is equipped with the industry's largest buoyancy engine (with a working volume of 4 liters) and a twin thrusters at the tail for a maximum glide speed of 3.5 knots, allowing it to glide steadily in strong currents.
The U.S. Navy receives a new power converter for charging unmanned underwater vehicles
According to the news of national defense science and technology on March 26, the US Navy received a new power converter for charging unmanned underwater vehicles. The converter can be networked or looped with multiple power sources, making it ideal for charging unmanned underwater vehicles, powered by onshore high-voltage generators, or by offshore power sources such as 375-volt hydrothermal generators or wave generators, with a 90% chance of continuous operation for 25 years. In addition, the converter's subsea medium-voltage DC distribution system, which is funded by the U.S. Navy's Small Business Innovation Research Program, is in the second phase of the program, with a pressurized power conversion module with a diameter of 457.2 mm and an operating depth of up to 3,500 meters.
The U.S. Navy's large unmanned surface vehicle project has achieved milestone progress, passing the 720-hour engine reliability test
According to the Defense Post on March 26, the U.S. Navy recently announced that its large unmanned surface vehicle (LUSV) project has achieved an important milestone before the official development, and the solutions of 4 of the 6 companies have passed the 720-hour engine reliability test. The U.S. Navy said engine demonstrations were critical to the project, and only companies with qualified LUSV engine systems could move forward with the project. LUSV is an advanced unmanned surface vehicle project carried out by the US Navy, with a length of 61~91 meters, which can perform tasks such as electronic warfare, anti-surface warfare and land strike warfare.
The Center for a New American Security released a report, "Autonomy and International Stability: Confidence-Building Measures for Unmanned Systems in the Indo-Pacific Region."
According to the official website of the Center for New American Security on March 26, the Center for New American Security (CNAS) released a report on "Autonomy and International Stability: Trust-Building Measures for Unmanned Systems in the Indo-Pacific Region". The report notes that the current deployment of a large number of unmanned aerial and maritime platforms, as well as deadly autonomous platform weapons in the Indo-Pacific, has further increased tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. To this end, the report proposes confidence-building measures (CBMs) for autonomous weapons, which are designed to standardize management, enhance communication, and mitigate the negative impact of new types of weapons and platforms. The report recommends focusing on the development of existing agreements on confidence-building measures, pre-defining potential exclusion zones for armed unmanned systems, agreeing not to deploy nuclear weapons on unmanned systems and establishing mechanisms to indicate that unmanned systems are out of control.
aviation
South Korea successfully conducted the first in-flight refueling test of the prototype KF-21 Falcon fighter
According to the MilitaryLeak website on March 22, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and Aerospace Industries successfully conducted the first in-flight refueling test of the prototype KF-21 "Falcon" fighter. During the test, a prototype KF-21 Falcon 5 took off from Sacheon Air Base in South Gyeongsang Province and docked with a KC-330 tanker aircraft for refueling in the air over the sea off the southern coast. DAPA said the success of the test marks a 50 percent increase in the KF-21's combat range, providing support for improving the long-range combat capabilities of advanced equipment.
Russia uses the Zircon hypersonic missile to carry out strike missions against Kyiv
According to the Ilmessaggero website on March 25, Russia used the "Zircon" hypersonic missile to carry out a strike mission against Kyiv. According to the report, the "Zircon" missile launched by the Russian army this time mainly hit two targets in Kyiv, including an office building of the National Security Service of Ukraine and Julian Airport. It has been learned that the "Zircon" missile flew a total distance of about 600 kilometers and a flight time of about 3 minutes. But Ukrainian air defense claims to have successfully intercepted two Russian hypersonic missiles.
South Korea plans to reduce the initial production of the KF-21 fighter
According to TheDefensePost's website on March 26, South Korea plans to reduce the initial production of KF-21 "Falcon" fighters from the original plan of 40 to 20. South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Agency (DAPA) said the reduction in initial production will support additional testing of the KF-21 in the future, ensuring that the KF-21 can be deployed quickly and that the final production plan can be efficiently adjusted and upgraded. According to the plan, DAPA will award the first 20 KF-21 production contracts by the end of 2024, and after completing the KF-21 air-to-air missile and radar detection capability evaluation test in 2025, the remaining 20 will be awarded the production contract, with a total production cost estimated at 7.92 trillion won ($5.9 billion) per month. The first batch of KF-21s is expected to be delivered to the ROK Air Force and put into service in late 2026 to replace the aging F-4 and F-5 fighters.
space flight
The Android 15 system developed by Google in the United States will support mobile phone satellite direct connection service
According to the TechTimes website on March 24, the second developer preview of Android 15 released by Google in the United States supports satellite communication services. Google said that the Android 15 system will support satellite communication, which will allow the phone to send and receive text messages even in the blind area. If the satellite communication function is successfully implemented, it will greatly expand the use scenarios of Android mobile phones and facilitate the rapid popularization of mobile phone satellite direct connection services.
MDA Space launched the software-defined satellite product line Aurora
According to the satellitetoday website on March 26, the American company MDA Space will use Aurora as the name of its new software-defined satellite product line, aiming to improve the flexibility and functionality of the constellation. Key features of the Aurora product line include a software-defined satellite module. The module features digital payload technology tailored to multiple orbits and frequencies. The Aurora will include an on-board processor and packet router to create a communication path within the constellation between the user link, the gateway link, and the inter-satellite optical link.
SpaceX launched the 149th batch of 23 micro-version "Starlink" v2.0 satellites
According to the news on the Space website on March 26, the American company SpaceX used the "Falcon"-9 rocket to successfully launch the 149th batch of 23 micro-version of the "Starlink" v2.0 satellites in Cape Canaveral, Florida. After this launch, the number of SpaceX's "Starlink" satellites launched reached 6,077, including 1,340 micro-versions of "Starlink" v2.0 satellites. Currently, there are about 5,680 Starlink in orbit. According to statistics, this launch is SpaceX's 30th launch mission in 2024 and the 61st launch of the micro-version of the "Starlink" v2.0 satellite.
Materials
Chinese researchers have revealed a new mechanism of high-efficiency perovskite solar cells, and fabricated perovskite solar cells at a kilogram-scale and low-cost
According to the news of energy scholars on March 26, the research team of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering of Southern University of Science and Technology in China revealed the purification mechanism of the aqueous synthesis of perovskite crystal precursors, and obtained the formamidine lead iodide crystal precursor material with an average purity of 99.994% through aqueous synthesis, achieving a kilogram-level production scale, and the cost used is two orders of magnitude lower than the traditional technical route, and the perovskite solar cells manufactured can achieve 25.6% The initial photoelectric conversion efficiency of 94% can still be maintained after 1000 hours of simulated solar irradiation. The research results were published in the journal Science.
Advanced manufacturing
Vienna researchers use 3D printed holographic technology to store data codes on ordinary plastics
According to the Antarctic Bear 3D Printing Network on March 25, researchers at the Vienna University of Technology have developed a new method of storing data through 3D printing holographic technology. The process of encoding digital information into holograms is often referred to as holographic data storage (HDS). This optical storage method is achieved by encoding the bits into diffraction or "interference" patterns embedded in the storage medium. When a specified wavelength and phase distribution of light hits a memory medium, it is scattered by a diffraction pattern. Through the process of mutual growth and deconstruction interference, it is possible to create a holographic image of the stored data. In this study, the researchers tested the limits of terahertz beam shaping by demonstrating HDS at terahertz wavelengths using a computer-generated 3D-printed holographic phase plate. The research results were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Swedish steel company SSAB has developed the world's first zero-emission steel powder for 3D printing
According to the 3D print website on March 26, the Swedish steel company SSAB has developed the "world's first" 3D printing zero-emission steel powder for commercial use. SSAB's zero-emission steel powders are designed to enable sustainable 3D printing designs that bring significant benefits to industries such as automotive and heavy machinery by reducing weight and CO2 emissions. This development is in line with the broader trend in the industry towards the use of sustainable 3D printing materials.
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