Tag Archive: Innovation of the Year

Jan 01

Innovation of the Year 2024

The Nyobolt battery for electric cars  

Yes, the electric car industry is charging ahead with faster battery recharging capabilities as evidenced in this David and Goliath meets the Hare and the Tesla story. The Nyobolt takes 4.37 minutes to charge up to 80% and although Roger Bannister could run a mile faster than that, he couldn’t run 120 miles after a 41/2-minute break.

See the rest of the field at: https://www.popsci.com/technology/best-of-whats-new-2024/

Jan 01

Innovation of the Year 2023

Innovation of the Year: NeuroRestore’s Parkinson’s Implant

There were many breakthroughs this year but we think this one has a leg (or two) up on all the others.  The first recipient of this spinal stimulation device, a 63-year-old man with Parkinson’s disease, can now walk for miles, when previously he was often housebound and had several falls a day.

Runners Up:

R21 Malaria Vaccine – a new malaria vaccine (the world’s 2nd) that is both more affordable and easier to manufacture than its predecessor.

LEQEMB for early onset Alzheimer’s – the only drug clinically shown to slow down cognitive decline associated with the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

See the rest of the field at: https://www.popsci.com/technology/best-of-whats-new-2023/

Jan 01

Innovation of the Year 2022

The eCoin implant for bladder control by Valencia Energy.

Forget about Lecanemab (story to follow if I don’t forget) and all those other marvelous breakthroughs that may or may not hold water when their inaugural tests and/or prototype installations are finally completed over the next two to five years. For those old-timers that can’t wait that long for relief, this nickel-sized neurostimulator that is implanted just above the ankle can be tapped into right now.  Moreover, the pulses intensity and therefore their relief can be controlled with a remote.

 

See the rest of the field at: https://www.popsci.com/technology/best-of-whats-new-2022/

 

Jan 01

Innovation of the Year 2021

The ‘Big Jim’ Iron-Air Battery by Form Energy Inc.

An inexpensive battery to meet peak demand when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining. This new and highly efficient battery chemistry is based on one of the most abundant metals in the Earth: iron. It discharges electrons by reacting ambient oxygen with iron, creating rust. Inbound electrical current turns the rust back into iron, releasing oxygen, and recharging the battery.

See the rest of the field at: https://www.popsci.com/technology/best-of-whats-new-2021/

Jan 01

Innovation of the Year 2020

Denmark’s Covid-19 relief policy

In a world where big-business tax cheats everywhere have once again lined up to line their pockets at tax payer expense, Denmark lights a beacon of fiscal fairness for the rest of the world to consider when they announce that Covid-19 aid will not to be paid to Danish businesses that are registered in tax havens, paying out dividends, or buying back their own shares.

See the rest of the field at: https://www.popsci.com/story/technology/best-of-whats-new-2020/

Meanwhile in Canada “Corporations Clean up on Covid-19”

While collecting millions of dollars in Covid-19 relief from struggling Canadian taxpayers, GDI, a billion-dollar janitorial company in Montreal, Canada was laying off employees while, at the same time, reporting a share price that was hitting all-time highs during what it called a “record quarter” between June and September, with revenues up more than 10 per cent.  Meanwhile, across town as it was laying off 1,600 workers, trucking giant TFI spent nearly $9 million buying back shares, a move generally intended to drive up share price. They received $63 million in wage subsidies by the end of September and paid out $45 million in dividends (a 12% increase over last year) amid rising profits and a soaring share price.  Yes, it seems we the taxpayers (and small businesses) were taken to the cleaners as Corporate Canada reliefed us of our safety nets.

Jan 01

Innovation of the Year 2019

Innovation of the Year: Phone-controlled self-lacing sneakers

Finally, people too lazy to bend over and tie their shoes can burn calories thinking of new reasons not to get out and exercise.  Thanks to Nike, now people can do the smart thing and “just phone it in” at practice and play.

See the rest of the field at: https://www.popsci.com/story/technology/best-of-whats-new-2019/

Jan 01

Innovation of the Year 2018

A battery of environmentally friendly battery designs emanating from MIT.

Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed new battery technology that will allow intermittent power sources such as wind and solar to finally deliver reliable baseload electricity. Its design is cost-effective, reliable, safe and scalable and it will never overheat, catch fire or explode.  Later in the year another team at MIT unveils a design that converts carbon dioxide captured from power plants into a solid mineral carbonate as it discharges.

 

Honourable Mention: Vertical Farming breakthrough

Researchers at Guelph University in Canada are using special combinations lighting in combination with hydroponic farming techniques to deliver a safe, scalable vertical farming platform for any environment.  Originally intended to support mars missions and already boasting a large scale pilot to in the deserts of Kuwait, the sky might not be the limit for this new farming technology.

    See the rest of the field at: https://www.popsci.com/best-of-whats-new-2018

Jan 01

Innovation of the Year 2017

Free Wikipedia access to Iraq & Afghanistan

The leading mobile phone service providers in Iraq and, six months later, Afghanistan announce they will extend free Wikipedia Zero access to their subscribers. Could free access to “fact checked” education be the answer to blind faith fundamentalism and fanatics around the world? Is the pen truly mightier than the sword. Can education trump walls? Will smart phones outperform smart drones in the war on terror?  Time will tell.

See the rest of the field at: Time Magazine Best Inventions of 2017

 

 

Jan 01

Innovation of the Year 2016

Innovation of the Year:  Microsoft Skype Translator

This seems to be the innovation that is most readily available now for the universal use of everyone.

 See the rest of the field at: http://www.popsci.com/best-whats-new

Jan 01

Innovation of the Year 2015

SUSIBA2: Rice That Fights Global Warming

 

More than half the global population relies on rice as a regular part of their diet. But rice paddies have a downside for the planet too: They produce as much as 17 percent of the world’s total methane emissions. SUSIBA2 is a genetically modified rice plant that emits almost no methane. Instead of sending carbon to the roots to feed the bacteria that produce methane, the plant directs it toward the grain and leaves increasing the starch level and yield. “It’s a win-win”.

Honourable mention

Robotic Hand by Open Bionics: This 3D-printed robotic hand that can be made faster and more cheaply than current alternatives was this year’s UK winner of the James Dyson Award.

Ref: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-34044453?ocid=global_bbccom_email_25082015_technology

 

See the rest of the field at: http://www.popsci.com/100-greatest-innovations-2015

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