Electricity can heal even the worst kind of wounds three times faster, new study finds

Plus: How an artificial tree converts water into renewable hydrogen, oxygen, and heat. [Blueprint]( Sponsored by Every now and then, an old idea finds new life. Researchers at the Chalmers Institute of Technology (CTH) and the University of Freiburg wanted to test the hypothesis that electricity could help wounds heal significantly faster. By using biochips containing cultured skin cells with properties similar to human skin cells, they found that tissue allowed to repair under electric stimulation healed three times faster than without electricity. This technique could help millions of patients worldwide, especially those with chronic wounds that remain unhealed. But first, here’s your video of the day which looks at the lasting appeal of vinyl records, the best-selling music physical format in 2022. Good morning. I’m Tim, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s get started. Last Sunday, Blueprint subscribers heard all about the mystery of where Earth's water comes from. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+]( today to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. VIDEO OF THE DAY [vinyl records]( [How vinyl records came back from the brink of extinction]( Vinyl records sold more units than CDs in 2022 for the first time in decades. Why have they made a comeback in recent years? MUST READ [Electricity can heal even the worst kind of wounds]( [Electricity can heal even the worst kind of wounds three times faster, new study finds]( Researchers from Chalmers Institute of Technology (CTH) and the University of Freiburg have proposed an interesting technique that enables chronic wounds to heal faster than ever. They created a biochip containing cultured skin cells with wounds on them. One cell was allowed to repair under an electric field (200mV/mm), while the other healed without any electric stimulation. Electricity enabled the wound to heal three times faster. Electric wound healing could help millions of patients worldwide who bear chronic wounds' pain. The team will continue their research to improve the method and dig deep into the factors that enable skin cells to heal faster with electricity. [Read More]( INNOVATION [Solar reactor converts water]( [Like an 'artificial tree': Solar reactor converts water into renewable hydrogen, oxygen, and heat]( Researchers have developed a parabolic dish that resembles a telecommunications antenna to convert water into renewable hydrogen, oxygen, and heat using sunlight. The dish concentrates the sun's rays onto an integrated photoelectrochemical reactor. Within this reactor, solar energy is used to electrolyze or split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The designers claim it can power around 1.5 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles driving an average annual distance. [Read More]( THE SPONSOR OF THE DAY [Prompt engineering]( [Prompt engineering is the imminent future. Do you have it in your arsenal of skills?]( AI as a technology made a huge breakthrough post the release of ChatGPT, allowing users to get their queries resolved by merely posting commands. Of course, AI isn't here to replace your jobs, but without a shadow of doubt, it's on course to becoming an essential skill in the years to come. Knowing the right prompts will allow you to guide ChatGPT in the right direction and get the desired results. Peggy Dean's ChatGPT for Creatives is a great start for anyone who wishes to learn how to integrate this AI tool seamlessly in their workflow and increase productivity. The course is available on Skillshare and you can start with 40% OFF. Make haste while the sun shines! [LEARN MORE]( TRANSPORTATION [Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 SUV]( [Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 SUV: The pinnacle of electric luxury]( German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Maybach has unveiled its first all-electric series model, the EQS 680 SUV. Combining the technology of Mercedes-EQ and the exclusivity of Maybach, the luxury vehicle sets a new benchmark in the all-electric top-end luxury SUV segment. The use of recycled materials is an important measure on the way to decarbonization. The aim of Mercedes-Benz is to at least halve CO₂ emissions per passenger car in the new vehicle fleet over the entire life cycle by the end of this decade compared to 2020 levels. [Read More]( SCIENCE [The first transformable nano-scale electronic devices]( [The first transformable nano-scale electronic devices are finally here]( What if the nano-scale electronic parts in devices like smartphones could transform into other objects? Physicists have now engineered versions of these types of devices that can be altered into many different shapes and sizes. Using tiny nano-scale gold wires that can slide with very low friction on top of special crystals called “van der Waals materials”, they developed electronic devices made of single-atom-thick sheets of a substance called graphene attached to gold wires that can be transformed into a variety of different configurations easily. Up until now, scientists did not think such configurations were possible. [Read More]( MAIL & MUSINGS Sales of vinyl records outpaced CDs in 2022, but how do you prefer to own and enjoy music? [I love the feel of vinyl]( [I still use CDs]( [Streaming services work for me]( [I don’t buy music these days]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Elon Musk still has some work to do in earning your trust when it comes to AI, but over half of you either back him or are willing to see how things develop. 37% No way, I don't trust him 33% Yes, he's the man for the job 24% I'll wait and see 6% This whole AI thing is overrated QUOTE OF THE DAY "Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity." Hippocrates [The 7 Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones]( THINGS WE LOVE [East Oak Patio Heater]( [Broan NuTone Under Cabinet Range Hood]( [Manor Park Electric Fireplace TV Stand]( [ZLINE Copper Island Range Hood]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Electric vehicles]( are the key battleground at Shanghai Auto Show (TechXplore) - Capella Space sheds light on [24/7 all-weather Earth observation]( (+premium) - Last used in the 1980s, ['forever chemical' PCB has now been detected in deep ocean trenches]( - [The quest to build wildfire-resistant homes]( (MIT News) - [Quantum liquid becomes solid when heated]( (Phys.org) - [Private companies are flocking to the Moon]( — what does that mean for science? (Nature) - How [cultivated meat]( can solve the problems of animal-sourced meat (+premium) [Subscribe]( [About Us]( [Advertise]( [Contact Us]( © Copyright 2023 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 205 Hudson St New York, NY, 10013, USA | All Rights Reserved You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage you e-mail preferences or unsubscribe [here.](