Low-cost additive turns concrete slabs into super-fast energy storage

[New Atlas logo]( Architecture [Low-cost additive turns concrete slabs into super-fast energy storage]( [Cement and water, with a small amount of carbon black mixed in, self-assembles into fractal branches of conductive electrodes, turning concrete into an energy-storing supercapacitor]( MIT researchers have discovered that when you mix cement and carbon black with water, the resulting concrete self-assembles into an energy-storing supercapacitor that can put out enough juice to power a home or fast-charge electric cars. [Read more]( Special Promotion for New Atlas Readers [Master your productivity and business game with this bundle, only $40]( Here’s a package that offers an unbeatable combination of tools and knowledge that will enhance your professional life—a lifetime license to MS Office Pro 2021 for Windows, coupled with the highly acclaimed "An Entire MBA in 1 Course.” [Read more]( Urban Transport [Pedal-electric VM45 velomobile lets riders cruise at almost 30 mph]( [Currently known as the VM45, the vehicle will likely be sold under a different (and catchier) name]( Although cargo ebikes are often referred to as replacements for cars, they usually can't match an automobile's urban cruising speed. The VM45 four-wheeled velomobile comes very close however, with a top electric-assist speed of 45 km/h (28 mph). [Read more]( Military [Lockheed Martin juices up its laser weapon to half a megawatt]( [Laser weapons can be used on a wide range of platforms]( Lockheed Martin is raising the bar on its 300-kW laser weapon system, announcing it is scaling it up to 500 kW under a new contract from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (OUSD (R&E)). [Read more]( Outdoors [Newr battery-powered induction cooktop cuts cord on clean camp cooking]( [Connect two Chef units together and you have a dual-spot portable induction cooking system]( While induction cooktops have become prized in RVing for their clean, efficient design, they're not designed for use away from a power source. Newr is looking to go where others haven't, developing a lithium-powered self-contained induction cooker. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [3-second workout just 3 times a week provides real benefits]( [A new study has found determined the number of exercise days per week needed to see real benefits]( Researchers who previously found that exercising for just three seconds a day, five days a week, improved muscle strength have undertaken a new study to determine the minimum number of days of three-second exercise you need to do to see benefits. [Read more]( Outdoors [Campstream One uses a Tesla or Rivian to heat or cool your tent]( [In field tests, Campstream One reportedly kept the interior of a tent at 20 ºC (68 ºF) while the outdoor temperature dropped to -12 ºC (10 ºF) overnight]( People camping in tents are expected to "rough it" a bit, but … if they have a battery-powered heating and air conditioning system right beside them, why not use it? That's the thinking behind Campstream One, which mooches off the user's EV. [Read more]( Medical [Jagged little pills: Bizarre shapes allow better drug release control]( [Max Planck researchers have developed methods to design complex shapes for pills to release their drug payloads in specific patterns]( Round pills are easier to swallow, but that doesn’t offer much control in how they release their drug payload. Max Planck scientists have now developed a model for designing complex 3D-printable pill shapes that release drugs in a specific way. [Read more]( Environment [The world's newest firefighter is artificial intelligence]( [These high-definition cameras can monitor up to 15 miles in all directions]( With wildfires currently blazing through Greece, Italy and North America, the race is on to develop better responses to potential outbreaks. And as fires increase in size and frequency, AI is shaping up as our best hope in preventing catastrophes. [Read more]( Health & Wellbeing [Half the population predicted to develop a mental health disorder by 75]( [A large global study has found that half the population will be diagnosed with at least one mental health disorder by the time they're 75]( One in two people will be diagnosed with at least one mental health disorder by the age of 75 a new global study has found. The researchers say their findings highlight the importance of timely interventions tailored to at-risk people. [Read more]( Electronics [Plant-based PCB substrate breaks down in water for easier recycling]( [When immersed in hot water, the polymer holding the natural fibers together dissolves, allowing for recovery and reuse of the components]( Looking to tackle a significant part of our huge e-waste problem, Jiva has developed a PCB substrate that breaks down in water for easier recovery of materials. The startup is now partnering with manufacturers to demo and evaluate the Soluboards. [Read more]( Medical [Scrambler therapy greatly relieves chronic pain in up to 90% of patients]( ['Scrambling' pain signals from healthy nerves may permanently relieve chronic conditions]( Affecting more than 51 million Americans, chronic pain is more common than depression and diabetes, yet there are few medical interventions that offer safe, long-term relief. Scientists are hoping this non-invasive method can change that. [Read more]( Home Entertainment [Compact projector boasts triple-laser light source and Harman Kardon audio]( [Nomvdic pitches the L500 as the world's smallest triple-laser projector]( Last year, Nomvdic launched a funky-looking portable projector on Indiegogo that rocked Harman Kardon speakers. Now the California-based startup is funding a portable RGB triple-laser projector on Kickstarter, again tapping Harman Kardon for sound. [Read more]( Medical ["Molecular wedge" renders superbugs vulnerable to antibiotics again]( [Scientists have identified a new class of molecules that can prevent bacteria from pumping antibiotics out of their cells]( We’re losing the arms race against bacteria as they increasingly develop resistance to our best drugs. Now scientists have identified a new class of molecules that disable a major superbug weapon, which could make existing antibiotics effective again. [Read more]( Music [Review: One cheap Gretsch guitar and one really fancy one]( [The Falcon (right) is an absolute stunner, but the Electromatic is an extremely beautiful guitar in its own right]( Having finally accepted that I'm destined for singer/songwriter territory rather than shredville, I've been feeling a little Gretsch-curious lately. So I decided to spend some time with the Rolls-Royce of the range and something more affordable. [Read more]( Medical [Good signs for new therapy that promotes healthy aging]( [Findings pave way for new therapies to prolong quality of life as we age]( While aging remains an unavoidable part of life, we're edging closer to therapies that could greatly improve the experience. The latest development suggests that as well as healthy aging, it can stave off neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. [Read more]( Science [Anti-counterfeiting tech draws on unique qualities of micro-diamonds]( [A microscope image of the uniquely shaped and sized – and uniquely scattered – diamond microparticles on one label]( Sometimes it seems that as soon as an anti-counterfeiting process is created, someone finds a way of circumventing it. A new system could be particularly hard to foil, however, as it utilizes tiny diamonds. [Read more]( Medical [First-of-its-kind tech restores movement, feeling to quadriplegic man]( [Using a first-of-its-kind 'double neural bypass technology,' researchers have restored arm movement and sensation to quadriplegic Keith Thomas]( A team of researchers, engineers and surgeons have used a novel ‘double neural bypass’ technology to restore arm movement and sensation to a quadriplegic man. It’s hoped the technology will help others affected by impaired movement or paralysis. [Read more]( Mobile Technology [Color enote reader employs fast refresh to eliminate ghosting]( [Bigme's optimized after-image algorithm effectively eliminates ghosts of previous pages appearing onscreen]( China's Bigme, which was recently the first to launch with E Ink's Gallery 3 color ePaper technology, has announced a follow up to its S6 Color enote that comes with a Kaleido 3 display and a snappy 12-fps refresh rate. [Read more]( Medical [RNA therapy targets hard-to-reach bone marrow cancer cells]( [Early RNA therapy studies suggest the treatment could be used against hard-to-reach bone marrow cancers]( RNA therapies are emerging as a promising treatment for cancer. Now, scientists at Tel Aviv University have demonstrated a way to use RNA drugs to treat multiple myeloma, a hard-to-reach cancer that forms deep in bone tissue. [Read more]( You are receiving this email because you signed up for our daily newsletter at [newatlas.com]( (or [gizmag.com]( before August 2016). [Update profile]( | [Unsubscribe]( Copyright New Atlas © 2022