Planting Nemo | Scum Battery | Tooth Robotics - The Convo Kit #49

95 degrees this weekend here in Massachusetts. But don’t be fooled! Hot weather is just mother nature daring you to take your ice scraper out of the car.

-Steve

Join The Convo for weekly briefings on science, space, and tech news!

Planting Nemo

Nemo’s Garden is an underwater farm changing how we look at agriculture. Over one hundred plants have been grown in six biospheres off the coast of Noli, Italy.

• Plants are reportedly more nutritious than land-grown versions

• 20k liters of air inside each dome kept at a stable temperature by surrounding ocean

• Evaporation/condensation keeps the plants hydrated

This serves as a proof-of-concept to expand Earth’s farmable surface and better feed an ever-growing population. Not bad for a friendly challenge to combine the builder’s passions, gardening and diving equipment.

Just keep planting

Scum Battery

What if pool scum could lower your electric bill? Researchers at University of Cambridge used algae to power a computer chip for over six months.

• Algae used: cyanobacteria, aka blue-green algae

• Containment box is roughly the size of a AA battery

• Energy generated through photosynthesis

Biophotovoltaics, harnessing energy from algae, is a growing field searching to support our increasing need for energy. Can’t wait to see the next superhero that gained their power after falling into a vat of cyanobacteria.

Going blue-green

Tooth Robotics

Brush, floss, and…robots? Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science developed nanorobots that dive into your dentinal tubules to kill bacteria with heat.

• Dentinal tubules = microscopic channels through middle tooth layer

• Effective depth: 2,000 micrometers (chemical treatment = 800 micrometers)

• Treatment is controlled by magnets

This nano-dentistry has been successfully tested in mice. A device fit for human mouths is in development with the goal of assisting in root canals. Fingers crossed we get mint and bubble-gum flavored bots.

Say ahhhh

End InSight

NASA’s InSight rover on Mars has begun gradually shutting down due to excessive dust on its solar panels. A dust removal system didn’t make the trip due to weight and power limitations.

• Currently running at 1/10th original landing power

• Landed on Mars in November 2018

• Collected data on over 1,300 quakes

InSight’s quake data enabled scientists to map Mars’ interior. It’ll go into “retirement pose” to preserve energy and monitor its seismometer. I’m not crying, just got some dust in my eye that I can’t remove due to rover-attachment limitations.

Dust off

Nether-EV (originally in TCK #5)

Squad Mobility’s SQUAD is a tiny EV boosted by rooftop solar panels. The mini two-seater features optional doors and a laptop station for the passenger.

• Price: $6,525-$9,700

• Range: 62 miles per swappable battery

• Size: 6.6’ long x 3.9’ wide x 5.2’ tall

Rooftop solar panels tack on about 12 miles of range on sunny days. SQUAD will hit the road at 28 mph in the Netherlands, 2023. The rest of us will have to wait a little longer to play the IRL version of Mario Kart EV.

Watch out for banana peels

1 More Thing

Tour Nemo’s Garden

Thank you for reading!

Missed last week’s Convo?

Catch-up here: Moon Gardens | Mind-Arm | Droney Appleseed - The Convo Kit #48

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