Don’t be mesmerised by cool apps and flashy new gizmos – the top
technology inventions of the year are ones that will have a lasting
effect.
technology inventions of the year are ones that will have a lasting
effect.
Most are advances in fields that are already changing us. Some will
have immediate impact; others are portents of transformations that may
take decades to complete. In this vein, and in no particular order, here
are what I consider to be ten of the best technological innovations
from 2014.
have immediate impact; others are portents of transformations that may
take decades to complete. In this vein, and in no particular order, here
are what I consider to be ten of the best technological innovations
from 2014.
1. DNA nanobots injected into cockroaches
Nanotechnology is a growing research field that manipulates materials
on a molecular scale. One prospect is to transform medicine by
injecting nanobots into the body where they perform functions such as
treating disease.
on a molecular scale. One prospect is to transform medicine by
injecting nanobots into the body where they perform functions such as
treating disease.
In February, an Israeli team described devices they made from DNA and injected into cockroaches.
By performing a kind of origami, the DNA nanobots assembled themselves
and were able to control a molecule that targeted specific cells, so
demonstrating their potential to carry out medical functions such as
attacking cancers.
By performing a kind of origami, the DNA nanobots assembled themselves
and were able to control a molecule that targeted specific cells, so
demonstrating their potential to carry out medical functions such as
attacking cancers.
2. Nanotubes in chloroplasts created super plants
Nanotubes are large carbon molecules that form tubes with unusual
thermal and electrical properties. In March, a team from MIT and CalTech
published a method
for inserting nanotubes into plant chloroplasts. The novel combination
boosted photosynthesis and plant growth by several hundred percent.
thermal and electrical properties. In March, a team from MIT and CalTech
published a method
for inserting nanotubes into plant chloroplasts. The novel combination
boosted photosynthesis and plant growth by several hundred percent.
Applications are still years away, but besides increasing plant growth and production, there are extraordinary possibilities:
tapping plants for electrical power, building self-repairing materials
and erecting buildings from materials that generate their own power.
tapping plants for electrical power, building self-repairing materials
and erecting buildings from materials that generate their own power.
3. Scallop-shaped robots swam through blood
Researchers at Germany’s Max Planck Institute developed tiny robots that could swim through the bloodstream, repairing tissue damage or transporting medicine.
The challenge they faced was blood’s viscosity: it not only impeded
movement but also varied according to speed. They solved the problem by
designing robots in the shape of scallops powered by an external magnetic field. These robots provide a starting point for many kinds of medical devices of the future.
movement but also varied according to speed. They solved the problem by
designing robots in the shape of scallops powered by an external magnetic field. These robots provide a starting point for many kinds of medical devices of the future.
4. A microchip helped a paralysed man regain the use of his arm
Implants are revolutionising the treatment of many medical
conditions. In April, researchers at Ohio State University reported
success in using a microchip implant to help a paralysed man regain use of his arm.
conditions. In April, researchers at Ohio State University reported
success in using a microchip implant to help a paralysed man regain use of his arm.
Ten years in development, the device, known as Neurobridge,
stimulates muscles according to brain patterns. The innovation raises
hopes for many disabled people. It showed that by plugging into our
brainwaves we may one day control all manner of devices by thought
alone.
stimulates muscles according to brain patterns. The innovation raises
hopes for many disabled people. It showed that by plugging into our
brainwaves we may one day control all manner of devices by thought
alone.
5. Nose cells helped repair a severed spinal cord
Biotechnology is producing new cures for medical conditions long
thought to be permanent. A medical team at Wroclaw Medical University
cultured nerve cells taken from a patient’s nose and surgically inserted
them into his spinal cord.
thought to be permanent. A medical team at Wroclaw Medical University
cultured nerve cells taken from a patient’s nose and surgically inserted
them into his spinal cord.
The transplanted cells stimulated severed nerve fibres to grow and
rejoin, thus bridging a damaged section of the spinal column and
allowing the patient to walk again. This innovation showed that damage to the nervous system can be reversed.
rejoin, thus bridging a damaged section of the spinal column and
allowing the patient to walk again. This innovation showed that damage to the nervous system can be reversed.
6. Unmanned drones: the future of delivery services
Unmanned flying drones are taking on a rapidly growing number of
roles, especially in surveillance and monitoring. Following Chinese
experiments last year to test drones as a delivery system for parcels, 2014 saw rapid expansion of serious business interest.
roles, especially in surveillance and monitoring. Following Chinese
experiments last year to test drones as a delivery system for parcels, 2014 saw rapid expansion of serious business interest.
In August, Google used a drone to deliver chocolates to a farm in Outback Queensland. By year’s end, Amazon, DHL and many others were scrambling to establish unmanned delivery services in several countries.
7. A swarm of self-assembling mini-robots
Robots are already important tools in many industries, but put them
into swarms and they can do so much more. In August the journal Science reported work at Harvard in which 1,000 mini-robots, the largest swarm so far, was able to assemble itself into programmed shapes.
into swarms and they can do so much more. In August the journal Science reported work at Harvard in which 1,000 mini-robots, the largest swarm so far, was able to assemble itself into programmed shapes.
There is still a long way to go, but it raised the potential for
structures that self-assemble, which would revolutionise construction.
structures that self-assemble, which would revolutionise construction.
8. 3D printers pushed the boundaries
3D printing is now an established technology, but developments this
year expanded its capabilities and applications. At the one extreme a
team in Amsterdam began a project to build an entire house using 3D printing.
year expanded its capabilities and applications. At the one extreme a
team in Amsterdam began a project to build an entire house using 3D printing.
Meanwhile researchers at Princeton developed a 3D printer that could print with five different materials, incorporating dot-emitting diodes, and demonstrated it by making contact lenses. This raises many possibilities, from wearable video to monitoring the health of pilots.
9. The next frontier in space exploration
Events this year highlighted the international character of solar
system exploration in coming decades. Following a ten-year flight,
European Space Agency’s probe Rosetta went into orbit around the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
system exploration in coming decades. Following a ten-year flight,
European Space Agency’s probe Rosetta went into orbit around the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
On November 12, it released the probe Philae which became the first spacecraft to land on a comet.
Meanwhile, Mars exploration moved forward. India’s Mangalyaan spacecraft went into orbit around Mars in September and in December, NASA successfully launched the new Orion spacecraft, a first step in preparing for manned exploration of Mars.
10. Green power and clean water
Necessity is the mother of invention, so the greater the need, the more important the invention. A worldwide need is the 780 million people around the world who lack access to clean water supplies. The challenge for inventors is to meet the World Health Organisation criteria for practical systems: accessible, simple and cheap.
One notable innovation this year was a portable new system called Sunflower
developed in Switzerland. Easily transportable, it used sunlight to
generate electricity, and at the same time provided heating,
refrigeration for food and purified water.
developed in Switzerland. Easily transportable, it used sunlight to
generate electricity, and at the same time provided heating,
refrigeration for food and purified water.
What of next year? We can be sure that growing fields such as
automation and nanotechnology will continue to surprise us. The US
Patents Office granted more than 300,000 patents during 2013, nearly 30,000 more than 2012. If patents provide a reliable indicator, then new inventions are appearing faster than ever.
automation and nanotechnology will continue to surprise us. The US
Patents Office granted more than 300,000 patents during 2013, nearly 30,000 more than 2012. If patents provide a reliable indicator, then new inventions are appearing faster than ever.
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