What great inventions have you heard of recently?

[Quantum]

How about solar-powered suitcases that are helping babies in Nepal?

Off-grid solution

The solar suitcase is the brainchild of California-based obstetrician-gynaecologist Dr Laura Stachel of We Care Solar.

While in Nigeria in 2008, she witnessed complications and even deaths when babies were delivered at night without reliable light or power.

Dr Stachel devised a suitcase-sized, off-grid, solar electric system with her husband, solar engineer, Hal Aronson.

The prototype was so successful in Nigeria, they decided to bring the innovation to clinics and health stations in other countries with high rates of maternal and new-born baby mortality.



(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40...)

[Scout]

I haven't read about that, but here's one that could make many patients' lives easier:

Implantable Artificial Kidney

William H. Fissell IV, M.D. has been working on this for more than a decade. He says, "We are creating a bio-hybrid device that can mimic a kidney to remove enough waste products, salt and water to keep a patient off dialysis." He says the goal is to make it small enough, roughly the size of a soda can, to be implanted inside a patient’s body. Pilot studies could start by the end of 2017.

[Philip]

Not that new but Tesla’s roof tiles are impressive. Just wish I could afford a hous with them. Much neater than panels.

Also been reading about algae for bio-power, unfortunately being led by many of the fossil fuel companies but at least a change in direction. Saw Exon advert.

[Nik]

A room generating electromagnetic fields, charging cellphones and providing electricity to devices. Goodbye plugs and sockets? https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2...

[Ian]

If it did, your power bill would go up because much of the field is dissipated elsewhere. Working inside a metal box with no windows might appeal to some, but you will need a door, and you had better not have anything made of iron in the room. Oh, and invite anyone with a pacemaker or the like into your room and you might end up killing him/her, while things like artificial hips could be really uncomfortable as they got hot. But I guess sooner or later someone will try it tp save them the trouble of plugging in and throwing a switch. Arduous task, that.