🌱 Scientists have developed a method to transform salty soil into fertile farmland
The treatment involves burying crop stalks underground and covering them with plastic to retain soil moisture. China, ranked as the third-largest country with salt-alkali soil, sees potential in applying this technique to a third of these lands.
🩺 Kry achieves profitability thanks to AI
By introducing generative AI into its processes, Kry has significantly increased its internal efficiency. The administrative time around each patient-doctor meeting has been reduced by approximately 30 percent.
🦑 One hundred new species discovered off the coast of Chile
Scientists have possibly discovered one hundred new species at the underwater mountains near the coast of Chile, with the help of a robot that can dive over 4000 meters. An unknown species of sea cucumbers and rarely seen species such as squids and corals have been identified.
🏆 XPRIZE launches prize competition to combat water scarcity with innovative desalination techniques
The competition has a total prize pool of $119 million. The goal is to develop sustainable, reliable, and affordable solutions for desalinating seawater.
🤖 Klarna's new AI assistant does the same job as 700 people, after one month
The AI assistant has handled 2.3 million conversations, equivalent to two-thirds of all customer service chats, in its first month. Customers now resolve their issues in less than 2 minutes, an improvement of 82 percent compared to before.
🔋 Battery price wars: Prices reach record lows
The world's largest battery manufacturers are reducing the costs of batteries for electric vehicles. In one year, the cost has more than halved. The progress is years ahead of what forecasters have believed. It is likely that prices will continue to fall.
🌌 Private capsule returns to Earth with space-grown antiviral medicine on board
Varda Space Industries' capsule has landed in Utah after nearly eight months in orbit. The capsule contains crystals of an antiviral medicine that was grown in space.
🦟 Cape Verde reaches milestone – free from malaria
Cape Verde has been declared free from malaria by WHO. No cases of local transmission have been reported for three years, thanks to strengthened health care systems and increased access to diagnosis and treatment.
🍌 Genetically modified banana resistant to Panama disease approved for consumption in Australia
Australian researchers have developed a genetically modified banana that is nearly immune to Panama disease. Panama disease is a fungal infection that prevents banana plants from absorbing nutrients and eventually kills the plant. The banana is the first genetically modified fruit to be approved.