Written by: Aleksandr Iurev, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Throughout the course of human history, change was measured by the century. Maybe once in every 100 years, a major technical or engineering breakthrough occurred that further spurred human development and civilization. And so, for the most part, year after year, life and society looked the same and was predictable.
That was the situation until the late 19th century, when suddenly new inventions were occurring every decade. Then, by the first half of the 20th century, major new inventions were happening several times each decade, and by the end of the 20th century, each new year brought an exciting breakthrough. Today, 22 years into the 21st century, hardly a month passes where we don’t see an amazing new technological breakthrough in some aspect of our life. These many different innovations are disrupting the world around us, having an impact in ways that are still not fully known. Below is my list of the Top 5 most recent and interesting breakthroughs.
Biotech
Patients can sometimes wait years for an organ transplant. That’s about to change. Start up LyGenesis has developed a technological platform for organ regeneration that transforms lymph nodes into functioning ectopic organs, enabling the treatment of dozens of patients from a single donor organ.
LyGenesis transplants cell therapy by using outpatient endoscopic ultrasound. In turn, this eliminates the need for surgery, and, of course, the result is a dramatic reduction in costs. The patient also benefits from less inconvenience and stress.
Transportation
Nearly 200 companies worldwide are trying to develop an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL). The $7 billion startup Joby Aviation is a leader, having recently raised $590 million from Toyota and Uber, as well as BlackRock, to launch an electric air taxi service known as Elevate. Last December the company’s four-passenger prototype became the first eVTOL aircraft to get approval from the U.S. Air Force. When Elevate launches in 2024, Joby Aviation will use Uber’s app to offer rides. Who wants to be first in line for this wild ride?!
Communications
Everyone has heard of 5G, but do you really understand its advantages and significance? Rising demand for better connectivity due to the increase in HD video and streaming means that more powerful networks are needed. Currently, there are about 40 billion devices connected to 3G/4G networks and that infrastructure can’t cope. The 5G network will solve the network bandwidth problem, with connection speeds of up to 100 Gb/ second, about 100 times faster than 4G. Another big push for improved connectivity are ultrafast fiber networks. Existing copper cable broadband infrastructure isn’t as fast and tops out at 40 Gb/ second. With a fiber optic cable, speeds reach into the hundreds of terabytes of data per second, close to the speed of light. In short, your Netflix will be clearer and more reliable!
Green Energy
Ships are the leading polluter in the oceans. Thank goodness, the end of maritime diesel will soon end. On Oct 7, Japanese power utility Tohoku Electric and Mitsui Lines launched the Shofu Maru, the world's first vessel equipped with Wind Challenger, a cutting-edge green energy technology. It’s a hard-sail wind power propulsion system that can function like a traditional sail. The Shofu Maru will transport cargo from Australia, Indonesia, and North America for Tohoku Electric. Compared to a diesel vessel, Wind Challenger will help to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and it won’t pollute the oceans. Chalk one up for planet Earth!
Space Tech
A year ago, in collaboration with NASA, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) developed and launched the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), the world’s first planetary defense program to protect Earth against asteroids. APL’s new technology is meant to change the direction of an asteroid’s motion in space. And so, on Sept 26, DART’s spacecraft intentionally slammed into the asteroid Dimorphos and successfully changed its trajectory. This demonstration of ‘deflection technology’ was the world’s first effort of planetary defense. Hopefully, we will never need it!
Aleksandr Iurev, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Aleksandr Iurev is a serial entrepreneur, with many years of experience in launching startups. His most recent is Pocketfied, which will radically disrupt the mobile app development industry with its highly innovative technology and service. Overall, Mr. Iurev has 20 years of experience in the IT sector, as well as in DevOps, and Information Security. He cut his teeth in Tech working in IT security for the largest banks in Russia, as well as for top IT companies. That experience protecting clients from hacker attacks is one reason why he attaches top priority to building secure systems so that users can be certain they're protected.
