What's Emerging end of April 2024
A newsletter on interesting stuff that is emerging around the world so you can think about strategy.
Welcome to our end of April Newsletter
In the next few weeks Paul will be working on the strategy consultation process with RSL Victoria and working with a Melbourne Council. He will also continue working with the SEGRA Foundation and present to an economic development conference in Western Australia. He will also continue in his role of venture philanthropy organisation Social Venture Partners Melbourne that is conducting a wide-ranging strategy review in March (just completed - stand by for news from that). He is also setting up the business plan proposal for a new social enterprise business (we could tell you what it is but we would have to kill you).
If you are interested in talking to us about any of our strategy approaches, foresight approaches, workshops, or conference presentations for next year, please Contact Us.
The Emergent Futures Team
In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition (again) was:
Only walking for exercise? Here’s how to get the most out of it
Walking is cost-effective, doesn’t require any special equipment or training, and can be done with small pockets of time. Preliminary research shows there are ways to incorporate strength-training components into walking to improve your muscle strength and balance.……Read More
What are we Writing About?
There is nothing in this section this edition.
What’s Emerging
Anticipating a MERS-like coronavirus as a potential pandemic threat
The threat to global health security of yet another pandemic from a coronavirus remains likely because coronaviruses exhibit great genetic diversity, high rates of adaptive mutations, and readily cross species.........…..Read More
Trillions of tonnes of carbon locked in soil has been left out of environmental models – and it’s on the move
Even if we do think about carbon in soil, we are usually thinking of carbon in organic matter in the soil, such as plant litter, bacteria or animal waste. However, the inorganic, mineral component of soil also contains carbon. A new study just published in Science, shows there is much more soil inorganic carbon than anybody realised – and that it may be a surprisingly big player in Earth’s carbon cycle..........…..Read More
Flexible learning showing promise preparing high school students for post-COVID, hybrid working world
Catholic private school Chevalier College has just finished its first term of flexible learning. So far, more than 100 senior students have opted in to the trial which gives students greater flexibility in their timetables...........…..Read More
Apple Vision Pro is used in orthopedic surgery in Brazil
Performed by orthopedist Bruno Gobbato and his team at the Jaraguá Hospital, in Jaraguá do Sul (SC), the procedure performed was a shoulder arthroscopy surgery in a patient with a rotator cuff tear (injury to one of the shoulder tendons).Paul: there is a video but cannot embed it here because of age restrictions on surgical images............……. Read more
SLAC completes construction of the largest digital camera ever built for astronomy
Once set in place atop a telescope in Chile, the 3,200-megapixel LSST Camera will help researchers better understand dark matter, dark energy and other mysteries of our universe.........……. Read More
IEA’s Global EV Outlook: Electric vehicles will capture over 20% of the automotive market in 2024
China, the world’s largest market for electric vehicles, continues to drive growth with a projected 10 million electric car sales in 2024, representing a substantial portion of total vehicle sales. The United States and Europe are also witnessing significant upticks in electric vehicle adoption. Electric cars are expected to account for approximately 25% of sales in Europe and over 11% in the United States. .....…..Read more
Rental affordability in Australia is as bad as it has ever been, according to new Anglicare Australia report
There is not a single property across Australia – or even a room in a shared house – that's affordable for someone on youth allowance, according to a new report from support organisation Anglicare Australia. And just three properties Australia-wide were deemed affordable for those on a JobSeeker allowance........…..Read more
BioLumic gets funds to fatten up ryegrass
Founded in New Zealand, BioLumic is known for its UV light treatments that are applied to plants as seeds to regulate their genetic expression and unlock their natural genetic potential. The treatments have been found to significantly improve plant performance across 12 crops including corn, soybeans and rice – driving double-digit yield gains, improved quality and enhanced immunity to pathogens. Animals with high-fat diets – such as grain-fed cattle in more intensive barn farming operations overseas – have lower methane emissions. Studies have found that a 1% increase in lipids (fat) content of feed will reduce methane emissions by ~5%. The funding will enable BioLumic to apply its technology to ryegrass with a goal to increase fat content and subsequently reduce methane emissions from animals that consume it........….. Read more
Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robot goes electric
A day after retiring the hydraulic model, Boston Dynamics' CEO discusses the company’s commercial humanoid ambitions……. Read more
Wizz Air To Use SAF Produced From Human Waste
U.K. biofuel company Firefly will supply human waste-originated sustainable aviation fuels to Wizz Air UK by 2028.……. Read more
New charging algorithm could double life of li-ion batteries
The new algorithm could greatly reduce the ageing effects of continuous recharge cycles............….….Read more
Formlabs says new 3D printer ‘rivals injection molding’
The system is powered by a new print engine that uses a tech called LFD (Low Force Display) to cure the parts at higher speeds. That’s coupled with an increased build area, which allows users to print more small parts simultaneously...........….….Read more
Queensland researchers create device that consumes carbon dioxide and generates electricity
The carbon-negative "nano-generator" is the work of Zhuyuan Wang and Xiwang Zhang from UQ's Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation.It pairs a poly amine gel already used to absorb CO2 with a thin "skeleton" of boron nitrate that's only a few atoms thick.......….…Read more.
Brewing resistance: Studying coffee’s genetic lineage provides clues on how to create varieties to survive climate change
A research paper released [April 15] in Nature Genetics mapped the genome and considered the possible origins of the world’s most widely consumed species of coffee: Coffea arabica”.……...… Read more.
Business and Other Tips
Google Maps electrifies navigation with groundbreaking EV integration
Finding charging stations can be a maze, especially when they’re tucked away in multi-level parking lots. But fear not – soon, Google Maps will feature AI-powered summaries derived from user reviews, providing detailed descriptions of a charger’s exact location. Say goodbye to charging station hide-and-seek!....… Read more.
Changing these 10 iPhone settings can improved battery life dramatically
Whether you own one of the latest models or are rocking something from a few years ago, there are quite a few ways to maximize your iPhone's battery life and help it last longer on a charge ....… Read more.
Woolworths rewards Get 50% off an annual plan.
If you live in Australia and shop at Woolworths even a little bit this is worth looking at. If you join plan you get 10% off one shop each month at Woolworths and the same at Big W. Now just $35 for the first year plus a free month trial. New and returning subscribers only……… Read More (Paul: the Woolworths mobile plan is worth checking out as well. I have a $25 plan and that gives me an extra 10% off shop once a month on top of the rewards program one).
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