Weekly Piece of Future #106
From Two-Way BCIs to Quantum Memory and Gene Switches
Hey there, fellow future-addicts!
Welcome to this week's edition of Rushing Robotics! We're back with the latest mind-blowing breakthroughs across tech, industry, and biotech that are set to change the world as we know it. From the world's first two-way adaptive brain-computer interface to next-level quantum processors and cutting-edge space tech, this week’s highlights are pushing the boundaries of what's possible.
🤯 Mind-Blowing
Chinese researchers have created the world’s first two-way adaptive brain-computer interface (BCI), revolutionizing efficiency and practical use. Meanwhile, Microsoft leads the way with the first topological quantum processor, while Meta and Apple take major steps in developing humanoid robots with advanced AI capabilities.
🔊 Industry Insights & Updates
The future of fusion energy is looking bright as France breaks new records in plasma reaction time, and a groundbreaking space-grade solar cell is making waves in satellite energy solutions. On the data front, China unveils an underwater computing center capable of supporting thousands of AI assistant conversations simultaneously, while California-based startups push the envelope in transparent solar energy solutions.
🧬 BioTech
The latest in biotech sees Chinese scientists creating ultra-thin optical fibers that could change brain imaging and communication speeds. Meanwhile, Swiss researchers are enhancing diabetes treatments with a novel “gene switch,” and the FDA gives the green light to a new rapid-acting insulin biosimilar, expanding options for diabetes management.
💡 Products/Tools of the Week
This week’s featured tools include HideMyData.app, an essential privacy tool; CodeBeaver, an AI-driven solution for automating unit testing; WhisperTranscribe, a powerful transcription service with multilingual support; and Forvio, a marketing analytics platform to optimize campaign ROI.
🎥 Video Section
Check out these exciting videos showcasing the future of robotics and AI. Unitree Robotics takes you through an interactive experience with the Unitree G1, asking, “What Dance Would You Like to Perform with Unitree G1?” and keeping the rhythm going in “Keep the Music Going, Keep the Dance Flowing!” You can also get a sneak peek at the next generation of humanoid robots with the introduction of HMND 01, and see Meta’s AI-powered robots in action with “Meta PARTNR: Unlocking Human-Robot Collaboration.” Finally, Mentee Robotics teases the upcoming Menteebot V3.0, a next-level AI robot.
The possibilities these innovations unlock are mind-blowing. The future is arriving faster than we ever imagined. Stay hungry, stay futurish!
🤯 Mind-Blowing
Chinese researchers have developed the world’s first two-way adaptive brain-computer interface (BCI), marking a major breakthrough in efficiency and real-world application potential. According to a new study, this system enhances performance 100-fold compared to traditional BCIs. Scientists from Tianjin University and Tsinghua University state that their innovation could soon be incorporated into wearable and portable devices for both medical and consumer applications. Unlike conventional BCIs that only interpret brain signals, this system enables bidirectional learning between the brain and the machine. This continuous interaction ensures long-term stability, a critical advancement for practical daily use. The study further revealed that the dual-loop architecture not only increased efficiency by over 100 times but also reduced energy consumption by a factor of 1,000 compared to existing BCI systems.
Researchers at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering have developed an innovative method for data storage, utilizing crystal defects as atomic-scale ones and zeroes. Assistant Professor Tian Zhong explains that each memory cell is formed by a single missing atom, or defect, allowing terabytes of data to be densely packed into a cube just one millimeter in size. This breakthrough bridges the fields of quantum and optical data storage, addressing both the need for advanced quantum systems and improvements in classical memory. By successfully controlling the charge states of these defects—assigning charged gaps as "ones" and uncharged gaps as "zeros"—the researchers have transformed the crystal into an exceptionally efficient memory device, surpassing classical computing limitations.
Microsoft has introduced Majorana 1, the world’s first quantum processor built using topological core architecture—an entirely new material type for quantum processors. The company intends to develop a fault-tolerant prototype (FTP) of a scalable quantum computer over the coming years. Quantum computing is poised to revolutionize our computational abilities, allowing us to solve complex problems beyond the reach of current supercomputers. By harnessing quantum properties, qubits in these computers can process information at scales unimaginable today. The new material developed by Microsoft involves atom-by-atom layering of indium arsenide, a semiconductor, and aluminum, a superconductor. When cooled to near absolute zero and subjected to magnetic fields, this combination forms topological superconducting nanowires with Majorana Zero Modes (MZM) at the ends. MZMs function as qubits and encode quantum information through ‘parity,’ representing whether the wire contains an odd or even number of electrons. Unlike regular electrons, MZMs share unpaired electrons, making them impervious to environmental interference.
After its significant investment in artificial intelligence (AI), Meta appears to be eyeing its next major venture. According to an internal company memo accessed by Reuters, the California-based tech giant is establishing a new division within its Reality Labs unit to develop AI-powered humanoid robots capable of assisting with physical tasks. In the memo reviewed by Reuters, Meta’s Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Bosworth, stated that the newly formed robotics product group will focus on researching and developing “consumer humanoid robots.” These robots will leverage Meta’s AI foundation models, known as Llama. Bosworth emphasized that expanding into this sector will enhance Meta AI’s capabilities and complement its ongoing work in mixed and augmented reality.
Apple is currently conducting research in robotics, focusing on both humanoid and non-humanoid designs. As reported by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company’s efforts in this area remain in the early stages, with a mass-market product expected no earlier than 2028. Apple’s goal is to integrate both types of robots into its future smart home ecosystem, with current efforts still limited to proof-of-concept (POC) models. While industry discussions continue over the merits of humanoid versus non-humanoid robots, Apple’s emphasis appears to be on how users perceive and interact with the robots, rather than on their physical appearance. This focus on anthropomorphic rather than humanoid designs suggests that Apple is prioritizing the development of sensing hardware and software as the core technologies.
🔊 Industry Insights & Updates
France has reached a new milestone in fusion energy, successfully maintaining a plasma reaction for over 22 minutes. This groundbreaking achievement took place at the WEST Tokamak reactor, operated by the Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA). CEA’s WEST Tokamak sustained a plasma reaction for a record-breaking 1,337 seconds, surpassing China’s previous benchmark of 1,066 seconds by 25% and far exceeding the historical 10-second threshold. “WEST has achieved a new key technological milestone by maintaining hydrogen plasma for more than twenty minutes through the injection of 2 MW of heating power. Experiments will continue with increased power. This excellent result allows both WEST and the French community to lead the way for the future use of ITER.”, comment Anne-Isabelle Etienvre, Director of Fundamental Research at the CEA.
Extraterrestrial Power, a Sydney-based private space technology company, has introduced a groundbreaking space-grade solar cell thin enough to be mass-produced like conventional terrestrial solar cells. This innovation, estimated to be up to ten times cheaper than existing space solar cells, could significantly impact the industry. Supported by the Australian Space Agency, headquartered in Adelaide, this development aligns with the accelerating growth of satellite production. As space organizations seek cost-effective and sustainable solutions for their missions, lightweight and affordable solar cells present a compelling opportunity. According to the company, its new solar cells combine mass-producibility with the efficiency, stability, and durability necessary for space applications.
China has launched a cutting-edge underwater intelligent computing center in Lingshui, Hainan Province. The data capsule, housing over 400 high-performance servers, has been deployed on the seafloor to provide advanced computing capabilities. According to reports, the facility can support 7,000 simultaneous AI assistant conversations powered by DeepSeek. Its computational capacity is equivalent to 30,000 high-end gaming computers running in parallel—achieving in one second what a standard computer would take a year to compute.
The capsule, measuring 18 meters long and 3.6 meters in diameter, connects to client data terminals through a coastal station. Utilizing seawater as a natural coolant, the center optimizes energy efficiency while conserving land, fresh water, and electricity. Additionally, the deep-sea environment offers increased security and operational stability.
Next Energy Technologies, a California-based organic photovoltaic (OPV) start-up, has introduced what it claims to be the world’s largest fully transparent organic PV window. Measuring 101.6 cm by 152.4 cm (3.3 feet x 4.9 feet), this laminated, power-generating window was developed on the company’s pilot production line. The innovative product incorporates a transparent OPV layer within a substrate, alongside an edge seal, busbar, junction box, and cover glass. Organic photovoltaics utilize organic semiconductors to convert solar energy into electricity, a concept rooted in Nobel Prize-winning research from UC Santa Barbara. Unlike traditional semiconductors, carbon-based semiconductors can absorb ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) light while allowing visible light to pass through—an ability not achievable with conventional solar materials. This breakthrough brings the glass industry closer to large-scale, energy-generating building facades.
🧬 BioTech
Chinese scientists claim to have developed an ultra-thin optical fiber that could revolutionize brain imaging and enhance high-speed communications. Operating on an optical neural network, this advanced fiber can transmit tens of thousands of times more data than conventional single-mode fibers. This breakthrough could enable real-time imaging of brain nerve cells, significantly improving disease diagnosis. Additionally, the technology holds potential for faster internet connections, quantum computing, and micro-photonic devices. “We have started using the fibre-integrated diffractive neural networks to detect light signals that indicate lesions from samples obtained from the hospital under the microscope,” Yu Haoyi said.
Researchers have developed an advanced and highly effective "gene switch" designed to enhance targeted cell therapy. According to a team at ETH Zurich, this innovative approach could lead to more precise and personalized diabetes treatments. Diabetes, a widespread metabolic disease, affects nearly one in ten individuals worldwide. ETH researchers are modifying human cells by integrating new gene networks to grant them specialized therapeutic functions. These engineered cells are implanted under the skin and regulated using a controlled switch. Over recent years, the team has developed various control mechanisms for implanted cells, including electrical, light-based, and even music-triggered switches. Their latest breakthrough introduces a nitroglycerine-activated switch—the same drug commonly used to treat chest pain. Given that the body's natural blood sugar regulation system malfunctions in diabetes, scientists aim to replicate this process with advanced cell therapies.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Merilog, a biosimilar of Novolog (insulin aspart), for improving glycemic control in adults and children with diabetes mellitus. This approval represents a key milestone, as Merilog is the first FDA-authorized rapid-acting insulin biosimilar, expanding therapeutic options for diabetes management. Merilog functions as a rapid-acting human insulin analog, specifically formulated to mitigate postprandial blood sugar spikes and improve metabolic control.
💡Products/tools of the week
HideMyData.app is a comprehensive privacy-focused tool designed to safeguard users' personal information in the online space. It likely includes features such as email masking, data anonymization, and privacy settings management, allowing users to regulate access to their sensitive data. This tool serves as a valuable resource for individuals and business professionals alike, helping to mitigate spam, strengthen online security, and provide enhanced control over personal information in an increasingly digital world.
CodeBeaver is an advanced AI-powered tool designed to automate and optimize unit testing for software development teams. It intelligently generates and updates unit tests, executes test suites, detects potential bugs, and seamlessly integrates with widely used version control platforms. Developers can leverage CodeBeaver to streamline their workflows, improve test coverage, identify issues earlier in the development cycle, and enhance overall code quality—all while maintaining full control over their testing process through automated pull requests.
WhisperTranscribe is an AI-driven transcription tool that efficiently converts audio files into text with high accuracy across 55+ languages. It provides essential features such as multilingual support, content generation, and subtitle creation, catering to diverse professional needs. Content creators, researchers, marketers, and educators can leverage its capabilities to streamline workflows, enhance accessibility, and repurpose audio content with ease. With a strong focus on accuracy, versatility, and privacy, WhisperTranscribe stands out as a reliable solution for professionals seeking fast and efficient transcription services.
Forvio is a cutting-edge marketing analytics platform that leverages advanced data analysis and modeling to empower businesses in refining their marketing strategies. By integrating Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM) and Multi-Touch Attribution (MTA), it provides deep insights into marketing performance across multiple channels. Businesses, marketing consultants, and agencies can utilize Forvio to pinpoint the most effective channels, optimize budget distribution, forecast future campaign outcomes, and ultimately maximize their return on investment (ROI) in marketing activities.
