【推荐2】A Norwegian company has created what it calls the world’s first zero-emission(排放), autonomous cargo ship(货船). Developed by chemical company Yara International, the ship was designed to reduce emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases, and move goods away from roads to the sea.

The shipping industry accounts for between 2.5% and 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Maritime Organization. Nearly all of Norway’s electricity is generated by hydroelectric power, which is generally considered to have much lower carbon emissions than burning fossil fuels, despite the fact that it still produces greenhouse gases.

Capable of carrying 103 containers and with a top speed of 13 knots, it will use a 7 MWh battery, with about a thousand times the capacity of one electrical car. The ship will be charged near the port before sailing to container harbors along the coast and then back again, replacing 40,000 truck journeys a year.

As well as providing a greener option compared to conventional cargo ships, there is no crewman, which means it will be more cost-effective to operate. Initially, loading and unloading the ship will require humans, but gradually, all loading, discharging, and some other operations will also be eventually operated using autonomous technology. That will involve developing autonomous cranes(起重机) and carriers, which are the vehicles that place containers onto ships.

According to researchers, fully autonomous ships are the future. But there are many challenges to overcome before autonomous ships can be used for commercial long sea journeys. Navigating traffic in large ports could be a major barrier.

Without a crew aboard to carry out maintenance checks, autonomous ships would need built-in self-diagnosing systems with the ability to detect and fix problems, or call for human assistance.

Although Yara International has no plans to add more autonomous ships to its operations, we may see more elements of AI technology used on commercial ships in the future. Elements are already being used in shipping today when it comes to the voyage and we’ll see more partly autonomous elements added.

【推荐1】In Switzerland, an ambitious proposal could see the construction of an expansive underground network through which self-driving pods (吊舱) would transport goods across the country.

The project, called Cargo Sous Terrain (CST), is intended to reduce the reliance on trucks for moving cargo. Global demand for freight (货物) transportation is growing, just as much of the world is seeing a shortage of truck drivers. Meanwhile, higher fuel prices have made road transportation more expensive, while transporting freight by road accounts for around 6% of global carbon dioxide emissions.

If built, the network would stretch roughly 500 kilometers from Geneva in the west of Switzerland to St. Gallen in the northeast, and be completed around 2045. The network of tunnels will be 40 to 80 meters below ground and the autonomous pods will drive along three lanes at around 30 kilometers per hour. And the cargo will be loaded and unloaded at designated hubs (枢纽) employing lifts to take goods to and from the surface.

The project was approved by the Swiss government in 2021. Although there’s a long way to go before construction can begin, earlier in 2023 CST began its preliminary work in the field — exploratory drilling along the Härkingen-Niederbipp route.

The biggest challenge for CST will be the expense. CST estimates that it will cost around 30 billion Swiss Francs ($34 billion) for the entire network. The project will be entirely privately funded, with investors including Credit Suisse, Coop, and Siemens. Although a huge amount of funding still needs to be found, much of the technology for the automation and operation of the network already exists. Another key challenge is working out how to transport freight above ground from the tunnels to stores in cities — without adding to road traffic.

Despite all the hurdles, Patrik Aellig, head of communication for CST, remains optimistic. CST is “at the forefront” of underground freight transport.

【推荐2】The Ryman Prize is an international award aimed at encouraging the best and brightest thinkers in the world to focus on ways to improve the health of older people.

The world’s ageing population means that in some parts of the globe—including much of the Western world—the population aged 75＋ is expected to almost triple(增至三倍)in the next 30 years. Older people face not only the severe threat of COVID-19, but also the burden of chronic diseases including Alzheimers and diabetes. At the same time the health of older people is one of the most underfunded and poorly resourced areas of research.

We’re offering a $250,000 annual prize for the world’s best discovery, development, advance or achievement that enhances quality of life for older people.

The Ryman Prize is awarded each year by the Prime Minister of New Zealand. It was first awarded in 2015 to Gabi Holows, co-founder of the Hollows Foundation, for her tireless work to restore sight for millions of older people in the developing world.

Since then world-leading researchers Professor Henry Brodaty, Professor Peter St George-Hyslop,Professor Takanori Shibata,Dr MichaelFehlings and Professor Mia Kivipelto have all won the prize for their outstanding work.

In 2021 Professor Kenneth Rock wood,a Canadian geriatrician, academic and anti-ageism campaigner whose research into frailty(虚弱)has had a huge impact, was awarded the prize by Jacinda Ardern,Prime Minister of New Zealand.

If you have a great idea or have achieved something remarkable, we would love to hear from you. Entries for the 2022 Ryman Prize will close at 5pm on Friday,Dec.30,2022(New Zealand time). Go to rymanprize.com for more information.

【推荐3】Many Americans sleep in a room that’s stopped occasionally with some form of artificial light — whether it’s coming from a TV, a jumble of electronics or a streetlight. New research suggests that one night of sleep with just a moderate amount of light may have negative effects on health.

Dr. Phyllis Zee, senior author of the new study and director of the Center for Circadian and Sleep Medicine at Northwestern University, conducted an experiment so far, which indicates being exposed to light at night may be adverse in a variety of ways and could lead people to chronic diseases. For the study, all the participants spent their first night sleeping in a dark room. The next night, half of them slept in a lighted room. Meanwhile, the researchers ran tests on the sleepers: they recorded their brainwaves, measured their heart rates and drew their blood every few hours, among other things.

The results show several clear differences between the two groups. Unlike those who spent both nights in the dark, the group exposed to the light had increased heart rates throughout the night.

The study’s findings that metabolic (代谢的) health suffered aren’t entirely surprising. “This is enough to suggest that if people sleep under light, even a little light, it may pose a threat to their health, particularly cardiovascular (心血管的) health, and increase the risk of disease.” says Dr. Charles Czeisler, chief of the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and a professor at Harvard Medical School.

In fact, the report did not control for the effects of sleep duration and other potential factors. It’s worth noting that researchers still had a indistinct definition of whether light can affect insulin (胰岛素) changes in the body, but it’s safe to say that even a little light can be bad for your health.