Hello, and welcome to The Edge, the newsletter that brings you groundbreaking stories from the frontiers of technology and science.
We’ve got some great stories for you today, including developments in energy storage, the shifting internet browser landscape and living robots. As always, we’ve added extra stories under each article should you find yourself in a curious state of mind.
Passing the torch
Microsoft Edge is now the world’s 2nd-most used browser, a spot which, until recently, belonged to Mozilla Firefox. Now laying claim to market shares of 7.59% and 7.19% respectively, the two traded places recently, a development many were expecting. Both market shares pale in comparison to Google Chrome’s though, which is currently a dominant 68.50%. Some people expect Microsoft Edge to become the world’s most used desktop browser, but this is unlikely to happen anytime soon given the lead Google Chrome has. It’s not out of the question though, especially as Microsoft Edge is the default browser on Windows 10. Microsoft Edge is also Chromium-based now, which has fixed many of the issues users of the older version of Edge had.
Browse the fascinating history of browsers.
The new-and-improved Edge browser.
New battery creates buzz
Researchers at Uppsala University have developed an all-organic proton battery, capable of charging and discharging over 500 times without losing any significant capacity. The battery is a step forward in the search for sustainable energy storage solutions. The battery can be charged using a solar cell, with charging being unaffected by ambient temperature - something that affects standard batteries. To create the battery, the researchers used quinones as the active material inside the battery. Quinones, which are plentiful in nature, were used because of their ability to absorb or emit hydrogen ions during charging or discharging, the crucial feature being that hydrogen ions only contain protons. The electrolyte used to transport the ions inside the battery is an acidic aqueous solution, which also makes the battery free from explosion or fire hazard.
The challenge of energy storage.
How batteries work.
Apple shows COVID-19 its mettle
Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that the company has sourced 20 million face masks to be delivered to medical professionals battling COVID-19. Additionally, Apple have designed a face shield to protect those treating COVID-19 patients. Apple will ship more than a million of these shields by the end of this week and plan to ship another million every following week, starting in the U.S and eventually moving further afield. Cook has also stated that this isn’t the last product, donation or service Apple will provide in the global fight against COVID-19.
How companies are fighting COVID-19.
Living robots
Scientists have created living robots using stem cells from frogs. Named after the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) from which the stem cells are taken, the so-called xenobots are 0.04 inches wide and are “entirely new life-forms”, according to the University of Vermont, who worked with Tufts University’s Allen Discovery Center on the project. To create the xenobots, the scientists scraped living stem cells from frog embryos, which were left to incubate. The stem cells were then formed into shapes by a supercomputer - shapes “never seen in nature”. The cells then began to behave autonomously, forming structures and moving on their own. The cells also have self-healing capabilities, with one cell repairing itself and continuing after being sliced into by the scientists. Joshua Bongard, one of the lead researchers, calls the cells “…a new class of artifact: a living, programmable organism.” Xenobots could serve a number of purposes, including cleaning up radioactive waste and transporting medicine inside human bodies.