Ukraine successfully tests first indigenous ballistic missile, scientists recover almost 99% of pure silver from dead solar cells, mind-reading chip turns thoughts into text

In a bid to take advantage of its conflict with Russia, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, it was announced on August 28 that the country had successfully developed its first locally-made ballistic missile.

The president said at a press conference at the Ukraine 2024 Independence Forum in Kyiv that the country has also successfully launched its first domestically produced ballistic missile test. For more on this story, check out our Must-Read.

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MUST-READ

🚀 Ukraine develops first indigenous ballistic missile, announces successful test

Deploying a locally made ballistic missile would provide Ukraine with a low-cost, new stand-off strike option unlike any other in its inventory.

Zelensky did not name the new missile system. Still, discussions have already turned to the possibility of him referring to an improved missile based on its existing Hrim-2 short-range ballistic missile (SRBM).

On November 3, 2023, Brigadier General Serhiy Baranov, Head of the Main Directorate of Missile Forces, Artillery, and Unmanned Systems at the Ukrainian General Staff, confirmed that the Hrim-2 short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) is operational and undergoing improvements.

💍 Scientists recover almost 99% of pure silver from dead solar cells

A combination technique comprising hydrometallurgy and electrochemical deposition developed by researchers at the University of Camerino in Italy has boosted the recovery rate of silver from spent solar cells to 98.7 percent.

Compared to conventional approaches, this approach is also environmentally friendly. Commercially deployed solar cells use significant amounts of important metals such as aluminum, steel, copper, zinc, and silver.

While aluminum and steel are usually used for racks and support systems and are easy to recover, copper and silver are much more difficult to recover as part of solar cells’ electrical circuits.

🤖 Tiny 8mm mind-reading chip turns thoughts into text with 91% accuracy

A new, tiny brain-machine interface (BMI) has been designed that could translate thoughts into words. This development could significantly benefit those with severe motor impairments by allowing them to communicate freely.

Researchers from EPFL have developed this high-performance Miniaturized Brain-Machine Interface (MiBMI) based on silicon chips.

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