Whether they’re transforming the way we work, powering our homes or saving lives in hospitals, the latest innovation is changing our world. Explore 10 of the biggest technological advancements in 2023.
A renewed wave of nuclear energy innovation is underway, from alternative cooling fuels to Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) aiming to lower costs and simplify designs, to advancing research into the ultimate goal: fusing hydrogen atoms to release huge amounts of energy in a controlled way. Meanwhile, renewables like wind and solar continue to gain momentum as prices drop and storage capabilities improve.
Robotics are enhancing workplace efficiency in sectors from manufacturing to warehouses to retail and beyond. The latest innovations include Mechatronics — combining mechanical design and electronic control into one discipline — as well as cloud robotics platforms that allow robots to access vast computational resources for remote processing power and accelerated learning. 3D printing is also booming with entry-level printers under USD 2500 experiencing explosive growth in 2024, and with applications such as the creation of ready-to-cook cultured meat products by extruding paste materials through narrow nozzles.
AI is bringing greater precision and speed to manufacturing workflows through advances in natural language processing and deep learning. In healthcare, machine learning (ML) is identifying cancerous tumors more accurately and detecting heart attacks earlier by scanning CT scans and blood tests for key biomarkers. Scientists are even turning helpful bacteria into tiny medicine factories that can treat disease from inside the body – potentially revolutionizing long-term care.