This week’s edition of The Prototype explores New Mexico’s initiative to establish a quantum computing ecosystem, a startup that converts methane into clean fuel inexpensively, utilizing shocking the immune system for accelerated healing, and more. To receive The Prototype directly in your inbox, sign up here.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
New Mexico is partnering with the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to invest in quantum computing. Both parties will contribute up to $60 million over the next four years to develop quantum computers capable of solving complex problems beyond the reach of traditional processors. While this funding may seem modest compared to AI investments, it represents a significant commitment to an emerging technology that received less than $2 billion in global government support last year.
This collaboration is part of a broader initiative to transform New Mexico into a hub for quantum computing. Recently, New Mexico and Roadrunner Venture Studios launched a $25 million venture studio to establish essential infrastructure, such as a quantum network, lab testbeds, and a prototype facility, to attract quantum startups to a campus under construction in Albuquerque. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham emphasized the state’s focus on quantum computing due to its potential to revolutionize industries like renewable energy and healthcare. She highlighted New Mexico’s abundance of highly educated individuals, with more PhDs per capita than any other state, providing a robust talent pool for the burgeoning quantum sector.
“Significant scientific efforts will be required,” she stated. “But we are committed to fostering a conducive business ecosystem.”
This Startup Transforms Methane into Clean Fuel Using Repurposed Car Engines
Methanol is utilized in various vehicles, ranging from race cars to large ships, due to its clean-burning properties and reduced carbon dioxide emissions compared to gasoline. However, conventional methanol production methods are environmentally detrimental, resulting in significant carbon emissions and other pollutants.
Emmanuel Kasseris is addressing this issue through his company, Emvolon, which repurposes diesel engines to convert methane—a potent greenhouse gas—into carbon monoxide and hydrogen, subsequently transforming them into methanol. This entire process occurs within a modular facility that can be housed in a shipping container and costs less than $10 million to construct.
Emvolon’s compact design enables rapid scalability by siting its machines near methane-emitting locations, such as landfills, industrial sites, or farms. The company’s headquarters in Woburn, MA, houses a pilot plant producing 6 barrels of methanol per day.
This week, Emvolon announced a collaboration with commodities merchant Freepoint to expedite methanol production and distribution. This follows a joint venture established in August between the startup and energy company Montauk Renewables to develop multiple manufacturing sites, starting with a project in Texas.
Emvolon’s capability to convert waste into a marketable product embodies what Kasseris refers to as “pragmatic sustainability,” crucial in an era with limited government backing for eco-friendly technologies. “The future shouldn’t begin with lofty green ambitions,” he remarked. “Instead, it should involve local, resource-efficient solutions that generate profits.”
DISCOVERY OF THE WEEK: ELECTRICITY MAY ACCELERATE HEALING
Scientists at Trinity College Dublin have identified a potential method for expediting wound healing: electricity. In a recent study published, researchers observed the impact of electrical stimulation on macrophages, a type of white blood cell crucial for immune function. By stimulating macrophages in a lab-created wound, they noted accelerated healing with reduced inflammation. The next phase involves validating these findings in animal studies.
RECENT ARTICLES BY THE AUTHOR
In our other newsletter, InnovationRx, Amy Feldman and I delve into leadership changes and vaccine policy adjustments at the CDC, Alnylam’s decision to proceed with a drug despite disappointing clinical trial outcomes, a startup utilizing AI to predict heart failure risk, and more.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHTS
Space startup Interlune is developing technology for extracting Helium-3 from the Moon, a rare isotope used in security scanners, medical imaging, and quantum computing.
Alphabet’s subsidiary Waymo has established a significant lead in the self-driving car market. With further advancement, its revenues could rival those of its affiliate Google.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, released a video showcasing its 100+ satellite network with gigabit speeds, surpassing Starlink by 3-4 times.
A federal judge ruled this week that the Trump Administration’s suspension of $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard is unconstitutional. The majority of these funds are allocated for research purposes.
PRO SCIENCE TIP: EASE BACK PAIN WITH A WALK
If you suffer from lower back pain, taking a walk could be the most beneficial remedy, according to a recent study. Over a two-year period, researchers monitored over 11,000 adults and discovered that individuals who walked for over 100 minutes daily (measured using wearables) had a 23% lower risk of chronic lower back pain. The study emphasized that the duration of walking was more crucial for pain reduction than the walking speed.
CURRENT ENTERTAINMENT FAVORITE
I just completed the first season of Netflix’s series Dept. Q, a procedural following an investigation into a prosecutor’s disappearance. The show features numerous unexpected twists and excellent character development, particularly standout performances by Matthew Goode as Carl Morck and Alexej Manvelov as the formidable yet polite Akram Salim.
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