Each week, we scour the worlds of innovation, tech for good and social impact to bring you seven of our top stories…

1. Artificial intelligence will potentially reduce the number of female heart-attacks, which often go undetected or misdiagnosed. Previous studies have shown that a woman is 50% more likely than a man to receive an incorrect diagnosis. Scientists intend to use AI technology to develop an app which will help doctors make an instant accurate diagnosis, simply by inputting blood test results and patient data.
2. Technology is creating new climate change solutions as it both broadens our understanding of environmental challenges but also provides ways for solving them. Sensor technologies are being utilised to track our carbon footprint, which will help us monitor how our actions affect the environment. For example, Methane SAT is currently set to monitor methane emissions from space and will have a tremendous impact.
3. Artificial Intelligence has been able to learn the complex patterns of human language. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found that a machine-learning model is able to learn higher-lever language patterns in 58 different languages. These models are ground-breaking, as linguists were convinced that it would be impossible to teach a machine how to analyse speech sounds.
4. Robots will potentially be able to help detect mental health issues in children as researchers have stated that they could be a useful addition to methods of mental health assessment. Cambridge University found that children were willing to confide in a child-size humanoid robot because it was non-threatening and intriguing. The children had physical interaction with the robot by touching sensors on the robot’s hands and feet. These sensors tracked their heartbeat, head, and eye movement – monitoring if these movements were irregular or abnormal.
5. Alongside an intelligent field robot, X-Ray technology is helping plant-breeders select heat-tolerant plant varieties. As our summers are becoming hotter, the resulting drought is affecting plants and their growth. Plant breeders are receiving support from researchers to use technology to help determine plant phenotypes – by deciphering their external appearance, they can optimise breeding based on this data.
6. The UK based Core Power has secured research funds to study the development of offshore floating nuclear power generation in the United States. They are developing a modular molten salt reactor, which propels ships and provides energy for manufacturing green fuels. ‘Green fuel’ for shipping is produced at a low cost and is made from renewable sources, offering a lower carbon emission to fossil fuels.
7. Innovative technology can enable the growth of ‘enriched seaweed’ which is infused with nutrients, proteins, dietary fibre, and minerals for both human and animal needs. This ‘enriched seaweed’ is a natural superfood, which has extremely high nutritional value and can be used in the future to secure an unlimited health food source.