Today at Squirrel News, we’re talking about the first person in the world to leave a hospital with a total artificial heart implant, research that suggests the US is seeing a drop in the number of drug deaths caused by fentanyl, and the inauguration of the first of 92 solar parks in Cuba.
Australian man survives 100 days with artificial heart in world-first success
The BiVACOR total artificial heart, invented by Queensland-born Dr Daniel Timms, is the world’s first implantable rotary blood pump that can act as a complete replacement for a human heart, using magnetic levitation technology to replicate the natural blood flow of a healthy heart.
Deadliest stage of US fentanyl crisis eases, all states see recovery
For the first time ever, all 50 US states and the district of Columbia have seen the rate of drug deaths drop. Overall drug deaths across the country are down roughly a quarter, according to CDC data. This includes fentanyl and other substances such as cocaine and methamphetamine.
The Caribbean island often sees frequent, hours-long blackouts, with at least five major nationwide power failures taking place in 2024. The new solar parks hope to revive Cuba’s outdated power grid and offer a sustainable, reliable alternative to the ubiquitous diesel-fired generators.
Solar adds more new capacity to US grid than any other energy source in 20 years
In 2024, the US installed roughly 50 gigawatts of new solar capacity – more than any other energy technology from the past two decades. This translates to roughly enough power for 8.5 million standard households.
Researchers engineer a “sense of touch” for paralysed people
Using AI that has learnt to recognise human brainwaves, the newly developed system is able to provide a sense of touch thanks to sensors connected to the palm, thumb, and index finger of the wearer.
Prison voting soars in Colorado thanks to mandatory polling stations in jails
A first-in-the-nation mandate has increased the number of ballots being submitted by those in federal detention. According to state data, at least 2,332 people voted from jail in November – a big spike in turnout from just 231 incarcerated voters in 2022 and 380 in 2020.
Despite Trump’s threats, LA public libraries offer help to immigrants
Since Donald Trump returned to office in January, demand for the free immigration services offered by a growing number of LA’s public libraries is on the rise. Anyone can meet with an advisor by phone or in person, thanks to a long-running, city-funded programme called the New Americans Initiative.
On leaving the army, many military veterans miss the camaraderie and sense of purpose they experienced while in the service. Force Blue has a solution: it’s a nonprofit organisation that retrains veteran volunteers for coral reef restoration and other ocean conservation work.
The Madagascan grandmothers finding purpose as “solar mamas”
Many of Madagascar’s remote villages aren’t fully connected to the national power grid – but a team of grandmothers are changing this by retraining as solar engineers and installing panels on many of the houses.
