Space Data Centers, After Life, OpenCrispr 1, New AI Chip, Novel Recycling - Speciale Focus #22
Data Centers in Space - Real Estate & Power Phewwwww!
Lumen Orbit is developing space-based data centers to leverage abundant solar energy and passive cooling, reducing the environmental strain of hyperscale data centers on Earth. With falling launch costs, they aim to scale their orbital data centers to gigawatt capacity to support training large AI models like GPT-6. Their first satellite, equipped with the most powerful GPUs ever launched into space, is set for May 2025, with future iterations planned to further expand capacity.
The company has secured launch dates, set up manufacturing facilities in Redmond, WA, and developed concept designs for their space data centers. Their demonstrator mission aims to train the first large language model in space, and they are actively prototyping and securing contracts with hyperscale operators, while looking to expand their team of aerospace and data center engineers.
Experience After Life With This German Company!
Tomorrow Bio, Europe's first cryopreservation startup, offers to freeze bodies in liquid nitrogen for potential future revival, charging $220,000 for full-body preservation and $81,000 for brain preservation. Founded in 2020, the German company has preserved six people and five pets, with plans to expand to the U.S. by 2025. After death, a specialized team cools the body and replaces fluids with cryoprotectants before long-term storage at -196°C in a Swiss facility. They aim to offer life extension in the hope that future science can revive the preserved individuals.
OpenCrispr 1 - New CRISPR Frontier
Profluent, an AI-driven protein design company, launched OpenCRISPR-1, the world's first open-source, AI-generated gene editor. Developed using large language models (LLMs) and a database of 5.1 million Cas9-like proteins, OpenCRISPR-1 offers a more precise gene editing tool with 95% fewer off-target effects compared to CRISPR-Cas9. Unlike natural proteins, OpenCRISPR-1 is synthetic, paving the way for new CRISPR-based medicines. Profluent's mission is to democratize gene editing and expand access to affordable, effective treatments for a wide range of diseases, including rare genetic disorders.
This Plastic Recycling Method Could Change Everything!
Researchers at UC Berkeley have developed a breakthrough plastic recycling process that vaporizes plastic into its basic building blocks, enabling endless reuse without degrading quality. Traditional recycling often downcycles plastics, reducing their value and efficiency, but this new method uses two catalysts to break down polyethylene and polypropylene plastics into high-quality hydrocarbon monomers. This innovative process is highly efficient, converting up to 90% of plastic waste and offering a scalable, more effective solution for handling mixed plastic waste, bringing us closer to a circular economy for plastics. Read more.
Etched: The Chip Challenging Nvidia!
Etched, a startup founded by Harvard dropouts, has developed a new AI chip called Sohu, which could outperform Nvidia's GPUs for transformer-based AI tasks. Sohu is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) optimized for transformers, a key component of generative AI. Etched claims that eight Sohu chips can replace 160 Nvidia GPUs for the same workload. Backed by $120 million in funding, Etched aims to revolutionize the AI chip market, but its specialization in transformers could be a risk if AI trends shift. Exciting times ahead for compute!
That’s it folks. We’ll leave you with this for the month and come back soon with another set of wow reads specially curated for the curious you!
Until then, Team Speciale signing off!