Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have purportedly found that the red part of the light spectrum is more efficient for growing plants, while the blue part is better used for electricity production from solar technology. “…what if a new generation of photovoltaics could take the blue light for clean energy and pass the red light onto the crops, where it is most efficient for photosynthesis?”Details https://www.pv-magazine.com/2023/01/19/improving-agrivoltaic-efficiency-via-light-spectrum-optimization/

The food irradiation process removes microorganisms and bacteria that cause food poisoning and other diseases. Food irradiation harnesses X-rays, gamma rays, or electron beams to destroy bacteria without affecting the produce. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $69.9 Million in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $132.8 Million by 2026. See https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/06/17/2464606/0/en/Global-Food-Irradiation-Trends-Market-to-Reach-US-276-7-Million-by-the-Year-2026.html

Chemical disinfectants are quite effective in killing the vast majority of microbes. However, most chemical disinfectants are not environmentally friendly. More critically, chemical disinfectants can be harmful to human health. This investigation constructed far-UVC excimer lamps to disinfect dining-table surfaces. The lamps were mounted at different heights and orientations, and the irradiance on table surfaces was measured. The irradiation doses to obtain different inactivation efficiencies for Escherichia coli (E. coli) were provided. See https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-27380-2

An application has been made to amend food irradiation rules in Australia.The proposal seeks to increase the maximum permitted energy level of machines generating X-rays for irradiating food from 5 to 7.5 megaelectronvolts (MeV) as long as the X-ray target is made of tantalum or gold.The assessment will not start until October 2023 with a comment period planned for early 2024, according to Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). See https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/01/australia-to-consider-change-to-food-irradiation-rules/

In terms of propulsion, NASA’s efforts have aimed to advance proposals for nuclear-thermal and nuclear-electric propulsion systems. In the former case, a nuclear reactor is used to heat propellants like liquid hydrogen (LH2); in the latter, the reactor generates electricity for a magnetic engine that ionizes an inert gas like xenon (a.k.a. Ion Propulsion).See https://www.inverse.com/science/power-on-moon-lunar-night

NASA’s Mars Helicopter Opens the Door for Flight on Other Worlds. From a nuclear-powered copter on Saturn’s moon Titan to blimps on Venus, space engineers are planning innovative flying machines to explore faraway landscapes. See https://www.wsj.com/articles/nasas-mars-helicopter-opens-the-door-for-flight-on-other-worlds-11674142489