Technology reviews

The construction sector is one of the sectors with the highest energy consumption and is responsible for approximately 30% of the global demand for primary energy, nearly 40% of final energy consumption, around 55% of global electricity usage, and approximately 40% of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The sector places significant pressure on natural resources due to its high energy consumption throughout its lifecycle, from raw material production to the demolition and disposal of buildings.

Biological chips (from now on, BCs) are among the most prominent manifestations of the intersection between biology and technology. These advanced devices integrate biological components, such as DNA or protein probes, with microelectronic systems to create miniaturized lab-on-chip platforms.

The development processes of new drugs are lengthy, expensive, and characterized by low success rates. Developing a drug takes 10-15 years, with an estimated cost of $1.5-2 billion. Only about 10% of drugs that reach the clinical development stage successfully pass the regulatory approval process. These low success rates and the high financial costs they entail drive the need to develop and adopt new approaches.

Algae are organisms that utilize solar energy and carbon dioxide (hereafter referred to as carbon) and, through photosynthesis, produce complex molecules and oxygen released into the atmosphere. Algae can be divided into two main groups: 1) microscopic unicellular, filamentous, or colonial algae, and 2) multicellular macroalgae. Another classification of algae is based on their pigment composition: green, red, and brown algae. Algae grow in various aquatic environments, including oceans, streams, lakes, and ponds, across a broad salinity range, from freshwater and brackish water to seawater and hypersaline lagoons. Algae can also be found within ice and thin layers covering rocks and soil. Microalgae and cyanobacteria together are responsible for nearly 50% of the photosynthesis occurring on Earth, despite collectively constituting less than 1% of the planet’s total biomass.