Top News of Last Week with ANA
Azad News Agency (ANA) published a number of scientific and technological news during the past week whose top ones are as follows:
Iranian Company Develops Smart Platform for Industrial Facility Construction Management
An Iranian company stationed at the Elite Technology Incubator Center of the International Innovation Zone of Iran succeeded in designing and implementing the first comprehensive and native platform for the management of industrial facilities construction and installation.
“Pendar system is designed based on the PMBOK standard and covers the four main phases of industrial projects. This system is designed in three operational layers of data collection, project processing and control, and artificial intelligence,” said Amir Salehi, the managing director of the company.
He explained that in the data collection layer, digitization of all executive processes and field inspections, with the possibility of real-time documentation by inspectors using a dedicated mobile application, has been considered.
“In the project processing and control layer; data processing and integration in the WBS structure, with the possibility of automatic generation of project control documents is available in Pendar,” Salehi added.
He elaborated on the artificial intelligence layer of the system, saying, "This layer is real-time analysis of project data using specialized modules like risk management, human resources, logistics, and contracts. These modules are developed based on large language models (LLM) and enjoy the capability to interact verbally and in writing with the project manager."
Offline AI Assistant Designed for Iranian Businesses
An Iranian knowledge-based company designed and developed an AI assistant for businesses that can be used offline and without the need for the Internet.
“Our first product is an AI Assistant for Financial Markets, which aims to facilitate trading processes for traders. As a trading assistant, the AI helps reduce risk and the percentage of trading errors and can provide traders with recommendations to improve their performance,” said Milad Tarverdi, the managing director of the knowledge-based company.
“Our second product is the AI Assistant for Businesses which is designed specifically for small, medium and large businesses to identify organizational problems and isolated data, analyze them and provide operational solutions. This system can help business managers make better decisions and expand their businesses more effectively by analyzing various data,” he added.
“One of our priorities in these projects is to ensure the security of organizations' data and information. Our products are designed to be local and offline so that organizations can use these technologies without the need for the Internet and keep their data secure,” Tarverdi noted.
Iranian Scientists Develop Special Platform for Precise Delivery of Therapeutic Cells to Tumor
A technological platform for precise and targeted delivery of therapeutic cells to cancer tissues has been developed in Iran which can increase the effectiveness of cell-based therapies in the field of cancer.
“In this project, our focus is on developing a system that can deliver therapeutic cells to the exact location of the tumor in an optimal and controlled manner. This technology can be a turning point in more effective cancer treatment using regenerative medicine,” said Fatemeh Zehtabi, a member of the executive team of this project.
“I previously worked in the field of vascular diseases and cancer in the US, and the idea of designing such a platform was formed from those experiences,” she added.
Zehtabi explained that after returning to Iran, she tried to put this idea in the implementation and commercialization phase in cooperation with a knowledge-based company.
Iran’s Amir Kabir Petrochemical Company Records 10% Growth in Exports of Polymer Product
Iran’s Amir Kabir Petrochemical Company succeeded in increasing the exports of its polymer products up to 10% in the past Persian calendar year (ended on March 20).
“Last year, the total sales volume of products grew by 5% and sales revenue increased by 57%, exceeding 16.968 billion Tomans compared to the previous year,” said Abdol Majid Mohammadi, the CEO of Amir Kabir Petrochemical Company.
“Also, 32% of sales were allocated to exports, and polymer sales also experienced a 10% growth in volume and 56% in value,” he added.
Aluminum-20, Self-Destructing Atom Scientists Never Saw Coming
Physicists have discovered a never-before-seen atomic nucleus — aluminum-20 — that quite literally falls apart in three distinct proton bursts.
This rare and unstable isotope doesn’t just decay, it unravels through a dramatic sequence of proton emissions that challenge long-held assumptions about nuclear structure. The finding marks the first known case of a “triple-proton decay chain,” and it may even hint at a break in the fundamental symmetry of atomic particles, opening a new frontier at the edge of nuclear stability, the journal Physical Review Letters reported.
Radioactive decay is a natural process that occurs when unstable atomic nuclei release energy in the form of radiation. Scientists study how these atoms break down to better understand the behavior and structure of atomic nuclei. Among the more unusual types of decay is proton emission, which allows researchers to investigate rare and unstable nuclei that lie far from the so-called “valley of stability,” the part of the nuclear chart where stable atoms are found.
In a study published on July 10 in Physical Review Letters, a team of physicists from the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), along with international collaborators, announced the first-ever detection and analysis of aluminum-20. This previously unknown isotope is highly unstable and decays through an especially rare event known as three-proton emission.
“Aluminum-20 is the lightest aluminum isotope that has been discovered so far. Located beyond the proton drip line, it has seven fewer neutrons than the stable aluminum isotope,” said Associate Prof. Xiaodong Xu from IMP, first author of the study.
To detect this elusive isotope, the team used an in-flight decay method at the Fragment Separator facility at the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany. By measuring the angular patterns of particles emitted during the decay, they were able to confirm the existence of aluminum-20 and observe its unique breakdown process.
Iran’s Production of Vehicle Parts Grows 6.7 Percent
The production and sales index of the automobile and parts sector in Iran increased by 6.7% and decreased by 1.2% in the month of Ordibehesht (April 21-May 21) compared to the same period last year.
Also, the production and sales index of the chemical activity sector, excluding pharmaceuticals, decreased by 2.9% and increased by 6.8% compared to the same month of the previous year.
Meantime, the monthly growth rate of the prices of listed industrial companies increased by 6.6%, and the point-by-point growth increased by 12.4 percentage points compared to the previous month and reached 41.1%.
The annual average price index of listed industrial activities in the same month increased by 2.9 percentage points compared to the previous month, showing an increase of 30%.
Iranian Knowledge-Based Firm Develops Smart Assistant for Blind People
Specialists at an Iranian knowledge-based company succeeded in designing and making a smart assistant system for the blind.
“This product, which is now ready to be launched, consists of two main parts, one of which includes hardware parts in the form of smart glasses. This hardware part includes a camera, microphone, and headphones,” said Ehsan Darestani, the executive director of the project.
He described the second part of this product as a mobile application that sends images to the user's phone by the camera and allows him/her to make various requests, including reading product labels and bank cards, with voice commands.
Noting that the smart assistant for the blind is able to describe the scenes in which the blind person is located, Darestani said, “These processes are carried out completely without the need for the Internet and are carried out locally with the help of the mobile phone's GPU processor.”
“The received images are then analyzed by artificial intelligence algorithms and the output is announced to the blind person through the speaker,” he added.
Darestani explained that the blind user can hold the bank card in front of the camera and the system will announce the type of card.
Iranian Knowledge-Based Firm Produces Vinorelbine Anti-Cancer Drug
An Iranian knowledge-based company stationed at the International Innovation Zone of Iran managed to produce the first domestic sample of the anti-cancer drug vinorelbine with advanced technology.
Saman Pourzia, the managing director and co-founder of this knowledge-based pharmaceutical company, announced the production and supply of the drug vinorelbine under the brand name Sanarlabin
“Our company launched a specialized production line for this product,” he said.
“The Sanarlabin product is now available in specialized pharmacies and we have received positive feedback from doctors and patients so far,” Pourzia said.
150-Centimeter Carbon Fiber Arm for Industrial Robots Designed in Iran
Engineers at Sharif University of Technology’s Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research succeeded in designing and manufacturing a 150-centimeter carbon fiber arm for use in press production line robots in the automotive industry.
“This arm was designed by using lightweight and durable carbon fiber materials to move parts between two presses in production lines, and its prototype has now been successfully tested and evaluated for performance,” said Alireza Karimi, the director of the Manufacturing and Production Technologies Center at Sharif University of Technology’s Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research.
He explained that previously, due to the long length of metal arms available in the market, moving parts required the entire robot to move, which increased depreciation, energy consumption, and maintenance costs.
“However, with this new design, the arm has a more precise function without the need to move the robot body, which has resulted in a significant reduction in friction and significant cost savings,” Karimi said.
Iranian Knowledge-Based Company Implements First Phase of Bajestan Desalination Project
An Iranian knowledge-based company in cooperation with Khorassan Razavi province’s water distribution company implemented the first phase of Bajestan desalination project by using advanced RO-EDR technology.
The first phase of one of the important drinking water supply projects in Khorassan Razavi province in Bajestan city was successfully designed, implemented and put into operation by a knowledge-based company active in the field of nanotechnology. This project aims to settle the problem of the water shortage crisis and improve the quality of drinking water in the arid regions of the country, and has been implemented.
In this project, using modern technologies of reverse osmosis (RO) and selective reverse electrodialysis (EDR), two separate treatment lines with a total capacity of 3,000 cubic meters per day have been designed. This system has a net efficiency of 85% and, while providing a sustainable supply of drinking water, reduces dependence on groundwater extraction.
EDR technology, as one of the new technologies in the water treatment industry, enables the recycling of concentrated saline wastewater and, along with RO technology, has significantly increased the efficiency of the system. PNF company, as one of the pioneers in the use of EDR technology in the country, plays an important role in the development of this technological approach in the water treatment industry.
Iranian Scientists Present Model for Solar Electric Vehicle System
Researchers at the University of Tehran presented a model for forecasting demand and optimal design of a solar electric vehicle system.
Hossein Yousefi, a professor at the Faculty of Energy Engineering and Sustainable Resources of the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Technologies at the University of Tehran, elaborated on an innovative framework for designing and modeling an energy system with an approach to develop electric vehicles and solar panels with a focus on Qeshm Island as a case study and an important geopolitical and ecological region.
“We tried to model a hybrid energy system based on solar panels (PV) and electric vehicles (EV) in interaction with the existing energy grid in a way that is both technically, economically and environmentally sustainable,” Yousefi said.
“For the first time, in a case study, we were able to model energy and fuel consumption on a strategic island like Qeshm. These projections allow us to model the capacities required for the future development of the island’s energy system, with an emphasis on PV and electric vehicle infrastructure,” he added.
“The results of this study, based on official input data (including reports from the Ministry of Energy and the country’s energy balance), showed that by choosing an optimal mix of energy system components (such as the capacity of panels, fossil power plants, and electric vehicles), carbon emissions can be greatly reduced while controlling the final cost of energy. These findings can be helpful for energy policymakers and companies active in the field of new energies,” Yousefi said.
Iran-Made ‘Nano Shield’ Reduces Energy Consumption in Old Buildings
Nano Shield produced by an Iranian technological company is a low-cost and fast solution to improve energy efficiency in old buildings.
This non-invasive coating, without the need for window replacement or construction work, with a return on investment of 3 to 5 years and reduced cooling energy consumption, can be a logical option for building owners, especially in solar-prone areas.
“In a comprehensive comparison between Nano Shield and solutions like replacing windows with AGC's Soft Coat or Hard Coat glass, and window films, the Nano Shield enjoys advantages including, reduced initial cost compared to conventional methods, minimal disruption in implementation compared to costly and time-consuming window replacement operations, high speed of installation and reduced project implementation time, and reduced construction waste and material waste compared to window films,” said Saeed Madarshahi, the Nano Shield project manager.
“Experts believe that Nano Shield, by providing a more sustainable, less costly, and non-disruptive solution is the best option,” he added.
Iran-Made Nano-Based Toothpaste Fights Decay, Sensitivity
Pakshoo Industrial Group company in Iran used nanotechnology to produce innovative toothpaste with anti-allergic and enamel-repairing properties.
This product which uses carbonated magnesium hydroxyapatite nanorods in its formula, not only fights tooth decay, but also helps reduce pain caused by tooth sensitivity.
To combat these problems, ‘Merident’ nano toothpaste uses an innovative combination of carbonated magnesium hydroxyapatite nanorods. Hydroxyapatite is a mineral and biocompatible substance that is naturally found in the structure of tooth enamel and bones. By engineering this material at the nanoscale, it can be used as an effective agent for repairing the damaged enamel surface.
The new toothpaste developed based on nanotechnology enjoys several advantages including, gradual restoration of tooth enamel by filling micro-damages with mineral nanorods, reduction of tooth sensitivity due to insulation of tooth nerve pathways, anti-plaque and anti-inflammatory effect to prevent gum disease, teeth whitening while preserving natural enamel, and freshening the mouth and increasing the feeling of freshness after use.
Iran to Bolster Petchem Capacity by Launching New Projects
Iran is due to increase the capacity of its petrochemical output by implementing new projects and inauguration of new plants.
Ahmad Jalilianfard, the director of projects at Iran’s National Petrochemical Company announced that 19 petrochemical projects are expected to become operational by the end of the current Persian calendar year (March 20, 2026) which include 15 production projects and four feedstock supply projects.
He noted that these projects, aligned with completing the value chain and securing feedstock, will increase Iran’s petrochemical industry capacity by 10 million metric tons per year.
Jalilianfard underlined that since the start of the year, plans were made to inaugurate at least one project every month this year.
“At present, five projects have reached commercial production but have not yet been officially launched which include phase 1 of East Karun flare gas recovery, Dehloran petro-refinery, Kimia Petro-Entekhab Industries Polystyrene (Isfahan), Kimia Dalahoo Industries Polystyrene, and Apadana Persian Gulf Petrochemical,” he said.
Jalilianfard also named the 19 petrochemical projects planned for the current Persian calendar year as East Karun flare gas recovery (phase 1), collecting 2.7 million cubic meters per day of flare gas to boost feedstock for the Bid Boland Gas Refinery and reduce pollution by extinguishing 10 flares, Apadana Persian Gulf Petrochemical – annual production of 1.65 million metric tons of methanol, Kimia Petro-Entekhab Industries (Isfahan), annual production of 50,000 metric tons of general-purpose polystyrene, Kimia Dalahoo Industries, annual production of 120,000 metric tons of general-purpose and high-impact polystyrene, Arman Sepahan Petrochemical, first-time production of 33,000 metric tons of isopropyl alcohol annually, Dehloran Petro-Refinery, annual production of 1.055 million metric tons of C2+, Arghavan Gostar Ilam Petrochemical, annual production of 150,000 metric tons of polypropylene, Marun Flare Gas Recovery, increasing ethane recovery feedstock for Marun petrochemical, extinguishing 24 flares near Ahvaz to reduce pollution, and producing 535,000 metric tons of C2+ annually, Karun Hayco Petrochemical Project, ensuring stable production and self-sufficiency in feedstock, Hengam Petrochemical Urea Unit, annual production of 1.075 million metric tons of granular urea, Kangan Petrochemical Olefin Unit – Annual production of 1 million metric tons of ethylene and 89,000 metric tons of C3 cut as a byproduct, Bushehr Petrochemical Olefin Unit, annual production of 1.09 million metric tons of ethylene, Bushehr Petrochemical Mono-Ethylene Glycol (MEG) Unit, annual production of 554,000 metric tons of MEG, Kangan Heavy Polyethylene Unit, annual production of 300,000 metric tons of high-density polyethylene, phase 2 of Persian Gulf Houyzeh Gas Refinery, annual production of 1.3 million metric tons of C2+ to increase feedstock for Bandar Imam Petrochemical, Marun Petrochemical Pure Ethylene Oxide Unit, annual production of 45,000 metric tons of pure ethylene oxide for the Petronad Asia ethoxylate unit, Sadra Assaluyeh Petrochemical, annual production of 136,000 metric tons of ESBR, Petronad Chemical Park Ethoxylate Unit, annual production of 80,000 metric tons of ethoxylate for pharmaceutical and hygiene industries, Salman Farsi PDH Project, annual production of 450,000 metric tons of propylene.
He stated that two gas turbines with a total capacity of 366 megawatts are being installed in Makran and Assaluyeh by Petrochemical Development Negin Makran and Damavand Energy Assaluyeh, expected to be operational by early-September.
“Additionally, a reverse osmosis water production unit with a total capacity of 2,083 cubic meters per hour is underway, with 833 cubic meters already operational, 416 cubic meters to come online within 20 days, and the remainder by October,” Jalilianfard added.
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