These are the technologies that matter the most right now, as of 2023. You recognize some, others will surprise you. These are advances that will have big impact on our lives.

CRISPR for high cholesterol

Over the past decade, the gene-editing tool CRISPR has rapidly evolved from the lab to the clinic. It started with experimental treatments for rare genetic disorders and has recently expanded into clinical trials for common conditions, including high cholesterol. New forms of CRISPR could take things further still.

AI that makes images

This is the year of the AI artists. Software models developed by Google, OpenAI, and others can now generate stunning artworks based on just a few text prompts. Type in a short description of pretty much anything, and you get a picture of what you asked for in seconds. Nothing will be the same again.

A chip design that changes everything

The chip industry is undergoing a profound shift. Manufacturers have long licensed chip designs from a few big firms. Now, a popular open standard called RISC-V is upending those power dynamics by making it easier for anyone to create a chip. Many startups are exploring the possibilities.

Mass-market military drones

Military drones were once out of reach for smaller nations due to their expense and strict export controls. But advances in consumer componentry and communications technology have helped drone manufacturers build complex war machines at much lower prices. The Turkish Bayraktar TB2 and other cheap drones have changed the nature of drone warfare.

Abortion pills via telemedicine

Abortion ceased to be a constitutional right in the US in 2022, and state bans now prevent many people from accessing them. So healthcare providers and startups have turned to telehealth to prescribe and deliver pills that allow people to safely induce abortions at home.

Organs on demand

Every day, an average of 17 people in the US alone die awaiting an organ transplant. These people could be saved—and many others helped—by a potentially limitless supply of healthy organs. Scientists are genetically engineering pigs whose organs could be transplanted into humans and 3D-printing lungs using a patient’s own cells.

The inevitable EV

Electric vehicles are finally becoming a realistic option. Batteries are getting cheaper and governments have passed stricter emissions rules or banned gas-powered vehicles altogether. Major automakers have pledged to go all-electric, and consumers everywhere will soon find there are more good reasons to buy an EV than not.

James Webb Space Telescope

The first breathtaking images of the distant cosmos captured by the world’s most powerful space telescope inspired a collective sense of awe and wonder. And this thing’s just getting started. Discoveries will come almost as rapidly as scientists can analyze the data now flooding in. A new era of astronomy has begun.

Ancient DNA analysis

Genomic sequencing tools now let us read very old strands of human DNA. Studying traces from humans who lived long ago reveals much about who we are and why the modern world looks the way it does. It also helps scientists understand the lives of regular people living back then—not just those who could afford elaborate burials.

Battery recycling

Recycling is vital to prevent today’s growing mountains of discarded batteries from ending up in landfills, and it could also provide a badly needed source of metals for powering tomorrow’s EVs. Companies are building facilities that will reclaim lithium, nickel, and cobalt and feed these metals back to lithium-ion battery manufacturers, helping reduce the cost.

MIT Technology Review

Is using Autogas (LPG) in Nigeria for your car? Here you learn more about converting petrol cars to run on LPG. You will also take a look at companies that offer LPG conversion services in Nigeria. How much it costs to change your vehicle to run on gas. Liquefied petroleum gas, also known as Autogas, is a green alternative to petrol in internal combustion engines.

Do you know what the problem is with the use of petrol as fuel in automobile engines? In recent times, emissions from petrol engines have primarily contributed to global warming, which has impacted climate change. Across the globe, environmental experts and governments are now advocating for the use of cleaner fuels in our cars. The use of LPG alternatives in vehicles reduced CO2 emissions by up to 15%.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, had this to say about the National Gas Expansion Programme (NEGP) expected to deliver 1 million cars running on LPG by the end of 2021, “So, if you look at the price of PMS versus the price of gas and think that gas is cheaper, it will be cheaper. Gas will even be cheaper than PMS as it is today. So you see that we are also giving an alternative to ordinary Nigerians.”

Apart from being cleaner and safer for our environment, the LPG price is also lower than petrol. The use of LPG as a transportation fuel in Nigeria significantly reduces fuel and transport costs for both private and commercial drivers.

What Vehicles’ Models Are Modifiable to Use LPG?

One can virtually convert all petrol-powered vehicles to use LPG. But note that their prices for each model conversion may differ due to component requirement and work involvement. The advantage at the end of the day is that such cars become double fuel cars with an option to use either petrol or LPG.

However, you need to know how to convert petrol-powered cars to run on LPG to get started.

How to Convert Petrol Powered Vehicle to Run on LPG

Disclaimer:

It is not a guide on converting the fuel systems but just content for you to briefly look into what the qualified technicians do when converting petrol engines to Autogas in Nigeria.

Remember, LPG is a susceptible liquid substance that can easily cause an explosion. So you are warned not to do it yourself; leave the conversion and maintenance works for the professionals to do instead.

Before you can use LPG as fuel in your petrol-powered engine, you’ll need to modify your vehicle to have dual-fuel capability.

LPG conversion is converting a petrol-powered vehicle with an internal combustion engine to an LPG powered vehicle. The addition of a secondary fuel system (LPG) enables the car to run on both petrol and LPG. The overall aim of LPG conversion is to save money on fuel. A new fuel intake system, an LPG tank, piping, a new ECU, and other filler components will need to be put in place to convert to work.

Below is a summary of how to convert petrol-powered cars to run on LPG.

(A) A petrol-powered car with an internal combustion engine is needed to get started.

(B) An LPG cylinder (secondary fuel tank) is fitted into the boot or under your vehicle.

(C) A vaporizer to convert liquid LPG into vapor.

(D) An LPG intake manifold or injectors to deliver the LPG to the combustion chambers

(E) A manual fuel selector switch and the gauge inside the car for selecting which fuel to use per time

Note: There may be no need for a vaporizer if the LPG conversion type is the direct injection system.

Types of LPG Conversion Systems

There are four types of LPG conversion systems. They include:

(A) Converter-and-mixer systems

(B) Vapour phase injection (VPI)

(C) Liquid phase injection (LPI)

(D) Liquid phase direct injection (LPDI)

You can see more detailed information on the different LPG conversion systems listed above.

What is the Best LPG Conversion System?

The Liquid Phase Direct Injection (LPDI) system is arguably the best LPG conversion system out there. Not only is it the latest technology of LPG conversion systems, but it also offers significant savings in LPG fuel consumption. Other perks of the LPDI LPG conversion system include better LPG engine conversion performance and LPG conversion mileage, better drivability, and reduced tailpipe emission.

Although the LPDI conversion system is the best LPG system out there, it is the most expensive of all the other methods.

LPG System Conversion Companies in Nigeria

Your search at this point might be, “how do I convert my car to use LPG in Nigeria?” If you are wondering how to convert petrol-powered vehicles to run on LPG in Nigeria, you will need LPG system maintenance companies in Nigeria. Given that this technology is still new around the country, you should take great care to take your LPG conversion vehicle in Nigeria.

We have put together this list of the few reputable LPG maintenance companies in Nigeria to aid your search. They include:

(A) NIPCO Plc

(B) THLD International Logistics LTD

(C) Banner Energy

(D) Borkir International Co. LTD

(E) Approved NNPC gas stations

(F) What is the Cost of LPG Conversion in Nigeria?

The cost varies depending on the cylinder of the vehicle you wish to convert. On average, a 4-cylinder costs between N200, 000 – N250, 000. 6-cylinder cars cost slightly higher than that.

Pros of LPG over Petrol in Vehicles

LPG is less expensive

With LPG, engine oil and spark plugs require less frequent change

LPG has a higher-octane rating and compression ratios leading to increased power output

LPG is more environmental-friendly

Can I Import LPG Powered Cars from Abroad?

If you desire to import an LPG equipped car directly from overseas, it is possible. Buying a used car with an already installed LPG system saves you the time and cost of having it converted in Nigeria. Countries you can buy and import LPG cars from are the US, Canada, and Germany. Cars used in these countries are often LPG equipped already, but importers usually uninstall the LPG component because it is not useful in Nigeria.

However, the Government’s latest move to make LPG cars a popular option in Nigeria since October 2020 has changed this assumed status quo.

Key Learnings: Use of LPG in Vehicles

May looking at global warming trends, LPG powered vehicles are preferred to petrol vehicles because it costs less to refill and releases lesser emission, which is good for our environment. Mostly one can convert vehicles powered by petrol to run on LPG. But taking from the type of conversion we know, you still need petrol to start the engine. And the experience has shown that when the gasoline tank is empty entirely, the machine goes off even you have LPG in its tank.

There are four different LPG conversion systems, but the best is the Liquid Phase Direct Injection (LPDI). Our recommendation if you want to buy your vehicle from abroad, you should opt for an LPG equipped version of your desired car model. It saves you the time and cost of having it converted in Nigeria.

We hope this article on converting petrol-powered cars to run on LPG has been beneficial to you. As a parting gift, you can schedule a one-on-one consultation with us by clicking the button below to learn how to import your LPG vehicle overseas.

Source: Car Buyers Broker

The slogan of a telecommunication giant is “Data is life”. Data has become an integral part of our daily lives and it has brought some sort of ease to humanity.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, a steady rise in the use of data has been recorded, as many resorted to remote jobs and schooling, and massive growth in the use of social media for businesses, digital marketing, among others.

The importance of data cannot be overemphasised. People now rely on the Internet for the payment of their utility bills, travel tickets, subscription services, etc. The stress of having to visit an office to make these payments has been taken off. With a smartphone loaded with data you can easily settle your bills, and subscriptions, carry out bank transactions, buy things, etc., from the comfort of your home.

In its 2022 State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report, GSMA noted that mobile internet use has reached 55 per cent of the world’s population. By the end of 2021, 4.3 billion people were using mobile internet, an increase of almost 300 million since the end of 2020.

According to GSMA, affordability and skills remain the two greatest barriers to mobile internet adoption and use. For example, among mobile users who are aware of mobile internet but don’t use it, the two reported barriers preventing mobile internet use are still affordability, particularly of handsets, and literacy and digital skill.

Approximately 92 per cent of internet users use a mobile phone with Africa having the highest proportion of internet traffic from mobile devices. Nigeria contributes the largest to this internet traffic about 81.43 per cent.

However, as mobile data usage increases, this means spending on data usage also increases. So many apps on your phone keep drawing data inactively without your knowledge. Mobile data is money and if you don’t optimise its use, you will discover you have been wasting a lot of money that would have been saved or channelled into other important needs.

The Nigerian Communications Commission noted that using data-intensive applications such as video streaming services or online gaming or keeping devices connected to the internet when not in active use could quickly consume a large amount of data.

NCC said that the fast depletion of data is also a result of consumers being unaware of the amount of data consumed by devices.

To prevent being overcharged or avoid getting ripped off of data you don’t use, below are some ways to manage data to save cost.

Check your data usage and set limits

Knowing the cause of a problem makes it easy to find solutions to it. Checking your data usage and the apps that consume data the most is the first step to managing your mobile data. You can find that in settings under network and internet and then disable apps that you don’t use.

To check data usage on an iPhone, go to settings, select mobile data, scroll down and under each app, you will see the amount of data used in your current billing period. Turn off any apps you think are using too much.

To check data usage on an Android, click on settings, tap data usage, select your date range and press ‘app usage’. Your total data usage is at the top and then you can scroll down to see how much data each app used. Apps that use the most are at the top.

You can find apps that use the most data on your device. This can help you save a lot of data by disabling apps you don’t use frequently.

Furthermore, setting data usage limits helps to ensure you are using data based on your capacity.

To set data usage limits on Android, go to your phone’s settings. Click ‘connections’ or ‘sim card and mobile network’. Select ‘data usage’, then ‘billing cycle and data warning’.

With this, you can choose to turn off the device’s mobile data connection once its data usage limit is reached or basically set warnings to let you know when you’re close to exceeding your limit.

To set data usage limits on your iPhone, go to settings and tap ‘cellular’. Then select ‘cellular data options’. Under this setting, you can select ‘low data mode’. This will stop all automatic updates and background tasks.

Use WiFi

To save your mobile data, make use of available WiFi networks. It is also advisable to download large files and update your apps over WiFi. It is quite easy to forget to put on your WiFi. To make this easy, just leave your WiFi on all the time except you want to access your banking services via apps or online remittal payment platforms. Putting on your WiFi activates notifications for your device. It will let you know when there’s a WiFi available for you to connect to.

According to Honest Mobile, downloading your music, podcasts or movies when you are connected to WiFi will help you use fewer data when you’re out and about. Streaming uses a lot of data, it’s better to download them on your phone. This automatically reduces data used by streaming apps such as YouTube, Spotify and Netflix.

Turn off background app refresh

Background app refresh keeps your phone apps updated in the background even when you’re not using them. This shows all the latest content in your social media newsfeed or other apps when you go back to them. However, as it does this, it uses up your data.

To turn off background app refresh on an iPhone, go to settings, select ‘general’ then ‘background app refresh’. Turn off or toggle off the ones you don’t want grabbing new content in the background.

To turn off background app refresh on an Android, pull down the notification bar for settings, press the settings button (cog in the top right-hand corner), and select connections. Select data usage from the mobile section and press mobile data usage. Choose an app from below the usage graph and press ‘allow background data usage’ to turn off

This can be done for all the apps you want to turn off background app refresh for.

Turn off WiFi assist or network switch

WiFi assist (for iPhone) or network switch (for Android) runs in the background, making sure you have a stable internet connection. It means that if your WiFi connection suddenly drops massively, for example, you’re on the edge of where the WiFi gets to or out of the WiFi range then WiFi assist lets your mobile data kick in, so you don’t lose connection.

For iPhone users, you can turn it off in settings. Select mobile data, scroll to the bottom and turn off Wi-Fi Assist.

For Android users, go to settings (the cog icon), select connections then Wi-Fi. At the three dots in the corner, select advanced. Here you will find the slider for ‘switch to mobile data’.

Close Apps when not in use

Whenever you’re done using any app, close the app. Apps left in the background will keep using data. Also, you can switch off mobile data and turn off app notifications when it’s not in use. I bet by now you know that you can get updates on whatever you missed when you’re back online. Except your job depends on being online all through the day, learn to turn off mobile data and app notifications when not needed.

Switch off autoplay

Autoplay consumes more data when using your video or audio apps. Whether you watch videos on YouTube, Netflix, or other video apps or stream audio on Spotify, switch off autoplay so they don’t accidentally keep playing in your pocket. It will eat up all your data very quickly.

Take your GPS maps offline

Your maps apps can use up a lot of data especially when you’re using them a lot like when you are travelling or exploring a new place. You can download maps, so you can find your way even when you don’t have WiFi or data. This saves a lot of unnecessary data usage.

To download maps on an iPhone

Whilst you’re connected to the internet open the Google Maps app. Make sure you’re not in incognito mode. Search for the city or place you’d like to download maps for. At the bottom press the name or address and select more (the three dots in the top right corner). Press ‘download offline map’, then select download.

To download maps on an Android

Whilst you’re connected to the internet open the Google Maps app. Make sure you’re signed in to Google Maps. Search for the city or place you’d like to download maps for. At the bottom, tap the name or address of the place then download. If you searched for a place like a restaurant, tap ‘more’ (the three dots in the top right corner). Select ‘download offline map’ then download.