• Evri unveils 4ft wheels-on-legs delivery robot in Barnsley

    Delivery firm Evri has launched a trial of wheeled, two-legged autonomous delivery robots in Barnsley, the UK’s first government-backed ‘Tech Town’. The trial, in partnership with Japan-based Refined Robotics, will explore how advanced robotics can support couriers in parcel delivery. The robots will be used for what is known as last-mile delivery – the final step of the shipping process when the parcel is in the recipient’s neighbourhood and has to be delivered to their doorstep. Carrying parcels weighing up to 15kg and travelling at speeds of up to 6km/h, the four-foot-tall robots are able to navigate stairs, uneven surfaces and outdoor environments. Its two articulated legs with wheels at the feet mean the robot can roll when conditions allow and then use its legged architecture when…

  • UK launches publicly owned Great British Grid to speed up connections

    The UK government has announced the creation of Great British Grid (GBG), a publicly-owned entity tasked with speeding up connections to the grid and upgrading the electricity network. Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, made the announcement as part of his keynote speech at the annual Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. At the start of his address, he drew strong applause from the audience when he vowed to overturn Margaret Thatcher’s 1980s reforms to give the public greater control over housing, water and energy. Focusing on the energy sector, he revealed that the new GBG will be “a publicly-owned company that will challenge the private sector operators. It will increase competition, drive down costs and speed up connections so businesses can expand and grow more quickly.” It will…

  • AC and DC ratios measured using a single device – new study

    A room-temperature diamond quantum sensor successfully unifies both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) ratio calibration within the same device set-up, according to a new study. Researchers led by Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology developed the current comparator, which can accurately measure both current ratios in single, highly integrated configuration. A current comparator is a high-precision device that uses balancing magnetic fields to measure the exact ratio between two electrical currents, helping to calibrate instruments used in power generation, transmission and distribution. Historically, because the underlying measurement principles differ for AC and DC, completely separate measurement technologies, distinct calibrations…

  • Diversification from film supply to ‘faithful’ design

    What do you do when your market disappears – diversify or die? Fujifilm, one of the most famous suppliers in the photography field, reinvented itself by returning to the ‘Faithful Design’ philosophy at its heart. Famously, Kodak had the world of photography at its feet. But its refusal to give up on camera film became its downfall. The rapid transformation to the digital age of cameras pulled the rug from under the company’s feet and it sank into bankruptcy – even though it has reinvented itself as a successful chemical and printing company in recent years. Rival Fujifilm took a different path – not one determined by the digitisation of the camera sector, although this was obviously an accelerant, but one that found its direction in the company’s philosophy. “Diversification is in Fujifilm…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • SpaceX’s huge Starship deploys satellites in orbit before explosive splashdown

    Elon Musk’s SpaceX has launched its Starship into orbit for the first time, marking a key milestone en route to operational flight. The 124 metre-tall Starship lifted off from the SpaceX Starbase facility in South Texas at 7.48am (local time), marking its 14th test flight to date. The aim of this Flight 14 test was to deposit 26 next-generation V3 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit (LEO). But it was also seen as a critical test of the vehicle’s readiness to fulfil Musk’s longer-term plans to make long-haul trips to Mars. The supersized ‘Ship’ rocket uses a two-stage design. The lower stage is the Super Heavy booster, which has 33 Raptor engines to accelerate the payload into space. The upper stage is the spacecraft itself, which has the ability to carry a payload of 100 metric…

  • Heat-resistant transistors scaled up to wafer-level production

    Integrated circuit technology for extreme environments has taken a step closer, with a study demonstrating the fabrication of heat-resistant silicon carbide (SiC) transistors on 6-inch wafers. Having recently demonstrated that an individual, lab-scale SiC transistor could operate at 600°C, a team at Kyoto University in Japan has now shown that the technology can be scaled to 6-inch wafers. SiC junction field effect transistor (JFET) technology has long been seen as ideal for developing electronics for extreme environments. For instance, Nasa is researching these chips for use in space applications due to their excellent radiation tolerance and high performance and reliability over an extremely wide operating temperature range. However, functional electronic equipment requires integrated…

  • ‘New age of industrialisation’ as government backs British shipbuilding

    The UK Treasury has announced orders for new Royal Navy floating docks and a maritime research vessel, all of which will be built in the UK. In his first Labour conference speech as chancellor, John Healey said plans to boost Britain's shipbuilding industry were part of a “new age of industrialisation” for the UK. The former defence secretary confirmed that three new floating docks for the Royal Navy’s submarine service at HM Naval Base Clyde, at Faslane, will be built in Britain rather than put out to international tender. He said this was in light of “their importance to national security and sovereign British industry”. This submarine infrastructure initiative – known as Programme Euston – will provide maintenance for the UK’s current and future fleet of nuclear submarines, enabling…

  • UK’s ‘largest AI supercomputer’ delayed to 2030s due to grid issues

    The launch of a massive AI data centre in Essex has been pushed back from 2027 to the 2030s because of grid connection and power supply issues. In September 2025, US tech giants announced numerous investments in the UK as part of the UK-US Tech Prosperity Deal. One of these included a partnership between Microsoft and UK-based AI start-up Nscale to build the “UK’s largest supercomputer”, with more than 23,000 advanced Nvidia GPUs, based in Loughton, Essex. At the time, it was announced that the £2bn data centre would come online in 2027. However, this has now been pushed back to the early to mid-2030s. The reason is the local grid network simply does not have the capacity to power this energy-hungry facility. Grid-connection times have become a serious bottleneck for new data centres…

  • Bentley unveils 2.7-tonne luxury EV with 16-minute charging time

    British luxury automaker Bentley has launched its first fully electric vehicle (EV), the £173,000 Torcal SUV. The Bentley Torcal marks the brand’s first foray into the EV market in its 107-year history. Though renowned for its iconic W12 and V8 combustion engines, the Crewe-based manufacturer maintains that its shift to an all-electric lineup hasn't sacrificed performance. In fact, it claims that it’s the most powerful Bentley ever built. With 876 horsepower and 1,350Nm of torque, the Torcal will accelerate from 0–60 miles per hour in just 2.8 seconds. As Bentley is owned by the VW Group, the Torcal has been built on the same EV platform as the Porsche Cayenne Electric. The high-voltage battery consists of 192 lithium-ion pouch cells in series, running at 800V nominal, with a total…

  • Implantable devices able to connect via electrical pulses passed through tissue

    A network of wearables and implants are able to connect using the body’s natural conductivity to send signals, according to a study. The human body does not easily allow traditional wireless signals such as Bluetooth or NFC to pass through. This has limited how much implantable sensors and actuators are able to communicate with each other as well as wearable devices. Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology in the US have removed these limitations by using body tissue’s natural ionic conductivity, enabling these devices to work together. Each implant is programmed to respond to electrical pulses of specific voltage and length passed through the tissue from one device to another, allowing them to be selectively activated. They also can be programmed to coordinate so data from multiple…

  • Scottish-built hardware to power German research rocket

    Scottish space tech firm Aurora Avionics has seen its technology integrated into a German research rocket due for launch in October. It marks the first time that the Edinburgh-based firm will have its PF1 computer system launch into microgravity onboard the German-developed MAPHEUS mission. Aurora engineers have worked with the Mobile Rocket Base (MORABA) team at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) to integrate its experimental prototype system with the MAPHEUS-17 research rocket. Its hardware including a camera, service module and supporting equipment was installed and tested within a day. “Seeing our technology being integrated into a major German research system is an exciting moment – not only for our firm, but for the wider Scottish space industry,” said Myles Bax, commercial lead…

  • UK military squadron to defend satellites in space from hostile threats

    The UK government has launched a military unit dedicated to countering hostile threats to UK satellites in orbit. The new Royal Air Force squadron will protect critical satellites that warn of incoming missile attacks, provide communications and help guide British ships. The ground-based unit will use advanced technology, including electronic warfare and cyber countermeasures, to beam signals into space. These electronic signals will effectively jam or neutralise hostile satellites that are actively targeting British infrastructure. While the Military of Defence (MoD) already has two ground-based squadrons in place to monitor and warn of threats in space, this new No. III Squadron will actually act against those threats. The MoD says the squadron will support both offensive and defensive…

  • Act on AI now, says Alan Turing Institute amid rising global tensions over safeguarding tech

    The Alan Turing Institute has published a report arguing that uncertainty about future existential threats posed by AI should not delay action on immediate risk. The warning comes as international debate over how to safeguard the technology intensifies at the United Nations General Assembly. In the past few weeks, there have been calls from within the AI industry about the pace the technology is developing at and the threats this poses. It follows incendiary comments from a safety researcher at Anthropic, developer of AI chatbot Claude, who said that there is a greater than 10% chance that AI “could kill all humans” within the next decade. The Alan Turing Institute, the UK’s national institute for data science and AI, has published a report – Frontier AI Risks: A practical way forward…

  • Samsung invests $100m in nuclear reactors to power Google’s AI data centres

    Samsung C&T is investing up to $100m in US nuclear start-up Kairos Power to develop small modular reactors (SMR) destined to power Google's AI data centres. In 2024, Google signed a deal with Kairos to develop a fleet of SMRs capable of generating 500MW of nuclear power by 2035. These reactors will inject clean electricity directly into the local grids that supply Google’s energy-hungry data infrastructure. The start-up is developing a type of SMR called a fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR). Unlike traditional nuclear plants that rely on high-pressure water as a coolant, the KP-FHR combines “meltdown-proof” TRISO fuel with a low-pressure molten fluoride salt coolant, which supposedly limits the risk of high-pressure blowouts. The modular, compact design also supports…

  • Cutting aircraft contrails could delay aviation warming by 10 years, study finds

    Reducing the formation of aircraft contrails in the sky could delay aviation-related climate heating by up to a decade, a report by Transport and Environment (T&E) has said. Condensation trails, or contrails, form when water vapour from an aircraft’s exhaust mixes with very cold air in the upper atmosphere. Under the right atmospheric conditions, the water vapour freezes into tiny ice crystals, creating a visible cloud-like trail. When these trails persist, they develop into clouds that trap heat radiating from the Earth, and so contribute to overall climate warming. Trying to ensure that aircraft can avoid the areas where contrails are more likely to form could help make air travel more sustainable. Aviation’s contribution to global warming could reach 0.08°C in 2050 rather than in 2040…

  • Enhanced wave farm design could harness 95% of ocean energy

    The strategic arrangement of wave-energy buoys within a wave farm could vastly improve their ability to harness energy from ocean swell, according to a new study. Ocean waves contain an enormous amount of energy. Floating buoys, some as big as a small house, have the potential to harness the motion of the waves to generate vast amounts of electricity. However, deep sea deployment of these arrays is challenging, with their performance affected by the variable nature of ocean waves. Researchers from the Universities of Augsburg, Adelaide, and Melbourne believe they have designed a solution to increase their efficiency. Using computer simulations, they fine-tuned the interaction between buoys to maximise the energy yield of a wave farm. The concept behind wave energy devices is relatively…

  • Fungi-based leather offers sustainable route to fireproof clothing

    Mycelium leather could offer a more sustainable material for the next generation of protective clothing, researchers have said. Mycelium has long been a subject of research for its use as a sustainable alternative for all manner of materials, from building insulation to packaging. Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus that grows underground and consists of a network of thin thread-like strands called hyphae. A team at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University developed their mycelium leather in the lab from fungal networks cultivated using agricultural waste and water. Unlike animal and plastic-derived leathers, it uses fewer hazardous chemicals during its production and releases less carbon into the atmosphere. The resulting fabric looks and feels like these other…

  • Police drones take to the skies across UK rail network

    British Transport Police (BTP) has introduced drones into its daily policing operations across the UK rail network. Trespassers are one of the most significant causes of disruption on the railway. According to BTP, in 2023/2024 more than 19,300 trespass incidents - or one every 30 minutes - occurred across the network. When an incident is reported, a drone can be deployed to the site, helping police officers assess the situation remotely. This enables faster decision making and can reduce train delays as a result. Fitted with BT’s Drone SIM and using EE’s network, the drones are launched from strategically located 'drone in a box’ (DIAB) stations and piloted from a London-based control centre. Operators can securely fly the drone and stream real-time, high-definition video, even in remote…

  • Autonomous Joby aircraft completes 3,199-mile flight across US

    Joby Aviation has pulled off an entirely autonomous, 3,199-mile flight from the West to the East coast of the United States. The firm said it is the first time such a feat has been achieved, with the aircraft making the journey with zero control inputs from the onboard safety pilot including autonomous taxi, take-off, cruise and landing. The whole journey was supervised remotely from Joby’s Autonomy Headquarters in California, which was up to 2,323 miles away from the plane at the furthest point. The aircraft – a converted Cessna Caravan – began the flight at the Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. Joby said the flight demonstrated that its technology can work on pre-existing aircraft not originally designed for full autonomy which could enable it to be deployed relatively quickly…

  • Fibre-optic system detects dangerous currents before grid failure

    A fibre-optic system can track and detect unwanted electrical currents in high-voltage power grids in real time, according to a study. Developed by a research team at the Graz University of Technology in Austria, the system is a simple and instantaneous solution for calculating exact current levels in power grids, including normal alternating currents (AC) and problematic direct-current (DC) interference. Today’s AC power grids are increasingly under strain. While renewables feed energy into the network, the proliferation of electric vehicle chargers requires increasingly powerful inverters and rectifiers to convert power back and forth. This conversion process inadvertently leaks DC into the grid. Natural phenomena, including solar or geomagnetic storms, can also cause this DC to find…

  • Google to buy digital 'green credits' from Swedish hydrogen steel plant

    Google has agreed to support Swedish start-up Stegra in green hydrogen steelmaking. Spread across 270 hectares in Boden, northern Sweden, Stegra’s facility will incorporate iron and steelmaking with a 740MW hydrogen plant. Using green hydrogen in its steelmaking results in the facility producing near-zero emissions. Google will purchase environmental attribute certificates (EACs) from Stegra for a volume of up to 91,000 tonnes of steel for the first year, with the possibility of increasing this volume. This book-and-claim system allows Google to claim the environmental attributes of lower-emission steel separately from the physical product. So while the tech giant won’t purchase the physical steel, buying EACs effectively helps it offset the carbon emissions from its own operations, including…

  • Industry insight: Getting to grips with upcoming changes to the Building Safety Act?

    This article has been provided by Nigel Thomas, national specification & projects manager at ABB Electrification. The Building Safety Act (BSA) introduces the most significant overhaul of building regulation in a generation. We debunk the biggest misconceptions surrounding the latest regulatory changes — and what they actually mean for those involved in a building’s construction. Formed in 2022 in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the BSA is a fundamental rework of how building safety is designed and implemented. Gone are the days of the check-box list and the stack of paperwork handed over after delivery. Safety must be embedded, proven, and carried through from a project's inception to its completion. And yet, despite its significance, there's a worrying amount of misunderstanding…

  • DNA computer performs 100-bit calculations without electricity

    A molecular DNA-based computer has executed complex mathematical equations completely without electricity, according to a study. The research team at Ireland’s Maynooth University says the breakthrough offers potential for powering future energy-efficient data centres or even operating inside living human cells. Currently, conventional computers and data centres rely heavily on energy-hungry silicon chips. In contrast, this molecular computer uses a collection of interacting DNA strands in salt water to solve complex equations. It does this without a continuous electricity supply, requiring only a little heat to kick-start the chemical computation. “Silicon-based computers use so much energy – 23% of Ireland’s electricity goes into computing and data storage. We’ve been blinkered by only…

  • EU proposes total social media ban for under-13s with limited access until 15

    The European Commission has unveiled sweeping legislation outlining a total social media ban for children under 13 and restricted access for teenagers until the age of 15. The proposed EU Kids Act is the result of much pressure on policymakers to act on growing evidence of the effects that social media and screen addiction have on children’s mental health. “It is time for Europe to act,” said commission president Ursula von der Leyen during her annual keynote address to the European Parliament when the act was formally unveiled. “It is we who decide our rules, not Big Tech.” Under the proposals, children under 13 are banned from accessing all forms of social media. This also includes online video games, video-sharing platforms and AI companions. They can, however, use video-sharing platforms…

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