• Air pollution particles can reach babies in the womb, study finds

    The team from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, and Hasselt University, Belgium, said their findings were “especially concerning” because key organ development occurs when foetuses are growing in the uterus. Researchers examined 60 mothers and their babies in Aberdeen and the Grampian region in Scotland. They also analysed tissue samples from 36 aborted foetuses between seven and 20 weeks of gestation. The team found evidence of “black carbon particles” – also known as soot particles – in umbilical cord blood, which shows that the particles can cross the placenta. Such soot particles were present in all mothers and newborns. According to the researchers, the level of particles found was linked to the amount of air pollution the mother was exposed to during pregnancy. The research…

  • Former Uber security chief found guilty of covering up massive data breach

    Joe Sullivan, Uber's former  security chief, has been convicted of a count for concealing a massive hack suffered by the ride-hailing company in 2016, as well as another related to obstructing a Federal Trade Commission investigation into the breach. Sullivan was fired in 2017 over the incident, which was said to have affected the personal data of over 57 million customers and drivers. He is now facing up to eight years in prison.  According to the criminal complaint,  Uber paid the hackers $100,000 (£ 88,670) in Bitcoin in December 2016, through a 'bug bounty' program that rewards developers for revealing security vulnerabilities. Sullivan wanted them to sign non-disclosure agreements promising to keep mum about the affair, prosecutors said, stressing that he had taken steps to make…

  • Hands-on review: Zumy webcam laptop light

    While the Covid-driven days of full-time WFH are largely behind most of us, the hybrid nature of work now still means a lot of video calls and meetings from home. For many of us, this means finding a suitable home office space in which to participate in these virtual gatherings, a place in our homes where the crucial crossovers of comfort, good Wi-Fi and flattering lighting best align. If you can tick the first two, but sometimes struggle with the third, the Zumy webcam laptop light could be just what you need. While there are (plenty of) other fill-light options out there, the Zumy has a few neat tricks up its foldable sleeve that may sweeten its appeal. Initiated as an Indiegogo campaign in December 2020 – perhaps understandably, during the peak period for pandemic lockdowns – Zumy…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Three scientists win Nobel Prize for ‘click Chemistry’

    Professor Carolyn R Bertozzi from Stanford University, Professor Morten Meldal from the University of Copenhagen, and Professor K Barry Sharpless from Scripps Research, have received the coveted Nobel Prize " for the development of click Chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry”. The three will share the  10 million Swedish krona (£800,000) award.  The work reportedly "transformed" how chemistry can be done, making it simpler and more effective, by allowing molecules to link together, like Lego pieces. Moreover, their work can also ensure that many reactions can be done with minimum impact on the environment.  This would be the second Nobel Prize awarded to Sharpless, who received this award for the first time in 2001 for chiral catalysts. Bertozzi, who pioneered bioorthogonal chemistry…

  • Hands-on gadget review: Osprey Transporter waterproof duffel

    This duffel bag is cute and lightweight but what sets it apart from the pack is the waterproofing. It’s billed as waterproof luggage, with welded seams and a waterproof zip. It’s available in three sizes: 40 litres (£220), 70 litres (£250) and 100 litres (£270), so it’s not cheap. But it’s not your average bag. It’s IPX7 rated. This is rare for a dry bag and means it’s been tested to be submersible 1m deep for 30 minutes. I tested the mid-sized, 70 litre Transporter Duffel WP 70 in a colour called Mars Orange. In the photos it looks glossy red but it is definitely orangey. The other colour is called Tunnel Vision Grey but is nearly black. The first thing I noticed on unpacking was how ridiculously light the bag is. This 70-litre bag weighs just 1.12kg. That matters when it’s on your back…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Biden proposes an artificial intelligence ‘Bill of Rights’ blueprint

    Joe Biden's administration has unveiled a new AI Bill of Rights , which outlines five protections internet users should have in the AI age. The guidelines do not set out specific enforcement actions, but are instead intended as a call to action for the safeguarding of digital and civil rights in an AI-fuelled world, officials said. These can include algorithms used for recruitment or financial decisions that discriminate against women or people of colour, which has not been an uncommon occurrence.  The Bill of Rights lays out five principles that should guide the design, use and deployment of automated systems. These state that AI should be safe, should not discriminate, should violate data privacy, should not be used without the user's knowledge and consent, and should not be the only…

  • USB-C to become common charging cable in the EU from 2024

    By the end of 2024, all mobile phones, tablets, cameras and other small or medium-sized electronic devices sold in the EU will need to be equipped with the UBS-C charging port, the bloc has agreed.  These rules are expected to be extended to laptops in 2026.   The EU said the change would reduce hassle for consumers and help cut electronic waste by removing the need to buy a new charger each time a device is purchased. The motion was approved with 602 votes in favour and 13 against, with eight abstaining. “The common charger will finally become a reality in Europe,” European Parliament rapporteur Alex Agius Saliba said. “We have waited more than 10 years for these rules but we can finally leave the current plethora of chargers in the past. “This future-proof law allows for the development…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Elon Musk offers to buy Twitter for $44bn, again

    Elon Musk has offered to buy Twitter for $44bn (£38.3bn) for the second time this year.  In a letter sent by Musk's attorneys, the billionaire's intention to move ahead with the original deal was confirmed, pending receipt of the financing and an end of the legal fight. The news comes just two weeks before the two sides were scheduled to meet in Delaware's Court of Chancery, on October 17, where Twitter was preparing to sue Musk to either complete the deal or pay the previously agreed $1bn penalty for reneging on the deal.  “We received the letter from the Musk parties which they have filed with the SEC," said a Twitter spokesperson. "The intention of the company is to close the transaction at $54.20 per share." The announcement is the latest twist in a long-running saga after the world…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Seaweed-based battery powers confidence in sustainable energy storage

    Sodium-metal batteries (SMBs) are among the most promising high-energy and low-cost energy storage systems for the next-generation of large-scale applications. However, one of the major impediments to the development of SMBs is uncontrolled growth of dendrites, which penetrate the battery’s separator and result in short-circuiting. Building on previous work at the University of Bristol, and in collaboration with Imperial College and University College London, the Bristol-led team succeeded in making a separator from cellulose nanomaterials derived from brown seaweed. Their research paper describes how fibres containing these seaweed-derived nanomaterials not only stop crystals from the sodium electrodes penetrating the separator, they also improve the performance of the batteries. “The…

  • AI-based eye checks can rapidly predict risk of heart disease

    Scientists have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that can spot early warning signs of a heart problem in less than a minute. It works by scanning and measuring the thickness of tiny arteries and veins at the back of the eye, which are thought to hold key information about heart health. The research could enable ophthalmologists and other health workers to carry out cardiovascular screening on the high street using a camera with no need for blood tests or blood pressure checks, according to the study. The research team said the results could “open the door” to a highly effective, non-invasive test becoming available for people at medium to high risk of heart disease that does not have to be done in a clinic. “This AI tool could let someone know in 60 seconds or less their…

  • View from India: PoC diagnostics represent a challenge and an opportunity

    Point of care (PoC) diagnostics is not new to India. It’s been around in the form of glucometers, ECG and personalised devices. The fact that PoC is cost effective and offers clinical information about patients immediately has made it popular. Conventional lab testing has also been around for a while. Centralised lab testing is again more cost effective if there are many people to be tested. However, where it involves only a single person, PoC home testing is preferable. Covid has altered our outlook with its thrust on ‘contactless.’ Wherever possible, people tried to look for a contactless approach in many situations. So, coming to Covid, whether people were infected or not, they insisted on monitoring their health on their own and preferably within the closed doors of their home. Another…

  • Hands-on review: STM MagLoop kickstand

    From the people who brought us the chonky but fonky MagPod portable tripod for MagSafe-enabled iPhones, now STM bring us the ultimate expression of Oz-tacular form-meets-function design with the MagLoop 3-in-1 kickstand, finger loop and... bottle opener. Yep, that's right. The MagLoop is (potentially) the beach, poolside and party accessory you never knew your iPhone was missing: a neat and foldable stand with a handy bottle opener built in. As if smartphones weren't already covering enough of our daily task bases – replacing our wallets, diaries, newspapers, books, stereos, cameras, satnavs and more – now they've even got you covered when you get a thirst on. As simple as it is ingenious, STM refers to this MagSafe accessory as "a 3-in-1 grabber, propper and bottle popper", which pretty…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Analysis: Decoupling looms as US plans new China chip clampdown

    The US is set to widen restrictions on Chinese access to its advanced technologies by instituting what will be in effect a blanket global ban on sales to its main geopolitical rival of advanced semiconductors and the tools needed to make them. The move could represent the most significant step yet towards full Sino-US technology ‘decoupling’. Further China-focused action by President Joe Biden’s administration has been on the cards since early summer. The new measures will be administered by the Department of Commerce and have two main thrusts, with more details expected in the next few days. They are expected to outlaw sales of any advanced devices that incorporate any relevant US technology, particularly those that can be used in artificial intelligence or supercomputing, if a US export…

  • View from Washington: Musk opts for sunny-side up on Twitter

    He just can’t help himself, can he? Once it was confirmed that Elon Musk is to honour his $44bn (£39bn) offer for Twitter, there came the inevitable tweet. “Buying Twitter is an accelerant to creating X, the everything app.” World’s richest man or not, Musk is splashing out a shedload of money – alongside some debt and likely other partners – to buy a company that has a mountain of problems: bots, abuse, misinformation, and an apparent inability to match the revenues of all the other major social media companies, to name but four. Musk will – OK, likely will – inherit a company where he has demoralised many of the staff and is regarded warily by many of its real users, particularly those who believe he will welcome back The Donald. Maybe you would go about addressing those issues…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Global rise in electricity demand met entirely with renewables, report finds

    The rise in wind and solar generation met over three-quarters of the demand growth in the first half of 2022, while hydro met the remainder, preventing a possible 4 per cent increase in fossil generation and avoiding $40bn in fuel costs and 230MtCO2 in emissions. The report analysed electricity data from 75 countries representing 90 per cent of global electricity demand. It compares the first six months of 2022 to the same period in 2021 to show how the electricity transition has progressed. Global electricity demand was found to have grown by 389 terawatt-hours (TWh) in the first half of 2022. Renewables - wind, solar and hydro - increased by 416TWh, slightly exceeding the rise in electricity demand. Wind and solar were responsible for the bulk of the rise – they grew some 300TWh between…

  • Natural History Museum designs high-tech gardens to model climate impact

    The new Natural History Museum gardens are expected to allow researchers to look at the kind of life that makes these environments home to many wildlife species, from frogs to tiny microscopic organisms invisible to the human eye. The gardens will be built on the f ive acres (two hectares) of grounds around the museum in South Kensington, west London, which have not been used for gardens or research before, according to Sky News.  The gardens will tell the story of the evolution of life on Earth , taking people through palaeontology sciences as they move from east to west, according to the museum. The sit is also expected to reflect the modern day, focusing on what can be done to protect nature. In addition, to its educational benefits, the  sensors installed across the site will monitor…

  • Why battery energy storage systems could be the answer to UK energy crisis

    The Energy Bill currently going through parliament recognises that energy storage will be instrumental in supplying the UK with stable, secure energy whilst also decarbonising the grid. One of its key objectives is to ensure the safety and resilience of the UK energy system by re-classifying battery energy storage systems (BESS) as a distinct subset of energy generation. The Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) consultation, launched by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy in July and closing this month, goes one step further. It states that the country will need access to unprecedented levels of investment in low-carbon technologies including low-carbon generation and electricity storage in order to completely decarbonise the grid by 2035. Why is battery…

  • UK to build its first prototype fusion energy plant by 2040

    A prototype nuclear fusion power plant - possibly the world's first prototype commercial nuclear reactor - will be built in the United Kingdom by 2040, business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg has said. Rees-Mogg told the Conservative Party conference that the fusion energy plant - part of the £220m STEP programme led by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) - would replace the West Burton coal-fired power station in Nottinghamshire, which was set to be closed  this year. “Over the decades we have established ourselves as pioneers in fusion science and as a country our capabilities to surmount these obstacles is unparalleled and I am delighted to make an announcement of a vital step in that mission," Rees-Mogg said. “We will build the UK’s first prototype fusion energy plant in Nottinghamshire…

  • Supercomputer simulation suggests alternative theory for Moon’s creation

    Currently, the most widely accepted origin theory for the Moon posits that it was formed 4.51 billion years ago, not long after the Earth, out of the debris from a giant impact between the planet and a hypothesised Mars-sized body called Theia. Most theories create the Moon by gradual accumulation of the debris from this impact. However, this has been challenged by measurements of lunar rocks showing their composition is like that of Earth’s mantle. A team from Durham University simulated hundreds of different impacts, varying the angle and speed of the collision as well as the masses and spins of the two colliding bodies in their search for scenarios that could explain the present-day Earth-Moon system. These calculations were performed using the SWIFT open-source simulation code, run…

  • Mars and Moon rovers tested on Earth ahead of future space missions

    Nasa has announced it will conduct two multi-week field tests near Flagstaff, Arizona, in the US with astronauts, engineers and scientists to practice mission scenarios for the Artemis lunar missions.  The Arizona desert possesses many characteristics that resemble a lunar environment, including challenging terrain, interesting geology and minimal communications infrastructure.  The first spacecraft in Nasa's Artemis lunar mission was scheduled to launch in August 2022. However, following the failure of two launch attempts , the take-off date has been pushed back to November 2022. The flight, which will carry mannequins rather than astronauts, would mark the next chapter in putting humans back on the Moon.  Before the Artemis-1 launch, Nasa has two test missions scheduled to take place…

  • Sponsored: Powering offshore wind farms with numerical modelling of subsea cables

    “Laws, Whitehouse received five minutes signal. Coil signals too weak to relay. Try drive slow and regular. I have put intermediate pulley. Reply by coils.” Sound familiar? The message above was sent through the first transatlantic telegraph cable between Newfoundland and Ireland, way back in 1858. ("Whitehouse" refers to the chief electrician of the Atlantic Telegraph Company at the time, Wildman Whitehouse.) Fast forward to 2014: The bottom of the ocean is home to nearly 300 communications cables, connecting countries and providing internet communications around the world. Fast forward again: As of 2021, there are an estimated 1.3 million km of submarine cables (Figure 1) in service, ranging from a short 131 km cable between Ireland and the U.K. to the 20,000 km cable that connects Asia…

  • Hydrogen sector calls for all boilers to be ‘hydrogen ready’ by 2026

    The government’s Energy Security Strategy , which was unveiled in April, increased hydrogen production targets to 10GW by 2030 with at least half coming from green hydrogen which is carbon-neutral. During the launch of its ‘Hydrogen Accelerators’ report at the Conservative Party Conference, Hydrogen UK (HUK) claims the industry is growing so quickly that its current production project pipeline already exceeds this target by a third. It is now pushing for a rapid scaling up of production, greater support for distribution and storage infrastructure, and the creation of demand in end-use sectors. To support this, the body wants the government to set a target for 1,000,000 homes to be heated by hydrogen by 2035 as well as the 2026 targets for boilers. It also called for reform of the gas…

  • Hands-on review: Honor 70

    While last year’s Honor 60 was its first major release since the split, with product development times lasting up to 24 months it stuck rigidly to the design principles of its former owner. Its new flagship device does not sway far from the mid-range sector that the firm has always targeted, offering features roughly on par with the top end with some key compromises. While hardly disappointing, at £480 the Honor 70 also fails to wow in any particular area, and except for the selfie camera leaves little to get excited about. Image credit: Jack Loughran The display covers almost the entire front of the device, curving slightly at the edges, with a “holepunch” style selfie camera at the top. While curved edges were once the preserve of premium phones, the industry…

  • Electric vehicles reach ‘significant milestone’ in new report

    The latest DVLA data by the RAC Foundation showed there were 519,266 BEVs licensed at the end of June, an increase from the  282,977 that had been registered a year earlier and 130,246 at the end of June 2020. The most popular model was reportedly the Tesla Model 3, according to the RAC Foundation.  “This is a very significant milestone in terms of getting more battery-powered cars onto our roads, but we still have a long way to travel before we achieve a truly green fleet given that there are around 33 million cars in Britain,” RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding told the PA news agency.  Despite the achievement, there is still a long way ahead before the UK can reach its goal of banning the s ales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in the UK from 2030. The latest figures from…

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