• HS2 should be using more British steel, Unite says

    As one of the largest construction projects in Europe, HS2 requires millions of tonnes of steel to be built. However, in a recent series of parliamentary questions, the Department for Transport (DfT) admitted that is has not placed mandates on using domestically produced steel. The lack of proactive government action is “alarming”, Unite said, which has also led to “growing uncertainty” about the long-term wellbeing of the UK steel industry. The union represents thousands of steel workers in a domestic sector which has faced tough competition from China and other markets in recent years. In 2020, British Steel was bought by Chinese firm Jingye Group in a last-ditch effort to secure the jobs of around 3,200 of its employees. Just before its collapse, the head of trade association UK…

  • Government considers intervention to slash carbon prices

    Officials are concerned that prices have been so high for the past four months that they may need to make a call on whether to intervene and make changes by 18 January. Companies covered by the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) must purchase one “allowance” per tonne of CO2 emitted. This is intended to disincentivise use of the most polluting fuels, such as coal, closing the cost gap between these fuels and lower-carbon and zero-carbon alternatives. For the second time in two months, officials have triggered the “cost containment mechanism”, which occurs when the carbon price is consistently above expectations. Carbon prices have remained high in recent months for a variety of reasons, such as the spike in natural gas prices making it relatively cheaper to burn coal even when accounting…

  • China to order cybersecurity reviews for firms seeking overseas listings

    According to the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the new rules come into effect on 15 February and will require platform companies with data on over one million users to undergo a security review before listing their shares overseas. “With stock market listings there is a risk that key information infrastructure, core data, important data or a large amount of personal information could be impacted, controlled or maliciously used by foreign governments,” said the CAC in a statement, reiterating a concern flagged in July 2021, when the changes were first proposed. In a separate statement, the CAC said it would also implement new rules on 1 March on the use of algorithm recommendation technology to increase oversight of news providers that use the technology to disseminate information…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Wearable device measures pH of sweat to determine muscle fatigue

    The device uses ultrathin nanomaterials, known as MXenes, that monitor a person’s well-being by analysing their perspiration. MXenes share a similar two-dimensional nature to graphene and are composed of non-toxic metals, such as titanium, in combination with carbon or nitrogen atoms. With naturally high conductivity and strong surface charges, MXenes are attractive candidates for biosensors that can detect small changes to chemical concentrations. The researchers developed a MXene composite electrode, which they enclosed in a wearable armband sensor. The device, which had a modular design that used MXene inserts loaded with appropriate enzymes, could absorb perspiration and detect several analytes in human sweat, including glucose and lactic acid. MXene sheets were combined with hydrogels…

  • Egyptian mummy digitally unwrapped with 3D imaging tech

    While all the royal mummies found in the 19th and 20th centuries have long since been opened for study, Amenhotep I (pictured in the statue above) is the exception because it is so immaculately wrapped – decorated with flower garlands, and with a face and neck that is covered by a lifelike facemask inset with colourful stones. But researchers at the Egyptian Mummy Project have now finally peered inside the mummy for the first time in three millennia. The previous time was in the 11th century BCE, more than four centuries after his original mummification and burial. Hieroglyphics have described how during the later 21st dynasty, priests restored and reburied royal mummies from more ancient dynasties, to repair the damage done by grave robbers. The pharaoh's mummy, showing…

  • Updated rules for new home builders will mandate gigabit broadband infrastructure

    Currently, around 93 per cent of new builds are already being constructed with fibre-to-the-premises infrastructure. But the remainder are still being built without gigabit connections as developers seek to avoid the additional expenses incurred. The changes to the law will mean home developers will be legally required to build gigabit broadband into new homes in England and make it a priority as part of building work. They will also need to bring broadband network operators on board to consider gigabit broadband installation when construction plans are submitted to local councils. These measures form part of the government’s £5bn Project Gigabit programme, which aims to fulfil a manifesto pledge of broad gigabit internet rollout through the UK. Gigabit broadband is capable of download…

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    E+T Magazine

  • Electric vehicle boost fails to stem plummeting output from UK car makers

    The new figures show it was the fifth consecutive month of decline for UK automakers and represents the worst November performance since 1984 as the worldwide shortage of semiconductors continues to bite. It also reflects the loss of output arising from the closure of a UK car factory in the summer, a situation that will impact year-on-year comparisons until July 2022. British production of battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid cars took a record share of production, accounting for around a third (32.7 per cent) of all cars made in the month, and more than a quarter (25.5 per cent) over the year-to-date. EV output in particular was up in November by 52.9 per cent to 10,359 units, hitting a new high of 13.7 per cent of all production, more than double the level a year ago. With…

  • Superconducting power cable starts operation in Shanghai

    Local media outlet Shine reports that the 35kV three-phase cable was put into operation by the State Grid Corporation Shanghai Electric Power Company on Wednesday (21 December), marking the first time a cable of this type and length has been used for commercial power supply anywhere in the world. The power line, which runs for 1.15km,was designed to reduce transmission losses and ensure high power capacity in the city’s Xuhui district, which includes residential neighbourhoods, hospitals, and commercial complexes. The technology was developed in China, with much of the research carried out by the State Grid Shanghai Company. “A 35kV superconducting cable, which has the same transmission capacity as a traditional 220kV cable, can replace four to six traditional cables with the same voltage…

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    E+T Magazine

  • British firm launches ‘most sophisticated’ communications satellite

    The Inmarsat-6 F1 (I-6 F1) is the first of two satellites that the firm plans to launch into geostationary orbit, about 35,785km above the Earth. It will be able to make use of L-band communication networks using global narrowband technology Elera, as well as Ka-band. Although L-band provides relatively slow-speed connectivity, demand for its use in Internet of Things (IoT) applications has been growing. Such applications include remote assets – which includes everything from shipping containers to bulldozers – allowing the sensors to make regular reports back to base of their operational status. The satellite could also help to bolster other services such as 5G, Wi-Fi on planes, remote drones, autonomous vehicles, and remote sensors used for ocean and agricultural monitoring. Inmarsat…

  • Nasa delays launch of James Webb Telescope to Christmas Day

    Once launched, Nasa’s Hubble successor will be the world’s most powerful telescope with the ability to probe deeper and further back into space than ever before. The launch has been delayed by 14 years and is roughly ten times over budget, although once in orbit will hopefully give scientists a more detailed look at the start of the universe, the birth of stars, and possibly the origins of life. Originally set for a Christmas Eve launch on the back of an Ariane 5 rocket, poor weather conditions at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana has forced a 24-hour delay. Encapsulation of the JWST inside the cargo bay of the rocket was completed last Friday and it is now poised for blast-off just after midday on Saturday. If all goes according to plan, the $9bn instrument will be released from…

  • Electric car supply chain carbon emissions lower than ICE vehicles, study finds

    Indirect emissions include those produced by the supply chains of the vehicle components and the fuels used to create the electricity that charges the vehicles. “The surprising element was how much lower the emissions of electric vehicles were,” said researcher Stephanie Weber. “The supply chain for combustion vehicles is just so dirty that electric vehicles can’t surpass them, even when you factor in indirect emissions.” The research team combined concepts from energy economics and industrial ecology – carbon pricing, life cycle assessment, and modelling energy systems – to find if carbon emissions were still reduced when indirect emissions from the electric vehicle supply chain were factored in. “A major concern about electric vehicles is that the supply chain, including the mining…

  • Sponsored: Atlas underlines the power of SaaS to deliver enhanced protection against cyber-attacks

    Steve Dertien, EVP Chief Technology Officer at PTC , pointed to the recent global Apache Log4j 2 security breach as the perfect example of how quickly providers can react to a potential attack if they are embracing SaaS technology. The company was able to overcome the open-source vulnerability attack in just three hours, mitigating severe issues for every customer using products that run on Atlas TM, its SaaS platform. This tight response time was only possible because, in the world of SaaS delivery, everything is highly automated and built to scale efficiently. Software is updated with no effort on the part of the user, and this also means that when critical security or software issues are found, no manual intervention is required at the customer’s site.  PTC engineers discovered the…

  • UK scientist to pilot the European Space Agency’s Mars rover

    The Rosalind Franklin rover will be on a mission to find life on the Red Planet when it arrives in June 2023. It is the first to carry a drill long enough to explore molecules up to two metres below the surface, where they would be protected from the harsh radiation on the planet’s surface. Dr Christian Schröder is one of five Guest Investigators who will join a panel of scientists from of different disciplines from Europe, Russia and Canada. They will play a leading role in commanding the rover once it lands at the selected site of Oxia Planum on Mars. The rover will spend a minimum of 211 ‘sols’ (Martian days), equivalent to 230 Earth days, searching for organic carbon molecules that could tell us whether there was ever life on Mars. Schröder was previously part of the team operating…

  • Cheaper, greener and more efficient: paperless engineering’s time has come

    Despite the numerous technological innovations that have been implemented by manufacturers in recent years, many firms are still dealing with endless amounts of printed documents. For maintenance engineers, everything from instruction manuals and training documentation to parts catalogues are often only accessible in paper form. Not only are these documents time-consuming for engineers to use, they are also costly and environmentally unfriendly. The need to regularly update huge numbers of PDF files as product models are upgraded, then translate them into different languages, means an even bigger paper pile. Manufacturers and engineers both lose out in this environment – with major overheads being generated from such extensive paper-based processes. Relying on printed documents also restricts…

  • Rail electrification works underway following criticism of scaled-back plans

    The project is part of the Government’s £96bn Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) for the Midlands and the North and will see work undertaken to electrify lines between Kettering in Northamptonshire and Market Harborough in Leicestershire. When the details were published last month, MPs in the north of England expressed anger at the scrapping of the eastern leg of HS2 between the Midlands and Leeds. The Government insisted its new plan will result in similar improvements to previous plans, and that they will be delivered quicker and with better value for taxpayers’ money. The DfT said the IRP will cut journey times from Chesterfield to London to 76 minutes, Derby to London to 58 minutes and Nottingham to London to 57 minutes. Passengers will also see services and capacity nearly doubled with more…

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    E+T Magazine

  • View from Brussels: France’s big plans for the EU

    “I am here to talk to you about Europe. ‘Again?!’ some will say. They will have to get used to it, because I will continue to do so,” French President Emmanuel Macron said during a speech earlier in December. Macron is firmly on the campaign trail, preparing for mid-April’s presidential elections, where he will seek another five-year term. He is likely to face a conservative or perhaps even far-right candidate in a second-round runoff. France’s leading role within the EU and the ‘Frenchification’ of how Brussels does business is a foundation stone of Macron’s re-election effort, given that much of his first mandate always had one eye on European policies. Slovenia will hand over the reins of the rotating EU presidency at the end of this month to France, giving Macron a shop window to…

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    E+T Magazine

  • Three and EE to provide 4G across London Underground

    TfL awarded a contract to BAI Communications earlier this year to build out the infrastructure needed to provide coverage through the tunnels and stations. Uninterrupted mobile coverage has already been introduced on the eastern half of the Jubilee line and will be expanded in phases to ticket halls, platforms and tunnels on the Tube network over the next three years . The London Underground is one of the world’s largest underground networks and prior to the pandemic was used by more than five million passengers a day. The Elizabeth Line, which is expected to open early 2022 after repeated delays, is on track to be the next one to get 4G coverage from next year. The deal struck between Three, EE and BAI, will allow all mobile operators to access the London Underground WiFi, as well…

  • Sustainable circuits printed from graphite-loaded shellac ink

    For many years, researchers have been developing means of producing circuits using additive manufacturing techniques. Although this has been quite successful – allowing for cheap, precise, quick-to-produce electronics – the metal particles used to make these “inks” conductive are exacerbating the problem of electronic waste. This is particularly concerning given the likelihood that printed electronics will be largely used in cheap, disposable IOT sensors. “There is an urgent need for materials that balance electronic performance, cost, and sustainability,” said Professor Gustav Nyström, head of Empa’s Cellulose and Wood Materials lab.  In order to develop an environmentally friendly ink, Nyström and his colleagues set the goal of making it metal-free, non-toxic, and biodegradable. Having…

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    E+T Magazine

  • Qatar takes 10 per cent stake in Rolls-Royce small nuclear reactor arm

    Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor (SMR), which is majority-owned by Rolls-Royce, has been established to set up sites around the country that will be approximately a tenth the size of traditional reactors. These mini nuclear power stations would use modules constructed in factories that enable on-site assembly of the plant. Rolls-Royce is hoping to build its first small nuclear reactor, which has generation capacity of 470MW, in the early 2030s. The sheer size and scale of conventional nuclear power stations has made it challenging to secure investors for new stations to replace the capacity of those due to be decommissioned in the coming years. It is hoped that the small modular approach will make it considerably cheaper to bring zero-carbon electricity onto the grid via new nuclear power…

  • Human muscle cells to be launched to ISS for ageing study

    In preparation for the launch, lab-grown human muscle cells, the size of grains of rice, have been put into small 3D-printed holders. Once in orbit, they will be electrically stimulated to induce contractions in the muscle tissue while being observed. On the ISS, the muscle cells will not experience the effects of gravity; spending extended periods of time in microgravity causes astronauts’ muscles to weaken, as they do with ageing, before recovering on return to Earth. University of Liverpool researchers, funded with £1.2m from the UK Space Agency, will investigate what happens to muscle tissue in space and compare this with the effects of natural ageing. Knowledge gleaned from the study will help solve the puzzle of why muscles lose mass and strength with age, and hopefully develop ways…

  • Sponsored: A new hybrid era of innovation for virtual communications platforms

    Connected, responsive, global, engaging... meeting the challenges of the modern commercial age. Adopting new ways of communication and interaction, and committing time, money and resources to stay ahead of the future development curve can be daunting. How do you know you're investing in long-term, future-proof solutions? Helping to maximise your investment and catalyse your digital transformation journey – we explore how to utilise, prioritise and create the right virtual platform solution best suited to your audience and their needs. Key Learning Points Understand the shift in the technology and software solution landscape, from popular virtual communications platforms to the new hybrid approach for business, stakeholder engagement and brand interactions Forecast business need and…

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    E+T Magazine

  • Biosensors could help people with complex health conditions

    The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada. According to Karen Van Ooteghem, a researcher in kinesiology and health sciences at Waterloo, information from wearables could provide insight into patterns of health-related behaviour and disease symptoms as they occur over days and weeks. “This may be important for monitoring disease progression and the impact of therapeutics, supplementary to assessments conducted in the clinic,” she said. “Within our research programme, we carry out work to validate novel outcomes derived from wearables for these purposes and develop avenues to relay this information to patients and clinicians.” Van Ooteghem added it was important for researchers to understand feasibility in participants’ natural environments because behaviour…

  • How HR tech can help solve the UK’s digital skills shortage

    During this year’s London Tech Week, news broke that investment in UK technology start-ups and scale-ups had reached a record £13.5 billion in the first half of 2021 alone. This is almost triple the figure achieved at the midpoint of 2020. Twenty unicorn companies were created in just six months, bringing the UK’s total to 105; more than France and Germany combined. Unicorns are privately held start-up companies valued at over $1bn. The tech revolution, prime minister Boris Johnson commented, “is creating jobs, driving growth, and boosting investment across the country.” However, job creation doesn’t always go hand-in-hand with job vacancy fulfilment. According to a recent Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport report, the cyber-security sector faces a shortfall of 10,000 people…

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    E+T Magazine

  • Giant, regolith-based solar panels under development for ESA’s lunar outpost

    ESA hopes, over a timescale of decades, to establish a lunar output on the South Pole of the Moon. Previous Moon missions, such as Nasa’s Apollo or the Soviet Luna mission, landed relatively near the Moon’s equator, rather than in the rugged polar moonscape. However, the Moon’s South Pole has been identified as the possible region for a future lunar outpost, given its perpetual exposure to sunlight and the possible existence of water (hinted at by recent orbiting missions). At TalTech, scientists are hoping to contribute to this mission through the development of solar cell technology. The researchers have presented a sandpaper-like solar cell containing thousands of sunlight-absorbing microcrystals (diameter 50μm) embedded in a polymer, in one continuous layer. The microcrystals are then…

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