• Plastic-eating enzyme enables superior recycling technique

    Currently, less than 10 per cent of the 380 million metrics tons of plastics that are produced annually in the US are recycled. A team of researchers from Northwestern University have been focusing on recycling techniques that can efficiently deconstruct and rebuild plastic polymers which can be preferable to other recycling methods, many of which can only be used on plastic once. Recycling plants typically heat plastic up, break it down and then rebuild it into weaker, poorer quality materials. Breaking down the polymers into their fundamental components can enable the creation of new plastics that are sturdier than they were before. Using an enzyme that can be synthesised in a lab, the researchers developed a process without using other solvents that can be used repeatedly. “People…

  • Train manufacturing jobs could be at risk without TfL funding

    Khan made the comments while visiting the Siemens Mobility facility in Goole, East Yorkshire, where half of the 94 new Piccadilly Line Tube trains are due to be built. The much-needed new trains , which passengers will see on the Piccadilly Line from 2025, will improve frequency, reliability and capacity on the line, replacing the previous 1970s-built fleet. However, TfL lost a huge amount of its revenue due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw its income from ticket sales drastically reduced as passengers avoided public transport and many shifted to home working. Despite the scrapping of social distancing rules, figures from February showed that Tube passenger levels are only about 60 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, with buses reaching around 75 per cent of the pre-Covid rate. In January…

  • Royal Mint announces new recycling plant to extract gold from e-waste

    The facility will help address a growing environmental issue as well as create a new source of high-quality precious metals for the business. A study from 2020 found that Britons produce the second largest amount of e-waste per person in Europe after Norwegians. The Royal Mint’s new facility will use a new chemical process created by Canadian firm Excir to recover gold within the circuit boards of laptops and mobile phones. It is capable of recovering over 99 per cent of the precious metals contained within electronic waste – selectively targeting the metal in seconds. Construction of the plant begins this month, and it will be located within The Royal Mint’s highly secure site to provide a stream of gold directly into the business. When fully operational in 2023, the site is expected…

  • ‘Worm-on-a-chip’ used to cheaply detect lung cancer in patient samples

    It is hoped this “worm-on-a-chip” could one day help doctors diagnose cancer non-invasively at an earlier stage. Early diagnosis of cancer is critical for effective treatment, and methods that are quick, easy, economical and non-invasive are preferred. Currently, doctors diagnose lung cancer by imaging tests or biopsies, but these methods often can’t detect tumours at their earliest stages. Although dogs can be trained to sniff out human cancer, they aren’t practical to keep in labs. Nari Jang and Shin Sik Choi, researchers from Myongji University in South Korea, decided to grow worms called nematodes, which are around 1mm in length, in the lab and use their extraordinary sense of smell to develop a non-invasive cancer diagnostic test. “Lung cancer cells produce a different set of odour…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • The eccentric engineer: the strange world of Mediaeval paper computers

    One of the more delicate areas of engineering must be paper engineering – from pop-up books to origami it brings solid physical process and design into the realm of the ephemeral. But beyond delighting children and calming adults, paper engineering has a long history of guiding scientific progress, not least through a small paper device called a volvelle. The volvelle derives its name from the Latin volvere – to turn. It is a paper device of one or more moveable circles, surrounded by other graduated circles used to calculate various mathematical processes, from the rising of the sun and the state of the tide, to cryptographic code generation and standards conversions. In short, they were paper machines, which could turn the illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages into computers. Mediaeval…

  • Concrete: love it, hate it, replace it or even grow it?

    Love it or hate it? I’m one of those who love it, but dedicating this issue to concrete wasn’t my idea. It came from our technology editor, who reckoned there’s so much to say about concrete’s surprising history, problematic present and fascinating future.       Concrete is everywhere, the most obvious of human-made materials, and it’s been around since antiquity. Topping the world’s biggest companies you’ve never heard of are China’s enormous cement and concrete giants. The world’s reliance on concrete is a problem. It’s a significant contributor to greenhouse gases and this raises some interesting technical, policy and even aesthetic questions. In this issue we’ll be looking at solutions to those problems. It’s hard to find exact figures for concrete, but Statista says the world produces…

  • ExoMars mission suspended over Ukraine conflict, satellite launches also affected

    The project is a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and Russia’s Roscosmos, but the proposed launch has been put on hold for the time being. The ESA said that it was “fully aligned” with the sanctions imposed on Russia by its member states despite the impact on the scientific exploration of space. It said there was currently no chance of “carrying out the ongoing cooperation with Roscosmos” on the ExoMars rover mission which was supposed to launch at some point this year. Dr Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s director general, said activities on the project would be suspended and a study looking into other options to continue to implement the ExoMars rover mission would be fast-tracked. Following the decision by Roscosmos to withdraw its personnel from Europe’s Spaceport in…

  • Chip shortage could be alleviated with new production technique

    The technique, which creates highly uniform and scalable semiconductor wafers, could be especially useful during the ongoing chip shortage which has been squeezing manufacturers, telecommunications businesses and carmakers since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and is expected to last for several more years . Semiconductor chips are typically fabricated on silicon wafers and then diced into the small chips that are used in devices. However, the process is imperfect and not all chips from the same wafer work or operate as desired. These defective chips are discarded, lowering semiconductor yield while increasing production cost. The ability to produce uniform wafers at the desired thickness is the most important factor in ensuring that every chip fabricated on the same wafer performs correctly…

  • Methane-eating bacteria help convert greenhouse gas to fuel

    Methanotrophic bacteria consume 30 megatonnes of methane per year and researchers have paid attention to their natural ability to convert the potent greenhouse gas into usable fuel. But scientists know very little about how the complex reaction occurs, limiting the ability to use this double benefit in different applications. By studying the enzyme, the bacteria use to catalyse the reaction, a team at Northwestern University has now discovered key structures that may drive this process, which ultimately could lead to the development of human-made biological catalysts that convert methane gas into methanol. “Methane has a powerful [chemical] bond, so it’s pretty remarkable there’s an enzyme that can do this,” said Northwestern’s Amy Rosenzweig. “If we don’t understand exactly how the enzyme…

  • Back Story: Anna Gates, “I have learned so much more through real-life experiences.”

    Shini Somara: Why did you choose an engineering apprenticeship over a full-time degree course at university? Anna Gates: My school was quite keen for me to follow a traditional route towards a university degree and I did study maths, physics, and geography A Levels at school. But I was keen to take a ‘hands-on approach’ to my career, where I could learn about the practical side of engineering, while also obtaining a university degree. I researched doing a civil engineering degree, and during this process found out about degree apprenticeships, which were relatively new at the time. The more I looked into it, the more it appealed to me. I must admit that in applying for this route, I had to get rid of a huge number of stereotypes in my own head about apprenticeships. Most people think that…

  • View from India: Nano electronics will be integral to daily life

    “The state is home to about two million IT professionals and its capital city Bengaluru forms a base for over 50 per cent of India’s multinationals, along with strategic-analytic firms,” according to Champa E, general manager -IT at the Karnataka Innovation & Technology Society (KITS), part of the state government’s Department of IT, BT and S&T. “Many of them outsource services, which has given rise to several start-ups,” she said at Bengaluru India Nano 2022. “The ideas emerging from these start-ups have attracted venture capitalists (VCs) and angel investors.” There are other factors that have made Karnataka a favourable destination for start-ups. The state’s start-up policy launched in 2015, offers a roadmap for building an ecosystem, complete with incubation, go-to-market products and…

  • The measure of: HG Robotics Vetal

    The Vetal drone, developed by Thailand-​based company HG Robotics, was designed for tasks such as agricultural surveying and general surveillance, with tailored mission-control software. It features a foam-core/carbon-fibre-shell body, and its two motors are powered by a quick-swappable 12-Ah lithium-polymer battery. Image credit: , According to the company, in forward flight the drone has a top speed of 90km/h and a cruising speed of 54km/h. It can carry a payload of up to 800g, which could comprise various types of sensors and/or cameras – these can all be mounted and removed via a quick-release mechanism. Using a 4G/5G module, the Vetal can remain in contact with its operator up to a distance of 7km. As with most industrial drones, Vetal can also be remotely…

  • Concrete innovation: new ways of using a tried and tested material

    Image credit: cover images The OPod Tube Housing system, brainchild of architect James Law, is a potential solution to chronic overcrowding. The tiny tube houses, designed for one or two people, are made from repurposed concrete water pipes that weigh 20 tonnes, measure 2.5 metres in diameter, and provide a little over nine square metres of living space. Amenities include a living room with a bench that converts into a bed, a bathroom, a shower and storage space. Image credit: cover images The dark façade of this super-sleek volunteer fire station in the tiny Italian town of Margreid was made using a composite of concrete and...

  • Why social mission matters

    Be under no illusion. If you think that here is another book about modern corporate sustainability practices creaking under the weight of its own worthiness, then it’s time to think again. This is because author of ‘Business on a Mission’, Andy Last, is categorically clear on why today’s organisations need to have a social mission: “It will help you to improve the performance of your business.” Make more money? “Yes.” Last says it doesn’t matter what area of commerce you are in – though he’s happy to link his ideas to the engineering and technology space. If you want your corporation to succeed in a changing post-pandemic digital landscape, you need to be able to demonstrate that your business is fit for purpose in the modern world. “There are two megatrends that are changing the way we do…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Online Safety Bill to be laid before Parliament in internet safety drive

    The legislation aims to establish a framework for online regulation which upholds freedom of expression whilst also making the internet safe from child predators, extremists and other bad actors - a tricky balance for governments and social media companies to strike. The long-delayed Bill was finally published in draft form last May and proposes significant fines for companies which fail to deal with online abuse as well as possible criminal prosecution for executives. It will require social media platforms, search engines and other apps and websites allowing people to post their own content to protect children, tackle illegal activity and uphold their stated terms and conditions. Ofcom will be tasked with enforcing the new rules and imposing fines on firms when required to do so, either…

  • UK to provide €2.1bn to fund high-speed electric railway line in Turkey

    UK Export Finance, which supports overseas projects, said nine-figure contracts will be awarded to UK rail suppliers as a condition of UK support. It is the UK’s biggest ever sustainable, civil infrastructure deal and it will help Turkey finance major climate-friendly projects and meet its COP26 commitments. It is the first UK-supported rail transaction in Turkey for over 160 years, and forms part of Turkey’s plan to transform high-speed rail in the country. The new 503km electric-powered railway line will connect Ankara, Turkey’s capital, to the port-side city of Izmir. When complete, the new line will provide a faster, lower-carbon alternative to current air and road routes between the two cities. UK companies are expected to supply British-made railway lines, point machines, fasteners…

  • View from Brussels: EU reacts to crisis with record speed

    Ukraine’s government has wanted to integrate its power systems – both literal and figurative – with the EU’s for a number of years now. It is in fact part of the rationale behind Vladimir Putin’s unlawful and brutal invasion of Russia’s southwestern neighbour. But the meshing together of the continental electricity grid with Ukraine’s was seen as a long-term project. Regulators on both sides had a lot of work to do beforehand with testing and upgrading infrastructure that has been in place since the Soviet era. The EU in particular did not want to rush the process in case Ukraine's huge grid caused problems from the rest of the system. War changes everything though, and this week Europe’s association of network transmission operators (ENTSO-E) announced that the work was already complete…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Postcode history goes on show

    Visitors can try their hands at coding post, and an original 1950s ELSIE electronic sorting unit derived from wartime code-breaking technology will be on display, along with previously unseen 19th-century maps of London. Public use of postcodes for machine sorting was first trialled in Norwich in 1959. When the scheme was rolled out nationwide, the three-letter NOR code was replaced by two letters and a number. Image credit: Royal Mail Group, Courtesy Of The Postal Museum Visitors to the Postal Museum can take a ride on Mail Rail, the narrow-gauge underground railway that once kept the mail coursing through London for 22 hours every day. Image credit...

  • New tool could lead to more efficient ways to capture carbon

    Such carbon-capture technology, developed by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder, may help limit global warming this century to 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures and fend off the catastrophic effects of global climate change. The method predicts how strong the bond will be between carbon dioxide and the molecule that traps it, known as a binder. Experts can easily apply this electrochemical diagnosis to any molecule that is chemically inclined to bind with carbon dioxide, allowing researchers to identify suitable molecular candidates with which to capture carbon dioxide from the air. “The Holy Grail, if you will, is to inch toward being able to use binders that can grab carbon dioxide from the air [around us], not just concentrated sources,” said Oana Luca, assistant…

  • Teardown: Right to repair

    The right-to-repair movement finally began to get some traction last year. The UK introduced its law last summer, although it does not yet include consumer electronics such as smartphones, tablets and computers. France, however, did include handsets in its legislation, which came into law at the beginning of 2021. These need to carry a repairability score in stores and online, and manufacturers must commit to supplying replacement parts in a timely way. Elsewhere, right-to-repair regulation is advancing at both state and federal level in the US and Germany. In spring last year, the EU introduced regulations that require manufacturers to support repairs for a minimum of 10 years, although the thorny issue of who carries them out has been effectively devolved to how member states interpret…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • How to grow concrete and other building materials

    Concrete is the most widely used man-made material, and second only to water as the most-consumed resource on Earth. Incredibly, 7.3 billion cubic metres of concrete is poured every year, accounting for 8 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions. While greener concrete may help curb some of the environmental damage done by our favourite building material, we will probably need even more of it. After all, our growing global population, which is expected to top 9.7 billion by 2050, will need new homes and we will need efficient ways to maintain current houses and infrastructure too. Self-healing concrete is one part of the solution to this global challenge. Engineers have developed forms of it that contain capsules which release a healing agent to fix cracks when they are split open. Using this…

  • Tiny sensors designed to float in the wind like dandelion seeds

    Wireless sensors can monitor how temperature, humidity or other environmental conditions vary across large swaths of land, such as farms or forests. These tools could be used for a variety of applications, including digital agriculture and monitoring climate change. One problem, however, is that it is currently time-consuming and expensive to physically place hundreds of sensors across a large area. The Washington team developed a sensor-carrying device that can be blown by the wind as it tumbles toward the ground. This system is about 30 times as heavy as a 1mg dandelion seed but can still travel up to 100 metres in a moderate breeze from where it is released by a drone. Once on the ground, the device, which can hold at least four sensors, uses solar panels to power its onboard electronics…

  • Stackable ‘Holobricks’ used to create giant 3D displays

    The holobrick proof-of-concept can tile holograms together to form a large seamless 3D image. A 2D full HD display needs an information data rate of about three gigabits per second, but a 3D display of the same resolution would require a rate of three terabits per second, which is not yet available. “Delivering an adequate 3D experience using the current technology is a huge challenge,” said Professor Daping Chu from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering, who led the research. “Over the past ten years, we’ve been working with our industrial partners to develop holographic displays which allow the simultaneous realisation of large size and large field-of-view, which needs to be matched with a hologram with a large optical information content.” Reconstructed holographic…

  • DNA-based bio-batteries make powerful progress in lab tests

    Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) scientists are working on the bio batteries in a collaborative project with Touchlight Genetics, the Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG) from the US Department of Defense, and the University of Utah. Dstl’s synthetic biology lead Petra Oyston explained: “The current battery technology that our soldiers are using is containing a lot of energy in chemical format, and if that battery gets shot for example it’s going to explode and burst into flames. “Our bio-battery is made out of DNA, enzymes, lactate and water. If you shot it it would just go splat, so there’s a significant safety benefit.” The concept behind the batteries is to degrade a naturally occurring product such as lactate, using enzymes bound to a DNA structural scaffold. The…

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