• Keir Starmer pledges to launch publicly owned energy company

    Should Labour win the next election - as current polls suggest - the party will create a publicly owned energy company within its first year in office, Sir Keir Starmer has announced at the party’s annual conference in Liverpool.  The company would be named Great British Energy, and it would be modelled after France's EDF and other firms owned by foreign states operating in the UK, with the goal of taking "advantage of opportunities in clean British power", Starmer said.  The role of GB Energy will be to provide additional capacity alongside the private sector, to establish the UK as a clean energy superpower and guarantee long-term energy security, the Labour leader said.  It was “right for jobs, right for growth and right for energy independence from tyrants like Putin”, Sir Keir said…

  • Sponsored: Printing the impossible

    3D printing has taken an evolutionary step forward, enabling manufacturers to produce stronger, lighter and more accurate composite parts, resulting in a broader selection of manufacturing materials and greater design freedom. This whitepaper will explore how composite-based additive manufacturing (CBAM) works, and how it differs from current 3D printing. It will also look at the advantages and possible issues with CBAM, as well as its potential to replace metal parts and step up FDM and 3D composite printing market disruption. Moving from conventional 3D printing to CBAM technology can help manufacturers to: Expand design possibilities, improve manufacturing speed and reduce cost Produce parts in a more sustainable way Diversify into new markets Download free white paper

  • Bishop bashes Kwarteng’s mini-budget for being ‘reckless with nature’

    The Right Reverend Graham Usher, the Bishop of Norwich, shared a lengthy Twitter thread – also retweeted by the National Trust – in which the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) strongly criticised the government’s proposed 38 'investment zones' in a 13-tweet response. ️ Make no mistake, we are angry. This Government has today launched an attack on nature. We don’t use the words that follow lightly. We are entering uncharted territory. Please read this thread. 1/13 pic.twitter.com/NAPfIjLZKA — RSPB England (@RSPBEngland) September 23, 2022 The government's investment zones are areas identified in England where planning rules will be loosened in order to release more land for commercial and housing developments. Rev. Usher said Kwasi Kwarteng’s plans showed “a real…

  • Smart helmets could help firefighters locate blaze victims

    Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have developed a technology that could help firefighters more quickly map their surroundings, navigate hazardous environments and get people to safety, which will  be showcased as part of the official opening of the National Robotarium on Wednesday. The device uses artificial intelligence (AI) to combine data from thermal-imaging cameras, radar and other sensors mounted on standard-issue fire helmets, giving firefighters real-time information from fire scenes. The entire sensor rig weighs less than one kilogram and uses affordable, off-the-shelf parts that are easy to fit onto standard-issue fire helmets. It is hoped the technology could help emergency services more safely navigate dangerous or low-visibility conditions and reduce the time it takes…

  • How digital infrastructures are reshaping the future of dementia care

    This September marks the eleventh edition of the increasingly growing global awareness campaign, World Alzheimer’s Month . Every year, people from around the world come together to cast a spotlight on dementia and challenge the stigma attached to the condition. According to the National Health Service, it is estimated that around 676,000 people in England are affected by dementia . Across the UK, the number is estimated to be about 850,000, and predicted to rise exponentially to 1.6 million by 2024. With approximately 70 per cent of care home residents living with dementia, care providers are continuously searching for new ways to streamline processes and improve quality of care, reducing workloads, giving carers more time to spend with their residents and delivering better overall outcomes…

  • AI to replace James Earl Jones as the voice of Darth Vader

    The actor behind the voice of Star Wars villain Darth Vader has granted Disney permission to recreate his voice artificially for future productions of the franchise.  James Earl Jones's famous, ominous tones are likely to be replicated by an AI voice-modelling tool called Respeecher, which trains text-to-speech machine-learning models with licensed and released recordings of actors.  James Earl Jones first voiced Darth Vader in the original 1977  Star Wars movie and went on to reprise the role in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He continued voicing the iconic character in later films, including the first instalment of the Star Wars anthology series, Rogue One, and the third instalment of the sequel trilogy, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.  Now, however, Star Wars sound…

  • Battery-free camera designed to photograph the ocean’s deepest depths

    The device is capable of taking colour photos, even in dark underwater environments, and transmits image data wirelessly through the water. An estimated 95 per cent of the Earth’s oceans have never been observed, which means less of our planet’s oceans has been seen than the far side of the moon or the surface of Mars. The high cost of powering an underwater camera for a long time, by tethering it to a research vessel or sending a ship to recharge its batteries, is a steep challenge preventing widespread undersea exploration. The autonomous camera is powered by sound. It converts mechanical energy from sound waves traveling through water into electrical energy that powers its imaging and communications equipment. After capturing and encoding image data, the camera also uses sound waves…

  • Nasa crashes spacecraft into asteroid in planetary defence test

    DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) was launched in November 2021  with plans to reach an asteroid known as Dimorphos which is not considered a threat to Earth. Nasa wanted to find out whether intentionally crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid is an effective way to change its course, should an Earth-threatening asteroid be discovered in the future. Nasa said that DART’s impact with Dimorphos demonstrated a viable mitigation technique for protecting the Earth. “At its core, DART represents an unprecedented success for planetary defence, but it is also a mission of unity with a real benefit for all humanity,” said Nasa administrator Bill Nelson. “As Nasa studies the cosmos and our home planet, we’re also working to protect that home and this international collaboration turned science…

  • Backpack to the future as the IET unveils biodegradable school bag

    The survey of 1,000 5 to 13-year-olds - conducted by 3Gem on behalf of the IET - asked the Generation Alpha (Gen A) children to predict the kind of clothes people would be wearing in the future, with the integration of technology coming across as a clear theme throughout the responses. The IET is now launching a competition to inspire Gen A fashionistas and spark excitement about how STEM can help make their fashion predictions come true. Over the next 40 years, one-third of the children surveyed predicted that we’ll see flying shoes (35 per cent) and clothes that teleport you to different places (33 per cent) on our shop shelves. Six in ten children (60 per cent) believe that we’ll be able to buy a hat that allows you to play video games with your mind, while just over one-third (37 per…

  • Chambers of Commerce give support to Forth Green Freeport project

    Three chambers of commerce, which represent nearly 1,500 international and Scottish businesses, have declared their support for a green freeport in the Firth of Forth. The leaders of the three chambers have written joint letters to the UK and Scottish governments, describing the bid as Scotland’s best opportunity to deliver a just transition to net zero, attract £6bn of inward investment and build significant international trade and export capability. Freeports are special areas within the UK’s borders where different economic regulations apply and are centred around one or more air, rail, or seaport, but often extend beyond it too. “By 2030, the ScotWind revolution has the potential to create up to £30bn in additional investment and revenue from the North Sea," said Alan Mitchell, chief…

  • Sponsored: The new generation of intelligent MV switchgear

    A new generation of IIoT-enabled equipment has now come to medium voltage switchgear – incorporating far more sensing and connectivity and delivering new levels of value and reliability to owner-operators including remote operation, longer maintenance cycles, and reduced size. You will learn: How SureSeT’s digital and remote operation capabilities reduce risk & help increase operation time. The benefits of intelligent switchgear. The benefits of working with equipment that is reduced in size to increase efficiency & reduce costs. Download free whitepaper

  • Ofgem says energy suppliers are failing to support customers in need

    The UK is currently facing a cost-of-living crisis, with inflation hitting historic levels. The rising prices of energy bills – prompted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine – could leave as many as 40 per cent of British families facing fuel poverty in the winter. In its Market Compliance Review, Ofgem found that all bar one of the gas and electricity suppliers assessed had issues in the support they provide. The regulator has asked those identified to submit information setting out how they will improve. Key findings include companies being unable to identify customers in payment difficulty and a lack of help given to those requiring crucial payment plans. The deep dive found that, although good practice exists across the industry, with one supplier, British Gas, having no issues, most…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • King aims to reduce environmental impact of new stamps and banknotes

    The Royal Mail and Bank of England said they have received guidance from King Charles’s royal household aimed at minimising cost and ensuring a sustainable transition when changing the UK's banknotes and stamps to bear the King's image. Updated banknotes bearing the portrait of the King will be revealed by the end of the year, the Bank of England has said. The notes are expected to enter circulation by mid-2024 with the new portrait appearing on existing designs of the £5, £10, £20 and £50 banknotes. The Royal Mail also confirmed the King’s image will replace the Queen on new 1st and 2nd Class definitive stamps, as well as all those of other values. Issues of special stamps will also feature a silhouette of King Charles. “In line with guidance from the Royal Household, to minimise the…

  • Book review: ‘All the Knowledge in the World’ by Simon Garfield

    Guess what my first major purchase in the West was, shortly after fleeing from the USSR in the 1980s and settling in Australia? Not a second-hand jalopy, a three-piece suit, or a clunky word processor. I bought – from a glib Polish salesman - the latest edition of Encyclopaedia Britannica. The bulky leather-bound volumes – all 28 of them – arrived shortly afterwards in the back of a van. They could hardly fit in our small Melbourne flat, but I was in seventh heaven. The very mass of my purchase appeared sufficient to ram through the wall of the information hunger I had been experiencing all my life in the Soviet Union, where even general knowledge publications like encyclopaedias, directories and dictionaries were heavily politicised and strictly censored. I recall my mother telling me…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Why digital empires are here to stay

    Amazon once again beat analysts’ revenue forecasts as it announced its latest quarterly results. Over $600bn-worth of goods passed through its online market last year - more than most countries’ entire gross domestic product. It collected far more money in marketplace and logistics infrastructure fees than most governments earn as taxes. Apple, Google, and Microsoft likewise further entrenched their positions. How did we end up here? According to internet visionaries and Silicon Valley technologists, the internet was supposed to free us from powerful institutions. It was supposed to cut out the middlemen and overcome the gatekeepers - to make states obsolete and supersede gigantic corporations. This is what we were promised. And for a while, publishers celebrated how Amazon freed them from…

  • Robot clothes could help children with cerebral palsy move

    Enabled by a $1.5m grant from the US National Science Foundation, the UC Riverside scientists are looking at novel approaches to clothing, which will also facilitate more natural limb functioning for children with conditions such as cerebral palsy.  Cerebral palsy is the most common cause of serious physical disability in childhood. However, the robots that have traditionally been designed to help patients are rigid and not comfortable to wear. In contrast, the devices envisioned for this project are meant to offer long-term daily assistance for those living with this condition, to improve their quality of life.  "Hard materials don't interact well with humans," said Jonathan Realmuto, UCR assistant professor of mechanical engineering and project lead. "What we're going for by using materials…

  • Tackling the hidden risk from building with wood

    The UK saw record temperatures this summer, causing widespread wildfires and droughts. This extreme weather could become a regular seasonal occurrence, affecting us all in years to come. Alongside the looming threat from fire, to make matters worse the fire retardants we use to protect building materials often contain dangerous toxic chemicals. Pollution from fire retardants is a major safety risk that cannot be ignored. Construction professionals must be made aware of the dangers to help protect lives and limit the environmental impacts of these harmful chemicals. This means ensuring only the safest, most sustainable options are specified for projects. Toxic pollution is a particularly pertinent issue in timber construction, where fire retardants are commonly used to protect wood. While…

  • View from Brussels: EU teases useful train tickets

    Train travel is becoming more popular. At the very least, people are hoping it will become more popular so that they can leave the car at home – or not have to buy one in the first place – or forgo the stressful trip to the airport. Some train companies are starting to read the room and upgrade their travel offer accordingly. Austrian railways recently unveiled the next generation of sleeper trains it is going to operate, complete with wireless charging and single-use pods for shy millennials. But a true rail renaissance that displaces unnecessary short-haul flights and removes vehicles from already clogged roads is undermined by a number of issues. One of those is ticketing. National rail companies all have their own way of selling tickets and most are not interoperable with one another…

  • Crashing pound falls to US dollar all-time low, squeezing beer and mortgages

    Sterling has hit its lowest level against the dollar since decimalisation in 1971, falling by more than 4 per cent to just 1.03 dollars in early Asia trading before it regained some ground to about 1.07 dollars earlier today (Monday, 26 September). The euro also hit a fresh 20-year low against the dollar amid recession and energy-security fears ahead of what is expected to be a painful winter across Europe, with the war in Ukraine showing no sign of ending. Experts warned that the pound’s plunge towards parity with the dollar will send the cost of goods soaring even higher, potentially worsening the cost-of-living crisis. The pound's fall also means it will be more expensive for the government to borrow money - just when it has decided to borrow billions more. Shadow chancellor Rachel…

  • Energy boss asks Ofgem to help drive down standing charges in energy bills

    Ofgem should help drive down standing charges for energy bill payers around Britain, the head of one of the country’s largest suppliers has said, after announcing that his popular Octopus Energy firm would knock 4 per cent off the standing charge for customers whose bills are regulated by the energy price cap. “Customers really do want to see standing charges come down, and I think Octopus can take a lead on it. I just hope that Ofgem follows,” Jackson told the PA news agency. Asked if other suppliers should follow suit, he said: “If you’re Costa Coffee, I don’t know whether you’d call on Starbucks to do what you do. Other suppliers can do what they like. “I think what’s important here is that Ofgem should start moving costs out of the standing charge and they should do so with a sense…

  • Cost of charging electric vehicles rises by 42 per cent in latest figures

    Electric car owners in the UK have suffered a 42 per cent hike in the cost of using public rapid chargepoints in just four months, according to new figures published by RAC.  The figures show a driver exclusively using rapid or ultra-rapid public chargers currently pays around 18p per mile for electricity, compared with roughly 19p per mile for petrol and 21p per mile for diesel. This rise – caused by the soaring wholesale costs of gas and electricity – has made it nearly £10 more expensive to rapid-charge a typical family-sized electric car to 80 per cent. “It remains the case that charging away from home costs less than refuelling a petrol or diesel car, but these figures show that the gap is narrowing as a result of the enormous increases in the cost of electricity," said RAC spokesman…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • TikTok facing £27m fine for ‘failing to protect children’s privacy’

    The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has issued the social media company with a notice of intent – a legal document that precedes a potential fine. The document sets out that between May 2018 and July 2020, TikTok may have processed the data of children under the age of 13 without appropriate parental consent; failed to provide proper information to its users in a concise, transparent and easily understood way; and processed 'special category' data without legal grounds to do so. Information Commissioner John Edwards said: “We all want children to be able to learn and experience the digital world, but with proper data privacy protections. Companies providing digital services have a legal duty to put those protections in place, but our provisional view is that TikTok fell short of…

  • Sponsored: Keysight World, innovate to spotlight emerging technologies and trends

    Register Today “Every day, technological advancements are reshaping the human experience - from how we live and work, to how we move through the world. There is no doubt that the rapid pace of technology innovation is only going to accelerate and present new challenges and opportunities for all of us,” stated Jeff Harris, vice president of Portfolio and Global Marketing at Keysight Technologies. “At Keysight World: Innovate, industry leaders, experts, and even a ‘mad scientist’ or two, will share their expertise and predictions to give technology leaders, engineers and innovators a head start on near-term and future developments in technology innovation.” Each day of Keysight World: Innovate will feature an industry expert keynote on near-term trends, a moderated panel discussion on key…

  • Marine trials for hydrogen fuel cell made with PCB technology

    Bramble Energy’s PCB Fuel Cell is designed to provide a zero-emission alternative for diesel-powered vehicles and portable generators that can be made up by printed circuit board factories around the world to save costs and time to market. Trials of the innovative fuel cell on a remotely controlled robot boat, which are believed to be a world first, are due to start in the coming months in partnership with Sea-Kit International, a leading manufacturer of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). The £1.37m project won £964,000 in funding from the Department for Transport through the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition in September last year [2021] but was delayed due to global supply-chain issues. Sea-Kit USVs have a dual diesel-electric hybrid drive, which is propelled by an electric motor…

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