• Robot chef is able to ‘taste’ food to make recipe improvements

    They believe the results could be useful in the development of automated or semi-automated food preparation by helping robots to learn what tastes good and what doesn’t. The robot chef, which has already been trained to make omelettes based on human tasters’ feedback, tasted nine different variations of a simple dish of scrambled eggs and tomatoes at three different stages of the chewing process, and produced ‘taste maps’ of the different dishes. The researchers found that this ‘taste as you go’ approach significantly improved the robot’s ability to quickly and accurately assess the saltiness of the dish over other electronic tasting technologies, which only test a single homogenised sample. “Most home cooks will be familiar with the concept of tasting as you go – checking a dish throughout…

  • Does space travel lead to blood clots? Nasa gives the answer

    Are astronauts more likely to develop blood clots? That’s the question Nasa is trying to answer alongside UNC School of Medicine’s Professor Stephan Moll MD. A new publication in Vascular Medicine shows the results of an occupational surveillance programme that took place after an astronaut developed a blood clot during a mission to the International Space Station (ISS).  This was the first time a blood clot had been found in an astronaut in space, so there was no established method of treatment for deep vein thrombosis ( DVT) in zero gravity. Therefore, Nasa called upon Moll, a member of the UNC Blood Research Center, for his knowledge and treatment experience of DVT on Earth. "Knowing there are no emergency rooms in space, we had to weigh our options very carefully,” Moll said. In…

  • US to place ‘seismic’ human rights-related sanctions on China’s Hikvision

    The Biden administration is considering placing human rights-related sanctions on the Chinese company and has begun briefing its allies, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing four people familiar with the matter. The world’s largest manufacturer of surveillance equipment has been accused of enabling human rights abuses. Hikvision reportedly supplied the Chinese government with surveillance cameras that facilitate the repression of one million Uyghurs who have been detained in camps in the north-western region of Xinjiang. Both the Trump and Biden administrations have accused Beijing of committing “genocide”, although China has consistently denied the accusations. If the decision to sanction were taken, it would amount to the first time the US has imposed such sanctions on…

  • Wi-Fi, coming to a lamppost near you!

    The researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) found that the optimal height of installation depends on transmission frequency and antenna design. Attaching equipment at lower heights of around 4m is better for traditional wireless systems with omnidirectional antennas, the team said, whereas higher locations 6-9m up are better for the latest systems such as 5G using higher, millimetre-wave frequencies and narrow-beam antennas. An international group, the Telecom Infra Project, is promoting the idea of making Wi-Fi available over the unlicensed 60GHz frequency band by installing access points on lampposts. A technical challenge, however, is that signals in this band, which are higher than traditional cellphone frequencies, are sparse and tend to scatter off…

  • Meta opens access to its massive AI language model

    Facebook-owner Meta Platforms Inc is opening up access to its massive language model for artificial intelligence (AI)   research. 'Large language models' are natural language processing systems that are trained on massive volumes of text, and are capable of both understanding and generating texts. With 175 billion parameters, Meta’s Open Pretrained Transformer (OPT-175B) was designed to share both the groundbreaking abilities and potential flaws of OpenAI’s pioneering neural network GPT-3.  By giving researchers free access to the model, as well as data about its training, Meta hopes to drive AI research forward, as well as reduce the ethical risks that come with these technologies. “We strongly believe that the ability for others to scrutinise your work is an important part of research…

  • Rail funding cuts increase risk of major accidents on the network, TUC says

    Network Rail plans to cut annual expenditure by £100m, mainly through the loss of 2,500 rail maintenance jobs. A previously unpublished analysis of Network Rail data by the RMT union found that this could lead to 670,000 fewer hours of maintenance work annually. The cuts come after a Spending Review from the Chancellor at the end of 2020 that saw Network Rail’s budget cut by £1bn for the 2019-2024 period, down nearly 10 per cent on the £10.4bn for the previous five-year period. In its latest report, the TUC said it was impossible to make those cuts without losing many safety-critical jobs. Network Rail responsibilities include track maintenance and maintaining signals to ensure trains are on time and prevent collisions as well as ensuring a consistent electricity supply to the network…

  • London’s Elizabeth Line will finally launch later this month after years of delays

    Passengers will be able to travel on the new line from 24 May 2022 and will see improved transport links from Abbey Wood in the south-east, Shenfield in the north-east and extending to Reading in the west. The Elizabeth Line should also help to cut journey times and provide additional capacity on London’s tube network. It will initially operate as three separate railways, with services from Reading, Heathrow and Shenfield connecting with the central tunnels from autumn this year. In the coming weeks, signage for the line will be uncovered across the network in preparation for the start of customer service. The updated Tube and Rail map will also be released later showing the new central section stations connected with the rest of the TfL network for the first time. …

  • Ofqual to explore online testing for exams

    According to the regulator Ofqual, the move – set to take place over the next three years – could be the first step on the path towards online GCSEs and A-levels. It said it will explore novel approaches to assessment, including the use of technology, and will work with exam boards to “explore the role of adaptive testing”, where digital exams automatically adjust to suit a candidate’s ability level. Ofqual added it will “remove regulatory barriers where innovation promotes valid and efficient assessment”. It plans to oversee the reintroduction of full public exams in 2022 while being “ready to implement contingency arrangements if needed”. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, welcomed the move away from “Fort Knox-style security arrangements…

  • Centre for innovation in XR technology opens in Portsmouth

    The CCIXR is the UK’s first purpose-built facility to bring together a whole suite of the very latest 'eXtended Reality' (XR) technologies under one roof to support innovation in virtual, augmented and extended realities. The centre will offer cutting-edge XR training, research and development, with the aim of addressing a critical skills shortage in these areas of industry and supporting the creation of high-value jobs regionally, nationally and beyond. CCIXR will also work with businesses and organisations to improve understanding of, and widen access to, XR and its potential across a wide range of applications, from simulators, training tools and immersive visitor attractions, to the metaverse and art and performance. CCIXR experts have already worked with organisations including the…

  • ‘Double masking’ has little effect; it’s the fit that matters

    US health authorities already recommend people wear N95 and KN95 masks, as they offer the most protection against the disease, while loosely woven cloth masks have been found to offer the least protection. But researchers at Florida State University (FSU) said there is still not a full understanding of mask characteristics for the most optimal protection, over two years since the pandemic began. They used a technique called principal component analysis (PCA) along with fluid dynamics simulation models to show the importance of proper fit for all types of masks and how face shape influences the ideal fit. More layers mean a less porous face covering, leading to more flow forced out of the perimeter gaps (sides, top, and bottom) in masks with a less secure fit. While double layers do increase…

  • Water-containing electrolyte might transform battery production

    Researchers working on battery development have typically seen water as the enemy. It had previously been thought that lithium-ion batteries generally needed to be produced under extremely dry conditions in order for them to hold large amounts of charge.  Now, a research team at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory has developed a new battery electrolyte that can hold a thousand times more water than conventional electrolytes, according to Argonne senior battery chemist Zhengcheng 'John' Zhang. “We’ve always thought that water was going to cause major problems for a lithium-ion battery," he said. "However, it turns out that our formulation can hold dramatically more than previously known, which could help reduce costs in battery fabrication.” In a battery, ions…

  • UK set to shelve plans to empower new technology regulator

    The government's new legislative programme is not expected to include a bill to provide statutory underpinning to the Digital Markets Unit that is based within the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the Financial Times has reported. The decision is a serious blow to global efforts to curb the dominance of internet companies, including Google and Meta, and poses a sharp contrast with the policy of the European Union, which is moving towards enforcing stricter controls on technology giants to prevent them from using their dominance to push out smaller firms and disadvantage consumers. The government announced its plans to set up the Digital Markets Unit (DMU) in 2020, a year after the CMA began a probe into the influence of US technology platforms and how they collected and used personal…

  • Helicopter catches and drops falling rocket mid-air in reusability test

    The feat, which is designed to demonstrate the reusability of its rockets, took place following a mission that saw the deployment of 34 satellites in orbit After launching to space, the Electron rocket’s first stage was returned to Earth under a parachute during which it was captured by a helicopter using a hook on a long line to snag the parachute line. However, after the catch, the helicopter pilot detected different load characteristics from those previously experienced, and dropped the rocket for safety reasons. The stage is now being loaded onto Rocket Lab’s recovery vessel for transport back to the company’s production complex for analysis and assessment for re-flight as planned. The firm’s technology is competing with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which has also created reusable rockets…

  • Majority of UK manufacturers increasing net-zero efforts, survey reveals

    Around 90 per cent of manufacturers are planning further action on net zero as activity ramps up, with 35 per cent of businesses already subscribing to a fully formed net-zero strategy. A further 14 per cent have set their strategy but not yet set it in motion, the survey found, while 11 per cent do not have a net-zero strategy and have no plans to introduce one. “Britain’s manufacturers have shown that they are at the forefront of global innovation and have already gone a long way to improve their processes and production in the quest to reach net zero,” MakeUK said in its report. “It came as no surprise that progress is dependent on issues that we continually campaign upon. A lack of skills was cited as a barrier to change, with some 40 per cent of companies stating they did not have…

  • EU moves forward in antitrust case against Apple

    The 27-nation bloc’s executive arm, the European Commission, has been investigating Apple since 2020. The commission’s preliminary view is that the firm is restricting competition by preventing mobile wallet app developers from accessing the necessary hardware and software on Apple devices. Mobile wallets rely on near-field communication (NFC), which uses a chip in the mobile device to wirelessly communicate with a merchant’s payment terminal. The commission said Apple Pay is by far the largest NFC-based mobile wallet on the market, and the only mobile wallet solution that may access the necessary NFC input on iOS, and accused the company of refusing others access to the popular technology. The commission blamed Apple for not making it available to third-party app developers. “Apple has…

  • EU embraces data to reduce unnecessary medical tests

    Currently, EU patients spend €1.4bn (about £1.2bn) every year on unnecessary medical images alone.  To address this issue, the European Commission has outlined a plan to make health data easier to access for patients, medics, regulators and researchers. The new European health data space is expected to improve the efficiency of existing healthcare services as well as boost medical research , according to an EU document obtained by Reuters. An estimated one in 10 X-rays or ultrasound tests taken by EU patients are actually duplications of existing valid images. This proliferation of unneeded tests is caused by data silos as well as strict restrictions regulating the accessibility of patients' data, to the point of keeping patients from being able to access their own records.  Widening…

  • View from India: India prepares to be key hub for semiconductors

    The pandemic is a reminder of Albert Einstein’s words, “In the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity.” It’s a known fact that the chip shortage during the pandemic has dampened the spirits of the electronics and automotive industries, among other verticals. It didn’t take long for the government to fast-track measures to uplift the economy. The Indian manufacturing sector is getting a push through Production Linked Incentives (PLI) schemes that offer incentives of over $26bn in 14 key sectors. Over the next five years, the electronics manufacturing sector is expected to see record growth. As reported in the media, the country’s 4G mobile network will start to roll out within a week. The Government-owned service provider BSNL has finalised 2,443 sites for rolling out the service, which…

  • UK to subsidise electricity costs for high energy firms

    The Energy Intensive Industries (EII) compensation scheme began rolling out in 2017 as a way to keep high-energy businesses in the UK competitive while the economy transitions to net zero. The scheme will now be extended for a further three years and have its budget more than doubled following months of rising energy prices. The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy said it could also encourage greater electrification in some businesses which will ultimately be needed to meet net zero goals. Today’s announcement will see the scheme’s budget expanded by more than £2bn. Industry minister Lee Rowley said: “We want to keep the UK at the forefront of manufacturing, helping our energy-intensive industries remain competitive and sustainable for the long term, and continuing to…

  • AI tool can see into the brain of moving mice

    A new AI system makes it possible to find precisely where and when mouse brain cells are activated during movement, learning and memory. The data gathered from these experiments, conducted at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, could someday allow scientists to understand how the human brain functions and is affected by diseases. An article published in Nature Communications explains how the researchers were able to develop this new algorithm. “When a mouse’s head is restrained for imaging, its brain activity may not truly represent its neurological function,” said Dr Xingde Li, leader of the research group. “To map brain circuits that control daily functions in mammals, we need to see precisely what is happening among individual brain cells and their connections, while the animal…

  • Scientists uncover the mystery of fast magnetic explosions

    In just minutes, a flare on the Sun can release enough energy to power the whole world for 20,000 years. An explosive process called magnetic reconnection triggers these solar flares. However, scientists have struggled for over 60 years to understand how this happens. Now, a research team within Nasa’s Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) think they’ve figured it out. The MMS team has developed a theory that explains how the most explosive type of magnetic reconnection – called fast reconnection – occurs. The new theory uses a common magnetic effect present in household devices, such as sensors that time vehicle anti-lock braking systems and know when a cell phone flip cover is closed. “We finally understand what makes this type of magnetic reconnection so fast,” said lead researcher…

  • BP and VW announce roll-out of EV fast-charging network across Europe

    The plan will use VW’s 150kW Flexpole charging units, which each feature two charge points and have an integrated battery storage system. The battery allows the fast chargers to quickly top up EVs without the need for a high-powered grid connection. As the Flexpole units can be directly connected to a low-voltage grid, they do not require a dedicated substation, which comes with costly construction work and lengthy installation times. BP said they were capable of delivering enough energy in as little as 10 minutes to drive up to 160km, depending on the model of electric vehicle. The first phase of the roll-out will see up to an additional 4,000 charge points at BP’s Aral retail sites in Germany and BP retail sites in the UK over the next 24 months. By the end 2024, up to 8,000 charge…

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  • James Webb Space Telescope in full focus after completing alignment

    Initial tests of the Telescope’s instruments showed it is capable of capturing crisp, well-focused images with each of its four onboard science instruments. It is now ready to move forward into its next and final series of preparations, known as science instrument commissioning. This process will take about two months and will allow scientific operations to begin. “These remarkable test images from a successfully aligned telescope demonstrate what people across countries and continents can achieve when there is a bold scientific vision to explore the universe,” said Lee Feinberg, Webb optical telescope element manager at Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The engineering team said the optical performance of the telescope is superior to its most optimistic predictions. The image quality…

  • Railway engineering works threaten bank holiday getaways

    TransPennine Express (TPE), which operates across northern England and into Scotland, urged passengers not to travel on Saturday or Sunday due to a walkout by conductors who are members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union. TPE has said it will only run “a very small number of services” on those days. The industrial action is part of a long-running dispute over pay and rosters. The RMT has said the strike aims to achieve “pay justice for hard-working staff”. TPE customer experience director Kathryn O’Brien said: “With further action by RMT taking place this weekend, we are urging customers once again to avoid travel on our services and travel either side of the weekend instead. “We are saddened and disappointed that this disruption will mean we are unable to get our customers…

  • How Malawi is using drones to detect malaria hotspots

    Africa is turning to drone technology to fill in the gaps in often overburdened and under-resourced healthcare systems, starting with drones. In Kasungu (Malawi), researchers at the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust (MLW) are using drone footage and GPS coordinates of water bodies rich in mosquito larvae to pinpoint malaria hotspots, sample the water and suggest ways to control the spread of the disease. Modifying larval habitat, also known as larval source management (LSM), is one of the most effective methods of disease control. However, this approach is often considered impractical, due to the perceived difficulties in identifying target areas. High-resolution drone-mapping could be the solution to this challenge. The MLW research team programmed drones to monitor mosquito breeding grounds…

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