• Remote air-quality sensors identify the most polluting vehicles for repair

    Vehicle emissions are the most significant source of air pollution in the urban environment worldwide, impacting the climate and the health of millions of people. A recent study found that improving air quality can slow cognitive decline and reduce the risk of developing dementia in adults while another showed that the number of people in the US suffering from heart attacks fell during the Covid-19 lockdowns , as air quality improved due to lower traffic. Reducing air pollution is also a key target of the United Nations sustainable development goals. “Car exhaust fumes contain poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter that cause lung cancer, heart failure, asthma and other diseases,” said co-author of the new study, Professor John Zhou from the University…

  • Five-second record set for preservation of quantum states

    Quantum science holds promise for many technological applications, such as building hacker-proof communication networks or quantum computers that could accelerate new drug discovery. These applications require a quantum version of a computer bit, known as a qubit, that stores quantum information. However, researchers are still grappling with how to easily read the information held in these qubits and struggle with the short memory time, or coherence, of qubits, which is usually limited to microseconds or milliseconds. The DoE/UoC research team was able to read out their qubit on-demand and then keep the quantum state intact for over five seconds – a new record for this class of devices. Additionally, the researchers’ qubits are made from an easy-to-use material called silicon carbide, which…

  • ‘Metamaterial’ created capable of absorbing and unleashing vast untapped energy

    A team of researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst has engineered a new rubber-like solid substance with surprising qualities: it can absorb and release very large quantities of energy and it is programmable. The new material holds great promise for a wide array of applications, from enabling robots to have more power without using additional energy to new helmets and protective materials that can dissipate energy much more quickly. Alfred Crosby, professor of polymer science and engineering at UMass Amherst, and the paper’s senior author, said: “Imagine a rubber band. You pull it back and when you let it go, it flies across the room. Now imagine a super rubber band. When you stretch it past a certain point, you activate extra energy stored in the material. When you let…

  • Simulation of radioactive debris to aid clean-up at Fukushima site

    Despite an 11-year-long clean-up operation at the site in Japan, the mixture of nuclear fuel and debris inside the three damaged reactors remains in place and is currently too dangerous to be dealt with. To tackle this, a University of Sheffield team has worked with the Japanese authorities to develop a material that simulates the highly radioactive mixture at the centre of the plant. They hope this will help crack the method for the ultimate disposal of the ultra-dangerous debris. South Yorkshire residents will be reassured that there is no similarly dangerous stock of simulated debris sitting in a laboratory somewhere in Sheffield as the project has involved replacing the most dangerous elements, including plutonium, with non-radioactive substitutes which replicate their properties. …

  • Tax relief key to unlocking green investment and zero-carbon manufacturing

    The UK government’s 'Industrial Decarbonisation and Net Zero Strategies' set out a roadmap to net zero by 2050, including the commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heavy industry by 78 per cent in 2035 compared to 1990 levels. The commitment in law to these decarbonisation goals requires every policy lever to be pulled. Supporting the manufacturing sector as it tackles the net zero challenge is an important lever as it currently counts for 15 per cent of UK’s emissions. The report - ' Delivering Net Zero Through Digital ' - says that existing tools can be better targeted to help businesses embed net zero practices. The government should use Capital Allowances in their various forms to ensure businesses are investing in green technologies. The super-deduction, R&D tax credits…

  • Insect-sized flying robots operate without motors and gears

    The drive uses a method known as electromechanical zipping that does away with the need for conventional motors and gears. The researchers believe it could pave the way for smaller, lighter and more effective micro-flying robots for environmental monitoring, search and rescue, and deployment in hazardous environments. Typical micro-flying robots use motors, gears and other complex transmission systems to achieve the up-and-down motion of the wings which adds complexity, weight and potentially undesired dynamic effects. Taking inspiration from bees and other flying insects, the researchers demonstrated a direct-drive artificial muscle system, called the 'Liquid-amplified Zipping Actuator' (LAZA), which achieves wing motion using no rotating parts or gears. Image credit…

  • Public transport and 5G broadband improvements touted in ‘levelling up’ plan

    Levelling up secretary Michael Gove unveiled the plans as part of the government’s flagship Levelling Up White Paper, which documents the plan to transform some parts of the UK that have fallen behind economically. The plans will see the country’s local public transport systems “becoming much closer to London standards” and enable a “large majority of the country” to gain access to 5G broadband. The 2019 Conservative manifesto promised the installation of full-fibre, gigabit-capable broadband in every home and business across the UK by 2025. This pledge was later downgraded to just 85 per cent of premises in the UK, although this 5G expansion could help to fill some of the remaining gaps. The White Paper also outlined plans to boost domestic R&D investment outside the South East by at…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • AI traffic lights promise to reduce commuter jams

    The Fraunhofer Institute researchers have received funding from the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure for a project that could eventually improve traffic flow. Conventional traffic lights use rule-based controls, but this rigid approach does not work for all traffic situations. In addition, the sensors currently in use such as induction loop technology embedded in the road surface provide only a rough impression of the actual traffic situation. Instead of conventional sensors, the researchers used high-resolution cameras and radar sensors to more precisely capture the actual traffic situation. This allows the number of vehicles waiting at a junction to be determined accurately in real time. The technology also detects the average speed of the cars and the…

  • Windfall tax on energy firms wins support from MPs but government resists

    Labour has said that scrapping VAT from energy bills for one year, while increasing the 'Warm Homes' discount to 9.3 million people, would alleviate the anticipated extra costs imminent for the poorest people. The average household would pay £200 less on their bills if the government adopted Labour’s plans, the party said. Labour’s motion for a new tax on the profits of North Sea producers to fund a support package for families and business was approved in the Commons last night by 192 votes to zero, majority 192. However, Conservative MPs abstained and the government is not compelled to act by the result given that the motion is non-binding. The division list showed five DUP MPs, the Green Party’s Caroline Lucas (Brighton Pavilion) and Alliance’s Stephen Farry (North Down) were among…

  • UK announces £1.4bn strategy to boost defence presence in space

    Defence secretary Ben Wallace said it was “crucial” that Britain pushes the “frontiers of our defence space ambitions” in a bid to stay “one step ahead of our competitors”. As part of the public investment, £968m will be committed over the next 10 years to deliver a multi-satellite system – known as the Istari programme – to support greater global surveillance and intelligence for military operations, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced yesterday. A further £61m will explore cutting-edge laser communications technology to deliver data from space to Earth at a speed equivalent to superfast broadband. The defence space strategy follows on the back of the UK's national space strategy , which was published in September. The MoD’s document outlines how it plans to protect the UK’s national…

  • VAT policy on public electric car charging is ‘unfair’, says campaign group

    Currently, VAT on domestic electricity is 5 per cent, whereas motorists using on-street chargers must pay 20 per cent. But new campaign group FairCharge – which aims to remove barriers to the transition to electric cars – described the policy as “unfair”. The group is being led by automotive journalist and former 'Top Gear' presenter Quentin Wilson, who co-founded fuel price lobby group FairFuelUK in 2010. He said owning an EV must be “affordable and practical for hard-pressed families and businesses”, but some government decisions “have done nothing to help expand EV use beyond the wealthy”. Wilson added if the UK were to increase EV uptake, then we would need to have far-sighted fair government policies that make EVs appealing to everyone. Not only is the policy unfair for those…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • View from India: Budget creates roadmap for next 25 years

    Omicron may be in the news, but the Budget seems to have some relief moments as technology enablers have been put in place across key contributory sectors. This may have a multiplier effect, which could be seen as job creation, with probably better pay packs and a digitally updated workforce. For instance, the Budget has chalked out measures for seamless multimodal movement of goods and people. This is how it is planned: the data exchange among all mode operators will be brought on the Unified Logistics Interface Platform, designed for application programming interface; this will provide for efficient movement of goods through different modes, reducing logistics cost and time, assisting just-in-time inventory management, and eliminating tedious documentation. The aim is to provide real-time…

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    E+T Magazine

  • ‘Oratio Project’ aims to empower homeless people in gaining financial freedom

    The unique initiative will offer homeless individuals access to contactless NFC cards to help them raise donations and spend vouchers at accredited Oratio vendors, along with a 'digital PO box' temporary address in shelters to help them apply for ID and more traditional banking solutions. The project aims to address some of the fundamental problems caused by being homeless in the UK and help and empower individuals to take control of their future by giving them access to some of the core requirements to break the cycle of homelessness. Having access to a contactless payment solution and a temporary address will help individuals to collect financial donations, acquire a widely recognised ID, source a bank account, and potentially start applying for job opportunities. More than 11,000 people…

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    E+T Magazine

  • Success in booming EV market hinges on readiness

    The electric vehicle market in the UK is expanding rapidly, with more than 190,000 new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) sold last year, despite the government’s decision to cut grants. With demand set to increase further - ahead of a planned ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in 2030 - consumers are eagerly awaiting more options to choose from. Focusing on the commercial vehicle space, UK-based newcomers such as Tevva and Volta are planning to release new all-electric trucks and passenger vehicles to the market in 2022. Other well-funded up-and-coming companies are developing world-class technologies that are now approaching market readiness. Will their new offerings make it to market in time to capitalise on the rapid uptick in demand? For new entrants, the…

  • Driver awareness systems in autonomous vehicles easily cheated, study finds

    Driver monitoring systems typically use either a camera or steering wheel to detect when a driver is distracted when a vehicle is running autonomously. Currently, all vehicles with a level of autonomy are required by law to have an alert driver ready to take the wheel at any moment. However, real-world testing by AAA found that the systems using a driver-facing camera are the best at keeping motorists focused on the road, but the technology is not foolproof and a driver determined to cheat the system can still defeat it. “The key to a safe, active driving-assistance system is effective driver monitoring that can’t be easily tricked,” said Greg Brannon, automotive engineering director at AAA. “Vehicle technology has the potential to improve roadway safety, but the last thing we want are…

  • Social media firms could face fines if banned users set up new accounts

    A report from the cross-party Petitions Committee calls for the government to bolster the Online Safety Bill with extra duties for social media companies. The committee also wants the bill to challenge the attitudes that fuel such behaviour and ensure abusive users face legal sanctions where appropriate. “Social media platforms should be required to give users the option to link their account to a form of verified ID on a voluntary basis and block interactions with unverified users, as a way of tackling abuse posted from anonymous or ‘throwaway’ accounts,” the report said. It suggested that firms should demonstrate they have taken proportionate steps to protect adult users from the risk of facing legal but harmful abuse on their platforms. The long-delayed Online Safety Bill was finally…

  • Royal Mail unveils barcode stamps

    The move from Tuesday (1 February) follows a successful trial and aims to connect letters with the digital world. Customers can scan the barcodes in the Royal Mail app and will eventually be able to watch videos, information about services, or even birthday messages and other greetings from senders. App users can currently view a video featuring Shaun the Sheep, created exclusively for Royal Mail by animation studio Aardman. It is the first in a series of planned videos to be released during 2022 that will allow customers sending stamped mail to choose which one the recipient can see when they receive an item of mail. Image credit: Royal Mail/PA Media “Introducing unique barcodes on our postage stamps allows us to connect the physical letter with the digital…

  • Permanent magnet developer wins 2022 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering

    The 2022 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (QEPrize) has been officially awarded today to Japan’s Dr Masato Sagawa for his work on the discovery, development and global commercialisation of the sintered Neodymium Iron Boron permanent magnet - the world’s most powerful permanent magnet - which has been transformational in its contribution towards enabling cleaner, energy-saving technologies. Dr Sagawa was announced as the winner of the 2022 QEPrize – awarded annually to celebrate the critical role that engineering plays in global society – by Lord Browne of Madingley, chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Foundation. Dr Sagawa pioneered the development of a sintered rare-earth permanent magnet, the sintered neodymium-iron-boron (Nd-Fe-B) magnet. His breakthrough innovation…

  • Parents’ online habits could sway digital experiences of children

    A year-long study by online safety group Internet Matters into the impact of technology on parents and children in the same household found that children who say their parents are on their phones “quite a lot” when they try to talk to them had more negative experiences with technology. The study’s researchers created an index to measure the digital wellbeing of young people in the UK, based on the impact being online had on the developmental, emotional, physical and social wellbeing of children. “We’re proud to launch the first index of its kind, that we hope will shape how we help children navigate their digital world amid the rapid pace of change in technology and any hurdles along the way,” said Carolyn Bunting, chief executive of Internet Matters. The study found that children with…

  • Turning green ‘blah, blah, blah’ into real carbon reduction

    Nvidia recently announced that it is developing a digital twin of the Earth to aid humanity in its battle against climate change. It’s a neat idea, but not all attempts to combat the climate crisis need to be so grandiose in order to be effective. If we really want to tip the scales, we need small actions from the majority rather than bold gestures from the few. There is no panacea for climate change, as the COP26 summit in Glasgow underlined, but if you’re a business owner with sustainability on your mind, and you want to make changes that aren’t dismissed as blah, blah, blah, the technology to make a difference is already at your disposal. When it comes to the climate, carbon is a cost. What if you could intelligently price-in the carbon footprint of every single operational decision…

  • Social housing to get hybrid boiler upgrades in low-carbon heating trials

    The electricity distribution firm is launching its ‘Right to Heat’ project which also includes the installation of solar panels and batteries in up to 25 low-income homes across South East England. It hopes the project will create a template for green heating in social housing that will boost adoption of hybrid boilers which use both gas and electricity. The project is a partnership between UK Power Networks, Stonewater, Social Energy, Passiv UK, and SGN and follows calls from charities last year for the government to offer upfront grants to low-income households to cover the cost of installing low-carbon heating. The government’s latest figures show up to 3.9 million people around the UK live in social housing, and these homes account for 15 per cent of the UK’s total greenhouse gas…

  • Chancellor reportedly looking at how to ‘abate energy costs’

    Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have thus far resisted calls from both senior Conservatives and opposition parties to ditch plans to raise National Insurance rates from April in order to fund extra health spending. The Prime Minister and the Chancellor both committed to imposing the 1.25 percentage point hike in a joint article in The Sunday Times, published at the weekend, but Johnson has separately signalled that support could be coming down the line to help consumers with soaring energy bills. Ofwat, the UK's energy regulator, is expected to announce the steepest-ever rise in the energy price cap later this week - a move widely expected to push energy bills for millions of households to around £2,000. The cap is scheduled to rise in the Spring, potentially increasing bills by 50 per cent…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • EasyJet to recruit 1000 pilots as Ryanair struggles with passenger numbers

    The firm has launched a recruitment ad campaign with a particular focus on encouraging more women to become an airline pilot to address the gender imbalance in the industry. Last year, it was estimated that less than 5 per cent of UK pilots were female. The recruitment drive follows a major round of job cuts by the budget airline in May 2020, just a few months after the pandemic saw a drastic fall in passenger numbers worldwide. It cut around 30 per cent of its staff - roughly 4,500 jobs - as it attempted to scale down its operations in the face of reduced demand for air travel that is expected to last until 2024 at the earliest. EasyJet CEO Johan Lundgren said he was “delighted” that his firm was reopening its pilot training programme for the first time since the pandemic hit. “EasyJet…

  • Food-tracking AI system to reduce malnutrition in care homes

    It is estimated that more than half (approximately 54 per cent) of residents of long-term care homes are either malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. At present, food intake is primarily monitored by staff who manually record estimates of consumption by looking at plates once residents have finished eating. This approach is laborious and subjective, limiting clinical inference capabilities. A new smart system, developed in Canada by researchers at the University of Waterloo, the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging and the University Health Network, uses artificial intelligence software to analyse photos of plates of food after the home's residents have eaten. The researchers proposed a novel deep convolutional encoder-decoder food network with depth-refinement (EDFN-D) using an…

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