• Peers vote to prevent Aria-funded tech being flogged to overseas companies

    The Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria) Bill is making its way through Parliament. Plans for Aria, which is considered the brainchild of former Downing Street staffer Dominic Cummings, were announced in February . Aria is inspired by the Pentagon’s Darpa, which has been instrumental in the development of GPS and the internet. It aims to pursue R&D in areas of science and technology with the potential to generate ground-breaking discoveries and technologies without the pressures that limit innovation, such as fear of short-term setbacks or rigid funding models. It will be independent from government intervention and supported with £800m in funding for the remainder of this parliament. The House of Lords has been combing over the Aria Bill, voting on two amendments this week. Most…

  • IBM and Samsung unveil supremely energy-efficient semiconductor design

    The global semiconductor shortage has highlighted the critical role of investment in chip research and development and the importance of chips in everything from computing, to appliances, communication devices, transportation systems and critical infrastructure. IBM and Samsung Electronics have jointly announced a breakthrough in semiconductor design using a new vertical transistor architecture that demonstrates a path to scaling beyond nanosheet and has the potential to reduce energy usage by 85 per cent compared to a scaled fin field-effect transistor (finFET). The new vertical transistor breakthrough could help the semiconductor industry continue its relentless journey to deliver significant improvements, including a potential device architecture that enables semiconductor device scaling…

  • View from India: The year that was…

    Go Green The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded its Regional Leadership Award to CtrlS, Asia’s largest Rated-4 Hyperscale data centre. Caring for planet Earth has been integral to CtrlS's DNA. What makes this announcement worthwhile is that the company has explored various possible solutions for energy efficiency and sustainability and reduced the PUE (power usage effectiveness) to 1.35, thereby reducing energy consumption at its hyperscale data centres in India. “At CtrlS, sustainability is a key focus and is a strategic component of our organisation. We are further sharpening our focus on usage of natural sources of energy such as solar. We are in the process of constructing a 1,000-acre solar farm to power our data centre facilities. We plan to achieve carbon neutrality (net…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Covid-19 breathalyser can quickly identify infected people

    Dubbed the “Bubbler” by the Brown University researchers behind the project, the device relies on viral RNA detection to diagnose Covid-19. Its name is derived from the bubbling sound that occurs when the patient exhales into the device. The Bubbler reverse transcribes RNA from airborne virus particles into DNA which can then be tested via PCR and can also be barcoded to allow samples to be linked directly to individual patients. It can be used for simultaneous batches of pooled samples and provides additional information such as viral load and strain identity and eliminates the need for stabilising a sample. “Involvement of the lower respiratory tract is often a precursor to severe Covid-19, so there is an argument for a more direct sampling focused on exhaled breath,” explained lead…

  • Toyota to have ‘more fun’ line-up of 30 EVs by 2030

    Toyota is the world’s top-selling automaker, selling approximately 10 million vehicles annually. While most of the world’s largest automakers – including Ford, General Motors, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar Land Rover – pledged at COP26 to “rapidly” accelerate the transition to less-polluting vehicles , the two largest, Toyota and Volkswagen, did not join the pledge. Toyota, which long been viewed as something of a laggard in the industry’s transition to less-polluting vehicles, has now laid out its ambition to expand its all-electric offering in the next decade. The company plans to sell 3.5 million EVs globally in 2030, up from its previous target of two million hydrogen and battery EVs per year by 2030. It aims to offer a full line-up of EVs called the 'bz series' (“beyond zero”) in…

  • Parliamentarians call for ‘major changes’ to Online Safety Bill

    Most significantly, peers and MPs said in their report on the draft bill, which was published in May , that it must be clearer about what content is illegal. They also proposed expanding the scope of the bill to include online flashing, paid-for scam and fraudulent advertising, content promoting self-harm, and deliberately sending flashing images to people with photosensitive epilepsy. The report proposed that pornographic sites should have a statutory duty to keep children away, whether or not they host user-to-user content. It recommended that Ofcom, which will be assigned responsibility for regulating the sector, should be given more powers to investigate, audit, and fine technology companies. Ofcom should also draft mandatory codes of practice for ISPs with named senior managers at…

  • Plastic-degrading enzymes on the rise in pollution hotspots

    Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden measured samples of environmental DNA from around the globe and used computer modelling to search for microbial enzymes with plastic-degrading potential. This was then cross-referenced with the official numbers for plastic waste pollution across countries and oceans. The results illustrate the impact plastic pollution is having on the environment and hint at potential new solutions for managing the problem. “Using our models, we found multiple lines of evidence supporting the fact that the global microbiome’s plastic-degrading potential correlates strongly with measurements of environmental plastic pollution – a significant demonstration of how the environment is responding to the pressures we are placing on it,” said associate…

  • Sponsored: An Innovators Journey - Getting Started in Agritech

    Today it is where the Central Research Laboratory (CRL), a purpose-built technology co-working space and hardware design accelerator is based. Early-stage companies, typically working on a diverse range of technologies, from agritech to building materials, enjoy a six-month programme of business acceleration support. Innovators receive help turning a product idea into a solid business plan, seeking funding, and getting a prototype into production. With a long-term commitment to empowering innovation, Mouser has partnered with CRL and provides funding, innovation support, and access to their technical knowledge network of industry-leading electronic component suppliers. One such start-up to benefit from the CRL accelerator programme is Muddy Machines. The company is creating innovative agricultural…

  • TfL warns that 100 bus routes could be cut without emergency funding

    In January, the body admitted that it would need at least two years of additional financial support to keep it afloat due to the disastrous effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on its finances. This was largely due to sharp falls in passenger numbers which saw rail journeys drop to lows not seen since the Victorian era. According to City Hall analysis, without a fresh round of funding TfL would be forced to cut more than 100 bus routes with an overall 18 per cent reduction in service levels. This would be coupled with a fall in reliability due to the inability to modernise train fleets, some of which date back to the 1970s. Further losses would also come from severely constraining future capital investment in the road and transport network. The analysis estimates that without the funding…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Scientists develop world’s first optical oscilloscope

    The device, created by a team at the University of Central Florida (UCF), converts light oscillations into electrical signals, much like hospital monitors convert a patient’s heartbeat into electrical oscillation. Until now, reading the electric field of light has been a challenge because of the high speeds at which light waves oscillate, researchers have said. The most advanced techniques, which power our phone and internet communications, can currently clock electric fields at up to gigahertz frequencies – covering the radio frequency and microwave regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Light waves oscillate at much higher rates, allowing a higher density of information to be transmitted. But the current tools for measuring light fields could resolve only an average signal associated…

  • Net zero efforts need to make sustainability a way of life

    Climate change, COP26, research reports and net zero targets have all been making the headlines. But the future of the planet really rests in the hands of energy users - from multinational enterprises to individual households. What happens at the sockets of our homes or office buildings is every bit as important as a new renewable energy infrastructure project coming online. But there’s a problem. Although our planet faces the biggest challenge in human history, it’s incredibly difficult to fight an enemy you can’t see. Electricity, gas, and any other energy-generated carbon emissions - they’re all invisible. And we know that up to 80 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions are linked to our use of energy . Until we can see the environmental cost of our energy use and make it easy to visualise…

  • Love is everywhere in this year's digital Christmas issue

    ‘The love theme’ sounds like an instrumental song from the late, great Barry White. But we’re thinking broader than romantic, sexy lurve. There’s motherly love and brotherly love; love for our friends, fellow human beings and family pets. We examine how technology can help make and maintain those relationships, especially in the time of a pandemic that otherwise isolated so many people in the world from real human contact with those they loved. Technology has already helped so many keep in touch with their loved ones through video links, social media and more. That’s nothing new – communications technology has always had a strong social role from the humble telephone onwards. How will it take that role further in the future? I was lucky to have my own family to stay home with, but I found…

  • Depression symptoms reduced with computer and smartphone treatments

    Digital interventions typically require patients to log in to a software program, website or app to read, watch, listen to and interact with content structured as a series of modules or lessons. Individuals often receive homework assignments relating to the modules and regularly complete digitally administered questionnaires relevant to their presenting problems. This allows clinicians to monitor patients’ progress and outcomes in cases where digital interventions include human support. The study’s lead author, Isaac Moshe from the University of Helsinki, said: “Given the accelerated adoption of digital interventions, it is both timely and important to ask to what extent digital interventions are effective in the treatment of depression, whether they may provide viable alternatives to…

  • Contracts for Difference scheme opens to expanded range of technologies

    The government hopes to secure 12GW of capacity, the largest amount in the scheme’s history, with the potential to power around eight million homes. This is more capacity than the three previous rounds combined, with additional offshore wind capacity. The scheme is open to an expanded range of renewable energy technologies: offshore and onshore wind, solar, tidal, and floating offshore. Projects involving these technologies are eligible to bid for a fraction of the funding. Regarding emerging technologies, £24m has been set aside for floating offshore wind projects and £20m for tidal stream projects. Onshore wind and solar are competing for the first time since 2015, and the government is seeking significant capacity from these technologies to help achieve the required levels of deployment…

  • Pacific undersea internet cable backed by US, Australia, and Japan

    The Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, and Nauru will all benefit from the proposed cable which will provide faster and more secure communications to approximately 100,000 people across the three countries. In a joint statement, the three countries funding the project also said they believed the cable would help to support increased economic growth and drive development opportunities in the three tiny Pacific islands. “Improved connectivity and access to digital technologies can provide significant economic and social benefits and are key enablers of sustainable development,” they added. “They also help increase the availability of digital government services, particularly in education and health, and provide businesses and households with improved access to services, information and…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • £20m robot designed to assist with train cleaning

    The device, which has the appearance of a wedge of cheese crossed with the retro K9 robot dog from Doctor Who, is mounted on four wheels and equipped with flip-out brushes. It is intended to complement the work of human train cleaners by cleaning hard-to-reach spots between and under seats. According to research, many train passengers desire a higher standard of cleanliness. A survey of 50,000 people in 2020 found that more than a quarter wanted cleaner carriages. “Our research uses robotics and AI to help people to solve a wide range of challenges,” said project lead Dr Mustafa Suphi Erden, who is based at the National Robotarium. “With the daily pressure on rail services, it’s essential that trains are cleaned as fast and as efficiently as possible. “However, at present, this process…

  • Peers call for major revamp to digital regulation in fast-changing sector

    A report from the Communications and Digital Committee has claimed that current systems are not rigorous or accountable enough to address regulatory gaps and overlaps. The report advises the government to take a more “joined-up” approach alongside regulators and Parliament so that emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence advances can be dealt with in a timelier manner. Furthermore, a new Digital Regulation Co-operation Forum (DRCF) is “a small step” but a lack of overarching coordination and oversight of regulatory objectives remains, the committee added. It said it was concerned that the DRCF lacked robust systems to coordinate objectives and to sort out potential conflicts between different regulators as the workload expands. “More measures are needed to boost the DRCF…

  • Solar parks could help boost bumble bee numbers in win-win for nature

    Using a model that simulated bumble bee foraging in UK solar parks, researchers at Lancaster University investigated different management scenarios that offered varying degrees of resources for bumble bees. Their findings indicated that solar park land managed as meadows - offering the most resources - would support four times as many bumble bees as solar park land managed as turf grass. The researchers also found that large, elongated and resource-rich solar parks could boost bumble bee density up to 1km outside of the parks themselves, delivering pollinator services to crops in surrounding agricultural land. In the study, in order to understand how solar park management could impact bumble bee density within solar parks and surrounding areas, the researchers used a geographic information…

  • View from India: Of superfast trains and bikes

    India continues to flex its muscle into space to become more visible in the global space economy. Friendly policies have opened the skies for the private sector’s entry into space. Independent nodal agency Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) acts as a regulator-enabler for the space domain. The government, IN-SPACe, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) along with private players will explore possibilities of space based activities. As per media reports, around 27 private companies have approached the Centre with space proposals to build vehicles, satellites and offer space mission services. A liberalised space sector attracts investments that go beyond aerospace and defence (A&D) sector and satellite communications (SATCOM) technologies. Any investment…

  • Dear Evil Engineer: How many leopards do I need to heat my home?

    Dear Evil Engineer, I am frustrated by the lack of leadership on climate action, particularly regarding low-hanging fruit such as boosting the energy efficiency of housing stock. I ask myself: what can I do to prevent the Earth becoming uninhabitable through climate change? Before anyone makes any snide comments; it goes without saying that I want the Earth to become a hostile wasteland scattered with the remnants of the humanity. But I want to do it myself and not let the fossil fuel industry claim the greatest honour in villainy since someone threw a meteorite at Mexico 66 million years ago. I want to be evil and green, like the Grinch before his heart grew three sizes. This leads me to my query: I have two fearsome pet leopards and I was already considering buying more. How many would…

  • US seeks to close loophole allowing SMIC access to American chipmaking tech

    The report, which cited people familiar with the matter, said the proposal is being opposed by officials from the Commerce Department. Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) is a Shanghai-based, partly state-owned contract chipmaker, and China’s largest. It was added to the US 'Entity List' blacklist in December 2020 , restricting its access to manufacturing equipment from US suppliers due to alleged ties to China’s military. It rejects these claims. According to people familiar with the matter, its addition to the Entity List has proven ineffective at preventing it accessing important US technology. Under the current designation, SMIC is restricted from buying US technology “uniquely required” to build chips with 10nm circuits and smaller, which is near the leading edge…

  • Vacuum sleeping bag prevents eyeball damage in zero gravity

    This little-known phenomenon has vexed scientists for more than a decade, and it remains a key health dilemma of human space exploration, particularly as Nasa looks towards longer voyages to Mars. “We don’t know how bad the effects might be on a longer flight, like a two-year Mars operation,” said Dr Benjamin Levine, a cardiologist at UT Southwestern who is working with Nasa to address risks associated with abnormal blood flow in space. “It would be a disaster if astronauts had such severe impairments that they couldn’t see what they’re doing and it compromised the mission.” The condition, spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), is characterised by the progressive flattening of the eyeball, swelling of the optic nerve, and vision impairment. Studies have shown it is likely…

  • Christmas STEM Challenge: Stepper Dice and Wheel-of-Fortune

    Stepper motors are those neat little motors that don’t just go round and round when you connect them, but go round in jerks, 7.5°, 10° or 15° at a time. This is technically called ‘cogging’. Inside, they have two sets of electromagnet coils that pull the magnetic rotor around by a small angle each time they are pulsed. You can buy a stepper motor for less than $10 (£8), but don’t buy one straight away. You may find you can use one from an unused or broken printer or scanner. The printer in the picture below has three stepper motors. If you have a choice, choose the stepper motor that feels the most ‘notchy’, the one that clicks most positively into place as you rotate the shaft. (Cleaning and light oil may be needed for a stepper that has paper dust and ink toner on its bearings.) …

  • The measure of: Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen

    Glass display cases filled with artworks take centre stage in the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, an art storage building designed by local architectural firm MVRDV, which is now open to the public in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The purpose-built depot, which has a new, permanent artwork by Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist projected onto its side, is the first of its kind, and art lovers will have access to the museum’s full 151,000-piece collection – including works by the likes of Leonora Carrington and Salvador Dalì that usually remain off view. The works are hung in pull-out storage shelves, which visitors can use to view the works at close quarters. There are also screening booths to view the digitised film library, and space which can be rented by private collections. The building has…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

Community Rules & Guidelines