• Net zero roadmap clears path for UK manufacturers to decarbonise

    A recent study found that while the UK plans to rapidly scale up its renewable energy infrastructure in the coming years, manufacturers may struggle to move away from production processes that are traditionally led by fossil fuels. Nevertheless, Make UK said its members “overwhelmingly” believe they can achieve net zero by 2050 as long as they have enough support. Many have already committed to reduce the direct emissions generated by manufacturing processes (scope 1) and indirect emissions from purchased energy (scope 2) by 67 per cent by the end of this decade. Some have also committed to support their suppliers and customers to achieve net zero, an area that is likely to constitute the bulk of the emissions for the sector overall. For example, in automotive manufacturing, this would…

  • Sugar beet could help secure Scotland’s net zero goals

    Sugar extracted from sugar beet can be used in the production of ethanol as a natural and sustainable substitute for petroleum-based chemicals used in a range of household goods, as well as antibiotics, therapeutic proteins, and for transportation. Growing sugar beet in Scotland and processing the crop at a purpose-built biorefinery facility initially producing bioethanol could support thousands of jobs and make a significant contribution to the country’s net zero ambitions, according to the study. Such a project would also safeguard many of the 11,000 jobs in Scotland’s chemicals industry, which is increasingly moving towards alternatives to fossil fuels, and create new roles in the burgeoning biotechnology sector, many of which would likely be in rural and deprived areas. The study…

  • View from India: Bengaluru’s innovation draws international investment

    India’s demographic dividend owes credit to the massive pool of highly skilled, competent and educated workforce. Indian corporations have a big advantage in adopting digital technologies both at a faster pace and also cost effectively, given that most of the globally applicable innovations and solutions are coming out of laboratories based in the country. This has resulted in an increased influx of investments into the country in recent years. “When we talk about India, it is imperative that we mention Karnataka, as it has been one of the key contributors towards the technology and digital ecosystem growth of the country. Karnataka is one of the most prosperous states in the country, with an estimated GSDP (gross state domestic product) of $220 billion,” said Thaawarchand Gehlot, governor…

  • Unexpected factors behind rapid cost decline of lithium-ion batteries

    According to an MIT team, by far the biggest factor was work on research and development, particularly in chemistry and materials science, rather than gains achieved through economies of scale, which is only the second most significant reason for the reductions. The findings could be useful for policymakers and planners to help guide spending priorities in order to continue the pathway toward ever lower costs for this and other crucial energy storage technologies, the researchers said. The project also suggests there is still considerable room for further improvement in electrochemical battery technologies. The analysis required digging through a variety of sources, since much of the relevant information consists of closely held proprietary business data. “The data collection effort…

  • Climate change: the great engineering challenge of tomorrow

    Read full article > With Protolabs’ initiative, along with their background in supporting innovation in key industries that could turn the tide on global carbon emissions, combined with our own expertise in engineering, technology and manufacturing, we knew this partnership could potentially make a real difference.  The InspirON Sustainability Series consists of video presentations and round table discussions with the involvement of experts and thought leaders in the various fields of sustainability, including circular economy, life-cycle analysis, materials technology, renewable energy, government legislation and consumer culture. Read the full article to find out how the series has supported around 1,000 design engineers across Europe and will continue to support the community for years…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • London’s public transport could ‘grind to a halt’ without cash injection

    Transport for London (TfL) has been struggling with its finances since the start of the pandemic after passenger numbers across the network dropped to lows not seen since the Victorian era at the height of lockdown. In January, it said the Government would need to provide two years of additional financial support to keep it afloat, just months after it was given a £1.7bn bailout package to finance it until March this year. Now, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) has called for a fresh injection of cash for London’s bus, tube and road budgets to keep services running with the same frequency as they currently do. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has also warned that bus services could be reduced by a fifth and Tube services by almost 10 per cent without urgent Government investment…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Why it’s time for manufacturers to consider embracing the cloud

    The main concern of any manufacturing company should be designing and building outstanding products - not maintaining firewalls, applying security patches or putting in the painstaking work required to detect sophisticated cyber attacks and stop them in their tracks before they wreak havoc. That’s not to say cybersecurity isn’t a big challenge for manufacturers. A May 2021 report from manufacturers’ organisation Make UK found that almost half of the companies surveyed (47 per cent) had been the target of cyber crime during the preceding 12 months. Of those companies that experienced an attack, more than six out of ten said it cost them up to £5,000, while almost a quarter (22 per cent) placed the costs involved at between £5,000 and £25,000. The rush to remote working triggered by the Covid…

  • Sending data through human tissue provides medium for the ‘Internet of Bodies’

    According to KAUST researchers, human body communication (HBC) can provide highly secure and power-efficient data transmission among wearable, implanted and ingested medical devices. The findings open the way for the interconnection of long-lasting wireless devices as the foundation for the IoB. The internet of things (IoT) is a technology framework in which a variety of devices can be interconnected to provide a broad range of data on the world around us. Autonomous vehicles and smart homes, for example, rely on IoT technologies for monitoring and control. The researchers believe this same philosophy can be applied to monitoring our own bodies and alerting us to health signals. “The IoB is a network of wearable, implantable, ingestible and injectable smart objects that allows for in…

  • Ransomware is cyber-criminals’ weapon of choice; UK retail facing barrage of attacks

    The annual review published by The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the UK’s technical authority for cyber security, illustrates the severity of the ransomware threat in the UK. The report reveals that the onslaught of ransomware attacks shows no sign of easing in the future. In the first four months of 2021 alone, the NCSC reports that it handled the same number of ransomware incidents as for the whole of 2020 - a number that was itself already more than three times greater than in 2019. According to the DCMS Cyber Security Breaches Survey, published in March 2021, 39 per cent of all UK businesses (2.3m) reported a cyber breach or attack in 2020/21. The report also highlighted the increased threat of supply chain attacks. Notably, in March 2021 an attack on vulnerabilities in Microsoft…

  • Driverless vehicles gaining acceptance in UK but safety driver preferred, poll finds

    An opinion poll of 1,000 UK adults by the British Standards Institution (BSI) found that almost three quarters (70 per cent) see benefits in connected and automated vehicles (CAVs). But some 59 per cent said they would feel more confident as a passenger in an automated vehicle knowing an onboard safety operator could take control or intervene if necessary, with over 40 per cent saying the safety operator would make them feel more confident as a pedestrian. Acceptance may be improving as more people become aware of the technology, which is still yet to be commercialised. A YouGov poll from last year found that more than two-thirds of drivers would be ‘uncomfortable’ with the prospect of driverless cars being allowed on British motorways in 2021. While driverless vehicle technologies have…

  • New EU rules could stop the export of plastic waste to poorer countries

    The body, which is responsible for enforcing EU laws, said the new rules are designed to promote the circular economy and tackle the export of illegal waste. Under the proposals, waste exports to non-OECD countries will be restricted and only allowed if third countries are willing to receive certain wastes and are able to manage them sustainably. Waste shipments to OECD countries will also be monitored and can be suspended if they generate serious environmental problems in the country of destination. Under the proposal, all EU companies that export waste outside the EU should ensure that the facilities receiving their waste are subject to an independent audit showing that they manage this waste in an environmentally sound manner. In January 2018, China, which was formerly responsible…

  • Career ‘deflection’ sees UK engineering firms struggling to hold onto talent

    The report, entitled ' Career Deflection: Exploring Diversity, Progression and Retention in Engineering ', was commissioned by world-renowned design, engineering and project management consultancy Atkins. It looks at how the impact of barriers to progress within a career in engineering are being distorted under an applied load over time. The report also suggests that engineering is falling behind other professions in terms of offering progressive opportunities for all people. Atkins is calling for greater industry action to stem the brain drain and ensure talent remains within the industry. Highlighting the impact of ‘career deflection’ on the earning potential and progress of women, ethnic minorities and disabled employees within engineering occupations and the wider engineering sector…

  • Trillions of microplastic particles could be entering the atmosphere, study finds

    Oceans, lakes and rivers often contain a large number of microplastic particles on their surface and impacting raindrops cause many droplets with an almost equally high concentration of microplastics to be thrown up into the air. When they evaporate in the air, the particles enter the atmosphere. Researchers from the University of Bayreuth have investigated the phenomenon and found that when a raindrop hits a water surface, droplets from a small ring-shaped area around the impact site are thrown into the air. They originate from a depth of a few millimetres below the water surface. The microplastic particles contained in the droplets have almost the same concentration as that in this narrow layer of water. The trajectories and flight duration of the particles showed that water from raindrops…

  • Tech giants urged to protect youngsters or face criminal action

    Nadine Dorries told social media firms to act now before the Online Safety Bill appears before MPs early in 2022. Her remarks came after Labour’s Richard Burgon highlighted the case of Joe Nihill, a 23-year-old former Army cadet from Whinmoor, Leeds, who “took his own life after accessing so-called suicide forums”. Burgon, the Leeds East MP, praised Nihill’s family for running an “inspirational campaign” to ensure others do not experience similar tragedy, adding a “firm message” needs to be sent to the tech giants that “they will now have to take action to remove these suicide forums which prey on vulnerable people”. Dorries replied in the Commons: “Those online platforms, those online giants, they have the ability right now today to remove those harmful algorithms that do direct children…

  • View from India: Smog disrupts Delhi-NCR

    A thick layer of smog has enveloped the city, worsening the air quality. As per media reports, the levels of particulate matter PM2.5 – tiny enough to clog lungs – in Delhi are far higher than the World Health Organization's safety guidelines. The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research has indicated that the Air Quality Index of Delhi continues to remain in the 'severe' category. The Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has announced that government officials can work from home until 21 November. To think of it, Delhi has two large-scale outdoor smog towers to induct air and purify it. The air-purification system can help to an extent but doesn’t seem to mitigate the pollution levels. A ground-up concerted effort is required to address rising pollution levels like dust…

  • Holographic camera sees through people and around corners with high precision

    Called synthetic wavelength holography, the new method works by indirectly scattering coherent light onto hidden objects, which then scatters again and travels back to a camera. From there, an algorithm reconstructs the scattered light signal to reveal the hidden objects. Due to its high temporal resolution, the method also has potential to image fast-moving objects, such as the beating heart through the chest or speeding cars around a street corner. The relatively new research field of imaging objects behind occlusions or scattering media is called non-line-of-sight imaging. Compared to related imaging technologies, the Northwestern method can rapidly capture full-field images of large areas with submillimetre precision. With this level of resolution, the computational camera could potentially…

  • Takeover of Arm by Nvidia to be investigated by competition authority

    Arm is one of the UK’s most successful and influential companies, designing the industry-standard chip architecture found in all categories of computing devices - from supercomputers to microcontrollers - and establishing it as the world leader in processors for mobile devices. The Cambridge-based firm was bought by Japan's SoftBank in 2016 for $32bn, but which is now in the process of selling it to graphics card makers Nvidia for $40bn. The latest deal has proved controversial, with Arm co-founder Hermann Hauser describing it as a “disaster” and lamenting the fact that it was one of the few European technology firms with global relevance that is now being sold to the US. Digital secretary Nadine Dorries has written to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), instructing them to carry…

  • Schools and industries close as Indian capital smothered by smog

    The measures come as India’s top court is deliberating whether New Delhi should go into a lockdown as a blanket of thick, grey smog continued to surround the city, particularly in the mornings. The panel issued the guidelines on Tuesday night in an attempt to stem the pollution and to show residents that the government was taking action to control an environmental crisis that has been plaguing the capital for years. Besides the closure of schools, the Commission for Air Quality Management ordered a stop to construction activities until 21 November and banned trucks carrying non-essential goods. The panel also directed the states to “encourage” work from home for half of the employees in all private offices. Despite some improvement in New Delhi air over the past two days, readings of…

  • Cyber attacks surged in 2021 with vaccine supply chain targeted

    The agency, which is a part of GCHQ, released its annual report showing that it dealt with an unprecedented 777 incidents over the last 12 months – up from 723 the previous year – with around 20 per cent of organisations supported linked to the health sector and vaccines. The health sector and in particular the vaccine rollout was a major focus for the NCSC, as it was forced to tackle threats levied against the NHS, healthcare, and vaccine supplier IT systems from malicious domains billions of times. Over the past 12 months, the NCSC also responded to a rise in ransomware attacks . A range of services have been provided to businesses over the past year to help protect them from ransomware including the Early Warning Service alerting organisations to emerging threats and cyber-security advice…

  • ‘Dog n bone’ device lets anxious pets video call their owners

    The system, dubbed DogPhone, works when a pet picks up and shakes a ball fitted with an accelerometer. When the accelerometer senses movement, it prompts a video call on a screen connected to the device. Believed to be the first of its kind, the invention is the brainchild of the University of Glasgow lecturer Dr Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas, her 10-year-old labrador, Zack, and colleagues from Aalto University in Finland. The team behind the pet-friendly invention said the DogPhone could help address the separation anxiety of pets who have grown used to having people at home during the coronavirus pandemic. Hirskyj-Douglas explained: “There are hundreds of internet-connected ‘smart toys’ on the market that dog owners can buy for their pets. But the vast majority of them are built with the needs…

  • Pollutant emissions in seaports likely to have spiked during pandemic

    The findings serve as a stark contrast against findings from the Nasa Earth Observatory that showed that the freeze in industrial processes and human activity arising from the pandemic resulted in lower air pollution. In Singapore, researchers from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) found emissions were modelled to have more than doubled (123 per cent), during the pandemic period, while they increased twofold in Los Angeles (100 per cent), almost two-thirds (65 per cent) in Long Beach, California, and over a quarter (27 per cent) in Hamburg, Germany. “Our study presents a review of the ship emission outlook amid the pandemic uncertainty,” said Professor Law Wing Keung from NTU’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “Lockdown measures and other Covid-19 restrictions on human…

  • TikTok enhances safety policies around young people and online challenges

    Research conducted by the popular social media video app looked at how young people engaged with online challenges and hoaxes, including disturbing and harmful ones which attempt to coax viewers into self-harm or suicide. TikTok said it will now start removing “alarmist warnings” about potentially harmful online challenges and hoaxes because its research found these warnings can exacerbate the problem by treating the hoax as real. The study of 10,000 teenagers, parents and teachers from around the world – including the UK – found that while only 0.3 per cent of young people said they had participated in an online challenge they would categorise as very dangerous, nearly half of those asked said they wanted more information and help on how to better understand risk. It comes as social…

  • AI project aims to reduce harm among pregnant black women

    Experts from Loughborough University will work with the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) to identify patterns in more than 600 of its recent investigations into adverse outcomes during pregnancy and birth. HSIB, an independent patient safety body, has conducted more than 2,000 maternity investigations since April 2018, with around 10 per cent concerning black, Asian and ethnic minority families. These examined cases such as the death of the mother during pregnancy or childbirth, miscarriages, stillbirths and neonatal deaths. Black mothers are four times more likely to die from pregnancy complications than white women, according to a report published by MBRRACE-UK earlier this month. It found that pregnancy is safe, with 8.8 women per 100,000 between 2017-2019 dying either…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • After All: A Scottish tour triggers memories of an enclosed childhood

    For someone like me, who has spent most of his peripatetic life away from the country of his birth, there exist two distinct types of nostalgia: positive and negative. The former is a bitter-sweet longing for the happy moments of your past; the latter a somewhat darker attraction to (or even a near-obsession with) an environment similar to the one you grew up in – no matter how restrictive, or even sinister, it could have been. My undying interest in enclosed spaces goes back to my childhood. I spent the first three years of my life in a so-called ‘closed town’ near Moscow, to which my parents, newly married graduates of Kharkiv University (Mum a chemical engineer, Dad a nuclear physicist), were dispatched to work at a top secret Soviet government facility, developing nuclear and hydrogen…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

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