• Nasa considers using SpaceX to bring two astronauts stranded aboard the ISS back home

    Nasa has developed contingency plans to bring two stranded astronauts home from the International Space Station (ISS) early next year following problems with Boeing’s Starliner capsule. The long-delayed Starliner achieved its first crewed launch in June after years of delays, successfully docking with the ISS for Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams to undertake an eight-day mission before heading back to Earth. But the plans went awry when, during the docking procedure with the ISS, Starliner suffered various thruster failures and helium leaks. This forced the astronauts to remain aboard the ISS for two months while Nasa figured out how to get them home. While Nasa is still looking at ways it could continue to use Starliner to bring the astronauts back to Earth earlier, it is also considering…

  • Airbourne DNA sampler can detect crop diseases before it’s too late

    A new machine could help farmers to detect plant infections before they are visible by sampling the DNA of spores floating in the surrounding air. Developed by researchers at the Natural History Museum and the Earlham Institute, the machine, dubbed AirSeq, could save farmers money while promoting sustainable farming practices. Recent trials in England showed the potential for the device to combat devastating crop diseases. AirSeq filters thousands of litres of air to capture any biological material – including disease-causing fungi – before sequencing their DNA, identifying species present and measuring their abundance. According to the researchers, the technology represents “a huge shift” in crop disease management that could empower farmers to combat diseases more efficiently and sustainably…

  • Big Interview - Warren East

    Incoming IET president Warren East has refocused on helping smaller businesses grow alongside their novel technologies. There can’t be many in the engineering community that haven’t heard of Warren East. An engineer and business executive of vast and prestigious experience, he’s steered the ship at both ARM and Rolls-Royce, while watching over the third and fourth industrial revolutions and changes in attitudes to how we manufacture and work. He’s also played a big role in the digitisation of the technology landscape, as well as shifts in environmental outlooks and cultures. East retired from “full-time exec stuff” at the end of 2022. But rather than take up golf or grow wine, his ambition evolved into developing “a portfolio of non-exec activity”. More than that, he “wanted a substantial…

  • Royal Mint to recover gold from e-waste at new south Wales factory

    The Royal Mint has opened a factory at a site in south Wales, which will be tasked with extracting gold from e-waste for reuse. Gold is often used in electronics due to its excellent conductive properties and resistance to corrosion. But MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee recently warned that the government had made little progress on improving recycling rates as the UK’s e-waste piles up. The Royal Mint said its new factory would be able to process up to 4,000 tonnes of printed circuit boards (PCBs) from e-waste and the recovered gold will encourage more sustainable industry practices. Annually, this could amount to hundreds of kilograms, which it will use in its luxury jewellery range. The 3,700 sq m facility uses a new chemistry process from Canadian clean tech company Excir…

  • Rocket-propelled aircraft takes flight in bid to reach space

    A rocket-propelled aircraft developed by New Zealand’s Dawn Aerospace (DA) has completed a series of flights as the company looks to undergo supersonic testing next month. The Mk-II Aurora suborbital spaceplane was originally unveiled in July 2020 and is capable of flying up to an altitude of more than 100km several times a day. It can also take off and land at standard airports alongside normal aircraft. The aircraft is able to access parts of the Earth’s atmosphere that are too high for regular aircraft or balloons to operate and too low for satellites. Three flight tests were carried out in late July in which the DA team achieved a maximum speed and altitude of Mach 0.92 (967 km/h) and 50,000ft (15.1km). This represents three times and five times, respectively, what the firm had achieved…

  • Modern carbon-efficient planes worse for climate change than older models, study finds

    A study has found that even though modern commercial aircraft emit less carbon than their predecessors, they could be contributing more to climate change due to their longer-lived planet-warming contrails. Contrails, or vapour trails, are line-shaped clouds produced by aircraft engine exhaust or changes in air pressure, typically at aircraft cruising altitudes several kilometres above the Earth’s surface. While the exact warming effect of contrails is uncertain, scientists believe it is greater than warming caused by carbon emissions from jet fuel. ​Researchers at Imperial College London used machine learning to analyse satellite data on more than 64,000 contrails from a range of aircraft flying over the North Atlantic Ocean. ​Modern aircraft that fly above about 12km, such as the Airbus…

  • Riverlane raises $75m to further technology that fixes quantum computer errors

    Riverlane, which is based in Cambridge, has raised $75m (£59m) to fund development on its “groundbreaking” quantum error correction (QEC) technology. While there is considerable excitement about the possibilities of quantum information and quantum computing applications – spurring billions of dollars of investment around the world – many technical hurdles have yet to be crossed. Most quantum computers are so prone to error that only the shortest, simplest algorithms can be run. Riverlane believes it is developing the technology that could significantly expand the utility of quantum computers, and it hopes to achieve one million error-free quantum computer operations by 2026. Its latest funding round was led by Planet First Partners, but it has already received investment from the National…

  • £168m fine levied on three water companies for sewage treatment failures

    Ofwat has proposed £168m of fines for three water companies in England because of failings in managing their wastewater. In what the regulator described as “its biggest ever investigation”, Thames Water was fined £104m, Yorkshire Water £47m and Northumbrian Water £17m. The penalties relate to their management of wastewater treatment works and wider sewer networks, including their operation of storm overflows. These are designed to release water when the sewerage system is at risk of being overwhelmed, such as during unusually heavy downpours or snowfall, to prevent sewage flooding into people’s homes. But Ofwat found that all three companies failed to ensure that the discharge of untreated wastewater only occurred in “exceptional circumstances”. It said the firms had failed to deal…

  • National Grid turns on south London’s £1bn electricity superhighway

    The first transmission circuits in south London’s £1bn electricity revamp have been turned on between Hurst substation and Crayford. The 2.5km circuit uses a new high voltage 275kV network that runs through a tunnel route averaging 35 metres below ground, which was completed by ‘Christine the tunnel boring machine’ last year. London Power Tunnels is a project started by National Grid in 2011 to reinforce the electricity transmission network in the capital by constructing more than 60km of new deep-level tunnels carrying high-voltage cables. The new network of tunnels replaces a series of ageing power cables, most of which were buried directly beneath roads. These were becoming unreliable and difficult to maintain without disrupting traffic, and were unable to meet future demand for electricity…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • AI is being used to shape the built environment

    Architects are increasingly turning to generative AI tools for creative inspiration and time-saving automation, but the software raises technical and ethical concerns and, with creative jobs already under threat, could it signal the destruction of the profession? Ideas for iconic buildings and gravity-defying structures have traditionally been the mainstay of architects, but recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have for the first time given machines the ‘creative’ power to hallucinate strange, hybrid and other-worldly architectures. Instagram feeds are filled with highly realistic images of AI-generated buildings both striking and surreal: glass-bubble pods embedded in lush green hillsides; an exquisite interior cut from the inside of a geode rock; a façade draped in the…

  • The rush for air-con will put a strain on UK’s climate change targets, researchers warn

    The UK needs coordinated plans to stop homeowners resorting to emissions-creating air conditioning, University of Exeter researchers have said in a new policy brief. Overheating is a problem in UK homes, many of which feature insulation and small windows to retain the heat during winter. However, as summers get hotter, our houses, particularly bedrooms, do not cool quickly enough when the outside air cools in the evenings. This overheating in our homes not only causes discomfort and disrupted sleep but can also cause illness and even death. According to the Office for National Statistics, England and Wales saw the highest recorded temperatures in 2022, and that summer’s heatwaves led to 3,271 excess deaths. Overheating means homeowners are tempted to purchase air conditioning systems…

  • Intel to cut 15,000 jobs worldwide after ‘disappointing’ financial results

    Chipmaker Intel has branded its latest set of financial results “disappointing” and is planning to cut around 15% of its workforce to save costs – roughly 15,000 jobs worldwide. Revenue for the second quarter of this year slid by about 1% compared with the same quarter last year. The job cuts will be concentrated in sales and administration departments, and follows a 5% workforce cut just last year. “Our Q2 financial performance was disappointing, even as we hit key product and process technology milestones,” said Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger. “Second-half trends are more challenging than we previously expected, and we are leveraging our new operating model to take decisive actions that will improve operating and capital efficiencies while accelerating our IDM 2.0 transformation.” The IDM…

  • Fashion industry is failing to transition away from fossil fuels, report finds

    The world’s largest fashion brands are not working fast enough to cut their consumption of fossil fuels, a report has found. The What Fuels Fashion report from campaign group Fashion Revolution urged firms to invest “at least 2%” of their annual revenue into efforts to transition their businesses away from fossil fuels – like coal – to renewable energy to power their manufacturing sustainably. Fashion remains one of the most polluting industries, with fossil fuels burned at every stage of production, and estimates suggest that the industry is responsible for around 10% of annual global carbon emissions, equivalent to more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. The report analysed and ranked 250 of the world’s biggest fashion brands and retailers with a turnover…

  • Demystify ecommerce technologies with the BIG B2B Catalogue

    In today's digital era, the B2B industry is rapidly expanding online. This directory offers insights into innovative solutions and how to seamlessly integrate them into your business operations. Simplify processes, enhance efficiency, and drive growth with the latest ecommerce technologies. Included are real-world examples from industry leaders like MKM and Lavazza Nederlands. See how these companies utilise technology to achieve their business goals and stay ahead in the competitive market and also benefit from the expertise of ecommerce professionals who share their knowledge to help your B2B ecosystem thrive. Fill out your details below to download this directory to gain valuable perspectives and strategies to navigate the digital landscape effectively.

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Starlink Broadband launches Mini Dish and Mini Roam service in the UK

    Elon Musk’s SpaceX has announced a mini version of its Starlink satellite internet antenna that's small enough to be used on the go. In June 2024, Starlink announced the Starlink Mini – a compact, portable kit that provides high-speed, low-latency internet for customers who require access to the internet when they are on the move or traveling. Michael Nicholls, vice-president of Starlink Engineering, took to X to make the announcement (see image below). Starlink’s broadband service is powered by a constellation of 6,281 low earth orbit satellites, with plans to add thousands more. Starlink is available in 99 countries and territories, and it confirmed in May 2024 that it had reached three million subscribers. Its latest Mini product is roughly the size of a laptop, and at 1.1kg it…

  • Australia commits AUD$18m to protect vital undersea cable network in Indo-Pacific

    Australia has announced more than AUD$18m (£9m) will be spent over the next four years to help it protect its vital undersea cable networks in the Indo-Pacific. The country relies on 15 international cables that manage around 95% of its international data traffic and contribute an estimated AUD$167bn or more a year to the Australian economy. But the heavy reliance on a relatively limited number of underwater cables leaves the infrastructure open to attack from hostile states or damage from shipping and natural disasters. These polyethylene lined cables are similar in size to a garden hose (17-21 mm diameter) and largely remain untouched during their lifespan, which is usually about 25 years. But every year around 100 to 200 cases of damage are reported on the submarine cables, which comprise…

  • Uber signs deal with BYD to bring 100,000 new EVs into its ridesharing service

    Uber has announced a multi-year partnership with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD to bring 100,000 new EVs into its ridesharing service. Beginning first in Europe and Latin America, the partnership is expected to offer drivers access to pricing and financing deals for BYD vehicles on the platform. Uber said it will eventually expand the deal to include markets across the Middle East, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. BYD is known for producing low-cost EVs predominantly for consumers in its home market, with the cost for its vehicles starting as low as 100,000 yuan (£10,800). In 2022, the company dethroned Tesla as the world’s largest EV maker by unit sales, even though it has not yet made major inroads in Western markets. Uber said that its drivers are going electric five times…

  • Air New Zealand is first major airline to drop 2030 target to cut emissions

    The airline said it is scrapping emissions targets due to difficulties in procuring new planes and the lack of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Earlier this month Luis Gallego – chief executive officer of International Airlines Group (IAG), which owns British Airways – warned that airlines in Europe will be forced to raise prices to fund the cost of cutting carbon emissions. Lufthansa also recently announced a ticket surcharge to cover the “steadily rising additional costs” of new environmental fuel requirements. Now Air New Zealand has become the first major airline to admit it is dropping its 2030 goal to cut carbon emissions. According to an article in The Guardian, the company has blamed difficulties in procuring new planes and SAF. Aviation accounts for approximately 3% of total…

  • Record £1.5bn price set for UK’s next renewable energy auction

    The new Labour government has boosted the budget for an upcoming renewable energy auction to £1.5bn after last year’s auction failed to attract any bids. Contracts for Difference auctions invite companies to bid to develop renewable energy projects in the UK and give them a guaranteed minimum price for the electricity they will generate. The system also means that if electricity prices in the future rise above that level, the companies pay the excess back to the treasury. But the last auction in September attracted no developers, with the industry saying that the government had set the price too low to make new projects worth pursuing. Energy secretary Ed Miliband today announced that the budget for this year’s renewable energy auction is being increased by £500m to over £1.5bn as part…

  • Energy-hungry data centres consumed 21% of Ireland’s metered electricity in 2023

    The Central Statistics Office (CSO) for Ireland has released metered electricity consumption statistics for 2023, revealing that electricity consumption by data centres increased by 20% in 2023. The CSO statistics revealed that the percentage of metered electricity consumption used by data centres rose from 5% in 2015 to 18% in 2022 and to 21% in 2023. This is more electricity than the total amount for urban dwellings (18%) and for rural dwellings (10%). The percentage of metered electricity consumed by urban dwellings actually dropped 1% from 2022, while the metered electricity consumed by rural dwellings remained the same. The reason why data centres consume so much electricity is not only due to their 24/7 computational-heavy operation, but also the air conditioning systems needed…

  • Key challenges facing the clean hydrogen economy, according to NPL report

    A report by the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) outlines the crucial challenges that must be addressed to boost the hydrogen economy and support the UK in reaching its net zero goals. The UK government has committed to channelling up to £500m into green hydrogen over the parliament in a bid to deliver clean power by 2030. However, for hydrogen to meaningfully contribute to a net zero society it must be produced at scale and at a low cost, and with minimal environment impact. As the UK’s National Metrology Institute and a public sector research establishment, NPL is focused on ensuring that as hydrogen technologies are being developed and deployed, metrology plays a key role in supporting operations, standardisation and innovations throughout the hydrogen economy. For instance…

  • Small modular reactor designs approved in first step towards UK nuclear power expansion

    Britain’s nuclear regulators have approved early designs for small modular reactors (SMRs) developed by Rolls-Royce SMR as a first step towards significant expansion of the UK’s nuclear power capabilities. The firm is offering a different approach to delivering new nuclear power that is easier to scale and more affordable than building larger nuclear power plants. It’s an approach that aims to deliver an entirely factory-built nuclear power plant that would be transported as modules and assembled on-site, radically reducing construction activity and making the SMRs a commodifiable product. The previous government had an ambition to increase nuclear capacity in the UK from around 6GW to up to 24GW by 2050, as set out in the 2022 British energy security strategy. The SMRs designed by…

  • Project Watch - Wind powered oil rig, searching for life on Mars

    Around the world, many great projects are changing the built environment and our infrastructure – but sometimes progress is slow and they slip off the radar. This column follows their development. North Sea Wind-powered offshore rig In 2017 Netherlands-based oil and gas company ONE-Dyas discovered the N05-A oil field in the North Sea. It is located in an area known as GEMS – ‘Gateway to the Ems’ – at the mouth of the Ems River estuary on the border between the Netherlands and Germany. The project was given the go-ahead by the Dutch government in June 2022 when the final permits were granted. In December 2022 construction of the platform got under way at HSM Offshore Energy yard in Schiedam, Netherlands. The N05-A platform will be the first Dutch offshore gas treatment platform to…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Heart Aerospace’s hybrid-electric aircraft for short-haul travel to debut in 2028

    Heart Aerospace is developing a regional hybrid-electric aircraft with a projected battery range of 200km for short-haul flights. In 2021, the Swedish start-up announced its intention to “decarbonise and democratise air travel” with the development of a 19-passenger all-electric short-range airliner, the ES-19. This then evolved into the 30-passenger ES-30. Rather than being fully electric, Heart decided that to extend the range of the aircraft it would include a “reserve-hybrid” configuration. This set-up enables a fully electric range of 200km, in which the four electric propeller motors are powered solely by BAE Systems-designed batteries, and an extended hybrid range of 400km, in which the motors are powered by two aviation-fuel-burning turbo generators. With a lighter load of 25…

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