• From today, internet-enabled devices must meet new cyber-security standards by law

    New legislation in the UK requires manufacturers of smart products to implement minimum security standards against cyber threats. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has put into force new regulations stipulating that all internet-enabled smart devices, from phones and broadband routers to games consoles and connected fridges, must meet minimum security standards. This means that it is now a legal requirement for manufacturers to protect both individuals and businesses from cyber attacks on their devices. These new laws include manufacturers banning the use of weak or easily guessable default passwords such as ‘admin’ or ‘12345’. If the password is common, the user must be given the opportunity to change it on start-up. Manufacturers are also required to publish…

  • Green Energy Park secures $30m to build 10.8GW hydrogen production plant in Brazil

    Having secured $30m Series-A funding, Green Energy Park (GEP) is a step closer to building its large-scale renewable hydrogen production and export terminal facilities. GEP was founded in 2023 with the ambition of producing renewable hydrogen at scale. To do so it would need to build a minimum of eight production plants to supply a global distribution network. The first of these locations is in the state of Piauí in north-east Brazil. Here GEP will build a 10.8GW green hydrogen production plant over 310 hectares, which has the capacity to produce 2.4m tonnes of renewable hydrogen. GEP has announced it has secured $30m in Series-A funding to develop the production plant and has also obtained the long-term rights to the nearby port terminal facilities of Luís Correia. From the Luís Correia…

  • The Biden Administration cracks down on US power plant emissions

    Under new rules introduced by the US government, long-term coal power plants must control 90% of their carbon pollution if they plan to operate beyond 2039. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it has now finalised a suite of rules to reduce pollution from fossil fuel-fired power plants in a bid “to protect public health, advance environmental justice and confront the climate crisis”. These rules will set stricter emissions standards for existing coal plants and new natural gas plants and recommend carbon capture and storage technology for the emissions. In addition to carbon standards, the EPA also announced rules for coal ash management and toxic metal and water pollution from coal plants. The power sector is the second-largest contributor to greenhouse…

  • UK government’s SAF mandate will see 10% of all jet fuel going green by 2030

    The UK government has confirmed that the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate will come into force in January 2025, which sets out plans to ensure “air travel is fit for the future”. In September 2023, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced a revenue certainty mechanism to kickstart the SAF industry. To make this happen the DfT introduced an SAF mandate. This will require at least 10% of all jet fuel in flights taking off from the UK to come from sustainable feedstocks by 2030. The DfT has today confirmed that the SAF mandate will come into force in January 2025. SAFs are typically derived by combining jet fuel with alternatives such as biofuels or recycled oils from industrial food facilities to achieve carbon savings of up to 70%. In November 2023, the first-ever transatlantic…

  • UK competition watchdog to scrutinise Microsoft and Amazon’s AI partnerships

    The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced it is seeking views ahead of an examination into recent artificial intelligence (AI) deals by Microsoft and Amazon. In recent years, Big Tech companies have been investing heavily in generative AI start-ups. Such partnerships and arrangements in the AI market have become a concern for the UK’s competition watchdog, the CMA. The regulator has now invited “interested third parties” to comment on whether recent partnerships and arrangements concerning Microsoft and Amazon fall within UK merger rules and the impact these deals could have on competition in the UK. This includes Microsoft’s partnership with French start-up Mistral AI, which was founded in April 2023 by previous employees of Meta Platforms and Google DeepMind. Additionally…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Plastic production directly linked to plastic pollution, study finds

    A study undertaken by a consortium of global universities has found that for every 1% increase in plastic production there is an associated 1% increase in plastic pollution. The results of a research study, which started five years ago and was led by scientists from a dozen different universities across the world, uncover a strong relationship between plastic production and pollution across geographies and widely varying waste management systems. The researchers claim this is the first robust quantification of the global relationship between plastic production and pollution. The findings reveal that fast-moving consumer goods companies disproportionately contribute to plastic pollution more than household and retail companies. In fact, just 56 global companies are responsible for more…

  • US to ban TikTok unless Chinese parent company sells up

    The US Senate has passed a bill to ban the popular social media platform TikTok unless it is sold by its China-based owners. The social media platform TikTok has found itself in the news a great deal of late, and not for good reasons. Last year a number of governments, including those of Australia and the UK, banned the use of TikTok on government phones. In November 2023, the government of Nepal banned TikTok to “protect Nepal’s population from harmful content”. In December 2023, the UK government’s regulator Ofcom investigated TikTok over parental control concerns. Now, the US Senate has voted in favour of passing a bill to ban TikTok in the country if China-based parent company ByteDance does not sell it. The bill will now be sent to US President Joe Biden, who has previously said…

  • EU officially adopts new right-to-repair rules

    The European Union has adopted new right-to-repair rules that will make it easier and more cost-effective to repair broken devices. This will ‘empower consumers in the fight against climate change’ and bolster the repair sector. The rules clarify what manufacturers must do regarding the repair of broken products in a bid to encourage individuals to extend the lifecycle of their existing products rather than merely replacing them with something new. While the EU already requires manufacturers to offer a two-year minimum warranty on products, under the new rules goods repaired under warranty will benefit from an additional one-year extension of the warranty. Even after the warrant ends, manufacturers are still required to repair common household products that are technically repairable…

  • Girls’ continued reduced interest in STEM a ‘serious wake-up call’

    An EngineeringUK survey has found a stark gender gap in young people’s interest in engineering and science, and a sharp decline in practical work during STEM lessons. It’s no surprise that there is a gender gap between the interest girls and boys have in science and engineering at school. For a number of years we’ve been made aware of this gap. But what is news is that, despite the increase in awareness campaigns and various STEM initiatives, this gap is still as stark as ever. A new survey by the Royal Society in partnership with EngineeringUK includes various stats that not only reveal the differences in attitude to science and engineering between girls and boys, but also the sharp decline in practical science at school, which could help engage less interested students in the subject…

  • The challenges threatening successful deployment of 5G non-terrestrial networks

    Non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) are able to significantly extend coverage by moving from a terrestrial infrastructure to hybrid space. However, Keysight Technologies highlights the challenges that can threaten the successful deployment of these networks. We’ve all experienced our mobile phones not having service. If we are not connected to Wi-Fi and move too far away from our network’s base station, which is a terrestrial infrastructure, connection is lost. However, this is about to change with the advent of 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTNs). NTNs refer to a constellation of satellites or high-altitude platforms (HAPs) that function as relays, extending the coverage and capacity of terrestrial 5G networks. These networks present many benefits such as extended coverage, low latency…

  • Scientists to test undersea cable earthquake detection technique in Pacific Ocean

    Scientists from the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and New Zealand’s Measurement Standards Laboratory are set to carry out earthquake sensing tests in the Pacific Ocean using existing undersea optical fibre cables. It is incredible to think that more than 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, and much of this water in our seas and oceans remains largely unmonitored. Installing and maintaining permanent seabed sensors to monitor our oceans is challenging and expensive. However, UK metrology company NPL has created a technique that uses existing fibre optic cables to gather continuous, real-time environmental data from the seabed. By performing ultra-sensitive optical measurements, this technique does not require any new hardware or infrastructure – instead it ‘converts…

  • Machine learning helps UK biotech develop liver disease drugs that have led to a $1bn deal

    Oxford-based biotech company Ochre Bio is partnering with German-based Boehringer Ingelheim to develop treatments harnessing the liver’s natural capacity to regenerate. According to the British Liver Trust, chronic liver disease is the only major disease where death rates are rising. Compared with 1970, death rates from liver disease are four times higher today. In the UK, 10,000 people die annually from liver disease each year, which equates to 27 deaths a day. It’s not just the elderly who die from it either. According to the UK Health Security Agency, it is the largest killer of 35- to 49-year-olds in the UK. The only option for patients suffering from chronic liver disease is a liver transplant. However, these aren’t in ready supply. As the liver is the only organ that can regenerate…

  • UK government launches £8m fund to boost AI in the maritime sector

    The UK government has launched the £8m Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund to help the maritime sector harness the benefits of AI, which has the “potential to revolutionise the sector”. The fund aims to drive maritime innovation and move projects from the drawing board to reality. It will support feasibility studies for new technologies such as AI, robotics and autonomous vessels, with projects ranging from self-driving boats to automated systems at ports. For instance, applying these technologies at UK ports could lead to benefits such as reducing hazards, optimising port activities and cutting their environmental footprint. Maritime minister Lord Davies said: “Using AI and cutting-edge technology to make boats smarter and transform port operations is part of our plan to decarbonise shipping…

  • Chinese flying taxi sector is taking global lead thanks to supportive regulators

    China’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVOTL) company AutoFlight is achieving global milestones and is already ahead of competitors because of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) being “quite supportive” of the new industry. The eVTOL aircraft market is forecast to be big business. Analysis carried out by finance company Morgan Stanley estimates the market could be worth $1.5tn a year by 2040. Air mobility technologies such as eVTOL offer benefits for many sectors, from faster commutes in cities and improved logistics to use in agriculture and security operations. While there are a number of companies working on eVTOL solutions – indeed, the UK’s first vertiport testbed for developing next-generation eVTOLs was recently launched at a 444-acre estate in Oxfordshire…

  • 1.4GW Viking Link electricity cable connecting UK and Denmark has been launched

    The Viking Link, the longest land and subsea cable in the world, has now officially been launched by National Grid. With it first being announced in 2018 and its installation commencing in 2020, the project will have enough capacity to power up to 2.5 million UK homes. It is a 475-mile-long, 1.4GW-high voltage direct current (DC) electricity link between the British and Danish transmission systems connecting at Bicker Fen substation in Lincolnshire and Revsing substation in southern Jutland, Denmark. The estimated £1.8bn project has involved the construction of converter sites and the installation of a land and subsea cable, which for the first time connects British and Danish energy grids. According to National Grid, since the Viking Link commenced initial operations in December 2023…

  • Analysis shows widening gap between climate targets of private v publicly-listed companies

    On Earth Day, Net Zero Tracker (NZT) has released its latest analysis that reveals how far private firms are lagging behind their public counterparts in setting climate targets and, as a result, their readiness for incoming climate regulation. As its name suggests, NZT tracks the net zero commitments made by nations, states and regions, cities and major publicly-listed companies, and shows these results in a ‘living’ database. By doing this it aims to increase the transparency and accountability of the net zero targets pledged. In its latest analysis, NZT shows a widening gap between the climate targets of private v publicly-listed companies. Less than two-fifths of the world’s largest 100 private firms (38) have net zero targets, compared with the majority (70) of their publicly-owned…

  • Tesla forced to recall Cybertrucks over accelerator pedal fault

    Tesla has been forced to recall nearly 4,000 Cybertrucks because of a problem with the accelerator pedal that could cause drivers to crash. According to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the vehicles have a defect that could cause the accelerator pedal pad to dislodge and become trapped by the interior trim. Tesla has agreed to replace or repair affected owners’ pedal assembly free of charge. Tesla has long faced accusations of poor build quality in its vehicles, with owners previously complaining of gaps in between exterior panels and the use of poor-quality materials in comparison to makers of similarly-priced luxury cars. A reader survey from What Car? last year found that 42% of Tesla Model S owners reported having at least one issue with their vehicle after five…

  • Battery waste from small off-grid solar projects in Africa putting lives at risk, scientists warn

    Researchers from the University of Manchester have found that improper waste management practices for off-grid solar technologies in Malawi are releasing life-threatening levels of lead pollution. Getting energy from solar panels makes sense in areas of the world that receive sunshine most days of the year, such as Malawi in sub-Saharan Africa. Solar is often deemed to be a clean energy source for remote areas in countries that have no immediate connection to the national electricity grid. Such off-grid solar technologies are seen as crucial for expanding electricity access to hundreds of millions of people. Indeed, global energy companies are subsidising the installation of solar technology in these countries. However, researchers at the University of Manchester have uncovered a dark…

  • Scotland abandons ‘out of reach’ 2030 climate target

    The Scottish government has said it will abandon its 2030 target for reducing emissions after advisers said it was “not achievable”. In March, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) said that “continued delays” in implementing previously promised climate policies made the 2030 goal “beyond credible”. Speaking to the Scottish Parliament, net zero minister Mairi McAllan admitted that the target was “out of reach”, although plans to stick to a 2045 net zero goal will remain. She said new legislation will be brought forward to introduce multi-year ‘carbon budgets’ to replace the current annual targets. The CCC said that Scotland missed its annual target for 2021 for the eighth time in the previous 12 years. The only sectors to reduce emissions in 2021 were electricity supply and industry. Most…

  • More 5- to 7-year-olds are online than ever before, with many unsupervised – Ofcom

    Communications regulator Ofcom is preparing to consult on a set of proposals to ensure children are better protected online. This follows results from its annual study, which reveals young children are increasingly online and given more digital independence by parents. Many adults will readily admit that they spend more time on their smartphones than they should. Time seeps away as we scroll through various apps. Go anywhere these days – on a train, waiting in a queue or eating lunch in a cafe – and you’ll find people heads down and eyes on their phone. But what about our children? They are growing up with technology, but are we giving them access to technology too early and unsupervised at that? Ofcom has released some startling statistics from its annual study of children’s relationship…

  • Octopus suckers inspire robotic mechanism with potential for industrial applications

    Scientists at the University of Bristol are developing a new robotic suction cup inspired by octopus suckers that can grasp rough, curved and heavy stone. The average octopus has eight arms and 240 suckers per arm. These suckers offer the creatures superb adaptive suction abilities, enabling them to grasp onto various objects – including attaching to dry, complex surfaces such as rocks and shells. A research team based at the university’s Bristol Robotics Laboratory has been looking into just how these biological suckers work, with the aim of creating artificial suction cups that can be used in industrial environments. Currently, industrial solutions use air pumps to generate suction. However, many natural organisms with suckers, including octopuses, suckerfish and leeches, are able to…

  • Climate change will cost the world $38tn a year by 2050, study finds

    The negative impact of climate change on agricultural yields, labour productivity and infrastructure will cost the world an estimated $38tn annually by 2050, scientists at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) have said. In a study, they found the world is “already committed” to an income reduction of 19% until 2050 due to the impact of past emissions, even if CO2 emissions were to be drastically cut down from today. The damages incurred are an estimated six times larger than the mitigation costs needed to limit global warming to 2°C. “Strong income reductions are projected for the majority of regions, including North America and Europe, with South Asia and Africa being most strongly affected. These are caused by the impact of climate change on various aspects that are…

  • Offshore wind industry unveils plan to triple manufacturing over the next decade

    A coalition of industry bodies has unveiled a plan to triple the ability to manufacture offshore wind turbines in the UK in a bid to meet the government’s rapidly approaching energy decarbonisation deadline. RenewableUK, the Offshore Wind Industry Council, the Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland have all signed up to the Industrial Growth Plan, which will supposedly support an additional 10,000 jobs a year and boost the UK’s economy by £25bn between now and 2035. According to the plan, the UK needs around 300 giant turbine towers to be built every year between now and 2030 to deliver meet the targets. But the analysis also finds that supply chain constraints in many of the key components needed in offshore wind farms are already starting to be felt in the global market, and that the…

  • Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot Atlas enters a new electric era

    Following the recent ‘retirement’ of the hydraulic-powered Atlas, Boston Dynamics has unveiled an all-new electric version of its humanoid robot that is destined for use in real-world applications. In 2013, Boston Dynamics, an engineering and robotics design company based in Boston, US, released its 6.2ft humanoid robot Atlas. Over the ensuing years we’ve seen many videos of the hydraulic-powered Atlas hopping, jumping, dancing and even tossing tool bags around a (fake) construction site. Eleven years later, Boston Dynamics has announced it’s time for Atlas to “kick back and relax” in retirement. In its stead, the robotics company has unveiled an all-new electric version of Atlas. Unlike its predecessor, this new electric Atlas, which features a ring light on its rounded head, along with…

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