• Nokia CEO makes world’s first ‘immersive’ phone call over a cellular network

    Nokia has made the first cellular call using the new 3GPP Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS) codec, which enables users to hear 3D spatial sound in a fully immersive real-time experience. Currently, calls via smartphones over a cellular network are monophonic: the audio is compressed into a single channel rendering the sounds flatter and less detailed. However, Nokia has been working to change that with IVAS, a new voice and audio codec standardised by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), which brings together standards organisations to develop mobile protocols. IVAS technology, which is part of the upcoming 5G Advanced standard, enables high-quality, live immersive audio across any connected device, including smartphones, tablets and PCs. The technology enables a three…

  • Extreme weather causes $41bn in damages and 2,500 deaths in just six months

    Extreme weather has been responsible for an estimated $41bn in damages and 2,500 deaths in just the six months since COP28, Christian Aid has said. The charity pinpointed four extreme weather events in that time that were all scientifically shown to have been made more likely or more intense by climate change. These included: – Flooding in south and south-west Asia, which killed at least 214 people and resulted in $850m in insured damages in the UAE alone. – Simultaneous heat waves in west, south and south-east Asia that killed over 1,500 people in Myanmar, despite the fact that heat deaths are “notoriously under-reported”. The heatwave is expected to slow growth and increase inflation. – Finally, cyclones in east Africa, which caused flooding that killed 559 people, and was made about…

  • Genetics testing company 23andMe to be probed over a data breach that affected 7 million users

    Data protection watchdogs in Canada and the UK have announced a joint investigation into a data breach at genetics testing company 23andMe that affected seven million customers in 2023. Since 2006, San Francisco-based genetic testing company 23andMe has sold over 12 million DNA testing kits. It analyses customers’ saliva to provide insights into health and ancestry. In October 2023, 23andMe reported a security breach in which hackers gained access to the personal information of millions of customers by using old passwords. In some cases, the information accessed included family trees, birth years and geographic locations. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) in the UK and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) will examine the scope of information that was exposed…

  • Apple to integrate AI into MacOS, iOS and Siri later this year

    Apple has announced plans to integrate AI, including ChatGPT, into its mobile and desktop operating systems, as well as its Siri personal assistant. Dubbed ‘Apple Intelligence’, the plan will see its devices gain new abilities, such as being able to understand and create language and images, take action across apps and draw from personal context to simplify and accelerate everyday tasks. The new features could be particularly useful in educational settings, where they will allow users to tidy up notes taken during meetings or seminars. A ‘Rewrite’ tool can alter text for use in specific situations, such as a presentation or a meeting. Apple has long positioned itself as an advocate for privacy online, but maximising the utility of AI as a personal assistant relies on understanding personal…

  • The EU’s initiative to create a highly accurate digital twin of Earth goes live

    The European Commission has activated the Destination Earth (DestinE) digital twin system from the LUMI Supercomputer Center in Kajaani, Finland. Launched in 2022, DestinE is a flagship initiative of the European Commission that aims to develop a highly accurate digital twin of the Earth. The model will monitor, simulate and predict the interaction between natural phenomena and human activities. The aim is that with this data we will be better prepared to respond to major natural disasters, adapt to climate change and assess the potential socioeconomic and policy impacts of such events. “The launch of the initial Destination Earth is a true game changer in our fight against climate change,” said Margrethe Vestager, executive vice-president for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age. “DestinE…

  • LinkedIn forced to disable advertising tool for European users in compliance with EU ‘rulebook’

    LinkedIn has disabled a feature allowing advertisers to target European users based on membership in ‘LinkedIn Groups’ after concerns over compliance with rules set out in the European Commission’s Digital Services Act (DSA). In August 2023, Europe’s landmark rules for online platforms – the DSA – came into effect, which aims to rein in Big Tech and protect the safety of users online. The law aims to create a ‘rulebook’ for online platforms by regulating companies’ content moderation policies and advertising practices. It also requires that platforms share details of their algorithms with regulators and, in certain cases, independent researchers. The latest platform to make changes under this act is Microsoft-owned LinkedIn. Following complaints that advertisers were able to target users…

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    E+T Magazine

  • UK energy import reliance will grow if renewables are not boosted, think tank warns

    As the North Sea’s oil and gas output declines, the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) calls on the next government to support renewable energy to prevent reliance on foreign energy imports over the next five years. The UK climate think tank has published a new report – Future energy security – that finds that the rise in British renewables will play a much larger role in bolstering the UK’s energy security than potential new domestic oil and gas production. The UK’s energy mix is currently dominated by oil and gas, and the decline in North Sea oil and gas production since the turn of the century has caused imports to rise. According to the report, in 2024 around 66% of the end-use energy used by consumers requires imported energy. This includes imported gas and oil-based fuels…

  • Group of 17 secondary schools in London collectively decide to ban smartphones

    A group of state schools in Southwark, south London, have announced they will go smartphone-free, including confiscating phones used at school. There has been much media coverage in recent years of young people’s addiction to their smartphones and encountering potentially harmful content online. In April 2024, Ofcom revealed that around a quarter of children aged five to seven (24%) own a smartphone. It also found that the use of social media sites or apps in this age group has increased year-on-year. The UK government has saod that it is aware of this growing issue but has yet to take decisive regulatory action. At the end of last year, it announced it was looking at different options to improve parental controls and regulate the online world, with an outright ban for under-16s being…

  • Engineering report calls on next government to commit to a bold, long-term industrial strategy

    The National Engineering Policy Centre (NEPC), led by the Royal Academy of Engineering, has launched a policy document that is calling on the next government to take a bold, long-term and holistic approach to tackling complex challenges. The report – Engineering a resilient and prosperous future: policy priorities for the next UK parliament – which is directed to all political parties, outlines the importance of engineering to help tackle the complex challenges we are facing today. It argues that reversing persistently low economic growth involves fostering innovation, supporting small businesses and investing in strategic sectors. This will enable the UK to tackle climate change, upgrade our ageing infrastructure and build warm and healthy homes, as well as shape the role the UK plays…

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  • Over 40 companies show commitment to stop space junk by signing ESA’s Zero Debris Charter

    More than 40 companies, research centres and international organisations have signed the Zero Debris Charter from the European Space Agency (ESA), showing a commitment to ensure future missions become debris neutral in space by 2030. According to ESA, there are currently 130 million pieces of space debris larger than a millimetre orbiting Earth. Not only does this ‘space junk’ pose a threat to satellites and spacecraft, several of which have been damaged or destroyed already, but once a week a satellite or rocket body reenters uncontrollably through our atmosphere. In November 2023, ESA introduced an internal standard to significantly limit the production of debris in Earth and Lunar orbits by 2030 from its own missions. This ‘zero debris approach’ will rely on debris mitigation and remediation…

  • Clean energy investments expected to hit $2tn in 2024 – double that of fossil fuels

    Global investment in clean energy technologies and infrastructure is expected to hit $2tn (£1.6bn) in 2024, twice that likely spent on fossil fuels, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said. But while the figures suggest ramping-up investment in low-carbon energy, the amount spent on oil and gas is still too high to meet 2050 climate goals. The increased funding was largely due to improving supply chains and lower costs for clean technologies, the IEA report found, although it warned that that there are still “major imbalances” and shortfalls in energy investment flows in many parts of the world. It highlights the low level of clean energy spending in emerging and developing economies outside China, which is set to exceed $300bn for the first time – led by India and Brazil. Yet…

  • Boeing’s oft-delayed Starliner achieves first manned flight

    Boeing’s long-delayed Starliner finally achieved its first crewed launch yesterday, which saw Nasa astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams undertake a 25-hour flight to the International Space Station (ISS). The lift-off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, which is located on an island off the coast of Florida, was achieved without a hitch just before 11am local time on Wednesday morning. “This crew flight test represents the beginning of a new era of space exploration as we watch astronauts Wilmore and Williams put Boeing’s Starliner through its paces on the way to the ISS,” said Ted Colbert, CEO for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “This is a great start. We look forward to getting the astronauts safely to the space station and back home.” The launch of Starliner means…

  • UK quantum company reaches new milestones on the path to powerful quantum computers

    Quantinuum has announced that its H-Series processor has surpassed the ability to be simulated by the world’s best supercomputers, enabling the company to “extend the lead in the race towards fault tolerant quantum computing.” The UK quantum computing company has announced a major qubit (or quantum bit) count enhancement to its flagship System Model H2 quantum computer from 32 to 56 trapped-ion qubits. Formed in 2021 by Honeywell and Cambridge Quantum, Quantinuum has to date raised approximately $625m to further the development and commercialisation of quantum computing. Its mission is to see the quantum computing industry depart the era when quantum computers could be simulated by a classical computer. This has been achieved, with the announcement that its upgraded H2-1 from 32 to 56…

  • Moving towards low-carbon industry with proactive services for motors and drives

    As the world advances to a low-carbon future, industrial businesses should be looking to significantly reduce their carbon footprint. As Erich Labuda, ABB’s president of motion services, writes, one answer lies in proactively servicing motor-driven systems. Electric motor-driven systems serve as a critical part of global industry, powering everything from manufacturing and transportation to vital infrastructure. Collectively, industrial businesses around the world run on more than 300 million of them. Nevertheless, many of these systems are not operating at peak efficiency, and this is having a huge impact on both business and the planet. If all these motor-driven systems were optimised, global electricity usage could be reduced by up to 10%, according to the International Energy Agency…

  • Harnessing the power of AI and machine learning to accelerate AEC projects

    Arnab Ghosh, global sales engineering director at Accuris, a provider of technology solutions to optimise workflows, looks at how harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies can help accelerate the design and construction of large infrastructure projects. The architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries have long been characterised by formal processes and rigorous methodologies, honed over decades of informed engineering practices. When it comes to the design and planning of large-scale critical infrastructure projects – such as airports, bridges and ports – the sheer volume of factors to consider is astronomical. From identifying and adhering to stringent regulatory standards to navigating variables like climate change, traffic implications…

  • Lack of skilled electricians to meet net zero targets, warns trade association

    The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) is calling on the next government to prioritise investment in the electrical skills necessary to achieve the UK’s net zero goals. As we ramp up the installation of renewable technologies in our transition to net zero, such as solar panels, heat pumps and electric vehicle infrastructure, the demand for a skilled electrical workforce to install and maintain these technologies is becoming increasingly urgent. However, the ECA, a UK trade association representing electrical, electrotechnical and other engineering contractors, warns that the industry faces a significant shortfall in skilled electricians. According to ECA, despite over 20,000 aspiring electricians enrolling in classroom-based electrical courses annually, fewer than 10% advance to…

  • Devastating Brazil floods will become more common if emissions are not cut, scientists warn

    A new study by World Weather Attribution (WAA) reveals that human-driven climate change made the recent extreme rainfall in Southern Brazil two to three times as likely. This comes as a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) finds that countries around the world are falling short on renewable energy targets for 2030. Between 24 April and 4 May 2024 Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul experienced unprecedented rainfall. It led to catastrophic flooding that resulted in 80,000 displaced people, 150,000 injuries and 169 fatalities. The persistent rainfall also caused disruption to essential services, leaving 418,200 households without electricity and more than a million households without potable water. Being a region focused on agriculture, there has also been…

  • Battery-powered trains could cut CO2 while saving Britain’s railways £3.5bn

    ‘Bi-mode’ trains that operate on battery power when not using an electrified track could save Britain’s railways £3.5bn and 12 million tonnes of CO2 over a 35-year period, Siemens Mobility has said. The trains, which would be assembled at the firm’s manufacturing facility in Goole, East Yorkshire, could be powered by overhead wires on already-electrified routes, then switch to battery power where wires are absent. Only small sections of the routes or particular stations would have to be electrified, making it much quicker and less disruptive to replace diesel trains compared with full electrification. Siemens also said it had developed a way to fast-charge the train’s batteries at key points along the route, using infrastructure that can be plugged directly into the domestic grid. Last…

  • Construction gets underway at new substation to help power Sunderland’s new gigafactories

    National Grid has announced that work has begun on the new Hylton Castle substation, which will connect nearby gigafactories and other businesses to the electricity grid. The 275kV Hylton Castle substation is being built at the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) in Sunderland. The hope is to have it complete and energised in 2026. The substation will provide a new grid connection for Nissan, AESC UK and Sunderland City Council’s ambitious EV36Zero electric vehicle (EV) hub at IAMP, which includes EV manufacture, battery production and a renewable energy microgrid. In November 2023, Nissan announced that it would invest an additional £2bn into its Sunderland manufacturing plant to produce three EV models, meaning the EV36Zero hub will now consist of three gigafactories. …

  • ‘The future of computing is accelerated’, says Nvidia’s CEO at major tech expo

    Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang made several AI-related announcements during his two-hour keynote at Computex, a computer and tech trade fair held annually in Taipei, Taiwan. “Generative AI is reshaping industries and opening new opportunities for innovation and growth,” said Huang as he kicked off his keynote to an audience of 6,500 ahead of the four-day trade show taking place this week. “Today, we’re at the cusp of a major shift in computing. The intersection of AI and accelerated computing is set to redefine the future,” he added. While Nvidia only very recently introduced its Blackwell platform, which Huang called the engine to power generative AI, he now announced that the Rubin platform will succeed the upcoming Blackwell platform, featuring new GPUs, a new Arm-based CPU –…

  • AI is bridging the gap between physical and digital engineering

    By Keith Perrin, Dr. Kambiz Kayvansash and Dr. Guillaume Boisot, Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the convergence of physical and digital realms is no longer a distant vision—it’s a reality unfolding before our eyes. Nowhere is this more evident than in the field of Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE). As we stand at the precipice of this transformation, let’s explore the implications and possibilities in this future. Current practices in CAE stand at the forefront of this convergence, because high-quality physics-based simulations can accurately represent the tangible world of physical prototypes with the limitless possibilities of digital simulations. The cloud democratizes access to simulation, enabling engineers and designers to…

  • New deal with Scottish farmers will see farmland used for solar installations

    The National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) has signed a deal with a solar power and battery developer that will see a marginal amount of productive farmland being developed for solar installations. The NFUS, which represents more than 9,000 Scottish farming and crofting businesses, has signed a new ‘affinity’ deal with Iqony Solar Energy Solutions (SENS) UK – a division of Iqony SENS, a large multi-national solar and battery developer, engineering contractor and independent power provider. The deal aims to ensure that only a marginal amount of productive farmland is used for solar installations, with the two organisations working closely to identify suitable sites for PV technology and battery projects. Once the sites have been identified, SENS will own and develop them, with the landowners…

  • No new fossil fuel projects needed in the transition to net zero, study finds

    A new study by researchers from University College London (UCL) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) finds that there is “no room for new fossil fuel projects in a 1.5°C-aligned world”. At the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) in late 2023, 198 governments officially recognised the urgency to “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems” in order to reach net zero targets by 2050. However, oil and gas producers continue to expand exploration and drill for resources, and are being supported by governments. Indeed, the Australian government recently released a strategy outlining how the country will ramp up production and use of gas until ‘2050 and beyond’. According to IISD figures, governments collectively expect to produce 29…

  • Energy on an Industrial Scale: Enhancing Resilience in UK Manufacturing

    In the wake of unprecedented energy cost spikes, UK manufacturing faces a critical challenge. Over 60% of businesses were on the brink of closure due to soaring energy prices, according to Make UK. While prices have somewhat stabilised, they remain high, threatening future stability and resilience. This whitepaper delves into the current energy landscape, explores its impact on manufacturing, and provides actionable insights for improving energy efficiency and resilience. Fill out your details here to download the whitepaper now and discover strategies to safeguard your operations and enhance competitiveness in a volatile energy market.

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    E+T Magazine

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