• ESA forecasting service will protect satellites from solar storms

    Scientists at Graz University of Technology and the University of Graz have developed a solar storm forecasting system. It is now officially part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Space Safety Programme.  Solar storms can often cause satellites to crash or knock them off their orbit. In early February 2022, a solar storm passing Earth caused the loss of 38 Starlink satellites.  The forecast service is freely available through the ESA Space Weather Service and offers a warning with a lead time of around 15 hours. Solar orbiter - Nasa/ESA Image credit: ESA/ATG medialab Scientists have already studied the potentially dangerous effects of solar storms on satellite orbit.  SODA is based on the findings of SWEETS, a project funded by the Austrian Research Promotion

  • Automated malaria detection system developed using AI and a microscope

    Each year, more than 200 million people fall sick with malaria and more than half a million of these infections lead to death. The World Health Organization recommends parasite-based diagnosis before starting treatment for the disease. Doctors use a variety of diagnostic methods, including conventional light microscopy, rapid diagnostic tests and polymerase chain reaction. The standard for malaria diagnosis remains manual light microscopy, during which a specialist examines blood films with a microscope to confirm the presence of malaria parasites. But the accuracy of the results depends on the skills of the microscopist. “At an 88 per cent diagnostic accuracy rate relative to microscopists, the AI system identified malaria parasites almost, though not quite, as well as experts,” said…

  • Scientists turn plastic waste into soap

    The method could be effective in recycling plastics from milk cartons, food containers and plastic bags, say researchers at the Virginia Tech College of Science.  The chemical structure of polyethylene – one of the most commonly used plastics in the world today – is strikingly similar to that of fatty acids, which are used as a chemical precursor to soap. Both materials are made of long carbon chains, but fatty acids have an extra group of atoms at the end of the chain. Due to this chemical similarities, the research team set  out to develop a process to convert polyethylene into fatty acids, which could then be used to produce soap.  Guoliang ‘Greg’ Liu , associate professor of  chemistry, came up with the idea while looking at a fireplace. He then began to wonder what would happen if…

  • Widespread study claims Facebook does not cause its users psychological harm

    The study used wellbeing data from nearly a million people across 72 countries over 12 years and also harnessed individual usage data from millions of Facebook users worldwide. “Although reports of negative psychological outcomes associated with social media are common in academic and popular writing, evidence for harms is, on balance, more speculative than conclusive,” the research paper states. In 2017, Facebook’s director of research at the time admitted that there was evidence to suggest that scrolling through posts without interacting can leave users feeling low in mood. But according to Professor Andrew Przybylski, leader of the new study, “the best available data” does not support the idea that Facebook membership is related to harm. “In fact, our analysis indicates Facebook is…

  • Sponsored: Free poster, validating e-mobility charging interfaces

    Download this free poster, Validating E-Mobility Charging Interfaces, to get a deeper understanding of the industry standards modern electric vehicle and charging equipment designs must conform to, in order to ensure safety, efficiency, and interoperability across various charging interfaces of the V2G ecosystem. Click here to view the registration page . Key Learning Outcomes: Visualise the EV Charging Test Ecosystem Get a deeper understanding of the test standards for charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) Learn how to ensure EV/EVSE safety, interoperability, conformance, and durability with Keysight’s Charging Discovery System (CDS) emulation technology Download free poster

  • Dam works have flooded over a million acres of tribal land in the US, study finds

    The floods caused by US dam constructions have raised concerns about the destruction of ecosystems and the cultural heritage and livelihoods of Native people. A team of researchers at the Universities of Pennsylvania and Arizona has found that as much as 1.13 million acres of tribal land in the US have been submerged as a result of the construction of 424 dams all around the country.  The data has been taken from records held by federal Indian reservations and Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Areas (OTSAs) alongside the locations of nearly 8000 dams across the US and the size of their reservoirs. “The consequences of dam-induced land loss are far-reaching. The disruption of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems not only devastates natural resources but also destroys culturally significant sites…

  • Hackers gain access to UK voters’ data following cyber attack

    The Electoral Commission has revealed it has been the subject of a “complex cyber attack” that made copies of electoral registers from August 2021 accessible to hackers. The attack went undetected for over a year and was only identified in October 2022, the elections watchdog has admitted.  The Commission said it has not identified the authors of the attack, adding it is “difficult to accurately predict a figure” for how many people’s data had been affected.  In a public notice, the Commission admitted the attackers would have been able to access the names and addresses of anyone in the UK who was registered to vote between 2014 and 2022, as well as the names of overseas voters. This would make it one of the largest data breaches to take place in the UK.  These records are kept by the…

  • Water firms face £800m legal action over claims of under-reporting sewage spills

    Water companies have been consistently under-reporting the number of times they cause pollution incidents and overcharging customers as a result, according to legal firm Leigh Day, which is bringing a collective case against Severn Trent Water, Thames Water, United Utilities, Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water.  Professor Carolyn Roberts, an environmental and water consultant represented by Leigh Day, is bringing the claims on behalf of more than 20 million household customers. The first claim alone, against Severn Trent Water, is brought on behalf of 8 million customers with an estimated value of more than £330m. If the six claims are successful, they are expected to lead to compensation payments of over £800m. In May, Water UK, which represents England’s nine water…

  • Video platform T&Cs so complex they can take an hour to read, Ofcom says

    In its Regulating Video-Sharing Platforms report, Ofcom found that the terms and conditions of the platforms can take a long time to read – at nearly 16,000 words, OnlyFans had the longest terms of service, which would take the average adult user over an hour to read. This was followed by Twitch (27 minutes, 6,678 words), Snapchat (20 minutes, 4,903 words), TikTok (19 minutes, 4,773 words), Brand New Tube (10 minutes, 2,492 words) and BitChute (eight minutes, 2,017 words). Ofcom calculated a ‘reading ease’ score for each platform’s terms of service. All but one was assessed as being “difficult to read and best understood by high-school graduates”. Twitch’s terms were found to be the most difficult to read while TikTok was the only platform with terms of service likely to be understood by…

  • Harmful contaminants in space-station dust could lead to design changes

    University of Birmingham scientists have analysed dust samples and found levels of organic contaminants higher than the median values found in US and western European homes. The team said the findings could help guide the design and construction of future spacecraft. Contaminants found in the ‘space dust’ included those used in many countries to meet fire safety regulations in consumer and commercial applications such as electrical and electronic equipment, building insulation, furniture fabrics and foams. They also found contaminants typically emitted from the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels, the likes of which are used in space travel. Forever chemicals, or PFAS , were discovered in the dust that are typically used in applications like stain-proofing agents for fabrics and clothing…

  • Robotic sea turtle could help lead hatchlings to safety

    The team of researchers designed and built  a robotic sea turtle , which they are testing in varied environments on Notre Dame’s campus. Sea turtles are intriguing animals for scientists due to their locomotive adaptability, which allows them to glide through ocean waters and manoeuvre like armoured vehicles over rocks and sand on land. Now, the team at Notre Dame believes they have been able to recreate the animal’s unique gait and propulsion. The robot mimics a real sea turtle’s propulsion: its front flippers move it forward, while its smaller hind flippers allow it to change direction. Nnamdi Chikere and John Simon McElroy with the robot sea turtle model / University of Notre Dame Image credit: University of Notre Dame Yasemin Ozkan-Aydin, assistant professor…

  • Book review: 'The Seven Measures of the World' by Piero Martin

    The Seven Measures of the World (Yale University Press, £18.99, ISBN: 9780300266276) is a guide to the natural world through seven units of measurement: the metre, the second, the kilogram, the kelvin, the ampere, the mole, and the candela. With these seven measurements, Martin argues, we can understand the universe. The book begins with a sketch of a moment from our recent history: 1960. Elvis was at the top of the charts, the Beatles had just formed, and, at the 11th General Conference of Weights and Measures, the SI system of measurements was adopted: “At last humanity had a coherent architecture for measurement, whose seven basic units defined a complete and universal language for measuring not only our own small world but all of nature, from the most obscure subatomic recesses to the…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Britishvolt buyer misses payment deadline, raising doubts about deal

    EY, the administrators of Britishvolt, has claimed that Australian firm Recharge Industries has defaulted on its agreement after missing the final instalment of a total payment of £8.57m, which was due on 5 April 2023.  “The sale to the buyer had not been completed as the final amount of deferred consideration was due to be paid on 5 April 2023,” EY told creditors last week. “The buyer purchased the company’s business and assets for £8.57m. This amount was payable in a number of instalments. “The final instalment remains unpaid and overdue. As a result, the buyer is in default of the business sale agreement.” Recharge Industries has denied the accusations, stating: “ We dispute we are in default. ” The Australian start-up agreed to buy the defunct battery maker in February after Britishvolt…

  • Antarctica biodiversity faces devastation without rapid emission reductions

    Researchers have warned that without drastic and immediate action, Antarctica’s fragile environments “may well be subject to considerable stress and damage in future years and decades”. The study, published in Frontiers in Environmental Science, reviewed evidence of extreme events in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, including weather, sea ice, ocean temperatures, glacier and ice shelf systems, and biodiversity on land and sea. “Antarctic change has global implications,” said lead author Professor Martin Siegert, from the University of Exeter. “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero is our best hope of preserving Antarctica, and this must matter to every country – and individual – on the planet.” He also warned that rapid changes in Antarctica could place many countries in breach…

  • Ofgem urged to scrap energy price cap to boost market competition

    The EPC was originally brought in under Theresa May’s government as a time-limited intervention to protect customers from price-gouging from energy firms. But a report from the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS), a centre-right think tank, said that since the 2022 energy crisis began, the EPC now functions as the “de facto price” for 29 million households, or almost the entire market. Ofgem has also introduced policies that actively disincentivise firms from trying to attract new customers, the CPS added, which has effectively frozen the energy market, creating higher prices for consumers. It called on the government to remove the EPC in its current form while strengthening protections for those who genuinely need support. The research shows that for nearly two years, almost all tariffs…

  • Commercial space station could succeed ISS

    The transatlantic joint venture aims to develop, build and operate a space station that brings together A merican and European interests in space exploration, the company said.  Starlab was among the initial concepts selected by Nasa to receive $160m (£126m) in funding in 2021 as part of a project to design the station that would replace the ISS as the base for international space missions. Two years later, Airbus Defence and Voyager Space have announced they will continue working on the project, with Airbus stepping up from the role of technical consultant to become Starlab’s co-owner. Other partners include Hilton  and Nanoracks, another Voyager Space company. Coming soon to a low-Earth orbit near you... @VoyagerSH and @AirbusSpace have signed an agreement to pave the way for a…

  • Increased antibiotic resistance linked to higher air pollution

    North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia have the highest levels of antibiotic resistance, while Europe and North America have the lowest. Almost half a million premature deaths in 2018 were linked to antibiotic resistance potentially resulting from air pollution, costing global economies an additional $395bn. The study from researchers at Zhejiang University in China suggests that meeting World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines by 2050 could reduce antibiotic resistance by 17 per cent and prevent 23 per cent of associated premature deaths, which would deliver annual economic savings of $640bn (£500bn). Although the misuse and overuse of antibiotics are the main drivers of antibiotic resistance, evidence suggests that particulate matter PM2.5 can contain antibiotic…

  • Most domestic abuse cases feature spyware and remote monitoring, MPs warn

    MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee launched an inquiry last year to consider the potential harms of connected technology such as smart speakers, virtual assistants and wearable fitness trackers. It is estimated that there are roughly nine connected devices in every household in the UK, while by 2050 there will be 24 billion interconnected devices worldwide. Evidence to the Committee suggested that most domestic abuse cases now include the use of spyware, with perpetrators monitoring movements and collecting recordings and images of victims and survivors. In a report, it called on the government to make efforts to improve the skills of law enforcement and the response of the criminal justice system, while boosting awareness of specialist services tackling violence against women…

  • Most Britons want energy grid to be expanded to support renewables

    Carried out by Survation on behalf of RenewableUK, the poll found that nearly two-thirds of people (64 per cent) support the development of new infrastructure, while only 5 per cent oppose it. Support was found to be even higher among those who voted Conservative in the last general election, with 71 per cent in favour and 6 per cent opposed. Last week Nick Winser, the former boss of the National Grid, warned that if the UK did not improve its electricity transmission system it risks being unable to take full advantage of new wind and nuclear power facilities. This was something that was reflected in the poll, with 51 per cent of people agreeing that the lack of new grid infrastructure was the biggest barrier to making the most of new renewable energy sources. The polling also showed…

  • UK’s new car market surges with one EV being registered every minute

    This marks a turnaround from earlier this year, when the growth in demand for electric vehicles (EVs) fell due to high energy costs and concerns over insufficient charging infrastructure. According to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the new car market grew 28.3 per cent in July, with 143,921 new vehicles registered. Despite challenging economic conditions, the market has enjoyed non-stop growth for a full year as supply chain challenges have eased, production has increased and deliveries have been fulfilled. In 2021, the sector saw its worst July output since 1956 as it struggled with ongoing staff shortages associated with the ‘pingdemic’, on top of strained semiconductor supplies. A year later, though, the chip shortage began to ease, leading…

  • Scientists design ‘game-changing’ batteries that work without external pressure

    The team has been able to create a stand-alone thin-film version of lithium phosphorus oxynitride (LiPON), a solid-state electrolyte.  The free-standing versions of LiPON (FS-LiPON) film underwent several functional battery tests that showed it was able to promote a uniformly dense lithium metal electrochemical deposition under zero external pressure.  Lithium metal batteries have been a topic of interest for many years due to their high energy density. However, their practical application has been limited due to safety concerns and lithium’s tendency to form dendrites, which can cause short circuits and reduce the battery’s lifespan. LiPON has been described as “potentially game-changing” as it could allow for the development of a new type of lithium metal battery that functions with…

  • London Mayor expands scrappage scheme for vehicles not compliant with ULEZ

    Last month, the Tories narrowly held on to the seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip in a by-election that Labour expected to win. Many commentators chalked the party’s loss up to the unpopularity of the ULEZ scheme in London’s outer boroughs. Khan said that expanding the zone at the end of this month “was a difficult but necessary decision” and vowed not to back down. Owners of non-compliant vehicles will face a £12.50 charge when driving into the zone. Air pollution is estimated to be responsible for around 4,000 premature deaths in London each year while causing other long-term conditions such as stunted lungs and asthma. Car and motorcycle scrappage funds were initially prioritised for low-income and disabled Londoners. But the latest scrappage grants will provide up to £2,000 to all…

  • Cornwall tests lifesaving drone service

    The drone service is is being tested at Crantock Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, as part of an operational lifeguard service.  The trial is being carried out by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) and the RNLI, with drones developed by Eagle Eye Innovations (EEI).  The drones, manufactured by Swell Pro, are waterproof and capable of improving observation of people in the water, broadcasting pre-recorded and live messages via a Tannoy system, and have the potential to deploy lifesaving equipment such as inflatable buoys.  “The River Gannel that runs through the middle of Crantock Beach makes access across the broad expanse of beach and to the water’s edge difficult for our patrol vehicles,” said Peter Dawes, RNLI lifeguard operations manager.  “The drone will allow the lifeguards…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Report finds renewables expansion requires UK electricity network revamp

    Nick Winser, who now provides independent advice to ministers on electricity network issues, said that, while challenging, speeding up the delivery of strategic electricity transmission lines is “vital and achievable”. Winser also suggests that new power lines could be built in half the time compared to current infrastructure. He has put forward a set of recommendations to reduce timescales for delivering onshore transmission network infrastructure to seven years to help deliver energy security more quickly. It currently takes around 12 to 14 years to get new big transmission lines up and running, the report said – around twice the time it takes to put up a large wind farm. The energy security secretary, Grant Shapps, welcomed the report, saying he will consider the recommendations before…

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