• Europe’s newest weather satellite reveals Earth in all her (cloudy) beauty

    Europe’s meteorological satellite agency, EUMETSAT, and the European Space Agency (ESA) jointly released the image from the first satellite in the new generation of European weather satellites, Meteosat Third Generation – Imager 1 (MTG-I1). MTG-I1 was launched on 13 December 2022. The image, captured by the satellite’s imager at 11:50 UTC on 18 March 2023, shows much of Northern and Western Europe and Scandinavia cloaked in clouds, with relatively clear skies over Italy and the Western Balkans. Details it contains, such as cloud vortices over the Canary Islands, snow cover on the Alps and sediment in the water along the coast of Italy, are not as clearly visible, or not visible at all, in imagery from the instruments on the current Meteosat Second Generation satellites. Crucially for…

  • UK competition regulator to review AI market

    The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an official review into foundational AI models, used to train and support popular tools such as ChatGPT.  The investigation aims to "ensure that innovation in AI continues in a way that benefits consumers, businesses and the UK economy", according to the regulator. It is expected to asses the rapid rise of foundational models, and recommend principles that would continue to support this growth in a way that does not harm consumers.  The announcement comes amid growing concerns over the rapid development of generative AI. Over the last few months, AI-powered chatbots such as OpenAI’s   ChatGPT   have seen a dramatic rise in popularity. These free tools can  generate text in response to a prompt, including articles, essays, jokes and…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Littered cigarette filters shown to have toxic effect on aquatic life

    Researchers from the University of Gothenburg have called for the filters - one of the most common forms of litter - to be completely banned. “The filter is full of thousands of toxic chemicals and microplastic fibres, so it’s not just any piece of plastic that’s being discarded into the environment. It’s hazardous waste,” says Bethanie Carney Almroth, professor of ecotoxicology at the University of Gothenburg. The researchers tested the effects of the toxins that are found in the filter after smoking, as well as the substances that are in the filter from the start, on aquatic mosquito larvae. It turns out that the toxins lead to a 20 per cent higher mortality rate among mosquito larvae. Previous research has shown that the toxins in the filters also have adverse effects on many other…

  • Scientists see ‘future of the Earth’ as dying star swallows Jupiter-sized planet

    In a world-first, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) scientists have witnessed the death of a star, which caused it to engulf a planet the size of Jupiter. The planetary demise appears to have taken place in our own galaxy, some 12,000 light-years away, near the eagle-like constellation Aquila. There, astronomers spotted an outburst from a star that became more than 100 times brighter over just 10 days, before quickly fading away. This white-hot flash was followed by a colder, longer-lasting signal, the researchers reported, concluding that it could only have been produced by one event: a star engulfing a nearby planet.  “We were seeing the end-stage of the swallowing,” said lead author Kishalay De, a postdoc…

  • Continuous 3D deep-tissue monitoring possible with ultrasound patch

    The elastography monitoring system can provide ongoing, non-invasive mapping of deep tissues which can be used to measure progression of diseases such as cancer, which normally causes cells to stiffen, as well as monitoring muscles, tendons and ligaments to diagnose and treat sports injuries. “We invented a wearable device that can frequently evaluate the stiffness of human tissue,” said Hongjie Hu, a postdoctoral researcher and study co-author. “In particular, we integrated an array of ultrasound elements into a soft elastomer matrix and used wavy serpentine stretchable electrodes to connect these elements, enabling the device to conform to human skin for serial assessment of tissue stiffness.” Ultrasound patch worn on the neck Image credit: UC San Diego Jacobs…

  • MPs call on government to accelerate Welsh nuclear plant project

    The Welsh Affairs Committee has warned that “major obstacles remain” before Wylfa could be home to a gigawatt-scale nuclear power station. The site was already home to a nuclear power station that operated for over 40 years until decommissioning began in 2015. A second plant has been proposed as part of plans to help the government’s ambition for the UK to meet up to a quarter of its electricity needs with nuclear energy by 2050. But the limitations of finance models and failure to reach a financial agreement with the government resulted in the Hitachi-led Wylfa Newydd project being suspended in 2019. The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme has previously been used to support nuclear energy projects such as Hinkley Point C, which is under construction but has faced repeated delays and…

  • US risks travel disruptions as FAA refuses to extend 5G aircraft refit deadline

    The deadline for airlines to complete 5G aircraft upgrades will not be extended beyond Juy 1st, 2023, the US Transportation Department has confirmed. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg first announced the decision in a call on Tuesday with representatives of the country's largest airlines, Reuters has reported. Buttigieg reportedly said that airlines had made progress, but urged them to work aggressively to continue retrofitting planes.  The conflict derives from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warning that 5G technologies could   affect sensitive aircraft instruments  such as altimeters - which provide pilots with an accurate reading of the plane’s proximity to the ground, helping to minimise the risk of accidents or collisions - and thus having significant impact on flights…

  • Sponsored: Comparing additive manufacturing with injection moulding

    Discover how manufacturers like you utilise productionised additive technologies to enhance customisation, improve flexibility, reduce production time, and lower cost per part by producing short-run orders of 10,000 to 100,000 parts. Join us to learn how industrial-grade production 3D printers overcome supply chain delays and help bring back production to the UK.  Register for this webinar to learn about: How 3D printing is competing against injection moulding by enabling the onshoring of production and cutting supply chain disruptions Gain an in-depth understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of both Injection Mouldings and 3D Printing and discover how manufacturers can significantly improve production times and cost per part by utilising AM Hear from a Stratasys engineer…

  • Cycling suffering slump since Covid-19 peak, figures show

    The DfT data demonstrates the surge in cycling – when Covid restrictions affected travel patterns – peaked in March 2021. The amount of cycling on main roads fell by 24.1 per cent from that time up to the end of 2022. The decline has sparked concern that the government will fail to hit its own targets for increasing cycling activity. However, the DfT added that cycling remains 11.1 per cent above pre-pandemic levels and had risen overall by 23.7 per cent since 2013. It has a long-standing target of doubling cycling numbers by 2025 compared with 2013 levels. Chris Boardman, the former Olympic cyclist who heads government agency Active Travel England, said: “It’s great to see cycling in this country riding high at 11 per cent above pre-pandemic levels. “The movement for moving is catching…

  • Australia’s largest hydropower project pushed back two years

    Snowy Hydro, the Australian government-owned company behind the country's largest pumped hydro project, has deferred the facility's opening to December 2028.  The Snowy 2.0 pumped storage hydro project in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales is expected to generate 2GW of renewable energy, and provide about 350,000MWh of large-scale storage to the national electricity market to help back up a system increasingly dominated by solar and wind energy. The finished project would pump water to the highest reservoir in a linked system during periods of cheap electricity and release it when required. Talbingo dam /Snowy Hydro Image credit: Snowy Hydro The project is expected to cost A$5bn (£2.6bn), although the company has warned there are likely to be cost overruns

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • New material harvests subtle vibrations to power IoT devices

    Researchers at the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto said the novel generating system is compact, reliable, low-cost and environmentally friendly. “Our breakthrough will have a significant social and economic impact by reducing our reliance on non-renewable power sources,” said Waterloo researcher Asif Khan, co-author on the project. “We need these energy-generating materials more critically at this moment than at any other time in history.” The system is based on the piezoelectric effect, which generates an electrical current by applying pressure, such as mechanical vibrations, to an appropriate substance. The effect was discovered in 1880, and since then, a limited number of piezoelectric materials, such as quartz and Rochelle salts, have been used in technologies…

  • Smart compost bin in development to automatically track food waste

    Researchers from Oregon State University-Cascades have received $640,000 (£513,000) in funding to develop the bin as part of efforts to cut the estimated one-third of food in the US that goes to waste. “At every other step of the agricultural supply chain, food waste is tracked, measured and quantified,” said project leader Patrick Donnelly. “However, approaches to measuring post-consumer food waste are costly, time-intensive, prone to human error and infeasible at a large scale. “We’re adapting our design to accommodate consumers’ current behaviour, using compost bins commonly distributed by waste utilities as a template. “When a user disposes of edible and non-edible food waste in the bin, our device prompts the user to describe the deposited items. The user’s note is then transcribed…

  • The urgent need for diversity in tech talent pools

    Graduates from top-ranked universities often find they’re first in line for roles at the best technology companies for a number of reasons. Top universities, such as those included in the elite Russell Group of institutions, have reputations for providing high-quality education and are perceived by many to be prestigious. Graduates may be seen to be more skilled and knowledgeable when they enter the job market, a point made clearer by the fact that many tech organisations target these universities specifically with recruitment drives. While just getting into and completing a course at a top university does wonders for graduates in a competitive job market, they also benefit from associations with their peers. Graduates from elite universities are part of alumni networks that may include graduates…

  • Conservation groups sue FAA over SpaceX Super Heavy launch

    The 120m-tall spacecraft lifted off from South Texas on 20 April on the back of SpaceX’s new Super Heavy rocket. But just minutes after the launch, the two sections of the rocket failed to detach, causing Starship to begin spinning at altitude before exploding about four minutes after leaving the ground. The launch site sits next to prime habitat for protected species and migratory birds, like the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle and the piping plover. The launch showered the surrounding area with particulate matter that could have a detrimental impact on the wildlife. The FAA has already permitted SpaceX to launch 20 Super Heavy rockets each year for the next five years. According to the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), which aims to protect natural habitats under threat, the FAA decided…

  • Calls for ‘loophole’ to be closed as BP bags £500m of profits beyond expectations

    BP announced that it made just under $5bn ($4.96bn; £4bn) in underlying replacement cost profit between January and March of this year, citing a strong performance in its oil trading business. The profit is actually a reduction from last year's gargantuan take , when BP's business benefitted from extremely high energy prices, but other than that exceptional period today's profit is the best result BP has reported in more than a decade. Last year, BP made $6.2bn (£4.96bn) of profit in the same quarter. The drop this year is largely down to BP getting less money for the oil and gas it sold, although this was partly offset by an exceptional performance from its gas marketing division. Today's figure is also around $700m (£560m) more than the $4.3bn (£3.44bn) which analysts who follow the…

  • Hidden cancer and birth defect risks detected in common consumer products

    Researchers at the Silent Spring Institute and University of California, Berkeley, have said that people underestimate how they come into contact with toxic ingredients in products, used at home and at work, that could harm their health. The findings could be used to help governments strengthen chemical regulations and guide manufacturers in making safer products, they said. Many common products like shampoos, body lotions, cleaners, mothballs and paint removers contain toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are chemicals that escape as gases, accumulate in indoor air and cause a variety of health problems including cancer. Companies are often not required to disclose what is in their products which makes it difficult to know what people might be exposed to and the potential health…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Smartwatches used to track mental wellbeing of their wearers

    The findings suggests that devices such as smartwatches could be used to monitor and assess psychological states remotely without requiring the completion of mental health questionnaires. Resilience, or an individual’s ability to overcome difficulty, is an important stress mitigator that reduces morbidity and improves the management of chronic diseases. “Wearables provide a means to continually collect information about an individual’s physical state. Our results provide insight into the feasibility of assessing psychological characteristics from this passively collected data,” said first author Robert P Hirten, a clinical director at the Hasso Plattner Institute in Germany. “To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate whether resilience, a key mental health feature, can be…

  • View from India: 'Mann ki Baat', a spiritual journey for PM

    Prime Minister (PM) Modi addresses the citizens of the country through 'Mann Ki Baat', a monthly radio programme aired on All India Radio (AIR). During his first term as PM, Modi launched the nation’s talk show on 3 October 2014, the festival of Vijaya Dashami, which is the festival of victory of good over evil. Since then, it has been aired at 11am on the last Sunday of every month. Over time, the talk show became a positive connection with the people.     The meaning of 'Mann ki Baat' can be understood as 'Speak Your Mind'. The PM, as quoted by the media, has said that 'Mann Ki Baat' is a reflection of crores (tens of millions) of Indians; it is an expression of their feelings. “'Mann Ki Baat' has been a catalyst in igniting numerous mass movements, be it 'Har Ghar Tiranga' or ‘Catch the…

  • View from Washington: AI's Geoffrey Hinton can make a difference... again

    Monday’s (1 May) news that Dr Geoffrey Hinton, the neural-network pioneer dubbed ‘The Godfather of AI’, was leaving Google sent shockwaves through the community – and beyond. He is leaving so that he has greater freedom to warn about the risks he sees surrounding AI. Before reading his full interview with The New York Times (or maybe after), many assumed this was side-eye aimed at his employer for the last decade. Hinton was quick to dispel the idea, tweeting his view that the company has “ acted very responsibly. ” This is not a Timnit Gebru/Margaret Mitchell re-run. Hinton seems to believe that taking positions that will inevitably combine technological understanding with the political, the economic and the moral would be inappropriate, even irresponsible, coming from a senior staffer…

  • EV charging firms band together with £6bn aim to double UK network

    ChargeUK, whose members include the VW-backed Ionity and the EV charging arms of Shell and BP, announced it will invest over £6bn installing and operating new EV charging infrastructure by 2030. This will amount to the installation of tens of thousands of new chargers this year, with the aim of doubling the size of the network through 2023. There are currently fewer than 39,000 public charge points in the whole of the UK. A study from 2021 found that the installation of chargers needs to increase by five times the current rate if the plan to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 is to be achieved. ChargeUK said it wanted to work “collaboratively” with the government to shape the policies and regulation needed to enable a faster transition to EVs. Ian Johnston, ChargeUK Chair…

  • Hands-on review: Vantrue Element 3 voice-controlled three-channel dash cam

    Another entry in our rolling series of dash cam reviews. We previously reviewed a pair of Vantrue dash cams : the app-driven 'smart cube' E1 and the two-channel, large-screen-equipped S2. As it happens, a three-channel version of the S2 was also available (the S2 3CH), but the Element 3 marks an evolved iteration of Vantrue's three-cam concept. The Element 3 builds on the stylish design of the E1, with the same large circular lens for the front-facing camera, pleasingly reminiscent of analogue film or DSLR cameras. While other cams from other companies have adopted almost every conceivable shape ( oblong , anyone? Rectangle ?), there is something undeniably stylish about Vantrue's Element cams. No wonder they've won iF design awards. Image credit: Vantrue The…

  • UK will miss 2035 electricity network decarbonisation target, MPs warn

    A report from the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee (BEISC) has called on the government to “rapidly” increase the generation of fossil fuel-free electricity or risk facing limits to the volume of electric vehicles and heat pumps that can be powered through low-carbon electricity. The body said that, at the current pace, the UK is risking its efforts to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, while also being stuck paying more for energy. Meanwhile, some low-carbon projects are facing delays of up to fifteen years to connect to the electricity network due to a failure to create joined-up policies across the sector. “The creation of a new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which we support, must provide the impetus for turning this around,” BEISC said. …

  • European economy stagnating as consumers feel inflation pinch

    The latest disappointing growth figure follows similarly sub-par growth estimates from the US yesterday which have stoked fears of a looming recession in the world’s largest economy. The 20 countries that use the euro currency gained at least some momentum in the first quarter after zero growth in the last three months of 2022. The eurozone avoided a winter recession thanks to mild weather that alleviated pressure on natural gas supplies. European governments and utilities also scrambled to line up additional sources to heat homes, generate electricity and power factories after Russia cut off most gas supply to the continent over its war against Ukraine. The mild weather also allowed an early start to construction activity. Furthermore, industrial activity has picked up this year, while…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Pothole-related breakdowns have soared by nearly 40 per cent this year

    New breakdown data shows that RAC patrols went to the rescue of 10,076 drivers who had faced pothole-related breakdowns in the first three months of the year. Damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels – issues most likely caused by poor road surfaces – accounted for more call-outs than in any other three-month period since January to March 2021. In addition, the number of pothole-related breakdowns more than doubled from the 4,915 seen in the fourth quarter of 2022. The RAC also saw a 14 per cent spike in wheel changes compared to the same period last year. While some of these jobs were likely due to punctures from objects such as nails and screws, the increase points towards further deterioration of the UK’s road surfaces caused by December’s extreme freezing…

Community Rules & Guidelines