All posts tagged: step

UK commits £2.5bn to develop STEP fusion power plant

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[ad_1] The UK Government has unveiled a record-breaking £2.5bn investment to build a world-first prototype fusion power plant – a project that could transform the global energy landscape and position Britain as a leader in next-generation power. This landmark investment, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, will see the construction of a cutting-edge fusion facility known as STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) on the site of a former coal plant in Nottinghamshire. With the potential to generate virtually limitless clean energy, STEP marks a historic turning point in the UK’s transition from fossil fuels to sustainable power, paving the way for a global fusion-powered future. West Burton to lead global fusion energy efforts STEP will rise from the site of the former West Burton A coal power station in Nottinghamshire, near Retford and Gainsborough. The government selected this historic location in 2022, and the redevelopment marks a symbolic transformation from fossil fuels to future-proof energy solutions. Expected to create more than 10,000 high-skilled jobs across construction, engineering, and operations, STEP will be a cornerstone of …

Meghan Markle planning expansion of her lifestyle brand after taking ‘step back’

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[ad_1] Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Meghan Markle’s As Ever lifestyle brand is planning to expand. The Duchess of Sussex has adjusted beyond selling more than just jam and flower sprinkles. According to documents obtained by Page Six, Meghan will be adding “hospitality services in the nature of provision of food and drink” and “hospitality services in the nature of provision of temporary accommodation” to her business. These hospitality services would potentially include hotels and restaurants. The Independent has reached out to representatives of Meghan for comment. The news comes less than one week after the Duchess announced that As Ever will be restocking some of its highly sought-after products. Meghan’s lifestyle brand will be adding ‘hospitality services in the nature of provision of food and drink’ (AFP/Getty) She …

I tried the 6-6-6 walking challenge for a week and my step count skyrocketed

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[ad_1] I’ve been doing the viral 12-3-30 workout at least once a week for the past year, so when I came across the 6-6-6 walking challenge, the latest walking workout trending on TikTok, I hoped I had found another go-to routine. The 6-6-6 challenge promises to boost step count, support physical health and build consistency with a simple, structured approach. There are a few versions of the challenge circulating, but the one I tried involves 60 minutes of brisk walking every day at 6am or 6pm, bookended by a six-minute warm-up and a six-minute cool-down. You may like Brisk walking is one of the most underrated forms of exercise. From improving cardiovascular health to supporting stress management, the benefits of this simple and accessible exercises is well documented. As someone who aims to hit around 10,000 steps every day, I was eager to see if this structured approach could boost my step count and set a strong foundation before I start training for a 26-mile charity hike. Here’s how I got on. My experience of …

As America Steps Back, Others Step In

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[ad_1] Recently, while in Geneva, I sat down with the ambassador of a closely allied country. In the shadow of the Palais des Nations—the European home of the United Nations—we discussed the state of multilateral diplomacy. At one point, he offered a blunt assessment of America’s diminished presence on the world stage. “It used to be,” he said, “that before we committed to a position on any significant matter, we would wait to see where the United States stood. Now? We really don’t care anymore.” The remark was particularly jarring because it was intended not as an insult, but as a sincere lament. It underscored that in capitals and conference rooms across the globe, decisions are now being made without American leadership. And while many Americans might think that shift doesn’t matter, it does. In places like Geneva, decisions are made every week that affect our lives at home, relating to global aviation-safety protocols; pandemic-response standards; food and drug regulation; international trade and customs frameworks; cybersecurity norms; rules governing space, telecommunications standards, environmental safeguards. These …

Batteries that absorb carbon emissions move a step closer to reality – new study

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[ad_1] What if there were a battery that could release energy while trapping carbon dioxide? This isn’t science fiction; it’s the promise of lithium-carbon dioxide (Li-CO₂) batteries, which are currently a hot research topic. Lithium-carbon dioxide (Li-CO₂) batteries could be a two-in-one solution to the current problems of storing renewable energy and taking carbon emissions out of the air. They absorb carbon dioxide and convert it into a white powder called lithium carbonate while discharging energy. These batteries could have profound implications for cutting emissions from vehicles and industry – and might even enable long-duration missions on Mars, where the atmosphere is 95% CO₂. To make these batteries commercially viable, researchers have mainly been wrestling with problems related to recharging them. Now, our team at the University of Surrey has come up with a promising way forward. So how close are these “CO₂-breathing” batteries to becoming a practical reality? Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news …

Journey to the end of the universe—measured one step at a time

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[ad_1] Let’s reimagine the walk of all walks. Not just a neighborhood stroll or a long-distance trek, but a bold journey to the universe’s edge. This isn’t your average hike—it’s an epic quest across time and space. You’ll need far more than sturdy boots. Pack snacks, maybe a full interstellar buffet. Most importantly, you’ll need a way to break every known law of physics. The cosmos doesn’t hold back its wonders. As you begin, imagine stars being born, their nuclear fires flaring to life. Their glow travels across vast clouds, lighting up entire stellar nurseries. You’ll pass the remnants of massive suns collapsing into black holes, dense regions where even light gets trapped. Whole galaxies smash into each other in slow-motion dances, their gravity stretching and bending spacetime like a living fabric. Time no longer behaves. It warps and twists in ways Einstein could barely predict. This isn’t just a walk. It’s a passage through the grand theater of the universe. Each scene is a cosmic masterpiece—creation, destruction, and transformation on the largest scale. As …

Can AI help prevent suicide? How real-time monitoring may be the next big step in mental health care

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[ad_1] Suicide represents one of the most complex and heartbreaking challenges in public health. One major difficulty in preventing suicide is knowing when someone is struggling. Suicidal thoughts and behaviour can come and go quickly, and they’re not always present when someone sees a doctor or therapist, making them hard to detect with standard checklists. Today, many of us use digital devices to track our physical health: counting steps, monitoring sleep, or checking screen time. Researchers are now starting to use similar tools to better understand mental health. One method, called ecological momentary assessment (EMA), collects real-time information about a person’s mood, thoughts, behaviour and surroundings using a smartphone or wearable device. It does this by prompting the person to input information (active EMA) or collecting it automatically using sensors (passive EMA). Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences. Research has shown EMA can be …

How Genes Influence the Timing of a Baby’s First Step

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[ad_1] One step at a time When a baby takes their first step unaided, it is a big moment for parents and their baby. After all, it symbolises a new phase in a child’s life. They officially, and literally, become a ‘toddler.’ Once walking, infants gain more independence and a wider visual perspective. But what influences the timing of this important milestone? Traditionally, research has focused on environmental factors to answer this question. Research has pointed to nutrition, culture, and practice, amongst other things. After all, it takes many attempts before a child can walk unaided. They fall over a lot before the first unsupported step happens. In our work, we were interested in whether genetics played a role, and if so, which genes were involved and what they did (Ronald and Gui, 2024). In their DNA In our study, we analysed data from over 70,000 infants (Gui and colleagues, 2025). We found that a quarter of the differences between babies, when they take their first unsupported step, are due to the genetic influences we …

Housework robots are a step closer as they learn to work in any home

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[ad_1] Robots equipped with the π0.5 AI model were tested in homes they had never seen before Physical Intelligence An AI enabling robots to do chores like making the bed or cleaning up spills in homes it has never seen before could allow many more robots to become generally useful, its creators say. Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT have improved robots’ ability to carry out spoken requests. However, most robots work well only in environments in which they have been trained; their performance quality sharply falls when confronted with new and unfamiliar spaces. [ad_2] Source link

You Cannot Step Into the Same River Twice: What Was Heraclitus Trying to Say?

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[ad_1]   Heraclitus, a mysterious philosopher from ancient Greece, said something that has stuck with people for centuries: “You can’t step into the same river twice.” It sounds like a pretty straightforward observation about the world we live in. But is it? What did Heraclitus mean when he said this? And why does it matter to us today? We’re going to take a close look at his ideas behind these famous words to see just how much they can still teach us about life.   The Concept of Flux in Heraclitus’ Philosophy Heraclitus, Abraham Janssens I, c. 1601-02. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Known as the “Weeping Philosopher,” Heraclitus is famous for his belief in flux. It is the idea that everything in the universe is constantly changing. He said, “everything flows,” meaning nothing stays the same – it’s always moving. Stability isn’t real. Instead, our world is a continual process where change is constant.   His saying, “You can’t step into the same river twice,” can be understood through a metaphor of a river. When …