All posts tagged: tech

Half-tonne piece of Soviet rocket may have crashed through atmosphere over south of England | Science, Climate & Tech News

Half-tonne piece of Soviet rocket may have crashed through atmosphere over south of England | Science, Climate & Tech News

Published by skeptic

A car-sized piece of Soviet rocket has crashed back through the atmosphere, after 53 years in orbit. Scientists haven’t yet pinpointed its location but one organisation has predicted it had re-entered over southern England early on Saturday morning. It is not immediately known how much of the rocket survived the blazing hot descent, with scientists suggesting it had burned up or broken up at the last minute, sometime between around 7am and 8.30am. Cosmos 482 launched in 1972 and been set to land on Venus but it became trapped in orbit after a stage of the mission failed. Scientists tracking the lander as it finally began to fall to Earth believe it decayed as it re-entered the atmosphere. EU Space Surveillance and Tracking posted on X saying it “decayed within the last estimated re-entry window”. The European Space Agency said the craft didn’t appear on radars in Wachtberg, Germany, suggesting “reentry occurred […] between 06:04 UTC and 07:32 UTC”. Image: Six organisations mapped the rocket’s location to various points around the globe. Pic: Dr Marco …

New tech promises faster diagnosis for millions of cancer patients | Science, Climate & Tech News

New tech promises faster diagnosis for millions of cancer patients | Science, Climate & Tech News

Published by skeptic

Millions of cancer patients are set to benefit from faster diagnosis as their analogue NHS records are gathered in one place in a new digital platform. Cancer 360, a new tool to be rolled out across the service soon, brings cancer patients’ data into one central system, so clinicians can prioritise those most in need and see patients quicker, the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) said. The £26bn technology upgrade will benefit millions of patients in the next five to 10 years by transferring existing analogue systems and the data they hold into a digital one. It means staff will no longer have to gather important information about each cancer patient from different spreadsheets, emails and records. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said relying on “archaic pen-and-paper systems” meant vital appointments could hinge on “whether a post-it note lost its stick or a piece of paper went missing”. That, he said, could “put lives at risk”. The new technology will “cut waiting times and save lives, delivering on our plan for change”, he added. …

Grand Theft Auto VI release delayed | Science, Climate & Tech News

Grand Theft Auto VI release delayed | Science, Climate & Tech News

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Grand Theft Auto VI, the most hotly anticipated title in gaming history, has been delayed. Take-Two Interactive pushed the release of the blockbuster title to May 2026 on Friday. The video game was previously expected to be released in autumn this year and is expected to be an instant hit with billions in sales every year, according to analysts. Its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto V, is one of the best-selling video games of all time, selling more than 200 million copies since its release in 2013. “With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception,” said developer Rockstar Games in a statement posted on social media. “We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.” After the announcement, publisher Take-Two’s share prices tumbled by 9%. “We support fully Rockstar Games taking additional time to realize their creative vision for Grand Theft Auto VI, which promises to be …

TikTok fined millions for illegally sending users’ data to China | Science, Climate & Tech News

TikTok fined millions for illegally sending users’ data to China | Science, Climate & Tech News

Published by skeptic

TikTok has been fined €530m (£452m) because it was illegally sending user data to China, Ireland’s privacy watchdog said on Friday. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission found the social media app’s data transfers to China broke strict data privacy rules in the EU. It also fined the company for not being transparent with users about how their data was being processed. TikTok has been ordered to comply with the rules within six months. The Data Protection Commission is TikTok’s powerful lead regulator in the EU because TikTok’s European headquarters are based in Dublin. “TikTok failed to verify, guarantee and demonstrate that the personal data of [European] users, remotely accessed by staff in China, was afforded a level of protection essentially equivalent to that guaranteed within the EU,” Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle said in a statement. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:57 TikTok’s curfew for teens explained TikTok plans to lodge an appeal and said the decision focused on a “select period” that ended in May 2023 and “does not reflect the …

Blair’s net zero comments less an ‘attack’ and more a highlighting of a policy paradox that’s been clear for some time | Science, Climate & Tech News

Blair’s net zero comments less an ‘attack’ and more a highlighting of a policy paradox that’s been clear for some time | Science, Climate & Tech News

Published by skeptic

Judging by the headlines, Sir Keir Starmer’s predecessor has gone for the jugular. “Net zero is doomed to fail, warns Tony Blair,” wrote The Times; “Blair blows hole in Labour’s net zero plans,” said The Independent; “Net zero is doomed, Blair tells Starmer,” cheered The Daily Telegraph. Clearly a direct attack on one of Sir Keir’s central missions for government, and on the eve of local elections, no less. Yet at the despatch box later – “in full head teacher mode,” according to our politics team – Mr Starmer scolded the house. “If you look at the details of what Tony Blair said, he’s absolutely aligned with what we’re doing here.” Just the sort of thing a wounded prime minister might say after being so publicly skewered. Being the good pupil that I am, I’d read what Tony Blair actually wrote, and Sir Keir kind of has a point. Image: Starmer at today’s PMQs. Pic: PA Nowhere in his so-called “attack” does Blair directly criticise UK policy. His foreword, and the report itself, are focused …

UK secures Horizon Europe funding for space and quantum tech

UK secures Horizon Europe funding for space and quantum tech

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In a major boost for UK science and innovation, British researchers and tech companies now have expanded access to Horizon Europe funding, unlocking new opportunities in quantum computing and space research. The move, part of the EU’s 2025 Work Programme, was announced as European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič made his first official visit to the UK under the current government – marking a new phase in UK-EU scientific collaboration. With billions in funding at stake, this renewed partnership places the UK back at the heart of European innovation. Commenting on the landmark Horizon Europe opportunity, UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said: “Thanks to this welcome news, the opportunities for British researchers and businesses working in quantum, space, and beyond are only set to grow. “They now have greater access to one of the world’s foremost vehicles for R&D funding and an even bigger chance to build the international ties which we know are critical to advancing knowledge, tackling the world’s biggest challenges, and delivering the economic growth that is at the heart of this Government’s Plan for Change. …

How electricity grids fail – and why restoring Spain and Portugal’s power will be a nightmare | Science, Climate & Tech News

How electricity grids fail – and why restoring Spain and Portugal’s power will be a nightmare | Science, Climate & Tech News

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We rarely think about how essential and reliable electricity grids are until they fail. Now, millions of people across Spain, Portugal and parts of France are likely thinking of little else. While local power cuts are fairly common, what’s happened across the Iberian peninsula is something far more extreme. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:07 Mayhem in Spain after major power outage Much of Spain and Portugal’s electricity transmission system collapsed in seconds including in major cities Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona and Seville. Blackouts latest: ‘Rare atmospheric phenomenon’ behind outages Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:22 ‘Confusion’ as blackouts hit Spain It’s likely the outage will surpass Europe’s largest blackout to date when 56 million people in Italy and Switzerland lost power for up to 12 hours in 2003. The cause of the outage is unclear. Portugal’s grid operator has blamed a “rare atmospheric phenomenon” that caused “anomalous oscillations” in high voltage power lines in Spain. More from Science, Climate & Tech Spain’s grid operator has …

Judges search for the Thames Valley’s Tech SME of the Year

Judges search for the Thames Valley’s Tech SME of the Year

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The hunt is on for the Thames Valley region’s Tech SME of the Year. Our independent judges will be picking out this year’s worthy winner from the range of nominees for this hotly contested category at the Thames Valley Tech & Innovation Awards 2025. Sponsored by YFM Equity Partners, this award will be presented to an SME that has shown enterprise and invention in using technology to either transform its own business or that of its clients. We’re particularly looking for SMEs that are forging new paths and, through new concepts and/or products, are standing out from the crowd. Companies with annual turnover up to £25 million that have been trading for a minimum of two years are eligible for this award. If you’re an SME based in the region and looking to grow your organisation, being successful in this category is a sure fire way to see your name in lights at the region’s favourite tech event, not to mention in the expansive coverage across our site and socials. Think you’ve got what it …

‘Bring on the fight’ over net zero, energy secretary Ed Miliband tells critics | Science, Climate & Tech News

‘Bring on the fight’ over net zero, energy secretary Ed Miliband tells critics | Science, Climate & Tech News

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The government is up for the fight over net zero every hour, day and month of the year, says Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. Amid growing attacks on its climate policies from the Trump administration, UK political parties and some businesses, the government this week reiterated its assertion that clean power will make Britain more secure. Wrapping up a two-day summit on energy security in London, Mr Miliband said: “The critics need to know that if they want to fight about this, this government says ‘bring it on’.” Clean power provides “energy security, lower bills [and] the biggest economic opportunity of the 21st century”, he said. Whereas “insecure” fossil fuels are to blame for “the cost of living crisis, which ruined family finances, which ruined public finances, which ruined business finances”. Renewable electricity in the UK is cheaper than gas, but the benefits don’t reach households very easily because prices are still closely linked with the cost of gas – something the government wants to fix. In the last week, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage MP …

Deadline for nominations extended for the Thames Valley Tech & Innovation Awards 2025

Deadline for nominations extended for the Thames Valley Tech & Innovation Awards 2025

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The nominations deadline for the Thames Valley Tech & Innovation Awards 2025 has been extended by one week, to Friday the 2nd of May. With companies across the region now having an additional week to get involved with the Thames Valley’s favourite Tech event, this is your last chance to throw your hat in the ring for the chance to be named a winner in one or more of our all-encompassing awards categories. We’ll be shining a much deserved spotlight on this year’s Tech Employer of the Year, High Growth Tech Company of the Year, Life Sciences and Health Tech Company of the Year, Tech SME of the Year and more. And, at the end of the night, we’ll be naming the definitive Thames Valley Tech Company of the Year for 2025. Still haven’t gotten involved with this highly anticipated event? If you think you’ve got what it takes to lift one of our coveted trophies, just head over to the event page to get started with filling in your nomination form(s) now. Entering the …