Tech and Science Daily | The Standard

On today’s Tech and Science Daily from The Standard, we cover DLR cleaners striking over sick pay on London’s driverless railway, the Courtauld’s £82m plan to transform Somerset House into a state-of-the-art campus, and new UK analysis warning that over-reliance on carbon removals could push up climate costs. In gaming, Cyberpunk 2077 passes 35 million sales and outpaces The Witcher 3, while in consumer tech Apple is tipped to overtake Samsung as the world’s top smartphone seller thanks to the iPhone 17. Plus, we’re joined by Which? to reveal why eight in ten Black Friday “bargains” are often the same price, or cheaper, at other times of the year – and how to shop smarter this weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

City Hall is probing the surge in so-called “skinny jabs”, as London Assembly members warn of unlicensed sellers, counterfeit pens and off-label prescriptions. The hearing digs into how Londoners are accessing GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro — and whether people are being properly protected and informed.The Environment Agency has released new bathing-water rankings, showing a slight improvement across England’s coasts and lakes — but river sites are still performing badly, with only two out of fourteen meeting basic standards. Plus, a landmark study in Wales has mapped its most threatened species, revealing around 3,000 plants and animals surviving in just a handful of locations. Also in this episode:UK firm Lacuna Space prepares to launch four new “Wisdom of the Trail” satellites to connect remote sensors directly to orbit.Tokyo astronomers report a potentially promising dark-matter signal in 15 years of Fermi telescope data.Fujitsu unveils an “ocean digital twin” to speed up certification of blue-carbon projects.Saudi Arabia’s PIF faces scrutiny over finances amid its $55bn deal to buy EA.Battlefield 6 launches its free trial via Redsec, unlocking three playlists and maps until 2 December. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NHS approves a groundbreaking new “living drug” for aggressive leukaemia, offering fresh hope for patients whose cancer has returned or resisted treatment — and marking a major win for London’s life sciences sector. Plus, UCL and Royal Free researchers push forward with greener, cheaper ways to manufacture next-gen cell therapies.We also look at how UK scientists are repurposing Covid-era mRNA tech to protect against snake venom, and why new climate data shows Europe’s winters — including London’s — are becoming wetter far faster than models predicted.Later in the episode, we speak to Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age executive producer Mike Gunton about snow sloths, Ice Age surprises, and the lessons ancient climate change still holds today.Also in this episode:A new germanium-based quantum material sets a record for hole mobility — and could support faster, cooler and more efficient future chipsGhost of Yotei drops its biggest update yet, including New Game Plus and a 120Hz mode for PS5 and PS5 ProNintendo rolls out a stability patch for both Switch and Switch 2, fixing data-transfer and Bluetooth issuesFor all the latest news, head to standard.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK’s science and tech sector takes centre stage as leaders gather at the Science Museum for the Innovation for Growth summit, discussing how Britain can turn world-class research into real economic impact. Plus, London Global Cancer Week shines a spotlight on major new data revealing global differences in cancer survival.We also speak to Panos Panay, President of the Recording Academy, about how streaming and global connectivity are reshaping music tastes — and why artists performing in non-English languages are thriving like never before.Also in this episode:A new report warns the UK is now the most expensive place in the world to build nuclear power.UK clinicians report early hope in a groundbreaking gene therapy for Hunter syndrome.The MoD launches the world’s first military esports tournament.The digital-only PS5 hits its lowest price yet in early Black Friday deals.For all the latest news, visit standard.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britain’s defence tech gets a major boost as the Ministry of Defence signs a £316 million contract to equip Royal Navy ships with DragonFire laser weapon systems — capable of hitting a £1 coin from over a kilometre away. We break down what this leap in naval protection means for jobs, defence, and the UK’s future warfare capabilities.Plus, one of the UK’s largest prostate cancer studies gets underway, aiming to transform diagnosis and reduce harm for thousands of men.We also speak to Professor Mark Rowlands about why Plymouth has been crowned the happiest place in the UK to be a dog.Also in this episode:UCL scientists identify what triggered a huge ‘earthquake swarm’ near Santorini, detecting magma flows deep beneath the seafloor.James Webb Space Telescope spots a supermassive black hole that shouldn’t exist, challenging theories of early-universe formation.Cricket 26 launches ahead of the Ashes, with updated squads, stadiums and “Bazball”-inspired modes.Google tests Quick Share compatibility with Apple’s AirDrop, hinting at smoother cross-platform file transfers.For all the latest news, head to standard.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London’s tech scene is awash with fresh investment as AI startups and fintech innovators pull in major funding rounds. We break down what this wave of cash means for the future of jobs and housing, amid London’s booming AI ecosystem.Plus, AI data scraping battles are intensifying. With lawsuits flying, we speak to Fastly co-founder Simon Wistow about the escalating fight over how AI companies use online content.Also in this episode:Google releases Gemini 3, rolling advanced AI tools directly into SearchNASA tracks a rare interstellar comet as it passes through our solar systemPhysicsX, a London “physical AI” startup, has just extended its Series B to more than £117 millionLondon fintech SAPI raises £60m to support small businesses with flexible repayment tools.Rent-to-own platform Keyzy secures funding to buy £130m in homes for aspiring first-time buyersAll that, plus the latest from London’s thriving tech and science scene, in today’s Tech & Science Daily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this replay preview of Brave New World, Evgeny Lebedev is joined by bestselling author and modern Stoic thinker Ryan Holiday to unpack today’s media landscape, the rise of echo chambers, and what Stoic leadership looks like in a noisy world.Listen to the full conversation on the Brave New World podcast here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Several major online platforms have been taken offline following a Cloudflare outage.Spotify, X, Facebook and Canva were all hit when the network broke down in what the company called an “internal service degradation”.A magnetic micro robot that can travel through tiny blood vessels to deliver medication right where it’s needed has been developed by scientists in Switzerland.We speak to professor of Robotics and Intelligence Systems at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich Brad Nelson about the new technology, and how it could impact treatment for stroke and brain tumour patients.Also in this episode: Google CEO Sundar Pichai says no company "including us” would be immune if the AI bubble burstsBrit ordered to repay £4m million in cryptocurrency after hacking celebrity social media accountsCambridge researchers warn AI could become a “cognitive poison” in schools without a radical rethink of how education is delivered and assessedUK volcanic rocks coils turn CO2 into stone locking away decades of industrial emissionsIBM and UFC debut an AI system that gives real-time stats to commentatorsThis episode’s thumbnail image shows how small the latest ETH micro robot is. Credits: Luca Donati / lad.studio Zürich Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A mental health charity is warning that vulnerable people are being exposed to potentially dangerous advice when they turn to AI for support.Mental Health UK say without safeguards to ensure AI chatbots rely on trusted sources, users could be exposed to serious risks.Plus, businesses are pouring billions into artificial intelligence, but new data shows much of that work never makes it into daily use.We speak to Valliance AI’s senior tech value partner Tarek Nseir about what’s holding businesses back from realising the benefits of AI.Also in this episode:Criminals are using £20,000 gadgets to break into keyless cars according to a BBC investigationHow a jab for a common virus could lead to new treatment for multiple sclerosisThe tiny ‘cell hotels’ launched into space to reveal how human gut cells behave in zero gravityThe tap-in, tap-out tech being rolled out to make train to airport travel easierWeather warning as the cold snap hits after Storm ClaudiaThe high-tech greenhouses using LEDs to grow strawberries in December Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scientists have found evidence that humans may have a previously unknown “remote touch” ability - sensing objects beneath surfaces or buried in sand without direct contact. We're joined by Dr Elisabetta Versace, the study’s lead author and Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Queen Mary University of London, who explains how humans can sense objects without touching them.Valve unveils new ‘Steam Machine’ games console to rival Xbox and PlayStation that plays PC games through your TV.Project Fetch: Anthropic carry out experiment to test if AI LLM Claude can help train a robot dog.Jeff Bezos’s space firm Blue Origin successfully lands rocket booster for the first time - to heat up the space race against Elon Musk’s SpaceX.Also in this episode:Samsung hikes memory chip prices by up to 60% as shortage worsensOnePlus 15: MKBHD calls latest smartphone “not normal”Tired of waiting for Spotify Wrapped? You can now find your weekly listening stats Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.