Tech and Science Daily | The Standard

On this replay preview of Brave New World, Evgeny Lebedev is in conversation with the Oscar-winning actor, Dame Helen Mirren.Now, this is a bit of a break from the usual guests on Tech & Science Daily, but in this wide ranging conversation Evgeny and Dame Helen discuss everything from the evolution of technology, ageing, to the contemporary media landscape and social media.“It’s so sad that Kurt Cobain died when he did, because he never got to see GPS”Listen to the full conversation on the Brave New World podcast here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two teenagers have been arrested after a ransomware attack stole data from a nursery chain in London.The Met Police say the pair, aged 17, have been arrested on suspicion of computer misuse and blackmail.Cyberhackers were said to be using the pictures and names of about 8,000 children, to demand ransom money.Women who have a caesarean birth at an advanced stage of labour are about eight times more likely to devolop scars in the womb, which are known to increase the likelihood of premature births in the future.To learn more, we’re joined by Anna David, Professor and Consultant in Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine at University College London Hospital, and she’s also Director of the Institute for Women’s Health at UCL.Plus, why gold prices have rocketed to a new all-time high.Also in this episode:Meta updates Facebook's algorithm to give you more of what you actually want to seeA modified Land Rover that even had a propeller to cross the Bering Strait, is going to auctionAn athlete runs the entire circumference of Cornwall to raise money for Alzheimer's diseaseWhat city has used enough power to make over 850 billion cups of tea? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world may be at a crucial turning point in the transition to clean power.A new analysis by energy think tank Ember shows renewable energy generation has overtaken coal globally for the first time on record.We’re joined by Robert Palmer, deputy director at Uplift, to unpack what this milestone means for the future of energy — from falling costs and growing solar capacity to the political will needed to phase out oil and gas.Also in this episode:Spotify users can now use ChatGPT to find music and create playlistsThe Met police dismantle a criminal network suspected of smuggling 40,000 stolen phones out of the UKJaguar Land Rover resumes manufacturing after major cyber attackNutrition science firm ZOE launches an AI-powered gut health appPine martens return to Exmoor National Park for the first time in a century Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former England captain and 2003 World Cup winner Lewis Moody has revealed that he’s been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).What is motor neurone disease, what are the symptoms, how is it diagnosed, and can sport cause the condition?We join UCL’s professor of clinical neurology, Andrea Malaspina.Professor Malaspina is also clinical and academic lead of the Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre.Also in this episode:The world’s leading AI event, HumanX, is officially coming to Europe in 2026The Big Issue partners with tech company Lenovo to equip charities with laptopsStorm Amy: Thousands of homes remain without powerThe Andrew Law Gallery at Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum reopens this October Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The device called Tissue Metrics could transform the way eczema is diagnosed and treated.In the UK, there are 1.5 million adults who suffer from the condition.Their tech aims to provide objective data for faster and more accurate eczema diagnosis and treatment - even within a week.To find how the technology works and why this will “end misery for millions”, we speak to lead researcher, Professor Michael Crichton from Herriot-Watt University.Clip courtesy of STV news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world’s leading primatologist, Dame Jane Goodall, has died aged 91. Jane dedicated more than sixty years of her life to studying chimpanzees and conservation.We hear from Dan Simmonds, London Zoo’s Animal Operations Manager, and Dr Jake Brooker, a postdoctoral researcher in primatology at the University of Durham.Also in this episode:The Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin on Storm Amy, as weather warnings are upgraded to amberInstagram’s boss says the app does not listen to our conversationsExperts call for sunbed banWalking shapes how our brains process sound, study suggests Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Keir Starmer revealed a new NHS virtual hospital at the Labour conference. Available via the NHS app from 2027, the government says it will deliver “millions of appointments” between patients and consultants across the country, as well as help manage tests, scans and prescriptions.From today, every GP practice in England will have to let patients book online appointments throughout the day.Also in this episode, 2.8 billion-year-old lunar rock samples suggest that the interior of the mysterious dark side of the moon may be colder than we once thought. To find out why this research is important, and why the two sides of the moon are different, we join Professor Yang Li from UCL’s Department of Earth Sciences and Peking University, co-author of the new study.Plus, Amazon reveals the new Kindle Scribe Colorsoft at their 2025 Hardware Event. They also announced four new Echo devices and more Ring doorbells.And the rest:E-bikes and e-scooter fires are on course to reach an all-time high this year, new analysis revealsA new species of Jurassic reptile has been discovered, and it's related to lizards and snakesWhy burning wood indoors could cause damage in a similar way to cigarette smokeRobot cars vs the police... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ninth annual Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report has landed. It reveals 80% of companies report paying a ransom to recover or protect critical data, and 59% of SMEs experienced a cyberattack in the last 12 months. In light of cyber attacks on firms such as Jaguar and Marks & Spencer, we spoke to Danny Jenkins, CEO and co-founder of IT security service ThreatLocker. Danny told us the UK is "very at risk" from cyber attacks, and explains what the government need to do to protect businesses.YouTube to settle lawsuit with US President Donald Trump over account suspension. The president had his account temporarily banned following the Capitol riots in January 2021.And an NHS hospital has become the first to offer a new, non-invasive ovarian cancer surveillance test.Also in this episode:-Video game maker Electronic Arts agrees record $55bn buyout to go private-Woman convicted after Met Police make 'world's largest' cryptocurrency seizure worth £5.5bn-The unique Stratus Covid symptom, as cases rise across UK-1 in 3 would walk away from someone having an epileptic seizure, according to a new study Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rail minister Lord Hendy has said the government are bringing train tickets “into the 21st century”.From Monday, passengers travelling on Northern train services between Harrogate and Leeds will be able to pay for their journey using an app on their phone - while on the move.Jaguar Land Rover will restart some production in "the coming days".Trees in the Amazon are growing despite threats from man-made climate change.Plus, Dr Simon Erridge on why expanding NHS access to medical cannabis could add more than £13bn to the UK economy - and help thousands of people with long-term health conditions return to work.We also speak to patient Fatma Mehmet from Hertfordshire, who says medical cannabis has been life-changing.Also in this episode:-People may age faster if their father smoked during puberty, study finds-Did our species walk on Earth half a million years earlier than previously thought?-Professor Brian Cox unveils his next - and biggest - tour yet.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Prime Minister has confirmed controversial plans to roll out digital IDs, which will be available on people’s phones by the end of this Parliament.We speak to cybersecurity expert Alex Laurie, SVP at Ping Identity, about what the scheme means for personal data and online safety.Meanwhile, conservationists warn Britain is “shockingly underprepared” for climate change as extreme weather devastates habitats and species across the country.Also in this episode:Xiaomi unveils a $630 smartphone to rival the iPhone 17 – and even takes on Tesla with its new EV modelsPolice launch a crackdown on vape spiking across London’s nightlifeThe All-American Rejects release a video game–inspired music video, directed by Jamie ThravesChildren raised around dogs may face a lower risk of asthma, say Canadian researchersScientists in Australia test bite-resistant wetsuits designed to reduce shark attack injuries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.