Tech and Science Daily | The Standard

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Aug 1, 2025 • 14min

Family roots: potatoes evolved from tomatoes, study reveals

Co-author Dr Sandy Knapp, a merit researcher at the Natural History Museum, joins us to discuss the new study, which they say uncovers a missing piece of the potato’s evolutionary history.Welcome to the world, Thaddeus Daniel Pierce, the “oldest baby” to have ever been born. He was born in the US from an embryo that had been stored for thirty years.And which UK city is receiving the most suspected scam emails or texts?Also in this episode:-The technology transforming a London garden into a live orchestra, with Hilary Tam, EMEA Sustainability Leader at Amazon Web Services-OpenAI have announced plans for their first data centre in Europe-Scottish ocean rower performs bagpipes via livestream during an All American Rejects set at Comic Con-Ofcom reveals YouTube as the second most-watched media service in the UK-Darth Vader’s lightsaber and Michael Keaton's Batman suit go to auction Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jul 31, 2025 • 10min

Grounded: air traffic control failure throws UK airports into chaos

Planes at major UK airports had to be grounded on Wednesday following a technical glitch at air traffic control.National Air Traffic Services confirmed a radar failure caused the issue.However, the major disruption has led to calls for the head of NATS, Martin Rolfe, to resign.Artificial intelligence continues to shake up the legal scene.We spoke to the founder of Brandsmiths, Adam Morallee, who has developed a new AI-powered trademark search and registration tool.And TikTok will now alert parents when teens post public videos.This comes following the recently announced new internet safety rules, and is an addition to the parental controls they have had in place for over five years.Also in this episode:-Trial assesses whether a blood test can detect 10 cancers in its earliest stages-A radioactive wasp nest was found at the site where the US once made nuclear bombs-66% of new parents say social media creates an overwhelming pressure to succeed, with Izzy Judd-Jack Dorsey’s Bluetooth messaging app Bitchat is here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jul 30, 2025 • 9min

Is Russia's monster earthquake 'far from over'? | special

A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula triggered 4-metre tsunami waves and sparked evacuation orders across the Pacific.This is one ​of ​the ​top ​10 ​earthquakes ​ever ​recorded.To find out the latest, we’re joined by Ilan Kelman, Professor of Disasters and Health at University College London.Keep up to date by clicking here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jul 29, 2025 • 11min

Google’s most “powerful AI search to date” is here

The US tech giant is launching AI Mode in Google Search across the UK this week. The tool is powered by Google’s latest AI model, Gemini 2.5.What are VPNs and why they’re being used to bypass new online safety measures, with cybersecurity expert and senior vice president at Ping Identity, Alex Laurie.Beijing's extreme rain 'trap': 80,000 people relocate and power outages hit more than 130 villages.Also in this episode:-A 4,000-year-old handprint on an Ancient Egyptian artefact is discovered at Cambridge museum-Why seahorse hotels have been placed in Sydney Harbour-A five-piece feathered band has gone viral with ‘The Chicken Song’  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jul 28, 2025 • 7min

REPLAY: Mark Effinger aka Mr Noots (Brave New World)

Evgeny Lebedev meets with Nootopia founder Mark Effinger, AKA Mr Noots. Since launching in 2004, the company says they've helped 300,000 people - including doctors, biohackers, and fitness instructors - unlock their potential. Nootropics are drugs and supplements which proponents say can boost alertness, increase focus, and improve memory. To hear the interview in full, just search Brave New World.Disclaimer: You should always seek your own medical advice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jul 25, 2025 • 10min

Children must not grow up at mercy of toxic algorithms, says tech secretary

New rules have been enforced by regulator Ofcom with the aim to better protect children online. The rules require online platforms to have age checks in place if they host pornography or other harmful content such as self-harm, suicide or eating disorders. Peter Kyle, the UK’s Technology Secretary, said a generation of children will not be allowed to grow up “at the mercy of toxic algorithms”. Tech & Science Daily join Matthew Sowemimo, Associate Head of Policy for Child Safety Online at NSPCC, and Andy Burrows, CEO of the Molly Rose Foundation. Also in this episode: -Weight-loss jabs could help obese people control asthma, study suggests -500-million-year-old fossil suggests ocean origin for spiders -Amazon brings out a more affordable colour-screen Kindle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jul 24, 2025 • 9min

Donald Trump: ‘We’ll win the artificial intelligence race’

America has unveiled its AI Action Plan.In a speech at the 'Winning the AI Race' summit in Washington DC, president Donald Trump said the US is going to win the artificial intelligence race.According to The White House, the plan identifies over 90 Federal policy actions across three pillars.Plus, Tech & Science Daily joins Adam Layer, Harbour Master from the Port of London Authority, who is warning children and their parents about the dangers of the tidal River Thames.The Port of London Authority has produced a new safety video with the aim to prevent accidental drownings during the summer - and beyond.Adam runs us through some of the dangers, such as the speed at which the Thames flows, and debris under the surface.“The ​other ​thing ​is​, there ​are ​very ​complicated ​currents ​around ​the ​bridges ​in ​London. ​So ​as ​the ​water ​hits ​a ​bridge, ​it ​sort ​of ​swirls ​around, ​it ​can ​swell ​up ​and ​down, ​left ​and ​right. ​And ​if ​you ​get ​stuck ​in ​that ​current, ​you ​won't ​be ​able ​to ​overcome ​it ​, and ​you'll ​be ​going ​where ​the ​water ​​tells ​you ​that ​you're ​going.”And we find out why walking just 7,000 steps a day is enough to boost health.Also in this episode:-LEGO to release a Game Boy-inspired set-Two dead as homes burn in a massive wildfire in Cyprus-A self-driving bus service hits the roads in Belfast-South Park finds new streaming home in mammoth $1.5 billion deal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jul 23, 2025 • 9min

Flip phone summer is here: Samsung on the Galaxy Z Fold7, plus Galaxy Watch8

Samsung’s vice president of marketing, Annika Bizon, on why flip-phones are back in fashion.Earlier in the month, they announced the latest iterations of their foldable devices, such as the Galaxy Z Flip7 and Galaxy Z Fold7.We also talk about wearables such as the Galaxy Watch8 series, which Annika says is focused heavily on preventative health.The UK’s technology minister is planning social media limits for children.Plus, four suspects charged after ‘gang used Grindr to lure 22 men then burgle their London homes’.Also in this episode:-Archaeologists uncover identity of 1700s Orkney shipwreck-Elon Musk’s retro-futuristic Tesla diner opens - but will it come to the UK?-UK man makes millions building miniature houses Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jul 22, 2025 • 10min

Sizewell C nuclear plant finally gets £38 billion green light

The government has struck a deal with investors for the construction of the Sizewell C nuclear plant in Suffolk.The development will cost around £38 billion, and the government will be the biggest equity shareholder with a 44.9% stake.Why experts have been sounding the alarm about health advice generated by artificial intelligence, with Dr. Kacper Grado, honorary associate professor & fellow at the University College London.Plus, Google reveals its Pixel 10 phone just weeks before the launch event.Also in this episode:-Businesses required to report ransom payments to government in cyber crime crackdown-Dolphins learn to wear sponges to hunt fish, but it interferes with their key navigation senses-ZSL says “access to nature has become a privilege, and not a right” for school children Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jul 21, 2025 • 12min

Major water industry shake up as Ofwat is scrapped

The government will abolish Ofwat as part of an overhaul of a “broken” water regulation system that failed customers and the environment.The environment secretary, Steve Reed, has said they will ensure “British families are never again hit by the shocking bill hikes we saw last year”.Reed made the announcement in response to an independent review released by Sir Jonathan Cunliffe on Monday morning.Speaking on The Standard podcast, we also hear from Giles Bristow, CEO of Surfers Against Sewage.Read more: What was said in the water report? All the key points.Also in this episode:-Elon Musk announces Baby Grok AI chatbot for children-The French government and Microsoft create a digital replica of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris-A US man dies after being pulled into an MRI scanner-Morrison's launches £129-a-month weight loss jab club-Scientists uncover hidden bone structures in the skin of Australian monitor lizards-Tom Troupe, Star Trek and Mission: Impossible fame, has passed away Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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