Tech and Science Daily | The Standard

Mount Etna has erupted, sending huge plumes of ash into the air and leaving tourists running for their lives.And we’re joined by health campaigner and NHS GP Dr Sonia Adesara, for more on the recent disposable vapes ban - and the alleged loopholes which some retailers are exploiting.Plus, there’s a new drug called camizestrant which, according to experts, can help stop certain breast cancer tumours before they grow.Also in this episode:The Stranger Things series finale trailer is hereThere are new bees, wasps and butterflies in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic ParkAnd a new snow leopard cub has been born at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gayanne Potter told us that ScotRail are using her voice for their new AI train announcements without her permission.ScotRail unveiled their new AI announcer ‘Iona’ earlier this month, and Gayanne is urging them to change it.Gayanne explained that her voice was taken from a previous employer, Swedish company ReadSpeaker, and claims it was not made clear in her contract that they could use her voice again in the future.This episode includes responses from both ScotRail and ReadSpeaker.Also in this episode:-Disposable vapes are officially banned from Sunday, June 1st-New AI test could end ‘postcode lottery’ for ‘game changer’ prostate cancer drug-Drought declared in North West England-Japanese researchers say cats can indeed smell the difference between a stranger and their owner… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After just over four months at the White House, Elon Musk has stepped down from his role in the U.S. government.Musk announced he’ll now focus on his other business projects.A group of mysterious and unknown 85 million-year-old elasmosaur fossils– some of the most famous in North America – have finally been identified, and drumroll, they’re even a new species.We join lead author Professor Robin O’Keefe, from ​the ​Department ​of ​Biological ​Sciences ​at ​Marshall ​University ​in ​the US.Plus, Google has been given a £25 billion legal claim over abuse of the search advertising market.Also in this episode:-OpenAI may soon allow users to sign in to third-party apps using ChatGPT logins-‘Shocking’ figures reveal the world’s growing temperatures-Why female frogs are being drowned out by male frogs-Tourists damage World Heritage site slotting coins in its stones Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy is visiting Norway and Iceland this week, specifically the Arctic Circle, to look at the measures being taken to counter Russia’s actions in the region. The government is also exploring the use of artificial intelligence to detect hostile state activity, in a joint scheme with Iceland and the Alan Turing Institute. A new diagnostic blood test has been presented at the World Congress on Endometriosis. Diagnosis typically takes seven years for the disease, and there is currently no readily available, accurate, non-invasive test.They hope their new tool is one step closer to commercial rollout. Endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh joins us from Martha’s Vineyard. He’s just completed a 60-mile swim to spotlight the drastic decline of shark populations worldwide. Also in this episode:-Scientific tip to avoid seagulls stealing your fish & chips this summer-Scientists strike gold in Hawaiian volcanic rocks-The Wurzels release new AI single called Wurzel Me Up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

…Fans of Elden Ring… The game is getting a film adaptation.The movie was first reported by InSneider, and will be released by A24 in partnership with Bandai Namco Entertainment.To tell us everything, we’re joined by The Standard’s culture writer and commissioning editor, Vicky Jessop.Also in this episode:-Scientists in China create night vision contact lenses.-A UK woman is preparing to sail a 10,000-mile loop of the Arctic Circle - which allegedly is only possible due to melting sea ice.-Verification for 'notable' users on Bluesky is here.-Netflix releases its first trailer for the documentary Titan: The OceanGate Disaster...This comes as the BBC released footage from their documentary Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster, showing the wife of Oceangate CEO Stockton Rush unknowingly reacting to the implosion back above water.-Could penguin poo save Antarctica from climate change? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you look up at the sky tonight, cast a good luck wish to a tiny red 3D-printed Swedish house travelling through space.The house is preparing to become the first house ever to land on the Moon.We caught up with creator of The Moonhouse, Swedish artist Mikael Genberg, and Emil Vinterhav, CEO of The Moonhouse AB and the technical leader for the Moonhouse mission.Also in this episode:-Google I/O 2025… and they’re doubling down on artificial intelligence -Sex offenders could face mandatory chemical castration as blueprint to ease jails crisis unveiled-New species of octopus discovered in a deep-sea canyon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At this year’s annual World Health Assembly, World Health Organisation member countries have voted in favour of a global pandemic agreement. The US were not present at the assembly, as President Donald Trump intends to withdraw from WHO membership.To walk us through the treaty, its impact and if it’ll make a difference, we're joined by Clinical Assistant Professor Daniela Manno, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.Also in this episode:-Antidepressant withdrawal symptoms more common among long-term users -Millions of revolutionary bricks to be produced from recycled waste after achieving industry certification - interview with co-founder, Dr Sam Chapman from Herriot-Watt University-Rare hazel dormice given clean bill of health before wild release Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cyber criminals have seized a “significant amount of personal data” of people who applied online to the Legal Aid Agency in the last 15 years, in a major attack on the UK’s justice system.Speaking from London’s Old Bailey, we’re joined by The London Standard’s courts correspondent, Tristan Kirk.To hear more, Tristan features more on this episode of The Standard.Also in this episode:Sir Elton John calls ministers’ AI copyright plans ‘thievery' Habitat in many estuaries at high risk of being ‘squeezed’ outDoctors rewrite DNA of infant with severe genetic disorderBungie confirms Marathon uses "unauthorised" artwork Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dangerous cancer-causing nasal tanning sprays are taking over TikTok.Richard Knight, The Chartered Trading Standards Institute’s Lead Officer for Cosmetics and Beauty, joins us to explain everything you need to know.The active ingredient, Melanotan2, originally developed as a drug for erectile dysfunction, is neither an authorised medicine in the UK nor regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and it does not fall under the definition of a cosmetic product.Also in this episode:Usutu virus: keep a lookout for UK blackbirdsScientists crack the code behind the mystery of why we have ginger catsTo mark the 50th anniversary of 'Jaws', why is Lewis Pugh swimming the 60-mile circumference of Martha’s Vineyard?8-year-old boy discovers a nearly 200-year-old ship with his metal detector Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neuroscientists in London have uncovered a second learning system in the brain that may redefine how we understand habit formation, with implications for battling addictions and Parkinson's disease. There's a push for stronger regulations on Big Tech, and we might have a title for the Super Mario Bros. sequel. Meanwhile, urban trees in London are suffering from climate change, and NASA reveals intriguing findings about the Moon's temperatures. Lastly, a brown bear named Boki makes a heartwarming recovery after surgery, reuniting with friends.