Tech and Science Daily | The Standard

Ros Russell, the Editor of the Evening Standard’s Vaccine for the World project, takes over the Tech and Science Daily this week, to bring you the people behind the scenes tackling Covid-19.Today we’re joined by Professor Teresa Lambe OBE, co creator of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.  The team at the University of Oxford lept into action to develop a vaccine in January 2020, before the virus reached the UK in March.  Professor Lambe tells us about her journey through creating the vaccine ‘on a Friday night’, the struggles her team faced and how she felt once she knew that they had successfully created the UK’s first coronavirus vaccine.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sit down, relax and let us take you on a journey to discover the Science of Santa.Now, if you're like us then you'll be fascinated by Santa Claus. Every year he launches the largest delivery operation in the world. But with the rotation of the Earth only giving him 31 hours, how does he do it?To investigate we've spoken to one of the world's leading scientists, Professor Don Lincoln. Professor Lincoln is also a physicist and through his studies has worked out what he believes could be the answer.And with Covid-19, can we help Santa out in any way? Well, we've even spoken to experts from NASA, researchers in quantum physics, and we even take him for a ride in a Tesla. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Children with peanut allergies across the country will be the first in Europe to receive a new life-changing treatment. NHS England has secured a deal for Palforzia, an oral treatment, which helps to reduce the severity of symptoms including anaphylaxis, after a reaction to peanuts. Early evidence suggests that omicron is a milder variant of covid and the Pfizer jab is approved for use in vulnerable primary school children. Plus, the muscle layer in the human jaw which has just been identified, how ancient mass migration transformed Britons' DNA, and the US investigation into Tesla cars about in-car gameplay. TikTok beats Google to become the ‘most visited’ website of 2021, proof that Christmas carol concerts make you happier and astronomers discover 170 ‘rogue planets’ in the dark universe. Also, the new TV that you can taste… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re one step closer to flying taxis becoming a reality. A new Inmarsat satellite due to launch today is set to boost infrastructure networks, in-flight WiFi on planes and secure communications. The British firm says the coverage it will provide in remote areas could also be used to connect autonomous vehicles and the sensors used for flying taxis in the future. In England, the isolation period for people who test positive for covid has been cut from ten to seven days - as long as you test negative on a lateral flow on the 6th and 7th days. Also, new research shows why children seem to have less severe reactions to the virus. A 66-million-years plus dinosaur embryo has been found inside a fossilised egg and why mother seals can recognise their pups' voice from just two days old. Plus the James Webb Telescope launch has been delayed until at least Christmas day - we speak to a member of the development team about what kind of research it will help further… and we find out why wise old elephants keep the younger ones calm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boeing and Airbus Americas are asking the White House to delay 5G rollout in the States in an on-going row over whether or not the tech can crash planes. The companies says “interference could adversely affect the ability of aircraft to safely operate”. The wireless industry group CTIA says 5G is safe and is accusing the aviation industry of fearmongering and distorting facts. WHO Boss Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says 2022 must be the year the pandemic ends. He also warned governments across the globe that they “should invest in preventing a future disaster on this scale". Also, Giant millipedes as big as cars that once roamed northern England have been identified; Airbnb’s clamping down on New Year’s Eve house parties; and what do you buy a lion for Christmas? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scientists are sending human muscle tissue to the International Space Station to find out why it weakens in zero-G. It follows decades of research into the physical consequences of travelling out of the atmosphere, with astronauts experiencing temporary ageing-like effects.Final preparations are underway for the much-anticipated, and very delayed, launch of Nasa’s most powerful telescope ever on Christmas Eve. The James Webb was due to head into space in 2007, but technical problems have led to it remaining firmly on Earth. Also, the Omicron variant’s ability to dodge vaccines may be the reason it’s less effective at harming people’s lungs; apparently, not even Microsoft itself can get hold of an XBox Series X right now and why the biggest creatures ever to walk the earth may have been cold-blooded like lizards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Using machine learning a new study’s found Artificial Intelligence can predict with up to 92% accuracy if a person will develop dementia within two years. TikTok school threat warning: Some US schools are cancelling classes. How the vikings were no match for climate change in Greenland. Good news for creators: Snapchat reveals a new dedicated mobile video editing app. A TikToker has traded her way up from a hairpin to a house. Meta blocks surveillance firms targeting people on Facebook, and the Oxford Union show off AI which can debate for and against its ideas. Plus, experts in Australia have discovered a millipede with 1,306 legs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we approach Christmas we’re being reminded to look into the privacy of the tech we buy. The company behind Firefox, Mozilla, has released its annual list of tech products which may put users’ privacy at risk.Researchers have found the Omicron variant multiplies 70 times faster than the Delta Variant. The team in Hong Kong also found it replicates less well in human lung tissue which could indicate it causes a lower severity of disease. A ransomware attack on a payroll company could threaten the Christmas pay checks for workers at Tesla, Sainsbury’s and Honda, plus how it could be linked to a major software flaw leaving millions of web servers vulnerable to the attack. Cyberpunk 2077 developer will pay less than $2million in proposed class-action settlement. Intel believes the Metaverse will need a thousand-fold increase in computing capability.Also - Ubisoft working on a remake of the stealth classic Splinter Cell, the mars rover makes important rock discovery, and the first ever SMS message goes up for sale. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NASA says its Parker Solar Probe has become the first to ‘touch the sun’. It’s Parker Solar Probe has successfully flown into the sun’s Solar Atmosphere, Dr Francisco Diego from UCL explains what the probe can learn from the sun, and why it’s so important. Plus - British astronaut Tim Peake issues a warning about space debris. Why Apple and Google have a ‘duopoloy’ over the smartphone market. Scientists find covid infection is more likely than vaccines to cause rare heart problems, and why seven crypto ads were banned by a watchdog. Plus the supermassive black hole altering the path of stars, and fast-food chain Applebee’s promoted the first ‘metaverse meal’. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Experts at the University of Southampton are trialling a new covid vaccine that doesn’t require a needle, and could prove more effective than current jabs. Their vaccine instead uses a jet of air to give patients their dose. Scientists at the uni say it’s also designed to predict mutations in the virus, and could protect against future variants. MPs have called for ‘major changes’ to the draft Online Safety Bill. Poppy Wood from Reset discusses how important the legislation will be. Is WFH the future for workers? We speak with Zoom about how video-call tech has become so prevalent. Elon Musk announces Tesla accepting Dogecoin as payment, and the giant glacier which could crash into the ocean in 3-5 years. Plus, record temperature recognised for the Arctic, Nike invests in virtual trainer firm, and why Rocket Scientists and Brain Surgeons aren’t what they’re cracked up to be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.