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Tech and Science Daily | The Standard

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Daily bulletins reporting the latest news from the world of science and technology, from the Standard.

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Episodes

Dark web warning over Covid-19 shots and fake vaccine cards

Security researchers have revealed that fake vaccine cards and what are claimed to be Covid-19 shots are being offered for sale on the dark web. Nasa’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity gets first taste of Red Planet atmosphere ahead of historic maiden flight. Hot ticket: Thousands flock to see Iceland volcano eruption aftermath. ‘Just setting up my twttr’: Twitter boss sells first-ever tweet as NFT for £2 million. Zoom meetings: A third of WFH staff wore pyjamas or no trousers to chat with their boss, ...

Mar 23, 20216 min

Elon Musk denies Tesla cars spy on China ‘after military base ban’

The Tesla boss - or ‘Technoking as he likes to be known - has spoken out after reports the electric cars were banned from Chinese military bases because of their surveillance camera capabilities. Social media Covid-19 fraud warning after thousands scammed by hackers. Study finds hearing could be loss another indicator of coronavirus infection. Research reveals -195C post-match ice chambers aren’t as good as claimed...you might just get a cold. WFH consumers ‘let down’ by biggest broadband provid...

Mar 22, 20217 min

World’s first mission to clean up space junk set for launch

The world’s first mission to clean up space junk is ready for launch. Dr Jason Forshaw from Astroscale, the firm behind the mission, tells us how they’ll go about tackling the enormous clean up. Plus, a new study shows the massive fires in Australia led to record pollution levels in the atmosphere, while ESA says they’re research shows smaller fires could be having more of an impact than first thought, and Richard Garriott becomes the first person to travel to the North Pole, South Pole, ISS and...

Mar 19, 20217 min

Listen to Nasa’s first recordings of its rover driving on Mars

The clangs and rattles of Nasa’s Perseverance rover driving across the surface of Mars have been recorded for the first time. The audio also contains an unexpected high-pitched scratching noise and engineers are investigating whether its been caused by electromagnetic interference. Plus, Super Mario comes to life at Super Nintendo World in Japan, Gorillas are the real winners of the GameStop stock surge, scientists attempt to get a better view of space by going deep underwater and, a new study f...

Mar 18, 20217 min

What water trapped on Mars means for Nasa's mission

The discovery that several oceans’ worth of ancient water may reside in minerals buried below the surface of Mars could help the current mission looking to find evidence of life on the red planet. Planetary geologist at London’s Natural History Museum Dr Joel Davis says the new study fills a gap in knowledge of where water on early Mars disappeared to. Plus, could lightning strikes occurring over a billion years have provided the spark of life for early Earth, scientists grow miniature tear glan...

Mar 17, 20217 min

Future battlefields of space and cyber tackled in Boris Johnson’s defence review

Boris Johnson is setting out plans to radically boost the UK’s military cyber capabilities, which he says will be comparable to the emergence of military air power a century ago. Global Cyber Academy boss Richard Bingley says the UK’s been slow to react to new threats, which are hard to overstate. Plus, News Corp strikes pay deals with Facebook for its news, cheerleader's mum accused of making deep fakes of rivals to get them kicked off the squad and, Elon Musk will now be known as Technoking of...

Mar 16, 20217 min

Oxford scientist insists Covid-19 jab is safe after some countries suspend use

One of the scientists behind the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is insisting the jab is safe, after several countries suspended its use. Professor Andrew Pollard, from Oxford University, says with 11 million doses given there has been no increase in the number of blood clots they would normally expect. Plus, the largest asteroid to pass by Earth this year will be at its closest this week, the worst sandstorm in a decade is choking China’s north and Beijing's air quality index has reached its max, an...

Mar 15, 20216 min

Digital artist Beeple reacts to $69m sale of JPEG artwork

Modern artist Mike Winkelmann, known popularly as Beeple, reacts as his picture - which exists only as a digital token - goes under the hammer at Christie’s, Netflix looks to crack down on password sharing. An alien planet far across the universe has created a new atmosphere for itself - but it’s quite polluted. Twitter will compete with Clubhouse as it prepares to launch audio platform Spaces for users to chat with strangers. Roblox shares soar - and the gaming platform’s boss is now worth $4.6...

Mar 12, 20216 min

Nasa’s Perseverance rover beams home sounds of rock-zapping lasers

Hear Perseverance deploying its Martian rock-zapping lasers thanks to an on-board microphone. USA Moon shot: Nasa completes booster assembly for its Artemis mega-rocket. Russia is slowing the speed of Twitter amid anti-government protests. Snapchat and NHS launch body-scanning augmented reality lens to encourage organ donation. Thousands of bowel cancer patients to swallow tiny cancer-testing cameras to beat disease. And, aming platform Roblox set for strong US market debut. Hosted on Acast. See...

Mar 11, 20216 min

Criminals are grooming ‘Generation Covid’ to launder cash via social media

Beware cyber gangs are preying on young people to launder money. Online fraud victims suffer an ‘emotional toll’ - even if they get their money back, says consumer watchdog. Online etiquette expert Alex McCann discusses the pitfalls of moaning about colleagues on work Slack chats or over-sharing on Zoom. Russia and China announce plans for a moon base as Nasa confirms the plan to fly American astronauts on the upcoming Soyuz mission. Consumer victory to make electricals last longer as ‘right to ...

Mar 10, 20216 min

Your Instagram pics are helping Facebook's AI teach itself

A billion Instagram photos are being used by Facebook’s artificial intelligence to teach itself identification skills. Fireball scientist tells how he doorstepped residents to collect lumps of flaming asteroid. Post-Trump, new US climate change envoy John Kerry urges global action to cut pollution. Tesla stock tumbles by a third...while GameStop ‘meme shares’ jump by 40 per cent. Gaming tech used in Fortnite promises immersive update of Shakespeare play. Rural community sets up office in cow fie...

Mar 09, 20216 min

‘Active threat’ warning for US email users after China cyberattack

The White House says Americans face an ‘active threat’ of email cyberattack from China. All countries must play their part in the vaccination fight to beat Covid, says Britain’s former chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies. Research finds oxygen will disappear from Earth in a billion years, but it’s unlikely humans will be around. Step away from the keyboard - Twitter is testing the ‘undo’ option for sent tweets. Elon Musk loses $27 billion and top spot as the world’s richest person ...

Mar 08, 20216 min

YouTube boss: We’ll lift Trump ban if violence threat falls

YouTube chief executive Susan Wojcicki says Donald Trump’s suspension from the platform could be lifted if the threat of violence falls. After the deadly Capitol Hill riot on January 6th, the former President’s account was suspended for violating YouTube’s incitement of violence policy. Plus, scientists investigate a new coronavirus variant detected in 16 people in the UK, nine great apes at San Diego Zoo are vaccinated against Covid-19, and rockets, high-altitude balloons, and spaceplanes could...

Mar 05, 20217 min

Third time unlucky: SpaceX’s Starship finally lands, but then explodes in a fireball

Elon Musk’s futuristic Starship soared more than six miles after lifting off from the southern tip of Texas. Then, after what seemed like a perfect landing, it exploded with such force it was tossed into the air surrounded by a ball of flames. Plus, scientists pinpoint the location of particles on the sun that are potentially hazardous to air passengers, bats equipped with minicomputers reveal echo hunting techniques, and WhatsApp launches video calls on its desktop app. Listen to our other podc...

Mar 04, 20216 min

How to hitch a free ride to the moon with a Japanese billionaire

Yusaku Maezawa, a billionaire online fashion tycoon, wants eight people to join him on an all-paid-for mission to the moon in 2023. He’s calling for artists to apply who are ready to “push the envelope” creatively and be willing to help other crew members do the same. Plus, we join the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit in Africa as they launch the ‘virtual ranger’ to protect endangered animals, Daan Roosegaarde’s Urban Sun project beams light into cities that can clean spaces of Covid-19 and, glow-...

Mar 03, 20217 min

Space hurricanes could spell trouble for the ISS

Space hurricanes hundreds of kilometres above the North Pole could make things difficult for astronauts on the International Space Station. Space scientist Professor Mike Lockwood explains how the surprise discovery could also impact us here on Earth. Plus, a single shot of the Pfizer or Oxford vaccine is more than 80% effective at preventing hospital admission among the over-80s, Twitter expands its use of warning labels to target misleading coronavirus vaccine tweets, and scientists claim Nean...

Mar 02, 20217 min

‘My blood ran cold’: Scientist recalls moment Novichok was discovered

Professor Tim Atkins says his blood ran cold as he learned the deadly nerve agent Novichok had been discovered in Salisbury three years ago. He went on to lead the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s investigation into the poisoning of a former Russian double agent, and says he came out of it ‘a slightly different person’. Plus, an expert on chemical and biological attacks warns Covid-19 could be used as a biological weapon, a SpaceX launch aborted again and, a 10-second video artwork se...

Mar 01, 20217 min

Bill Gates: I’d rather invest in vaccines than Bitcoin

Bill Gates says he’d rather invest in vaccines than Bitcoin. During a live chat on social network Clubhouse, the Microsoft founder told host Andrew Sorkin he doesn’t choose his investments on the basis of whether they would be worth more to others. Plus, the FDA allows the Pfizer vaccine to be stored and transported at warmer temperatures, it wasn’t just Nasa’s Perseverance rover that landed on Mars - millions of people did as well, and embattled Cyberpunk 2077 runs into yet more trouble. Listen...

Feb 26, 20216 min

Dr Fauci: We can vaccinate our way out of this pandemic

America’s top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci says we can vaccinate our way out of the coronavirus pandemic, but he’s concerned anti-vaxxers could prevent us from reaching that goal. Plus, the hidden message on the Nasa Perseverance rover’s parachute revealed, Facebook and Google must now pay for news in Australia and, how 30,000 elephant 'selfies' will help in conservation. Listen to our other podcasts: Women Tech Charge : interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technolo...

Feb 25, 20217 min

Nasa’s Mars mission's next steps: will it find life?

Nasa’s Perseverance rover is about to start its long-awaited Mars mission and Dr Kelsey Moore from the agency’s Jet Propulsion Lab is one of the scientists involved in looking for evidence of past life on the red planet. She tells the Standard what exactly their looking for and how likely it is they’ll find it. Plus, Spotify says its open to alternative models for calculating how artists should be paid, Sony is launching a new virtual reality system for the PlayStation 5, and we debunk the story...

Feb 24, 20218 min

After years gazing at Mars, Nasa unveils what it sounds like

Nasa has released audio of the first sounds recorded from the surface of Mars. A microphone on the Perseverance rover captures a gust of wind on the red planet, and the audio has had a wider impact than the scientists anticipated. Plus, Facebook re-friends Australia, WhatsApp users will be cut off if they don’t accept the new terms and conditions, and Twisted Metal fans could soon be bingeing on a TV series based on the iconic game. Listen to our other podcasts: Women Tech Charge : interviews wi...

Feb 23, 20217 min

Covid vaccines ‘cut risk of hospital admissions by up to 94%’

There’s more good news on the efficacy of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs: researchers say both are having a “substantial effect” on hospital admissions and the risk of serious illness. It comes as a roadmap to ease England’s lockdown measures is to be detailed today, but the plan has already been met with mixed reviews. Plus, cyber fraudsters are switching from big money scams to ‘silent stealing’ on a massive scale, NHS doctors are the first in the world to use reanimated hearts to save the li...

Feb 22, 20216 min

Nasa on rover touch down - latest on Perseverance mission

Now Perseverance’s work begins, but how does it avoid punctures on the craggy Martian surface and send samples millions of miles back to Earth? Nasa explains. Forty dead, millions without power and water in Texas after extreme winter storm, as White House links to climate change. Britain’s first coal mine for 30 years is being planned, inflaming tensions over environmental impact versus local jobs. Meet the YouTuber who built the world’s largest working PS5 console weighing a quarter of a ton. H...

Feb 19, 20216 min

'Seven minutes of terror': Nasa on Mars Rover as it makes final approach

Floating down to the Red Planet by parachute is the tensest part for Mission Control after 300 million-mile journey. Banned Down Under: Facebook blocks Australian news content in payment row with government. Million-year-old mammoth’s teeth that look like a shoe sole are the oldest specimens ever DNA tested by Natural History Museum. Nintendo announced new Mario title and refreshed Zelda game for Switch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Feb 18, 20217 min

Exclusive Nasa Mars rover interview: How robot driving experts control Perseverance from Earth

Meet mobility systems engineer and rover planner on the mission Tyler Del Sesto, part of the team at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Scientists fear reopening all schools could push up the coronavirus infection rate. TikTok accused by a European consumer watchdog of breaching users’ rights on a ‘massive scale’ and failing to protect children from harmful content. North Korea in the frame over of hacking Pfizer to get hands on Covid-19 vaccine data. Revealed: the tiny spy trackers...

Feb 17, 20216 min

Nasa’s Perseverance rover has laser eyes to hunt for life on Mars

The probe currently whizzing towards Red Planet has a ‘head’ equipped with laser eyes and a super-strength vaporiser to hunt for Martian chemicals and organic compounds. Fake five-star Amazon reviews offered on sale for the price of a pizza, investigation finds. Top WHO doctor says super-fast Covid tests ‘will pave return towards normality’ but those without a vaccine passport will be able to travel less. Harvard scientists think a mega-asteroid that wiped out Earth’s dinosaurs ‘came from edge o...

Feb 16, 20216 min

Scientists in Japan investigate earthquake leaving one million without power

Scientists in Japan are assessing the damage of a magnitude 7.3 earthquake that struck near Fukushima on Saturday night, we ask Dr Stephen Hicks, an earth sciences expert at Imperial College London, about the risk of aftershocks. Curing Covid is simple compared to beating climate crisis, warns Bill Gates. UAE Mars satellite: Probe’s first pictures of Red Planet are emailed back to Earth. Routine CT scans can find early signs of lung cancer in 70 per cent of patients, study reveals. Pensioners ar...

Feb 15, 20217 min

‘Astonishing’ Stonehenge discovery suggests its original site may be in Wales

Experts believe they may have recovered the true origins of Stonehenge. The ancient monument’s smaller bluestones originally formed an even older, long-lost monument in the Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire, Wales, 175 miles away. Plus, a mission to head to an icy moon of Jupiter thought to potentially home extraterrestrial life gets a launch date, find out how good you are at mindreading, and lovers beware: online romance scams are on the rise during lockdown. Listen to our other podcasts: Women T...

Feb 12, 20217 min

Cyberpunk 2077 developer’s source code on sale for millions of dollars

The maker of Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt Red, has capped off a difficult few months by confirming it's the victim of a cyberattack. The hackers are reportedly auctioning off stolen source code from the firm for potentially millions of dollars. Plus, how the Himalayas disaster showcases climate change in action, all the Covid virus in the world would fit in a coke can, and while pigs might not fly, it appears they can play video games. Listen to our other podcasts: Women Tech Charge : interviews w...

Feb 11, 20216 min

China’s Tianwen-1 spacecraft is second probe in 24 hours to enter Mars’ orbit

China’s Tianwen-1 spacecraft is set to become the second probe to enter Mars’ orbit in 24 hours. It's so far travelled 288 million miles to reach the planet, with the mission’s aim to explore for underground water and evidence of possible ancient life. Plus, astronauts of the future may be tucking into food from 3D printers, the WHO says the virus that causes Covid-19 isn’t from a lab and why scientists want to cull Pablo Escobar’s hippos. Listen to our other podcasts: Women Tech Charge : interv...

Feb 10, 20216 min
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