Tech and Science Daily | The Standard

For Episode Nine, Evgeny is joined by Michael Pollan, journalist, author, and one of the leading voices exploring the human mind. Drawing on his new book A World Appears, Pollan makes an impassioned case for consciousness as something precious, private, and increasingly under threat. Together, they explore how social media and AI are not just competing for our attention, but beginning to shape attachment, emotion, and even our sense of self.The conversation ranges from chatbots and “AI psychosis” to meditation, psychedelics, and the idea of “consciousness hygiene” - the habits and practices that might help us protect our inner lives. Pollan also reflects on why writing is a form of thinking, why boredom and mind-wandering matter, and how experiences of ego dissolution, art, and nature can deepen our understanding of consciousness. The episode ends on a wider question: whether the real challenge is not only understanding consciousness, but learning how to practise it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al’s on the mic for a quick commute-friendly sprint: London’s hosting a 13-nation quantum pow-wow as the UK tries to help write the rules for the next big tech era. Then up to Sheffield, where researchers say the way we make chips could get a lot greener if supply chains shift closer to home. Also: telecoms firms re-promise to stop the sneaky bill stuff, with legacy inflation-linked rises heading for the exit after April 2026. After the break, Nature delivers a proper AI reality check — chatbots confidently chatting about a disease that doesn’t exist — before we finish with Xbox Game Pass loading April like it wants you to cancel plans. More on everything at standard.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan Leer is in with a proper commute-friendly sprint through today’s tech and science. London researchers linked to UCL hit a bonkers fibre speed record — using existing installed cable — while the UK’s Online Safety regime gets sharper as a key reporting duty kicks in today. Then we go brainy with a study teasing out a “neural fingerprint” for psychedelics, before switching to gaming where Starfield finally opens up on PS5 with a big update and fresh story content. Plus, a quick reality check on why your next phone might cost more than your last — and what to do about it. More at standard.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al’s back in your ears with a proper mixed bag: TfL quietly tests smarter detection tech on Tube tracks (eyes peeled at Mile End) and roads with radar cameras, while the UK’s next-gen Skynet military satellite plan sparks a very serious “who controls what” debate. Then we go full cosmic — Artemis II swings behind the Moon and pushes past an Apollo-era distance record — before a clean-energy research result hints at squeezing more power out of sunlight and heat. After that, Xbox FanFest puts London on the global gaming tour… and Evercade’s new handheld waves the flag for physical retro in a world that’s trying to subscription-everything. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London Tech Week tees up a new Deep Tech Stage for June, the government names its preferred candidate to chair UKRI, and researchers report something that sounds made-up but isn’t: “trade winds” inside cells that help move proteins as cells migrate. Plus, April gaming season begins — and yes, Goat Simulator 3 is on Switch 2 today. More on all of it at standard.co.uk, and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UCL teams up on a stem-cell therapy plan to help babies with Hirschsprung disease — the kind of story that actually changes lives. Then it’s the UK CMA poking around Microsoft’s business software ecosystem, because “it’s fine, everyone uses it” is not a competition policy. In the lab, a phonon “sound laser” shows off a wild new way to measure gravity with extreme precision. After the break: Arc Raiders drops Flashpoint and the playerbase immediately starts debating it like Parliament. Plus, CityFibre goes full show-off with an 8.5Gbps wholesale fibre product.More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing.Sound Laser. One more time for the people Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al’s running you through a very modern mix: London Games Festival turns the city into one big playable space, UK genomic science pulls a major epilepsy-linked diagnosis out of the “dark genome”. After the break, space science gets strange — microgravity may mess with sperm navigation — and Apple’s iOS 26.4 UK age checks arrive with equal parts safety intent and privacy drama. More at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al’s back in your ears with a very London Monday mix: shiny new lab space opening up in West London for biotech teams who actually need benches, not buzzwords — while UK scientists kick off about deep cuts to theoretical physics funding. Then it’s a straight public health update as UKHSA publishes its technical briefing on the meningitis B outbreak response, plus what the NHS is doing on vaccines. After the break, a rare sperm whale birth gets properly documented (yes, it’s as incredible as it sounds), Microsoft drops an emergency Windows 11 fix for sign-in chaos, and Baldur’s Gate 3 hotfixes the hotfix… again.More on everything at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London does what London does best: quietly drops a UCL-led trial suggesting a simple skin patch could treat locally advanced prostate cancer as well as injections — with real potential to widen patient choice. Then it’s a very 2026 combo of deepfake detection work from DSIT, the UK’s age-assurance direction of travel, and MPs asking what we actually know about kids, phones, and brain development.After the break, Nature gets philosophical (and a bit nervous) about “AI scientists” automating parts of discovery — while labs are also getting squeezed by the unsexy reality of pricey computer memory. We finish with regulators turning up the heat on child safety online… and Minecraft launching Tiny Takeover, because of course the babies are running the place now.More on everything at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al’s on in London after a proper space tease overnight: Isar Aerospace gets the go-ahead in Norway… then aborts in the final checks. Back on Earth, City Hall grills TfL with automated vehicles in the mix, and the UK pilots app limits, social media bans and digital curfews for teens at home. After the break: a God of War patch aimed at nasty save issues, and a BlackBerry-style keyboard phone makes a very 2026 comeback on Kickstarter. For more, head to standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London gets a tiny-but-mighty commute update as TfL redesigns the Baby on Board badge — because sometimes a bit of visual signalling does more than a thousand glares. Alan Leer also breaks down the government’s latest numbers on getting a million people online, plus what the UK’s 2G switch-off guidance means for older phones and those sneaky “smart” devices you forgot even exist. After the break, it’s a proper science gut-punch: Nature reports the UK’s main airborne climate and pollution research aircraft is being switched off. Then we end on a brighter note with a Nature Communications sodium-ion battery chemistry result built for extreme cold — and a quick check-in on the UK games industry as TIGA calls for support. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al’s on with a very real London problem: doing nights and trying to manage type 2 diabetes when the only “fresh option” is whatever’s blinking inside a vending machine. Then it’s MPs dragging the big platforms back into the spotlight over harmful algorithms, before we go global with the UN weather agency warning the planet’s climate is more “out of balance” than ever. After that, a rare bit of eco-hope — beavers turning streams into carbon-storing wetlands — and in gaming, Minecraft tees up its next cave-era glow-up with “Chaos Cubed”. Plus: MAC takes TikTok Shop live from Carnaby Street, because even buying lipstick now comes with a livestream. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al’s back with a Monday that goes from UCL turning tissue diagnosis into a 3D zoomable scan… to climate change literally slowing Earth’s spin. Lovely. We also hit the UK’s new plan to back fewer, bigger innovation bets, NASA edging Artemis II closer to its next launch window, and in gaming: Manor Lords drops a big update while Resident Evil celebrates 30 years by selling millions and turning up the drama with live concerts. Plus: Amazon’s quietly plotting a smartphone return, because apparently 2014 wasn’t enough pain. More on everything at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

shiny new lab space opening up in West London for biotech teams who actually need benches, not buzzwords — while UK scientists kick off about deep cuts to theoretical physics funding. Then it’s a straight public health update as UKHSA publishes its technical briefing on the meningitis B outbreak response, plus what the NHS is doing on vaccines. After the break, a rare sperm whale birth gets properly documented (yes, it’s as incredible as it sounds), Microsoft drops an emergency Windows 11 fix for sign-in chaos, and Baldur’s Gate 3 hotfixes the hotfix… again. More on everything at standard.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al’s on with a London health story that actually matters: Imperial and LSHTM flag a promising new target in the fight against drug-resistant TB. Then the government drops its Fusion Strategy 2026 — the long bet on “sun in a box” energy and the jobs that come with it. After that, a quick science detour into why static electricity is still weirdly mysterious. And then it’s a bigger gaming block: Crimson Desert arrives with big early impressions, Counter-Strike 2 rewires reloading after decades, Ubisoft reportedly pulls game dev away from Red Storm, and Xbox finally tests the “please let me turn off Quick Resume for this one game” feature. For more on all of it, head to standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al’s back with your hit of tech and science. Today, TfL starts trialling radar-based speed cameras across the capital — sharper kit, more lanes, less “I didn’t see the sign, mate.” Then it’s a UK U-turn on AI and copyright after creatives push back, plus CERN doing CERN things with a newly spotted particle. After that: a smart new way to read proteins using DNA sequencing tech, Starfield finally landing on PS5 with a chunky update, and a serious iPhone exploit warning — update your device before your phone updates itself into chaos. More at standard.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London’s drawn up the big infrastructure wishlist — and yes, “digital connectivity” is finally treated like a grown-up utility, not a nice-to-have. Then it’s a UK quantum push that’s basically: stop selling the clever stuff too early. After the break, we’re off-world for a newly identified molten exoplanet that’s swimming in magma and sulphur, before a smart-watch health story that’s promising… but not a substitute for your GP. Plus, Game Pass drops a fresh download queue and PlayStation Portal gets a quality bump for your sofa-sharing survival strategy. More on everything at standard.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A special preview from our sister podcast Brave New World, featuring a new episode from its latest series.For Episode Four, host Evgeny Lebedev is joined by human biologist, longevity science monolith and founder of The Ultimate Human, Gary Brecka. Together, they explore why so many people feel stuck at a “six out of ten,” what Gary believes to be the cause of fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, soreness, low mood, and why poor exercise recovery is often driven by nutrient deficiencies.Listen to the full conversation on the Brave New World podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alan Leer is on the mic today with a London story that actually slaps: University of Westminster researchers land a UKRI award for inclusive, co-created audio description — the kind that makes museums feel like they’re for everyone, not just people who can see every label from six inches away. Then it’s a UK-wide reality check as the Women in Tech Taskforce asks what would actually fix inclusion in the sector. After that, we go global with a Nature-published leap toward “4D cameras” — think sensing distance and motion in the same breath — before switching to the science of why some wound infections just won’t clear. And yes, we’re finishing with gaming nostalgia: Tomb Raider I–III Remastered gets a chunky free update, plus a very Tube-coded phone feature aimed at stopping shoulder-surfers. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For Episode Eight, Evgeny is joined by Carl Pei, founder and CEO of Nothing, the London-based consumer tech company trying to make devices feel fun. Carl explains how Nothing evolved from earbuds to smartphones, why he believes design and “focus-first” features can counter distraction, and what it means to build products with a distinct, instantly recognisable identity.Evgeny and Carl also explore the psychological cost of always-on devices, the battle for attention and consciousness, and what it might mean to build technology that helps people stay intentional. The episode ends on a wider view of the AI era: enormous promise for medicine and science, but serious unanswered questions about jobs, governance, and whether society is ready for what comes next Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK’s shiny digital ID plan gets a proper timetable reality check — small features first, big promises later. Over in London, a major MS genetics study pushes the science past its old “one-size-fits-one-ancestry” problem, and NASA’s Van Allen Probe A is making a dramatic return to Earth. Plus: a multivitamin ageing headline with a big pinch of salt, a UK games studio closure, and Whoop deciding fitness tracking should look more like streetwear than a wrist shackle. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evgeny Lebedev is joined by Will Ahmed, founder and CEO of WHOOP, to explore recovery, sleep, and why “you can’t manage what you don’t measure.” Will shares how overtraining as a Harvard athlete led him to build a wearable focused not on steps, but on the missing piece of performance: how ready your body actually is.He explains what WHOOP tracks - sleep quality, strain, heart rate variability (HRV), recovery, and stress. Will dives into why seven hours in bed can still mean poor sleep, how REM and deep sleep drive real restoration, and why consistency of bedtime and wake time often matters more than raw hours.Will and Evgeny get practical on what moves the needle, address the criticism that wearables can create anxiety - and how to use metrics as a tool, not a verdict. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al’s on the mic with a London-led study suggesting specialist palliative care can improve quality of life and ease pressure on the NHS — yes, a rare win-win. Then the UK ADHD debate gets a much-needed reality check as experts say the bigger issue isn’t overdiagnosis… it’s unmet need and long waits. After that, we jump to physics where atom-thin magnets start forming tiny vortices like it’s completely normal, before China’s brain-computer ambitions give the sci-fi crowd something to talk about. In gaming, Marvel Rivals brings back Chrono Rush, and we finish on commuter tech: The Standard’s take on Google’s Pixel 10a. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al’s on the mic as British Science Week kicks off today — ten days of pure “go on then, show me how it works” energy across London and the UK. Then the government backs a new fundamental AI research lab, aiming for proper long-term breakthroughs, not just flashy demos. After that, Cambridge researchers give robots a better sense of touch with graphene-based “artificial skin”… and scientists unveil a half-Möbius molecule that sounds like sci-fi but lands in Science anyway. We’re finishing with a London phone launch from Nothing — plus a quick gaming nod for your weekend queue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

a UCL researcher picks up the 2026 Novo Nordisk Prize for work that’s shifting Duchenne muscular dystrophy from “nothing we can do” to “we can actually intervene.” Then the UK Space Agency drops fresh cash on satellite comms, because in 2026 even “space” is basically an internet argument. Elsewhere, researchers flip a magnet with a laser like it’s casual, a Nature paper raises a big red flag about ancient carbon leaking out through Congo Basin la kes, and there’s a quick gaming palate cleanser with League’s latest patch. Oh — and Apple’s here to remind your laptop it’s replaceable. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Met starts trialling handheld facial recognition ID checks — because apparently London wasn’t futuristic enough already. Then we’ve got the UK laying down security expectations for 6G networks at MWC, plus a proper side-eye moment as new reporting suggests some chatbots will happily fabricate academic papers if you ask nicely. After the break: Nintendo’s Indie World roundup, Rainbow Six Siege drops Operation Silent Hunt with Solid Snake, and Google’s March Pixel Drop quietly upgrades your Pixel while you’re just trying to eat a meal deal in peace. More at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your commute’s doing that thing again: Tube and rail fares are increasing, while buses and trams stay frozen (for now). Alan Leer also dives into the UK’s real-world trial of teen social media limits — bans, curfews, the lot — and what it could mean for platforms and parents alike. Then it’s global gadget season at MWC, where Lenovo and Samsung are pushing the “adaptable devices” future, whether your bank account likes it or not. Plus: a genuinely slick science story where iron and blue LEDs pull off precision chemistry that usually needs rare metals. And in gaming, Pokémon hits the big 3-0. More at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode of Brave New World, Evgeny is joined by Dr Sabine Donnai, a physician specialising in precision medicine, preventive health, and is the founder of Viavi Healthcare. They explore brain health beyond standard scans, discussing how gut function, inflammation, environmental exposure, and stress interact over time. Drawing on Evgeny’s own test results, Sabine explains why she believes long-term cognitive resilience starts not with extreme biohacks, but with fixing the basics - particularly the gut. The conversation concludes with practical takeaways: reduce inflammatory foods, increase dietary diversity and fermented foods, support cardiovascular health, and avoid turning longevity into another source of stress. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

a new life-sciences flex lands in King’s Cross as Genomics opens up shop in the Knowledge Quarter and shows off agentic AI for drug discovery. The government claims it’s finally speeding up cyber fixes across public services — about time — and O2 starts selling a satellite bolt-on powered by Starlink for those “why do I pay for this contract?” dead zones. After that, NASA turns the Solar System into an audio experience you can actually listen to, and in gaming, it’s launch day for Resident Evil Requiem — so dodge spoilers like it’s Oxford Street at rush hour. More at standard.co.uk, and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UCL researchers are using lasers and drones to scan forests in 3D — turning climate arguments into hard numbers. Then we zoom out to the UK’s latest digital sector stats, before heading global as ASML pushes forward the EUV tech that underpins the chips in basically everything. After the break, there’s a fascinating “super agers” brain clue — and in gaming, Xbox hits the big reset button at the top. More on all of it at standard.co.uk, and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al’s on today’s proper jaw-dropper: London doctors announce a UK first — a baby born after a womb transplant from a deceased donor. Then it’s back to the paperwork side of the future as the government drags Netflix, Prime Video and the rest into tougher Ofcom-style rules. After the break, Uber tries to become the backstage crew for robotaxis everywhere, scientists reveal a new way to see DNA’s 3D structure, Fallout 4 goes portable on Switch 2, and Firefox does something radical: it gives you an AI off switch. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al brings you today’s Tech and Science Daily from The Standard. We cover a push for a more interventionist UK cyber strategy, new findings on barriers to international digital identity, a quantum photonics milestone involving light drift, early-stage research into an intranasal vaccine approach, and the latest Xbox Game Pass arrivals and departures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the MHRA puts the brakes on the UK’s PATHWAYS puberty blocker trial work while safety concerns get addressed, the UK’s space-weather mission heads toward its launch site (because satellites don’t protect themselves), and NASA’s Artemis II rocket gets rolled back for more fixes — yes, really. After that: a quick cyber patch warning, a punchy Arc Raiders update, and Samsung’s Unpacked week landing like a new phone season jump-scare. More on standard.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TfL gets an advert banned by the ASA for reinforcing a harmful stereotype, while the UK moves to force platforms to remove abusive intimate images within 48 hours — or face serious penalties. After the break, we hit the global AI acceleration story, and a proper gaming palate-cleanser with a big Avowed update. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard so you’re never the last to know. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London finally starts putting the brakes on pedicab chaos — licences, checks, and fare caps that might save tourists from heartbreak and the rest of us from the noise. Outside the M25, a Bristol engineer builds a sensor-packed insole designed to spot dodgy gait changes before they turn into nasty falls. Then it’s full sci-fi: Microsoft shows off laser-written glass storage that could keep data safe for 10,000 years. In gaming, the UK ad watchdog bans a Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 advert for crossing the line. For more, head to standard.co.uk — and follow for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Waymo’s robotaxis are already causing aggro by plugging into black-cab-only charging bays, the Tube gets hit with “SMS blaster” scam tech, and the UK tells businesses to “lock the door” on cyber criminals. Plus, a major quantum result finally makes elusive Majorana qubits readable in real time, and Discord’s teen-by-default settings roll out globally with age checks on the horizon. For more head to standard.co.uk — and follow the show so your commute stays informed Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imperial researchers report early-but-serious results for a psychedelic-assisted depression treatment, while UK scientists kick off about research funding uncertainty. After the break, it’s the “update your browser right now” Chrome zero-day, a fresh Artemis II countdown rehearsal date from NASA, and in gaming, John Wick steps out in a suit and into an untitled new action game. Plus: Apple tees up a 4 March event, so your next phone upgrade might want to calm down for a minute. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.