
Tech and Science Daily | The Standard
1,494 episodes — Page 26 of 30

Online pornography: Meet the father fighting for age access checks
Campaigner Ioannis Dekas has joined forces with YouTuber Ava Vakil in a legal bid for age verification so children can't watch adult content. Milky Way galaxy’s birthday is now super-accurate thanks to new dating method. Influencer Jake Paul investigated over Instagram post of “illegal driving” on beach protecting endangered turtles. Artificial intelligence uses time and weather data to predict out-of-hospital heart attack risk. A study reveals how a mother’s genetics can influence children’s height, lifespan and disease risk. Don’t mention the cones...Waymo self-driving taxi struggles to identify small hazards. And, a humanoid robot powered by AI has cut the ribbon for its own art exhibition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heart disease now top cause of death in women worldwide
Experts are calling for urgent action to tackle cardiovascular disease and its devastating impact on female mortality. Move over Perseverance - China lands its Zhurong rover on Mars. As SpaceX plans first (nearly) orbital Starship rocket flight from Texas to Hawaii. Bitcoin bloodbath as cryptocurrency hits three-month low after Musk exit. Greenpeace probe finds dumped British household waste dumped and burned in Turkey. The $150 billion mega-merger set to shake-up Hollywood’s battle for streaming dominance. How sharks use Earth’s magnetic field as ocean-mapping GPS. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Charles fans sent me online death threats, claims YouTuber’s ex-producer
A producer who worked for internet star James Charles alleges she received online death threats after going public with her lawsuit against the beauty mogul. WhatsApp says the clock is ticking for users to accept updated privacy rules. Fossilised footprints 58 million years old reveal the earliest evidence of sea mammals. The 4.6 billion-year-old Winchcombe meteorite created during the birth of the Solar System is going on public display after raining down on an English country town. Nasa’s Perseverance rover is using its smart arm to conduct lab tests on Mars. Cryptocurrency crime is down...but be alert as new DeFi fraud hits record high. And, scientists say people with a healthier heart are better at solving logic problems and have faster reactions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brain chip ‘allows paralysed man to write on screen using his brain’
Scientists are claiming a paralysed man has used his brain to write on a screen at speeds almost as fast as someone bashing out a text on a smartphone thanks to a computer-mind interface. Elon Musk says Tesla will no longer accept bitcoin due to fossil fuel use. Why delaying second Covid vaccine doses may save lives. How an Antarctic greenhouse is helping future astronauts grow salad on the Moon, and back on Earth - the US Environmental Protection Agency releases climate report delayed by Trump. Instagram adds pronouns option to user profiles. And, Nasa can’t keep up with demand for private space travel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warning over teens getting stuck in tiny toddlers’ swings for bizarre TikTok craze
In TikTok weirdness, fire chiefs warn crews are being diverted from 999 life-saving calls to help free teens wedged into children’s playground swings - while their pals film. Drive for Doge? Elon Musk polls internet about accepting joke crypto to buy a Tesla car. China computer chip crisis: Apple, Google and Microsoft call for the U.S to go self-reliant. Study shows that long-term prescription medication for insomnia does not improve sleep. ‘Pay-by-palm’ touch technology now available in Amazon IRL shop, but can you really delete your biometric data? The age of Britain’s most famous naked giant has been revealed by archaeologists. And Gentoo penguins have been expressing their love with the courtship ritual of gifting pebbles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Millions of Apple customers could be owed cashback in App Store 'overcharging' lawsuit
Apple is facing a billion-pound legal claim after being accused of breaking UK competition law by “overcharging” millions of people for software in its App Store. Under-13s Instagram would be devastating for child mental health, U.S. states warn Zuckerberg. Gene therapy treatment study offers a lifeline to children without an immune system. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed that as of Monday, people in England who travel abroad will be able to use the NHS app to demonstrate they are fully vaccinated Nasa’s Osiris-Rex probe on a mission to drop an asteroid time capsule for analysis by future humans. Made in Chernobyl vodka seized by authorities, and, TikTok stole my voice for text-to-speech function, Canadian actor claims. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elon Musk claims SpaceX will take Dogecoin for Moon mission - but is it one big meme?
Elon Musk tweets his rocket company SpaceX will accept volatile joke cryptocurrency Dogecoin as payment...is it a wind-up? Huge Chinese rocket booster that sparked re-entry mystery tumbles back down to Earth. Race to bring fuel pipes back online after 100GB ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline. Clubhouse launches Android app as downloads of voice chat platform plunge. Digitised bat pathogens will help track risk of future pandemics for new museum project. Amazon says 10 billion fraudulent product listings have been blocked by e-retailer this year. Microsoft at last updates family of 26-year-old icons untouched since Windows 95. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spy chiefs warn smart cities are tempting targets for a hack
The National Cyber Security Centre warns traffic cams and parking sensors in increasingly smart cities pose a risk of being hacked in ransomware attacks. Covid-19 spreads to rural Indian villages amid oxygen shortages, vaccine production worries and new fears about strain spread to UK. Chinese rocket chaos latest: It’s due to land somewhere this weekend, but no one knows where. No masks and key workers are guests of honour at the Brit Awards 2021. How a chicken-sized desert dinosaur was a brilliant nocturnal predator thanks to its awesome hearing. Meet Deana Puccio, former top Brooklyn sex crimes prosecutor and founder of the Rap Project, who wants parents to have honest chats with their children about online risk and pornography. Mental Health Awareness Week: Just 20 minutes soaking up nature will boost mood - we speak to Go Jauntly co-founder Hana Sutch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Success! Musk’s monster SpaceX Starship Mars shuttle makes vertical landing
SpaceX has successfully managed to take off and land its SN15 vertically after four previous tests rockets were destroyed during tests. Why is meme-based cryptocurrency Dogecoin that can’t be spent anywhere soaring to all-time high? Mystery of whether Facebook’s algorithms amplified Trump’s violent rhetoric in conspiracy groups. Peloton is recalling treadmills following a child’s death. Millions of internet users have a security risk in their living room - that old router, warns a consumer watchdog. Stone Age remains of a toddler buried with a pillow nearly 80,000 years old are Africa’s oldest grave. Ant-omatic for the People...R.E.M singer helps name gender-neutral insect to celebrate human diversity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is your weekly food shop killing the Amazon rainforest?
Supermarket bosses are threatening to boycott goods from Brazil as anger grows over land reforms feared to fuel rainforest destruction. Twitter receives record number of responses for poll on rules governing world leaders. He’s back online! Donald Trump launches new blog-esque “communications” platform. Dozens more SpaceX Starlink satellites launched amid space junk collision and light pollution concerns. Latest on China’s out-of-control space rocket - where will it land? Blue carbon: the greatest pollution-fighting process you’ve never heard of. The lion queen....London Zoo welcomes new Asiatic lioness for global breeding programme of endangered species. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

eBay sales could be made with bitcoin or even NFTs
After a booming weekend for crypto, eBay says customers could soon buy second-hand goods on the auction site with Bitcoin or non-fungible tokens. No pre-nup could see a record-breaking divorce settlement for Microsoft founder Bill Gates and ex-wife Melinda Gates after 27 years of marriage. 3D heart scans to give 100,000 NHS patients faster treatment amid concerns over doctor exodus fuelled by Covid work stress. Fears out-of-control Chinese rocket falling to Earth could shower cities with debris. Royal Marine turns real-life Rocketman as Navy tests gravity jet-powered flying suit. Baseball stadiums are trialing a vaccine passport to verify fans’ Covid vaccine status. Internet is hooked on wholesome ‘sign wars’ in Canadian small town. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ransomware hacking: World’s biggest tech firms advise detectives
Global coalition of tech firms and national security agencies calls for “aggressive and urgent” action to stop criminals hacking schools and hospitals for Bitcoin. “Don’t let your guard down” - Scientists warn immunity takes a while to develop after first Covid shot. Social media racism: Tech giants face being fined millions for failing to block abuse. This strange new Tetris keypad technique is helping retro Nintendo players break world records. Mars mishap and a scramble at Mission Control as Nasa’s Ingenuity helicopter fails to fly. World’s first airport without any IRL view of the runway - it’s all done remotely 70 miles away. Happy birthday to ‘sea level’ - the mapping standard celebrates 100 years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Call for ID checks on social networks to stop online abuse
Tech experts want social media users to verify with their real ID, but at what cost for those in despotic countries with human rights risks? Buzz Aldrin and Tim Peake lead tributes to Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins, who has died aged 90. Billion-year-old fossil that looks like mince could be oldest animal ever found. Dr Helen Fisher from King’s College London on her new study linking childhood air pollution exposure and poor adult mental health. Climate crisis: World’s glaciers melting faster than ever as sea levels rise at alarming pace. Time to get those pandemic bones and joints moving again amid fear of Covid-era “binge sitting”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Google seeks lawsuit block over iPhone ‘Safari browser data tracking’
Google is hoping to block a Supreme Court legal action over claims it secretly tracked millions of iPhone users’ internet activity. Podcast celebrity Joe Rogan slammed over anti-vaxx conspiracy. Self-driving cars given green light for motorways in 2021. ‘Red Dwarf’ asteroid-catcher launched by China to test future space mining missions. Journey to the Centre of the (Cornish) Earth: Super-drill inspired by Jules Verne to bore for electricity and heating. Ultra-hot flares on the Sun reveals magic of the solar heating process that keeps us warm on Earth. Radar scanners used to hunt for Genghis Khan’s tomb are deployed to save polar bears. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Diverse Siri, extra emojis and slower battery death in Apple’s iOS update?
Apple unveils a more inclusive set of Siri assistants, enhanced tracking protection and promises to stop iPhone batteries dying so fast - if you have a compatible device. Hotter than hell...scientists discover mega-planet that can vaporise metal. Shift workers more likely to test positive for Covid-19 and end up in hospital, study finds. Man buys Google for $3...and it was easier than you think. Jeff Bezos is bitter that Elon Musk has been awarded Nasa’s Moon shot contract. New Cold War space race heats up as Russia and China invite experts to join lunar HQ plans. The secret of Tyrannosaurus rex’s killer jaw grip revealed by 3D scans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anti-vaxxer conspiracy theories: Science lessons strike back
Schools in the United Kingdom will get free teaching materials to help challenge fake news fuelling vaccine hesitancy. Why India is asking Twitter to take down tweets critical of its COVID-19 handling. Facebook and Google are ‘failing to take down scam adverts’, says consumer rights watchdog. China is building a 13,000-satellite web router mega-constellation to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink. Nasa’s little helicopter Ingenuity completes its longest mission yet on Mars. (Not so) pink supermoon set to brighten night skies. Constant gardeners are the happiest, study finds.Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Blast-off for Nasa/SpaceX rocket - with a heavy metal soundtrack
It's a milestone for space history as four astronauts on a Nasa/SpaceX mission to ISS are the first crew to blast off in a recycled private spacecraft. Can a Tesla car be ‘tricked’ into driving without a human on-board? The Unhurt Locker: Underwater “Telexistence” bomb disposal robots will help humans work remotely while being able to feel the fuse. Back to the Cold War for Call of Duty as shoot-em-up franchise release 80s-era Warzone update. How artificial intelligence is helping unlock the ancient mystery of Dead Sea Scrolls. Victorian-era bacteria collected by Arctic explorers is helping scientists make future medicines. Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI posing risk to our way of life faces Europe ban
The European Commission wants to stop “unacceptable” robot software that manipulates human behaviour or uses “subliminal techniques”. Licence to meme: MI5 joins Instagram. Earth Day: Joe Biden to host a virtual summit with 40 world leaders to fight climate change. A climate supercomputer is being built by the UK’s Met Office weather service and Microsoft. Teenagers who are big social media users often drink more, study says. Alexa, give me a short back and sides...Amazon opens London hair salon. Rare woolly piglets born in Whipsnade Zoo’s post-lockdown baby boom.Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TikTok hit by landmark legal claim over ‘non-consensual collection of children’s data’
The former children’s commissioner for England launches a legal claim against TikTok over allegations it illegally collected personal data from millions of children. UK Instagram users will soon be able to filter out racist and sexist DMs. ESA astronaut ready for blast-off in recycled SpaceX capsule. Skygazers will have a chance of catching a shooting star as the annual Lyrids meteor shower is scheduled to appear. Vast underwater sea meadows are being planted to encourage seahorses to combat habitat destruction by hobby boat anchors. Tile demands US Senate competition probe into Apple over rival AirTags. Dogecoin in the doghouse as the meme-based cryptocurrency slumps after hashtag-fuelled record surge.Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories.Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard'Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What we can expect from Apple’s ‘Spring Loaded’ event
Apple’s set to unveil a string of new devices in what some analysts are predicting will be “an action packed” event. It’s likely the tech giant will officially release its iOS 14.5, which promises to unlock an iPhone while wearing a mask through Apple Watch. Plus, Facebook and Reddit take on audio social networking-site Clubhouse, Nasa’s Ingenuity helicopter to be ‘pushed to the limit’, WHO warns a deadly Covid variant that can beat current vaccines is ‘a matter of when, not if’ and, Google makes it possible to hang out with Pac-Man or Hello Kitty in your living room. Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nasa makes history with Ingenuity's first powered flight on Mars
Nasa’s Ingenuity helicopter has had its Wright Brothers moment after it successfully launched off Mars. The test was the tiny helicopter’s baby step towards proving powered flight on another world. Plus, why young people who’ve previously had Covid-19 are to be deliberately re-infected with the virus, Facebook set ‘to launch audio-social products’, two men killed in Tesla, which officials say had no one at the wheel, and the Lord of the Rings MMO is officially cancelled. Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Human cells grown in monkey embryos ‘raise ethical concerns’
Scientists have grown human cells in monkey embryos. Researchers from the Salk Institute in California have produced what’s known as monkey-human chimeras, but some ethicists are raising concerns, saying this type of work “opens Pandora’s box to human-nonhuman chimeras”, plus previous coronavirus infection ‘doesn’t fully protect young people against reinfection’, scientists calculate how many billions of T-rexes roamed the Earth and, live 3D holograms are allowing friends kept apart to dine together again. Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Avoid catching Covid ‘by staying garlic-breath distance away from others’
Can you smell your friend’s breath? Then you’re probably close enough to catch Covid. That’s according to scientist Dr Julian Tang who says people should employ the "garlic-breath" test to measure if someone is too close and could transmit the virus. Plus, a study finds magic mushroom compound performs at least as well as antidepressant, the Evening Standard’s Jim Armitage on why Coinbase’s stock exchange listing is such a big deal for cryptocurrency and, scientists figure out why dinosaurs with ‘ridiculously long’ necks were able to fly. Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ludwig Ahgren breaks Twitch record for most subscribers
Ludwig Ahgren has live-streamed on Twitch non-stop for 31 consecutive days. In doing so, he’s broken the platform’s record for having the most paying subscribers - hitting more than 280,000. Plus, hear what a spider web sounds like, Apple and Samsung confirm special events this month, a man sues Detroit police over his wrongful arrest based on facial recognition tech, and ‘fairy lights’ in the night sky turn out to be Starlink satellites. Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Microsoft’s $16bn takeover of AI firm behind Apple’s Siri
The artificial intelligence and speech tech firm behind Apple’s Siri has been bought by Microsoft for $16 billion. The purchase of Nuance Communications is the second largest in Microsoft's history. Plus, the Kent coronavirus variant 'spreads more easily, but doesn’t make you more sick,’ Japan plans to release into the sea more than a million tonnes of radioactive water, Cyberpunk 2077 ‘will sell for years to come’ and, why the latest dinosaur discovery has been dubbed ‘Monkeydactyl’. Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nasa’s helicopter ‘safe and healthy’ as it prepares for Mars flight
Nasa’s tiny helicopter it hopes will prove powered flight on another world is possible is gearing up for its first attempt to take to the Martian skies. Ingenuity had been scheduled to fly on Monday but a tech issue during a rotor test means the Nasa team is now hoping for a Wednesday launch at the earliest. Plus, more than half of children think gaming should be part of the school curriculum, but parents aren’t so sure, Nintendo warns of a possible stock shortage of Switch consoles this year and, with the help of robotics, transforming a Transformer has finally got easier. Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gagarin ISS anniversary launch: Astronaut describes being “catapulted” into space
It’s a big day in space history - marking 60 years since Russian Yuri Gagarin was the first human in space, and also 40 years since the launch of Nasa’s first space shuttle. How women are crowdsourcing their own security for protection against street predators with app SafeUp. Egyptologists announce the discovery of a 3,000-year-old royal city thought lost forever beneath the desert. Ocean study will use underwater microphones to monitor whale migration and disintegration of icebergs. Monkey tennis: Elon Musk releases video apparently showing a macaque using his brain implant controlling a video game. Twitter launches Milk Tea Alliance emoji as anti-Beijing protest movement grows. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twitch will ban video game streamers for ‘severe misconduct’ that happens offline
Twitch says it will ban users for offline offences such as child abuse, threats of mass violence or membership of “hate groups” that happen entirely away from the site. Facebook says it does not plan to notify half-billion users affected by data leak, Carbon dioxide pollution hits record high despite pandemic lockdowns, a mystery of the exoplanet born ‘far away from current location’ is zooming through deep space. Rugby player develops a tech wearable to monitor head trauma. How the Ganges river dolphin's rare hearing powers helped it fight extinction, plus scientists reconstruct oldest female DNA from remains more than 45,000 years old. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than 1.5 million YouTube videos violated content rules
The Google-owned platform says some 1.6 million out of every one billion pieces of content uploaded were flagged and deleted for sexual abuse, misinformation and hate speech. A new search tool lets Facebook users check if their data was among half a billion users hacked. The health regulator NICE says opioids should not be prescribed for phantom chronic pain. Google, Facebook and Amazon face a new regulator in a bid to curb tech giants’ dominance. The E3 gaming expo will be streamed to everyone for free this year without paywalls. Nasa’s Ingenuity mini-chopper snaps its first colour photo of Mars, and, forget smartphone map apps - a Bronze Age slab found in cellar is one of world’s oldest 3D maps. Listen to our other podcasts:The Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important storiesWomen Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Facebook data hack: Latest on 533 million accounts exposed
Millions of social media users are being urged to keep an eye out for fishy emails and dodgy feed activity after personal account details, including phone numbers, were splurged over the internet. A five-minute breast cancer jab is being rolled out. NASA’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity survives first night in sub-zero Martian weather. Russia will use space conference to push forward plans for China moon base. Moscow extends throttling of Twitter until mid-May over Navalny protests. Sexual violence is promoted on most used pornographic websites, legal study finds. The $1 parts causing a worldwide PlayStation and Xbox chips shortage. Plus, how chemical weapons gas ended up in a Welsh landfill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to visit space? An ESA astronaut tells us what it'll take
The European Space Agency is looking for a new cohort and applications are now open. Thomas Reiter, ESA astronaut and advisor to the Director General, tells us what it’ll take to make the cut of the agency’s most diverse team yet. Plus, new evidence of meteor particles reaching Antarctica 430,000 years ago, a living robot’s been created out of frog skin cells, and coins unearthed in Rhode Island may help solve one of the planet's oldest cold cases. Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘World’s biggest’ video game cheating gang raided by police
Police in China and the tech giant Tencent say they have busted $10-a-day cheating hacks ring allegedly netting $76 million for codes to games including Call of Duty and Fortnite. No intergalactic experience required: first all-civilian crew ready to buckle-up for SpaceX flight. Another super-rocket fail for Elon Musk as exploding prototype scatters debris over miles in Texas.Rise of ‘extortionware’ as hackers seek to embarrass victims for cash. DNA can be collected from air so could help enforce social distancing, scientists discover. Fears child had finger on nuclear button as gibberish tweet by US Strategic Command sparks panic. A digital Gormley in your living room...sculpture park recreated virtually in Minecraft for those unable to visit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Close encounter with Earth could cause ‘asteroid quakes’ on Apophis
Earth’s been given the all-clear for the next century, with NASA dismissing the threat from a particularly menacing asteroid. But we’ll still have a close encounter from Apophis in 2029 and Marina Brozovic from Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory tells us it's the space rock that’ll be more likely to experience a shudder as it passes by Earth. Plus, light coming from an explosion three billion years ago has illuminated a ‘goldilocks’ black hole, long-term weightlessness causes the heart to shrink and, Donald Trump’s back - on his own terms. Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WHO report: ‘Extremely unlikely’ Covid-19 came from Wuhan lab leak
The World Health Organisation says its ‘extremely unlikely’ Covid-19 came from a lab leak in Wuhan, China. The Associated Press reveals details of a leaked report from a WHO team who visited the city to study the origins of the virus. Plus, a Suez Canal video game aims to capture the ‘gargantuan’ task of freeing the boat, a mass experiment shows how music festivals post-Covid can go ahead, and Elon Musk hints at another Starship launch. Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Facebook security probe reveals China cyber spies in malware attack on US-based Uyghurs
An investigation by Facebook security researchers shows Chinese hackers used spyware to target Uyghur activists and journalists living in the United States. Twitter’s Jack Dorsey launches own online poll during Congress grilling. Six-month-old babies are youngest participants in Pfizer’s trials of children’s Covid vaccine. Rare elephant breeds being driven to extinction by ivory poachers, conservationists warn. Three-minute gadget deliveries by drone being tested. Facial recognition: 700-year-old Scottish skulls found in graveyard dig have faces reconstructed. Do not try this at home - the video game streamer online for 10 days. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anti-vaxxer myths: US states urge Facebook and Twitter to improve misinformation fight
Attorney generals for 12 US states accuse Facebook and Twitter of failing to stop misinformation spreading about coronavirus vaccines. Computer says you’re fired: union warning over rise of the AI boss. Digital self-defence classes lead online fightback for women and non-binary people. Nasa’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity has a tiny piece of Wright brothers’ first plane stowed aboard. Stop sign where no-one stops is Twitch sensation. Knights who say NFT...John Cleese hopes to make fortune from ‘absurd’ digital art token boom. Wool not pulled over medieval eyes after sheepskin discovered as anti-fraud weapon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Colorado mass shooting: anger over YouTube 3hr livestream
YouTube is being criticised for allowing a lengthy, graphic livestream of the tragedy in Boulder, Colorado, as Twitch deleted the footage. Scientists warn there’s a rising risk of wildfires in colder countries from climate change. Cyberpunk 2077 in 8K over Steam? If you’ve got the bandwidth now you can, maybe. It’s Mars or bust for SpaceX rockets by 2030, says Elon Musk. You can buy a Tesla now with bitcoin instead of olde worlde cash or credit. ‘I’m no longer a Mac’...as Noughties computer ad actor defects to PC. Get ready for District 10 as long-awaited dystopian sci-fi thriller sequel is being written right now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, survey finds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 providers during pandemic. Sophia the humanoid robot has drawn an artwork due for auction as a non-fungible token. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 the deepest point on Earth. Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 finds if there’s a link between toddlers’ screen time and behavioural issues. Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 glands capable of crying and, why the regent honeyeater has lost its tune. Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Tesla. Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, and Epic Games teases a Neymar skin for Fortnite. Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 billion. Scientists unravel mystery of 2,000-year-old telescope dubbed ‘world’s first analogue computer’. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 repair’ law ready for summer. Banksy art burned, destroyed, and sold as Bitcoin-style digital token in livestream stunt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 field to protest over ‘snail speed’ internet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘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 as technology shares plunge. The world’s oldest known wild bird hatches chick at the grand old age of 70. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 set off from UK soil in just a few years. Listen to our other podcasts:Women Tech Charge: interviews with incredible women leading in Science, Technology, Engineering and MathsThe Leader: a daily news podcast helping you make sense of the day’s most important stories Ask your Smart Speaker to ‘play the news from the Evening Standard' Visit standard.co.uk/tech for more tech news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.