This graphene and spider silk mixture is so strong it could be used to catch falling planes May 6, 2015 What happens if you spray unsuspecting spiders with graphene, the world's strongest artificial material? They spin ultra-strong silk webs, an Italian scientist has discovered. Nicola Pugno from the University of Trento wanted to combine natural and man-made strength to create a material with record-breaking properties, and his wish was granted. He applied “aqueous dispersions” [...]
Pieces of a failed Russian spaceship could fall down to earth on Friday May 6, 2015 Fragments of a failed Russian spacecraft are expected to fall to Earth later this week, according to space agency Roscosmos. The Progress resupply ship was sent up into space at the end of last month to deliver cargo to the International Space Station (ISS), but was unable to reach the correct orbit and went into an [...]
Drug companies are producing more new cancer drugs than ever before – but can countries actually afford them? May 5, 2015 The world faces a cancer medication conundrum. On the one hand, the ageing population means we need more effective treatments for the disease, but on the other hand these can cost so much to create that we can't use them. The IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics estimates that last year, global spend on cancer drugs [...]
Tech sector job creation climbs to new high but skills focus needed May 5, 2015 UK technology companies’ hiring has reached a record high despite the industry reporting slower growth in business. The tech sector UK business activity index published today by consultants KPMG and financial information firm Markit scored 55.7 for the first three months of the year. Any figure above 50 represents growth with higher scores marking faster [...]
How old do you look? Microsoft’s new face detection software guesses age, but how well does #HowOldRobot know top CEOs? May 1, 2015 Microsoft has created new facial recognition software which claims to be able to identify people's age and gender based solely on a single photo. Forget the bold leap into the future this technology brings, the website has caused a viral sensation as millions of people check out how they fare and whether a robot can [...]
If you really want to have a healthy diet, make it convenient April 30, 2015 Make no more plans to spend hours putting together complicated salads and homemade juices – it's time to get real. Most of us just won't put in the effort to become culinary health food wizards with the limited free time we have, and we only end up consuming lots of good foods if it is [...]
General Election 2015: FinnCap CEO Sam Smith wants more help for growing companies and support for UK FinTech April 29, 2015 ELECTION COUNTDOWN: 7 DAYS TO GO Every day until the final week of the election campaign, we ask a business leader to say what policies would entice them to vote for a particular party. SAM SMITH: CHIEF EXECUTIVE, FINNCAP Put in place further tax breaks for investing in growth companies. Reduced the corporate [...]
Microsoft Band review: The ultimate fitness tracker or another “wearable” damp squib? April 29, 2015 Back in the dark ages of the mid 2000s, the “quantified self” movement barely existed. Disparate groups of fitness and data geeks had just begun to measure every aspect of their lives, entering the results into creaking spreadsheets in the hope of gleaning some insight into the mysteries of the human body and soul. [...]
Other fitness trackers to consider April 29, 2015 Jawbone Up Move This entry-level tracker displays sleep patterns, workouts and calorie intake via a Bluetooth-connected app on your phone. The Smart Coach function suggests ways to improve your lifestyle and you can check its LED display to see how you’re doing. It’s also discreet, light and comes in a variety of colours. £39.99, jawbone.com [...]
Is Uber planning an on-demand service for luxury shopping deliveries? April 29, 2015 Uber could be delivering more than just people from A to B: the controversial taxi app is said to be eyeing a move into shopping deliveries. Not just any kind of delivery, though – Uber doesn't want to be the next Ocado. It wants to deliver luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Tiffany's, Hugo Boss [...]