UK biotech company could transform treatment of genetic diseases with RNA technique February 18, 2015 A new technique for silencing and activating genes could transform the speed and efficiency with which genetic diseases are treated. Developed by UK biotechnology company Silence Therapeutics, it works by creating RNA – the molecule responsible for controlling gene expression in nature – in a synthetic form, and using it to influence how [...]
Chinese New Year: How the goat could bring some prosperity to China’s struggling economy February 18, 2015 The year of the horse didn't work out too well for China. Growth slowed to its lowest point in two decades, while an over-investment in construction has resulted in too much property relative to demand. The country's leaders have attempted to spur growth on again, with the People's Bank of China cutting interest [...]
Strongest material on Earth: Limpet teeth could be used to build Formula 1 cars, planes and human fillings February 18, 2015 Go to the dentist and you could soon come away with a limpet filling – the sea creature's teeth contain a material stronger than anything discovered or created before, and this has the potential for use by humans. By pulling the teeth apart all the way down to individual atoms in a laboratory, engineers at [...]
Artificial Intelligence: Darpa invents technology to let humans see beyond reality February 17, 2015 Could virtual reality be a step closer to becoming part of human consciousness? Darpa, the US military advanced research division, has revealed details of its brain-computer interface, a direct communication pathway between the brain and an external technological device. Called a “cortical modem”, the device, unveiled at the Biology is Technology (BiT) conference [...]
When you’re hungry you end up spending more money, and not just on food February 17, 2015 Most of us are well acquainted with hunger-driven over-spending. The purchasing of a family meal for one after a long day at work, or the ordering of twice as much food as you could possibly eat at a restaurant. Hunger can distort our perception of what we require to make us feel satisfied [...]
BP’s four key predictions for how the world’s energy sector will change over the next 20 years February 17, 2015 While the falling price of oil continues to cause problems for the world's energy companies, worldwide energy demand will have picked up by 2035. Energy consumption is expected to rise by 37 per cent between 2013 and 2035, with an average annual increase of 1.4 per cent. This is one of the predictions [...]
Universal Credit: What you need to know about the benefits scheme being rolled out today February 16, 2015 Today, the government will begin its phased roll out of the universal credit benefits scheme, with the hope of bringing down taxpayer costs. Unlike the current system, which gives recipients their benefits as separate amounts, universal credit combines the six main types of benefit into one package. It was first introduced by work [...]
The government wasted £5.1bn last year – and £6m was on unusable earplugs February 15, 2015 Last year, the government apparently wasted £5.1bn on pointless projects and avoidable errors, with the Ministry of Defence being the biggest culprit of all. The department's £3.07bn losses included £4m on inventory for Sea King helicopters no longer in use, and £6m on earplugs found to be “not fit for purpose”. It also [...]
Tesco Bank moves into new mortgage territory with independent brokers February 15, 2015 Tesco Bank is extending its mortgage offering to include independent brokers, with the hope of dramatically increasing its customer base. In an interview with The Telegraph this weekend, the business said it would start selling the loans through intermediaries in 2016. The bank has already shown promise in the property market – [...]
Centrica’s new chief executive Iain Conn could cut British Gas dividends by 15pc February 15, 2015 Centrica will release its full-year results for British Gas on Thursday, but there is little optimism among analysts. Not only has the falling price of oil weighed down the company's success – it is also going through a competition inquiry and faces a continuing crisis in the North Sea, where a large part of its [...]
