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NASA Picture of the Day: Pluto in Enhanced Color
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Pluto is more colorful than we can see. Color data and high-resolution images of our Solar System's most famous dwarf planet, taken by the robotic New Horizons spacecraft during its flyby in 2015 July, have been digitally combined to give an enhanced-color view of this ancient world sporting an unexpectedly young surface. The featured enhanced color image is not only esthetically pretty but scientifically useful, making surface regions of differing chemical composition visually distinct. For example, the light-colored heart-shaped Tombaugh Regio on the lower right is clearly shown here to be divisible into two regions that are geologically different, with the leftmost lobe Sputnik Planitia also appearing unusually smooth.
How To Supercharge Your Password Security – Part One
Whether online shopping or paying household bills, these days many people have online accounts to make their day-to-day transactions simpler and quicker. However, with each and every profile comes the requirement to devise a new, strong password – helping to stop cyber criminals from accessing your personal details – which can…
Asteroid Flybys Over the next 7 Days
NameDateMin Dia. (m)Max Dia. (m)Rel. Velocity (mph)Miss Distance (miles)
250680 (2005 QC5)1st Aug30568216,34323,136,329
(2021 NT1)3rd Aug18441128,56136,580,649
(2013 HT15)4th Aug12127130,97333,380,654
551685 (2013 HT15)4th Aug12027030,97333,380,654
199003 (2005 WJ56)5th Aug646144533,44221,370,823
37655 Illapa (1994 PM)8th Aug732163670,56317,758,348
UK Space Industry To Benefit From New £1.5 Million Fund For Pioneering Space Tech
UK Space Agency has announced new funding to support ambitious plans for the exploration of space. Proposals could include ideas such as the utilisation of resources beyond Earth’s atmosphere, the use of nuclear power in space or the exploration the Moon, and Mars. The funding call, which opens today from the UK Space…
10:52 AM 30th July 2021
New Research Into Treatment And Diagnosis Of Long COVID
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
15 new studies across UK to expand research that will support thousands of vulnerable people Nearly £20 million for research projects will help improve understanding of long COVID and identify effective treatments Projects include the largest long COVID trial to date which will involve over 4,500 people Thousands…
11:10 AM 18th July 2021
Almost 100% Of People Have Antibodies After Second Vaccine
Over 207,337 participants took part in a home surveillance study for COVID-19 antibodies between 12 and 25 May 2021 Almost 100% of people tested positive for antibodies 14 or more days after their second vaccine dose, highlighting the importance of getting both doses for the best possible protection…
9:59 AM 16th July 2021
UK Exceeds 600,000 COVID-19 Tests Genomically Sequenced
More than 600,000 positive COVID-19 samples have now been genomically sequenced Sequencing provides invaluable data that will support decisions to relax social distancing in the future and help monitor for future variants and infectious disease threats Nationwide GenOMICC COVID-19 study…
9:12 PM 3rd July 2021
Life Could Exist In The Clouds Of Jupiter But Not Venus
Jupiter’s clouds have water conditions that would allow Earth-like life to exist, but this isn’t possible in Venus’ clouds, according to the groundbreaking finding of new research led by a Queen’s University Belfast scientist. For some decades, space exploration missions have looked for evidence of life beyond Earth where we…
5:00 AM 29th June 2021
UK Surpasses 500,000 Coronavirus (Covid-19) Tests Genomically Sequenced
The UK has today (Sunday 27 June) surpassed over half a million genomically sequenced positive coronavirus (COVID-19) tests, as the UK’s testing programme continues to ramp up. The strength of the UK’s genomics science base and diagnostics sequencing industry has allowed the UK to rapidly identify COVID-19 variants and capture critical…
11:10 AM 27th June 2021
G7 Nations Commit To The Safe And Sustainable Use Of Space
Today at the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, delegates from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the USA, the UK and the EU pledged to take action to tackle the growing hazard of space debris as our planet’s orbit becomes increasingly crowded. One of the biggest global challenges facing the…
7:41 PM 13th June 2021
How To Help Stop Your Computer Running Slowly
One of the biggest pain-points for technology users is slow running speed. We’ve all been there – staring at a spinning loading icon and wishing for the programme or email to load quicker – and it can be painful. But, while some tech problems need the experts on hand to help resolve them, there are others which you can remedy – and prevent – yourself.
6:00 AM 11th June 2021
Solar Eclipse In The UK
Jan Harris
Assistant Editor
Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay
Today on Thursday morning 10 June some parts of the world will witness a partial solar eclipse when the moon will block out the sun in an eclipse. A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and the earth and the moon fully or partially obscures the sun. If…
9:03 AM 10th June 2021
Worms On A Mission To Research Muscle Loss In Space
Today (Thursday 3rd June), hundreds of tiny worms are being flown to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of an experiment to understand more about human muscle loss and how to prevent it. Funded by the UK Space Agency, a team of scientists led by scientists from Nottingham and Exeter…
2:59 PM 3rd June 2021
Life-saving Vaccination Programme To Hit More Major Milestones
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock to acknowledge success of UK’s biggest vaccine drive in history at G7 meeting of Health Ministers this week. New approved Janssen jab boosts armoury in helping to defeat global pandemic Three quarters of UK adults expected to…
9:33 AM 31st May 2021
New DNA Research Could Help Combat Cancers
In a groundbreaking first, research led by Queen’s University Belfast has found thousands of ‘Achilles Heels’ or ‘cancer vulnerabilities’ in an analysis of more than 700 different cancer cell types. In future, this could lead to new ways to stop cancer cells in their tracks by using existing drugs, as well…
9:42 PM 20th May 2021
New Research Shows How The Zebrafish Could Help Humans Reach Mars
New research led by Queen’s University Belfast has shown the zebrafish could help humans reach Mars by understanding how a form of hibernation, known as induced torpor (a state of reduced metabolic activity) may provide radio-protective effects. Hibernation is a physiological condition found in many species that protects them against harsh…
1:20 PM 20th May 2021
World First COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Study Launches In UK
New government-funded clinical trial looking at different COVID-19 ‘booster’ vaccines launches in the UK Initial results trialling seven vaccines expected in September to inform plans for booster programme Clinical trials on agenda for G7 Health Ministers’ Meeting in early June which Health Secretary announces…
8:37 AM 20th May 2021
COVID-19 Vaccines: Further Evidence Of Success
New evidence continues to show vaccination is highly effective in protecting against death and hospitalisation from coronavirus (COVID-19). New Public Health England (PHE) analysis shows for the first time that individuals who receive a single dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine have approximately 80% lower risk of death with COVID-19 compared with…
8:06 PM 10th May 2021
Top Tips On How To Keep Your Identity Safe Online
In an age in which almost everything we do is online – from shopping, to banking, to conference calling – it’s no surprise that digital scams and cyberthreats are on the rise. Here, Jamie Durham, founder of IT Support firm Systemwork, shares his top techie tips on how to surf the…
9:14 AM 7th May 2021
Project Investigating Long-term Effects Of COVID-19 On The Heart Is Awarded Grant
Image by fernando zhiminaicela from Pixabay
A project at Newcastle University investigating long-term inflammation of the heart following COVID-19 infection has been awarded a grant of almost £150,000 by national charity Heart Research UK. Around 10% of COVID-19 patients in the UK will suffer from so-called ‘long-COVID’, where symptoms continue for more than three months. In addition…
2:54 PM 5th May 2021
New Cutting-edge Testing Centre To Fast-track COVID-19 Variant Vaccines
New state-of-the-art labs will test the effectiveness of vaccines against new variants. Facility will speed up deployment of vaccines tailored to tackle variants Hancock: labs will help “future-proof country from threat of new variants” Vaccines tailored to tackle COVID-19 variants are to be accelerated through…
8:49 AM 5th May 2021
Astronomers Detect New Chemical Signature In An Exoplanet’s Atmosphere
Image by JCK5D from Pixabay
An international collaboration of astronomers led by Queen’s University Belfast has discovered a new chemical signature in the atmosphere of an extrasolar planet, a planet that orbits a star other than the sun. Such advances are important if, in the future, we ever want to probe atmospheres of smaller rocky planets…
10:48 AM 27th April 2021
Online Privacy – What Role Could Blockchain Play In Reducing Identity Theft?
Jamie Durham
IT Correspondent
A Hacker at work. Image by Robinraj Premchand from Pixabay
Data protection and identity theft are hot topics in the IT industry at the moment, with an increasing number of individuals and businesses reporting incidents. In a broad look at the current cyber-threat landscape we can explore what bitcoin is and how the technology could help with cases of commercial and…
7:14 PM 23rd April 2021
Dstl Leads Successful Experiment To Observe Satellites Docking
Following almost 3 months of observation and data collection, last week saw the culmination of a space domain awareness (SDA) experiment known as ‘Phantom Echoes 2’ to successfully observe the rendezvous of 2 active satellites in geostationary Earth orbit (GEO). Data captured by observers from the international science and defence communities…
2:13 PM 21st April 2021
Government Launches COVID-19 Antivirals Taskforce To Roll Out Innovative Home Treatments This Autumn
New Antivirals Taskforce could identify and deploy innovative COVID-19 treatments as early as autumn Treatments could be taken at home after a positive test or exposure to COVID-19 to reduce transmission and speed up recovery Drugs could help combat a…
6:46 PM 20th April 2021
First Flight On Mars
The first flight of NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter was captured in this image taken by a pair of zoomable cameras aboard NASA’s Perseverance Mars earlier today. Ingenuity took off to a height of 3 metres, hovered for 20 seconds, rotated 90 degrees, hovered for a further 20 seconds, then descended…
7:16 PM 19th April 2021
Star Count The Results Are In
Back in February, The Countryside Charity asked you to help map the nation’s view of the night sky. An incredible 7,845 counts were submitted - the biggest year ever! The charity were blown away by the number of people that took part despite the limitations of lockdown. The number crunching is done and…
8:14 PM 6th April 2021
Groundbreaking New Technology To Detect Known Variants Of Concern
New technology to rapidly detect new COVID mutations indicating whether positive test samples contain known variants is being trialled by the government in NHS Test and Trace laboratories. New tech will help identify mutations linked to variants of concern Rapid turnaround times will help…
11:00 AM 22nd March 2021
Top Industry Recognition For Civil Engineering Works Along Fylde Coast
The £21 million Fairhaven to Church Scar scheme, which provides new coastal protection and an upgraded promenade, scooped the Sustainability Award at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) North West Civil Engineering Awards 2021. Emma Antrobus, Director, ICE North West said: “Civil engineers are in a pivotal position to help address the…
3:26 PM 12th March 2021
Space Launch From British Soil One Step Closer
In a giant leap in British spaceflight history, government publishes response to commercial spaceflight consultation. government on course to legislate for UK spaceflight by the end of this year first-ever launch into space from British soil could have lift-off in the early 2020s UK spaceflight plans would…
11:35 AM 5th March 2021
Modified Covid-19 Vaccines For Variants To Be Fast-tracked, Says MHRA And Other Regulators
Future vaccine modifications that respond to new variants of coronavirus to be made available quickly to UK recipients, without compromising on safety, quality or effectiveness. Authorised COVID-19 vaccines that are modified in response to new variants will not need a brand new approval or “lengthy” clinical studies, according to new guidance from the ACCESS Consortium – a coalition of regulatory authorities from the…
9:14 AM 4th March 2021
The Benefits Of Perseverance
The 28 mile wide Jezero Crater sits on the western edge of Isidis Planitia, a giant impact basin slightly north of the Martian equator. Jezero was chosen as 3.5 billion years ago the crater probably had its own river delta and was filled with water. And where there's water there…
8:55 AM 19th February 2021
The Sky Is Not The Limit: Could You Be The UK’s Next Astronaut?
Are you calm under pressure, fit and healthy, and looking for a new career? ESA is on the lookout for new astronauts to join its cohort of space explorers. For the first time since 2008, The European Space Agency (ESA) is on the lookout for new astronauts, and UK citizens of…
3:17 PM 16th February 2021
Opinion
Misinformation In A Digital World – Who Decides What’s Right?
There’s no escaping the fact that coronavirus has completely dominated all conversation for the past 11 months. From newspaper headlines to social media updates, we’re constantly consuming a barrage of pandemic-related posts, unsure of what’s real and what isn’t. Less reported though, are the regulations placed on platforms around what can…
3:14 PM 10th February 2021
Nearly All In-person Test Results Returned Next Day By NHS Test And Trace
NHS Test and Trace has recorded another record-breaking week, with turnaround times for most testing routes returning to levels not seen since the middle of 2020. Test turnaround times continue to rise, with 97.2% of in-person test results returned the next day after the test was taken …
10:03 PM 4th February 2021
9 In 10 Test Results Returned Next Day By NHS Test And Trace
93.8% of in-person test results were returned the next day after the test was taken, compared with 84.8% the week before. Significant improvement in test turnaround times – 93.8% of in-person test results returned the next day after the test was taken, compared with 84.8% the week…
11:45 AM 29th January 2021
UK To Support Rest Of The World To Find Covid-19 Virus Variants
The UK will offer its world-leading genomics expertise to identify new variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 to countries who do not have the resources to do so. UK genomics expertise and capacity to be offered worldwide to find new variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 …
4:39 PM 26th January 2021
Past Covid-19 Infection Provides Some Immunity But People May Still Carry And Transmit Virus
Study finds past coronavirus (COVID-19) infection provides some immunity for at least 5 months, but people may still carry and transmit the virus. People infected with COVID-19 in the past are likely to be protected against reinfection for several months, a Public Health England (PHE) study has found, although experts cautioned…
11:37 AM 14th January 2021
Asymptomatic Testing To Be Rolled Out Across The Country Starting This Week
Community testing offer to be expanded across all local authorities in England to test people without symptoms. Local authorities will be encouraged to target testing to people who cannot work from home during lockdown. Around 1 in 3 people have coronavirus (COVID-19) without displaying any symptoms. Rapid, regular testing for people without…
8:51 AM 11th January 2021
Government To Deploy First British-manufactured Rapid Lateral Flow Antigen Tests For Covid-19
The Government has ordered two million of the first British-manufactured rapid lateral flow antigen tests for COVID-19 to be validated by Public Health England, for use in asymptomatic testing, Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has announced. Derby-based company SureScreen Diagnostics is to provide two million of the lateral flow…
8:41 AM 11th January 2021
Moderna Vaccine Becomes Third Covid-19 Vaccine Approved By UK Regulator
The vaccine has been approved after meeting the required safety, quality and effectiveness standards. The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna has today been given regulatory approval for supply by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This follows a thorough and rigorous assessment by the MHRA’s teams of scientists, including…
3:25 PM 8th January 2021
Keeping Your Staff Safe During Sales Season
With Black Friday – and its online cousin, Cyber Monday – having delivered the usual frenzy of Christmas orders, commentators expect December to signal the start of two months’ worth of online sales. And, as the lines between work and home life become increasingly blurred, chances are, employees will be using…
9:03 AM 10th December 2020
Over Half A Million People Taking Part In Pioneering COVID-19 Research
637,379 participants from across the UK have now taken part in public health research into the effects of, and treatment for, COVID-19 in just over 8 months. Over half a million people across the UK have taken part in COVID-19 research Participation has allowed UK-led research to deliver the world’s…
11:13 AM 5th December 2020
Tinker, Tailor … Scammerman, Thief
Andrew Liddle
Features Writer
It would be an exaggeration to say there is one a day, although it can sometimes feel like it. There’s probably about three a week on average. Phone calls from scammers? Normally, they’re fairly obvious and I gently put the phone down on them. To slam it down would be to admit…
4:21 PM 26th November 2020
Ocean Mapping Satellite To Help UK Scientists Tackle Climate Change
Artist's impression of Sentinel-6 over the UK (ESA/ATG Medialab)
A government-backed satellite that will allow UK scientists to measure sea level rise is set to launch on a SpaceX rocket from Vandenberg, California. In the past two decades, space has played an increasingly crucial role in efforts to monitor and combat climate change. Satellites are indispensable for collecting data on…
11:07 AM 23rd November 2020
UK-led Space Telescope To Unravel Mysteries Of The Cosmos
Artist’s impression of Ariel (ESA/STFC RAL Space/UCL/UK Space Agency/ATG Medialab)
The European Space Agency has given the green light to the world’s first space telescope dedicated to studying how exoplanet atmospheres form and evolve. Its mission is to understand the links between a planet’s chemistry and its environment by charting approximately 1,000 known planets outside our own Solar System, arming scientists…
11:30 AM 13th November 2020
500,000 Daily Testing Capacity Reached In Ongoing Drive To Boost Test And Trace
The UK’s daily coronavirus testing capacity passed the 500,000 mark on Saturday 31 October. UK testing capacity increased to 519,770 to help meet demand over the winter period, in ongoing expansion of testing this follows announcements of new Lighthouse Labs and partnerships joining the…
10:50 AM 2nd November 2020
Five IT Things To Know Before Committing To A ‘New Normal’
A recent survey by YouGov found that ‘fewer than four in ten want to leave their house to go to work’. This was compounded by research from NetMotion, which uncovered statistics showing that 57.5% – of the 66% of staff that had encountered a technical issue during lockdown – didn't…
3:22 AM 31st October 2020
Sewage Signals Early Warning Of Coronavirus Outbreaks
A government-led project is successfully detecting traces of coronavirus in sewerage, providing an early warning for local outbreaks across the country and sharing data with NHS Test and Trace. The programme, which was first announced in June, has now proven that fragments of genetic material from the virus can be detected…
10:57 AM 24th October 2020
NHS Test And Trace Statistics For 8 October To 14 October
NHS Test and Trace continued to reach the majority of positive cases and their contacts, with a total of 1,133,094 people having been reached by the service since it was started. This week saw the service successfully reach 80.7% of people who tested positive and 75.1% of contacts where communication details…
2:55 PM 22nd October 2020
New Measures To Support Roll-out Of Vaccines In The UK
More healthcare workers will be trained to administer flu and COVID-19 vaccines safely to public Changes will help the UK-wide deployment of vaccines once they have been approved by the regulator Vaccines will only be given to patients once proven…
1:39 AM 16th October 2020
Staying Cyber Secure In Lockdown 2.0
Jamie Durham
IT Correspondent
Earlier this month, British universities and colleges faced grim warnings from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – part of GCHQ – around a steep increase in the number of ransomware attacks on the UK’s education sector. As organisations prepared for students to return to the classroom, cyber criminals used…
8:07 AM 5th October 2020
UK Embraces Hydrogen-fuelled Future As Transport Hub And Train Announced
Image from University of Birmingham
The first ever hydrogen powered train will run on the UK mainline today in a big step forward towards the UK’s net zero targets, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced today, visiting the start of trials in Warwickshire. Today’s trials of the train, known as HydroFLEX, which have been supported with a…
8:00 AM 30th September 2020
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