Particle robots recall royal ‘grey goo’ warning
Scientists call them “particle robots” but even their creators admit they share similarities with the “grey goo” that prompted a famous warning from the Prince of Wales.
Technology
Gary Lineker criticises Twitter for promoting ‘unacceptable’ scam articles
Gary Lineker has denounced Twitter for allowing “obvious bullshit” after it promoted scam articles about him.
Electric scooters could be seen on UK roads
Electric scooters could be allowed on public roads if a new review on modernising the UK’s highways network is put into action.
Hammond in £200m boost for scientific research
The Chancellor is to unveil plans for a £200 million investment in cutting-edge scientific research when he delivers his Spring Statement on Wednesday.
Facebook to make anti-vaccination content less visible
Facebook is to clamp down on anti-vaccination groups on the site, announcing it will reduce the ranking of pages that “spread misinformation” on the subject.
Queen shares first post on Instagram at Science Museum exhibition launch
The Queen passed another social media milestone by posting an image on Instagram for the first time as she announced the Science Museum’s new summer exhibition – Top Secret.
O2 Academy venues introduce mobile ticketing
O2 Academy venues across the UK will now accept mobile tickets in a bid to simplify the experience for concertgoers and reduce fraud.
Replica street at new training school for digital engineers
A fibre training school featuring a replica street has been unveiled by Openreach to train the next generation of digital engineers.
MIT researchers create the first four-legged robot to perform a backflip
A four-legged robot named the Mini Cheetah is now able to do backflips, thanks to researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Firms pull adverts from YouTube over offensive content
Companies including Nestle and Fortnite maker Epic Games have suspended advertising on YouTube over claims their ads appeared next to offensive content on the video platform.
Social media sites should face compulsory ethics code, MPs say
Social media platforms are behaving like “digital gangsters” and should be forced to comply with a regulated code of ethics to tackle harmful or illegal content on their sites, a Commons committee has demanded.
Huawei hits back at US over boycott suggestions
One of Huawei’s most senior executives has accused the United States of a “geopolitical campaign” against the company in an attempt to gain leverage in trade negotiations with China.
Twitter boss admits it needs to improve help for victims of abuse
Twitter boss Jack Dorsey has admitted that the social network needs to do more to help victims of abusive behaviour online.
Trade unions and academics seek ways to adapt to modern economy
Strategies to help trade unions adapt to the modern economy will be developed at a technology conference being held in Glasgow.
UK driverless car advance ‘slowed by potholes and poor broadband’
A new study has found that the development of self-driving vehicles in the UK is being hampered by potholes on roads and poor broadband.
Lloyds apologises after customers locked out of online accounts
Banking giant Lloyds has apologised after customers were locked out of their accounts and were unable to access online services.
Facebook acquires AI shopping startup
Facebook has bought an AI furniture shopping startup called GrokStyle, as the social network continues to broaden its technology with greater focus on artificial intelligence.
Amazon ramps up involvement in driverless car race with US developer investment
Amazon has taken a massive leap into the driverless vehicle arena by investing in autonomous technology developer Aurora.
What should parents do about screen time and social media?
Advice to parents and carers on the use of screens and social media by children and young people has been issued by the UK’s chief medical officers.
Ban phones at bedtime and meal times, UK’s top doctors advise parents
Families should ban phones at bedtime and keep them away from the dinner table, according to the first official advice on social media and screen use from the UK’s top doctors.
Helicopter helps bring better phone coverage to UK’s most northerly community
A helicopter was called in to give Britain’s most northerly community better mobile phone coverage.
Children’s development ‘delayed by watching too much TV and computer games’
Too much time spent watching TV and playing computer games can hold back the development of young children, new research suggests.
Scottish authorities have slowest internet speeds in UK, study claims
Parts of Scotland receive the worst broadband connection in the UK, according to new research.
Facebook backs Government’s online safety lessons for school pupils
Social media giant Facebook has backed the Government’s new online safety lessons to help school pupils recognise online dangers.
Researchers aim to prevent delays in smart phone data use
An innovative system to reduce delays affecting smart devices has been designed by computer scientists in the UK.
Cambridge Analytica parent firm fined after ignoring data enforcement notice
The parent company of elections consultancy Cambridge Analytica has been fined £15,000 after it repeatedly ignored a Data Protection Act enforcement notice.
Drone sightings temporarily halt Heathrow departures
Departures were temporarily suspended at Heathrow following reports of a sighting of a drones at the airport.
Heathrow flights grounded after drone sighting
Departures have been suspended at Heathrow after a suspected drone sighting.
Toyota showcases new Guardian driver assistance systems at CES
Toyota has showcased its Guardian assistance system for the first time at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Rail firms deploy technology to cut false ‘on time’ train updates
New technology will cut the number of false “on time” train descriptions, the rail industry has claimed.