Tech and Science Daily | The Standard

The UK’s shiny digital ID plan gets a proper timetable reality check — small features first, big promises later. Over in London, a major MS genetics study pushes the science past its old “one-size-fits-one-ancestry” problem, and NASA’s Van Allen Probe A is making a dramatic return to Earth. Plus: a multivitamin ageing headline with a big pinch of salt, a UK games studio closure, and Whoop deciding fitness tracking should look more like streetwear than a wrist shackle. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evgeny Lebedev is joined by Will Ahmed, founder and CEO of WHOOP, to explore recovery, sleep, and why “you can’t manage what you don’t measure.” Will shares how overtraining as a Harvard athlete led him to build a wearable focused not on steps, but on the missing piece of performance: how ready your body actually is. He explains what WHOOP tracks - sleep quality, strain, heart rate variability (HRV), recovery, and stress. Will dives into why seven hours in bed can still mean poor sleep, how REM and deep sleep drive real restoration, and why consistency of bedtime and wake time often matters more than raw hours. Will and Evgeny get practical on what moves the needle, address the criticism that wearables can create anxiety - and how to use metrics as a tool, not a verdict. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al’s on the mic with a London-led study suggesting specialist palliative care can improve quality of life and ease pressure on the NHS — yes, a rare win-win. Then the UK ADHD debate gets a much-needed reality check as experts say the bigger issue isn’t overdiagnosis… it’s unmet need and long waits. After that, we jump to physics where atom-thin magnets start forming tiny vortices like it’s completely normal, before China’s brain-computer ambitions give the sci-fi crowd something to talk about. In gaming, Marvel Rivals brings back Chrono Rush, and we finish on commuter tech: The Standard’s take on Google’s Pixel 10a. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al’s on the mic as British Science Week kicks off today — ten days of pure “go on then, show me how it works” energy across London and the UK. Then the government backs a new fundamental AI research lab, aiming for proper long-term breakthroughs, not just flashy demos. After that, Cambridge researchers give robots a better sense of touch with graphene-based “artificial skin”… and scientists unveil a half-Möbius molecule that sounds like sci-fi but lands in Science anyway. We’re finishing with a London phone launch from Nothing — plus a quick gaming nod for your weekend queue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

a UCL researcher picks up the 2026 Novo Nordisk Prize for work that’s shifting Duchenne muscular dystrophy from “nothing we can do” to “we can actually intervene.” Then the UK Space Agency drops fresh cash on satellite comms, because in 2026 even “space” is basically an internet argument. Elsewhere, researchers flip a magnet with a laser like it’s casual, a Nature paper raises a big red flag about ancient carbon leaking out through Congo Basin la kes, and there’s a quick gaming palate cleanser with League’s latest patch. Oh — and Apple’s here to remind your laptop it’s replaceable. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Met starts trialling handheld facial recognition ID checks — because apparently London wasn’t futuristic enough already. Then we’ve got the UK laying down security expectations for 6G networks at MWC, plus a proper side-eye moment as new reporting suggests some chatbots will happily fabricate academic papers if you ask nicely. After the break: Nintendo’s Indie World roundup, Rainbow Six Siege drops Operation Silent Hunt with Solid Snake, and Google’s March Pixel Drop quietly upgrades your Pixel while you’re just trying to eat a meal deal in peace. More at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your commute’s doing that thing again: Tube and rail fares are increasing, while buses and trams stay frozen (for now). Alan Leer also dives into the UK’s real-world trial of teen social media limits — bans, curfews, the lot — and what it could mean for platforms and parents alike. Then it’s global gadget season at MWC, where Lenovo and Samsung are pushing the “adaptable devices” future, whether your bank account likes it or not. Plus: a genuinely slick science story where iron and blue LEDs pull off precision chemistry that usually needs rare metals. And in gaming, Pokémon hits the big 3-0. More at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode of Brave New World, Evgeny is joined by Dr Sabine Donnai, a physician specialising in precision medicine, preventive health, and is the founder of Viavi Healthcare. They explore brain health beyond standard scans, discussing how gut function, inflammation, environmental exposure, and stress interact over time. Drawing on Evgeny’s own test results, Sabine explains why she believes long-term cognitive resilience starts not with extreme biohacks, but with fixing the basics - particularly the gut. The conversation concludes with practical takeaways: reduce inflammatory foods, increase dietary diversity and fermented foods, support cardiovascular health, and avoid turning longevity into another source of stress. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

a new life-sciences flex lands in King’s Cross as Genomics opens up shop in the Knowledge Quarter and shows off agentic AI for drug discovery. The government claims it’s finally speeding up cyber fixes across public services — about time — and O2 starts selling a satellite bolt-on powered by Starlink for those “why do I pay for this contract?” dead zones. After that, NASA turns the Solar System into an audio experience you can actually listen to, and in gaming, it’s launch day for Resident Evil Requiem — so dodge spoilers like it’s Oxford Street at rush hour. More at standard.co.uk, and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UCL researchers are using lasers and drones to scan forests in 3D — turning climate arguments into hard numbers. Then we zoom out to the UK’s latest digital sector stats, before heading global as ASML pushes forward the EUV tech that underpins the chips in basically everything. After the break, there’s a fascinating “super agers” brain clue — and in gaming, Xbox hits the big reset button at the top. More on all of it at standard.co.uk, and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al’s on today’s proper jaw-dropper: London doctors announce a UK first — a baby born after a womb transplant from a deceased donor. Then it’s back to the paperwork side of the future as the government drags Netflix, Prime Video and the rest into tougher Ofcom-style rules. After the break, Uber tries to become the backstage crew for robotaxis everywhere, scientists reveal a new way to see DNA’s 3D structure, Fallout 4 goes portable on Switch 2, and Firefox does something radical: it gives you an AI off switch. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al brings you today’s Tech and Science Daily from The Standard. We cover a push for a more interventionist UK cyber strategy, new findings on barriers to international digital identity, a quantum photonics milestone involving light drift, early-stage research into an intranasal vaccine approach, and the latest Xbox Game Pass arrivals and departures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the MHRA puts the brakes on the UK’s PATHWAYS puberty blocker trial work while safety concerns get addressed, the UK’s space-weather mission heads toward its launch site (because satellites don’t protect themselves), and NASA’s Artemis II rocket gets rolled back for more fixes — yes, really. After that: a quick cyber patch warning, a punchy Arc Raiders update, and Samsung’s Unpacked week landing like a new phone season jump-scare. More on standard.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TfL gets an advert banned by the ASA for reinforcing a harmful stereotype, while the UK moves to force platforms to remove abusive intimate images within 48 hours — or face serious penalties. After the break, we hit the global AI acceleration story, and a proper gaming palate-cleanser with a big Avowed update. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard so you’re never the last to know. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London finally starts putting the brakes on pedicab chaos — licences, checks, and fare caps that might save tourists from heartbreak and the rest of us from the noise. Outside the M25, a Bristol engineer builds a sensor-packed insole designed to spot dodgy gait changes before they turn into nasty falls. Then it’s full sci-fi: Microsoft shows off laser-written glass storage that could keep data safe for 10,000 years. In gaming, the UK ad watchdog bans a Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 advert for crossing the line. For more, head to standard.co.uk — and follow for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Waymo’s robotaxis are already causing aggro by plugging into black-cab-only charging bays, the Tube gets hit with “SMS blaster” scam tech, and the UK tells businesses to “lock the door” on cyber criminals. Plus, a major quantum result finally makes elusive Majorana qubits readable in real time, and Discord’s teen-by-default settings roll out globally with age checks on the horizon. For more head to standard.co.uk — and follow the show so your commute stays informed Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imperial researchers report early-but-serious results for a psychedelic-assisted depression treatment, while UK scientists kick off about research funding uncertainty. After the break, it’s the “update your browser right now” Chrome zero-day, a fresh Artemis II countdown rehearsal date from NASA, and in gaming, John Wick steps out in a suit and into an untitled new action game. Plus: Apple tees up a 4 March event, so your next phone upgrade might want to calm down for a minute. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow for your weekday briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government’s proposing a first-ever official Thames bathing spot at Ham and Kingston — which is either progress or the start of a new kind of group chat argument. Then: the UK moves to pull AI chatbots into the Online Safety net, with child-safety rules catching up to fast-moving tech. Also, Oxford researchers find public support for health-data sharing for AI is real — but only if the safeguards are, too. After the break, MIT shows off computing that uses waste heat instead of electricity, Google warns the EU about building “tech sovereignty” walls, and in gaming, 007 First Light drops a new story trailer. We finish with Sony’s new WF-1000XM6 earbuds — priced like a Zone 1 lunch, but aimed straight at your commute. For more on all of it, head to standard.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

King’s College London says loose fabric can track movement better than skin-tight sensors, meaning your next health tracker might be… a shirt button. Then we’ve got the UK pushing telecoms giants to bin surprise mid-contract price hikes (about time), plus Microsoft scrambling to patch Windows and Office bugs that hackers are already exploiting. After that: China tests new Moon-mission hardware, and Silent Hill fans get a late-night update. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and hit follow so you don’t miss the next one! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TfL’s talking upgrades for 2026 — the sort that decides whether your commute is “fine” or “character-building”. Over in the US, Instagram’s “endless scroll” is being argued over in court, while Samsung confirms Galaxy Unpacked for 25 February, and Steam quietly tries to stop Early Access from promising the moon. More at standard.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.