Plans for a "mini fracking" site in Burniston near Scarborough have been rejected by North Yorkshire Council following local outcry.
Delivery robots are appearing on sidewalks in cities globally, but residents and local authorities are raising concerns about safety, accessibility, and pedestrian movement. Some cities have implemented bans or restrictions, while others are considering them, as a petition in Chicago calls for a suspension until safety tests and clear rules are established.
Lancaster University stores valuable Helium-3 gas, costing $2,000 per litre, in beer kegs for quantum computing and fusion research. With current supply from nuclear weapons limited and future demand rising, companies are exploring lunar extraction, though challenges remain regarding concentration and cost.
Scotland's government may consider a moratorium on new datacenters, a move that could jeopardize the UK's AI strategy. The SNP national council passed a motion to freeze projects lacking planning permission, citing "overdevelopment" and environmental concerns.
China's robotaxi industry leverages its strong EV ecosystem for rapid, low-cost innovation. Companies like Baidu and WeRide face competition from US firms like Waymo, but complex driving conditions in China provide valuable data. Challenges include safety concerns, regulatory hurdles, and geopolitical data security issues.
A major AI datacentre complex in Scotland, promised to be powered by on-site renewables, has misrepresented its energy plans. Documents reveal developers and the government were aware of power provision issues, raising doubts about the UK's AI infrastructure ambitions.
Chinese start-ups are leveraging manufacturing advantages and government support for 'embodied AI' to develop highly dextrous robotic hands, aiming to transform humanoid robots from novelties into practical tools. This focus addresses the significant engineering challenge of replicating human hand capabilities, which is seen as crucial for unlocking future economic potential amidst an aging workforce.
