Technology

Worrying loophole in Italys facial recognition ban points to the EUs future

Italy has introduced a new facial recognition ban, but it features a glaring exemption that is set to echo across the EU. The new ruling outlaws the use of facial recognition technology (FRT) unless the tech is used for crime fighting or judicial investigation. Italys Data Protection Agency pledged to maintain the ban until new legislation is adopted, or at least until the end of 2023. The moratorium stems from the need to regulate eligibility requirements, conditions, and guarantees relating to facial recognition, in compliance with the principle of proportionality, the watchdog said on Monday in a statement. Civil…

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Scientists in Bulgaria may have figured out how to detect wormholes

A team of researchers at the University of Sofia in Bulgaria may have figured out a novel method for detecting wormholes assuming, of course, they exist at all. Wormholes are theoretical shortcuts through space and time. Supposedly, if you were to fly a spaceship into one, you could travel massive distances in a relatively short amount of time. This is quite different from a typical black hole an object from which not even light can escape. The problem with trying to detect wormholes is that they look a lot like black holes. Currently, we dont have the technology…

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These are the high growth tech careers in London right now

London might be calling, but despite the rich seam of opportunities to mine in this capital of both England and the United Kingdom, its not a particularly easy time to carve out a career here. With a long history as one of the worlds top financial capitals, this is a costly place to live.The city tied for 17th place with Helsinki, a notoriously expensive location, in the Economist Intelligence Units (EIU) Worldwide Cost of Living index in 2021. The index is compiled by comparing prices in US dollars for goods and services in 173 global cities. While this is just…

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Norways floating offshore wind farm is a lesson in hypocrisy

All over Europe, companies are looking to reduce energy costs and their carbon footprint. And its more than just talk the weekend saw the worlds largest floating (offshore) wind farm, Hywind Tampen, begin energy production. Developed by Equinor and located about 140 kilometres off the coast of Norway, the floating wind farm is the first in the world to power offshore oil and gas platforms. The wind farm is estimated to meet about 35% of the annual electricity power demand of five of the Gullfaks and Snorre partners rigs. Of course, this percentage will increase when wind speed is…

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This Scottish startup found a new way to harness the power of waves

The idea of using waves as an energy source is far from new; in fact, attempts have been documented as early as 1799. But since then, harnessing wave power for commercial applications has proven to be a challenging pursuit: devices are vulnerable to harsh weather conditions, they have a high capital cost, or simply dont produce enough power to make for a viable business project. But Scotland-based AWS Ocean Energy aims to change that. The startup has reported results 20% better than expected for its Archimedes Waveswing, a prototype wave energy generator that, for the past six months, has been…

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Is the EUs big bet on graphene about to pay out?

Graphenes spec sheet reads like a superheros profile. Two hundred times stronger than steel, a million times thinner than a human hair, and a thousand times more conductive than copper, its no surprise the substance is called a wonder material. When the sheet of carbon was first isolated in 2004 at Manchester University, the breakthrough rocked the scientific world. Countless applications for the miracle substance were envisioned, from storing solar power to stitching batteries into bodies. At the EU, plans to capitalize on the materials promise were drawn up. In 2013, the bloc launched the Graphene Flagship, an initiative to…

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Sustainable cooling for buildings is a huge opportunity for European startups

Rising temperatures across Europe, in combination with an ever-aging population and rapid urbanization are not only making the population more vulnerable to heat, but have also increased the demand for cooling systems in buildings. In fact, between 1980 and 2020, heat waves have caused 77,000 to 129,000 deaths in the 32 member states of the European Economic Area, the European Environmental Agency (EEA) estimates. This represents 86%-91% of the total fatalities caused by climate-related extreme events. And with heat waves expected to be more intense and frequent than ever before, the agency warns that the EU is facing a crucial…

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UK researchers used AI to uncover a whopping 11,456 social innovation projects online

The EUs Renewed Social Agenda, a comprehensive program began in 2008 to improve Europes economy, fight climate crisis, and generally provide greater overall quality of life for all Europeans, was a landmark initiative. At its core lies the idea of social innovation, a modality involving the creation of new social services and models that are applicable in a multinational paradigm. Examples of social innovation include public libraries, open universities, and workers rights movements. But theres more to it than just bringing people together to solve problems or attempting to create an atmosphere of equality. A social service thats successful in…

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European researchers are using fungi in the fight against e-waste

Putting fungi on your skin may sound like something right out of 1960s San Francisco, but its actually thelatest innovation to make wearable tech more sustainable. Researchers from Johannes Kepler University in Linz, Austria, have created a new kind of biodegradable electronics they call MycelioTronics. And it has great potential to reduce the e-waste that plagues hardware of all types. The sustainability challenge in wearable tech In 2019 alone, 53.6 million metric tonnes (Mt) of e-waste was generated a figure that continues to rise. Tackling this is of the utmost importance in protecting the environment. Electronic circuits inside computer…

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