{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/039b783b-a527-4fdf-b3ce-b3c255ad3034/6920a75e75ae15fa66899550?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"UK Navy takes aim at drones with £316m laser system","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/61ba036a1a8cbef5973cf0c0/1763747627748-9ced4a20-7919-41a9-bcbf-50c901a92f67.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Britain’s defence tech gets a major boost as the Ministry of Defence signs a £316 million contract to equip Royal Navy ships with DragonFire laser weapon systems — capable of hitting a £1 coin from over a kilometre away. We break down what this leap in naval protection means for jobs, defence, and the UK’s future warfare capabilities.</p><p><br></p><p>Plus, one of the UK’s largest prostate cancer studies gets underway, aiming to transform diagnosis and reduce harm for thousands of men.</p><p><br></p><p>We also speak to Professor Mark Rowlands about why Plymouth has been crowned the happiest place in the UK to be a dog.</p><p><br></p><p>Also in this episode:</p><p><br></p><ul><li>UCL scientists identify what triggered a huge ‘earthquake swarm’ near Santorini, detecting magma flows deep beneath the seafloor.</li><li>James Webb Space Telescope spots a supermassive black hole that shouldn’t exist, challenging theories of early-universe formation.</li><li>Cricket 26 launches ahead of the Ashes, with updated squads, stadiums and “Bazball”-inspired modes.</li><li>Google tests Quick Share compatibility with Apple’s AirDrop, hinting at smoother cross-platform file transfers.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>For all the latest news, head to <a href=\"http://standard.co.uk\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">standard.co.uk</a> </p>","author_name":"The Evening Standard"}