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UCL hormone patches for prostate cancer, UK deepfake detection push, AI “scientists” debate, Minecraft Tiny Takeover
Season 1
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London does what London does best: quietly drops a UCL-led trial suggesting a simple skin patch could treat locally advanced prostate cancer as well as injections — with real potential to widen patient choice. Then it’s a very 2026 combo of deepfake detection work from DSIT, the UK’s age-assurance direction of travel, and MPs asking what we actually know about kids, phones, and brain development.
After the break, Nature gets philosophical (and a bit nervous) about “AI scientists” automating parts of discovery — while labs are also getting squeezed by the unsexy reality of pricey computer memory. We finish with regulators turning up the heat on child safety online… and Minecraft launching Tiny Takeover, because of course the babies are running the place now.
More on everything at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing.
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Last-second rocket abort in Norway, UK trials app limits for teens, and a keyboard Android lands on Kickstarter
07:42||Season 1Al’s on in London after a proper space tease overnight: Isar Aerospace gets the go-ahead in Norway… then aborts in the final checks. Back on Earth, City Hall grills TfL with automated vehicles in the mix, and the UK pilots app limits, social media bans and digital curfews for teens at home. After the break: a God of War patch aimed at nasty save issues, and a BlackBerry-style keyboard phone makes a very 2026 comeback on Kickstarter. For more, head to standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing.
UK 2G switch-off warning, Britain’s airborne climate lab grounded, sodium-ion battery cold-weather leap, TfL refreshes Baby on Board badges
07:50||Season 1London gets a tiny-but-mighty commute update as TfL redesigns the Baby on Board badge — because sometimes a bit of visual signalling does more than a thousand glares. Alan Leer also breaks down the government’s latest numbers on getting a million people online, plus what the UK’s 2G switch-off guidance means for older phones and those sneaky “smart” devices you forgot even exist. After the break, it’s a proper science gut-punch: Nature reports the UK’s main airborne climate and pollution research aircraft is being switched off. Then we end on a brighter note with a Nature Communications sodium-ion battery chemistry result built for extreme cold — and a quick check-in on the UK games industry as TIGA calls for support. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing.
Night Shifts and Type 2 Diabetes, WMO Climate Imbalance Warning, Beaver Carbon Sinks, and Minecraft’s “Chaos Cubed” Update
07:16||Season 1Al’s on with a very real London problem: doing nights and trying to manage type 2 diabetes when the only “fresh option” is whatever’s blinking inside a vending machine. Then it’s MPs dragging the big platforms back into the spotlight over harmful algorithms, before we go global with the UN weather agency warning the planet’s climate is more “out of balance” than ever. After that, a rare bit of eco-hope — beavers turning streams into carbon-storing wetlands — and in gaming, Minecraft tees up its next cave-era glow-up with “Chaos Cubed”. Plus: MAC takes TikTok Shop live from Carnaby Street, because even buying lipstick now comes with a livestream. More on all of it at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing.
London’s “Virtual Histology” X-ray Leap, Earth’s Rotation Slows, Artemis II Nears Launch, Amazon’s Phone Comeback
06:56||Season 1Al’s back with a Monday that goes from UCL turning tissue diagnosis into a 3D zoomable scan… to climate change literally slowing Earth’s spin. Lovely. We also hit the UK’s new plan to back fewer, bigger innovation bets, NASA edging Artemis II closer to its next launch window, and in gaming: Manor Lords drops a big update while Resident Evil celebrates 30 years by selling millions and turning up the drama with live concerts. Plus: Amazon’s quietly plotting a smartphone return, because apparently 2014 wasn’t enough pain. More on everything at standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing.
London TB drug target breakthrough, UK Fusion Strategy 2026, Crimson Desert launches, CS2 reload overhaul, New Sonos Speakers
07:39||Season 1Al’s on with a London health story that actually matters: Imperial and LSHTM flag a promising new target in the fight against drug-resistant TB. Then the government drops its Fusion Strategy 2026 — the long bet on “sun in a box” energy and the jobs that come with it. After that, a quick science detour into why static electricity is still weirdly mysterious. And then it’s a bigger gaming block: Crimson Desert arrives with big early impressions, Counter-Strike 2 rewires reloading after decades, Ubisoft reportedly pulls game dev away from Red Storm, and Xbox finally tests the “please let me turn off Quick Resume for this one game” feature. For more on all of it, head to standard.co.uk — and follow Tech and Science Daily from The Standard for your weekday briefing.
TfL’s New Radar Speed Cameras, UK AI Copyright U-Turn, CERN’s New Particle, Starfield PS5 Date, and a Major iPhone Hack Warning
06:34||Season 1Al’s back with your hit of tech and science. Today, TfL starts trialling radar-based speed cameras across the capital — sharper kit, more lanes, less “I didn’t see the sign, mate.” Then it’s a UK U-turn on AI and copyright after creatives push back, plus CERN doing CERN things with a newly spotted particle. After that: a smart new way to read proteins using DNA sequencing tech, Starfield finally landing on PS5 with a chunky update, and a serious iPhone exploit warning — update your device before your phone updates itself into chaos. More at standard.co.uk.
London’s new infrastructure blueprint, UK quantum cash boost, and a molten exoplanet with a magma ocean
05:56||Season 1London’s drawn up the big infrastructure wishlist — and yes, “digital connectivity” is finally treated like a grown-up utility, not a nice-to-have. Then it’s a UK quantum push that’s basically: stop selling the clever stuff too early. After the break, we’re off-world for a newly identified molten exoplanet that’s swimming in magma and sulphur, before a smart-watch health story that’s promising… but not a substitute for your GP. Plus, Game Pass drops a fresh download queue and PlayStation Portal gets a quality bump for your sofa-sharing survival strategy. More on everything at standard.co.uk
BNW Preview: Gary Brecka
12:29||Season 1A special preview from our sister podcast Brave New World, featuring a new episode from its latest series.For Episode Four, host Evgeny Lebedev is joined by human biologist, longevity science monolith and founder of The Ultimate Human, Gary Brecka. Together, they explore why so many people feel stuck at a “six out of ten,” what Gary believes to be the cause of fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, soreness, low mood, and why poor exercise recovery is often driven by nutrient deficiencies.Listen to the full conversation on the Brave New World podcast