News
Autonomous robot takes computers apart to tackle growing e-waste problem
28 April 2025
The world has a growing e-waste problem. An estimated 62 million tonnes of electronic waste were produced in 2022, according to a UN body, with that number forecast to reach 74 million tonnes by 2030. Only a small fraction is recycled, despite huge demand for raw materials from manufacturers.
Risk Register in development to tackle heritage skills crisis
26 April 2025
The shortage of traditional heritage skills is at risk of becoming a crisis due to a lack of training opportunities and awareness about the problem.
Scientists unlock new dimension in light manipulation
25 April 2025
Researchers at Heriot-Watt University have made a ground-breaking discovery paving the way for a transformative era in photonic technology.
Energy storage key to Clean Power 2030, with SMRs and floating wind not yet ready
23 April 2025
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are an exciting vision of the future, promising clean, locally generated electricity wherever it is needed, using technology that is mostly built off-site.
£9 million funding boost to bring key semiconductor manufacturing capability to Scotland
21 April 2025
A new R&D development designed to support the growth of semiconductor packaging has received a £9 million funding injection, helping to reshore a critical part of the UK’s £500 million electrification supply chain and create new opportunities for manufacturers to access new markets and cut costs.
Engineers fear for safety of 'creaking' UK infrastructure, ICE report reveals
20 April 2025
Many badly worn highways assets require more urgent attention, warn expert contributors to State of the Nation 2025.
UK publishes detail on long duration energy storage ‘cap and floor’ investment framework
19 April 2025
The UK government announced in October last year plans to implement a ‘cap and floor’ investment framework to support the deployment of long-duration energy storage (LDES) projects in the UK. Together with Ofgem, which will act as the regulator and delivery body for the scheme, it has now published a Technical Decision Document (TDD) confirming key details of the scheme.
US project tackles wave energy drawbacks to open up vast source of energy
18 April 2025
The ocean is a vast untapped source of power. The movement of the tides and waves could offer regular, reliable and predictable renewable energy.
Students given closer look at BE-ST retrofit as ambitious project continues
17 April 2025
Students from Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) have been learning first hand from the deep retrofit of Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST)’s National Retrofit Centre.
Printed nanoparticle sensors could enable personalised healthcare
15 April 2025
Personalised healthcare could transform medicine. By tracking and measuring patients’ conditions, doctors could deliver the precise combination of nutrients and medications they need, stabilising and improving conditions.
Making solar projects cheaper and faster with portable factories
12 April 2025
US-company Charge Robotics is developing solar installation factories to speed up the process of building large-scale solar farms. The company’s factories are shipped to the site of solar projects, where equipment including tracks, mounting brackets and panels are fed into the system and automatically assembled. A robotic vehicle autonomously puts the finished product – which amounts to a completed section of solar farm – in its final place.