The Engineer
Stephen Harris Editorial
Stephen Harris is a Senior Reporter for The Engineer
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Gravity sensors could aid hunt for new oil and gas deposits
22 May 2012
Gravity sensors designed for satellites and adapted for use underwater could aid the hunt for new oil and gas deposits.
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Is the UK automotive industry on the road to revival?
18 May 2012
A strong engineering base, improved industrial relations and support from the government has seen the UK’s automotive industry enjoy something of a renaissance, but is continued growth in the sector sustainable?
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Team aims for better vision control on robotic 'walkers'
16 May 2012
New research could speed up the development of robotic vehicles that walk on legs by enabling them to see where they’re going.
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Supacat provides rescue remedy
14 May 2012
The design of an innovative lifeboat launcher presented a series of unusual challenges.
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BAE Systems begins trials of unmanned aircraft system
14 May 2012
BAE Systems has begun testing technology to enable conventional aircraft to fly safely without pilots, including weather avoidance and emergency landing systems.
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Graham Hawkes, founder and chief engineer of Hawkes Ocean Technologies
13 May 2012
Winged submersible specialist Graham Hawkes has set his sights on making undersea exploration more affordable.
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Ancient advantage
11 May 2012
A TV show on the ancient Greeks’ invention of the computer highlights the importance and preserving and sharing knowledge.
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Vattenfall plans to open marine renewables services company
11 May 2012
Swedish power company Vattenfall has shed light on its plans to open the world’s first marine renewables services company.
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Meter enables cost-effective monitoring of energy usage
10 May 2012
A new device could help manufacturers monitor their energy usage more cost-effectively using technology originally created for washing machines.
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EPSRC announces grants for robotics research projects
10 May 2012
Research that could enable groups of flying or underwater robotic vehicles to work together more effectively has received a £16m funding boost.
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Element Six looks set to create innovation centre near Oxford
10 May 2012
Element Six has announced it is creating a £20m innovation centre near Oxford to create and develop new products.
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Manufacturers could profit from swarf processing system
1 May 2012
UK manufacturers are losing millions in potential profit through inefficient recycling, according to the company behind a new in-house waste management system.
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Reality check: immersive visualisation in design
30 Apr 2012
Immersive visualisation software is enabling designers to experience and make changes to creations in real time
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Carbon capture and storage: a risk worth taking?
20 Apr 2012
Developing carbon capture and storage might be risky but we won’t be able to make informed decisions if we don’t.
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Superconducting heads to the cities
19 Apr 2012
Cold current: using superconducting cables to carry electricity within cities has many advantages, but the difficulties are also considerable
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Imperial's new carbon capture pilot plant opens for business
19 Apr 2012
The Engineer paid a visit to Imperial College London’s new carbon capture pilot plant to see how it could help this emerging sector.
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Pilot plant tests carbon capture equipment and methods
18 Apr 2012
Imperial College London has opened a pilot plant that could help test and improve the latest carbon capture equipment and methods.
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Tata Steel plans £800m investment in Welsh plants
17 Apr 2012
Tata Steel plans to invest £800m in Wales over the next five years, according to claims made by the Welsh first minister.
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Introducing smart grids to Canada
16 Apr 2012
Powering ahead: Canada could soon become the home of one of the world’s most fully realised smart grids. What lessons can the UK learn from this?
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Rail technology funding could boost innovation and growth
12 Apr 2012
More than 20 British-based companies are to share £5m of investment in new railway technology that could help exploit a growing export market.
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Deal could bring graphene production method to market
12 Apr 2012
A UK company working on a more environmentally friendly graphene manufacturing method has announced a deal to bring the technology to market.
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Modular multifunctional robots could be assembled in minutes
12 Apr 2012
Soldiers could one day carry multifunctional robots that can be assembled in minutes thanks to a new modular system invented in the UK.
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Defence mechanism protects vehicles against explosions
10 Apr 2012
A new blast defence mechanism could double vehicle protection against mine explosions without additional armour, according to its inventor.
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BAE upgrades part production facilities at fighter jet factory
29 Mar 2012
BAE Systems is installing an automated production line as part of its plans to speed up production of parts for the F-35 fighter jet at its facility in Samlesbury, Lancashire.
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Gunshot-detection technology could alert troops to enemy fire
28 Mar 2012
Soldiers could one day rely on head-mounted microphones that pinpoint the sound of enemy fire.
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3D gamma radiation imaging system identifies lung diseases
28 Mar 2012
A new 3D gamma radiation imaging system could improve the diagnosis of lung disease and aid research into its effect on the body.
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BAE Systems looks to speed up F-35 production with facility
26 Mar 2012
BAE Systems has moved closer towards automated one-a-day production of parts for the F-35 fighter jet by officially opening its extended factory.
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Cosworth: from motorsport to UAV engines
22 Mar 2012
The Engineer paid a visit to Cosworth to see UK manufacturer’s engines designed for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the US military.
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Tinnitus treatment device could become available through NHS
21 Mar 2012
A new tinnitus treatment device is to undergo a UK trial that could lead to the technology becoming available through the NHS.
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Richard Lugg - Aviation entrepreneur
19 Mar 2012
Richard Lugg claims his aircraft design can prevent sonic boom and cut emissions by 80-90 per cent. Stephen Harris reports
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Team aims to develop nuclear detector using noble gases
16 Mar 2012
Plans for a new radiation detector to help stop the illegal supply of nuclear materials could address the growing costs of current technology.
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GKN Aerospace set to become first UK user of AFP machine
16 Mar 2012
GKN Aerospace is to become the first UK-based user of a machine that can significantly speed up production of complex composite structures.
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Report says UK needs clearer long-term nuclear strategy
15 Mar 2012
The UK’s nuclear sector could be worth £100bn if the country adopts a clearer, long-term strategy, according to the authors of a new report.
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Full body simulations to predict patients' response to treatment
14 Mar 2012
Doctors could one day predict how treatments will affect a patient’s entire body using personalised computer models.
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We need facts not nationalistic sentiment or party politics
14 Mar 2012
The debate on our future energy mix must be open, honest and free from prejudice.
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Sally Chisolm: NHS technology adoption chief
5 Mar 2012
Bringing the benefits of new innovation to the NHS is no easy feat says its technology adoption chief.
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Scientists use artificial womb for research into embryos
5 Mar 2012
Scientists at Nottingham University have developed an artificial womb to aid research into how early embryos develop.
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New ultrasound breast cancer scanner could reduce surgery
1 Mar 2012
A new kind of ultrasound breast cancer scanner could help reduce the number of people who have unnecessary surgery.
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Manufacturers doubt UK has specific industrial strategy
1 Mar 2012
More than 90 per cent of UK manufacturers don’t believe the government has a specific manufacturing strategy in place, a new report says.
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Team creates artificially intelligent potato scanner
29 Feb 2012
Researchers have unveiled a potato scanner that uses artificial intelligence to improve the quality-control process.
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National Grid project will turn rubbish into gas substitute
29 Feb 2012
National Grid has announced a demonstration project to turn commercial rubbish into a natural gas substitute using plasma technology.
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Could defence sector help avert GPS disaster?
24 Feb 2012
From ships colliding at sea to stock market crashes, the potential problems of GPS jamming seem to have barely crossed the authorities’ radar. But the technologies to prevent such catastrophes already exist.
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NanoBlack coating could soon be used in space applications
24 Feb 2012
Scientists researching the ‘darkest material known to man’ are hoping a new manufacturing process will enable them to create more accurate space instruments.
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Plasma thrusters could double the lifetime of mini satellites
22 Feb 2012
Plans to develop plasma thrusters that could double the lifetime of miniaturised satellites have been awarded fast-track government funding.
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Team seeks to turn fuel-cell ship into battery hybrid vessel
21 Feb 2012
Researchers in Norway are hoping to turn an experimental fuel-cell ship into a battery hybrid vessel in order to improve its efficiency.
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Surface charge: making electric cars lighter with body parts that double as batteries
20 Feb 2012
Materials that turn car body parts into batteries could help lighten the load on electric vehicles - and a host of other technologies.
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Researchers propose satellite that cleans up space debris
17 Feb 2012
A proposed satellite designed to clean up space debris could help prevent damage to the hundreds of craft orbiting the Earth.
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Researchers seek to improve oil-refinery energy efficiency
16 Feb 2012
Engineers in London are hoping to improve oil-refinery energy efficiency using new technology at a £9.3m BP Russia-funded research centre.
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Device could detect if women are to give birth prematurely
15 Feb 2012
A handheld device for predicting whether pregnant women are at risk of giving birth prematurely is to undergo large-scale clinical trials.
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Team plans faster production of technology for drug delivery
14 Feb 2012
Technology for more controlled drug delivery could be produced hundreds of times faster than with existing methods thanks to new research.
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Remote control car paves the way for autonomous vehicles
9 Feb 2012
The Engineer paid a visit to automotive test specialist MIRA to see a new vehicle designed to put autonomous driving systems through their paces.
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Research could make portable power networks easier to run
6 Feb 2012
Research from Strathclyde University could make it easier to run portable electricity networks on oil platforms and in disaster relief camps.
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Under the bonnet of MIRA's network-assisted vehicle
6 February 2012
A semi-automated test vehicle is helping engineers fast-track intelligent transport systems.
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Advanced bonding techniques for the automotive industry
6 February 2012
A catalysis technique created by a team from Glasgow University could greatly extend the applications of silicon carbide.
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UK defence trade body defends government on manufacturing
2 Feb 2012
Defence trade body ADS has brushed off accusations by unions that the government was committing a ‘stunning betrayal’ of British manufacturing.
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System enables frigates to fire at multiple supersonic targets
2 Feb 2012
The Royal Navy’s latest defence system will enable British frigates to fire homing missiles at multiple targets travelling at supersonic speeds for the first time.
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Portable satellite dish could assist internet in remote areas
2 Feb 2012
A portable satellite dish that automatically locates transmitting satellites could help roll out mobile internet to remote locations and developing countries.
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Report says that underground cables are still expensive
31 Jan 2012
Underground power cables are still at least five times more expensive than overhead lines, new research says — despite advances in technology.
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Concrete corrosion alerts may help reduce roadwork delays
31 Jan 2012
Early-warning sensors could help reduce roadwork delays by alerting authorities to concrete corrosion in Britain’s ageing bridges and overpasses.
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Powerwalls: engineering in virtual reality
26 Jan 2012
The Engineer paid a visit to Warwick University and Jaguar Land Rover to find out how virtual reality is changing the automotive design process.
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Leading the charge
20 Jan 2012
Hopes are on the private sector to fund the roll-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the UK. But it may take more than commercial opportunities to be successful.
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Radiation method could lead to Star Trek-style 'tricorders'
20 Jan 2012
Handheld medical scanners reminiscent of Star Trek ’tricorders’ could be a step closer thanks to a new way of producing terahertz radiation.
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Company unveils UK's first EV rapid-charging station
19 Jan 2012
The UK’s first private electric-vehicle rapid-charging station was launched yesterday, highlighting the need for infrastructure to encourage the sale of EVs.
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British firm boosts hydrogen compression and storage
17 Jan 2012
A British firm is hoping to spur small-scale hydrogen production by making it easier and cheaper to compress and store the gas.
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LED powerhood could help F1 teams cut their energy use
17 Jan 2012
Formula 1 pit teams could cut their energy usage with an LED system designed to be more reliable than traditional garage lighting.
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Firm hopes to improve knee replacements with robots
13 Jan 2012
A British firm is hoping to speed up and improve recovery from knee-replacement operations by combining personalised implants with robot-assisted surgery.
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Zooming in on the London Centre for Nanotechnology
12 Jan 2012
The Engineer paid a visit to the London Centre for Nanotechnology to uncover how tiny structures are making a big difference across a range of disciplines.
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LCN team develops cheaper way of separating nanotubes
11 Jan 2012
Researchers in London have developed a cheaper way of producing high-quality carbon nanotubes in larger quantities than existing methods.
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Speak and spell with phonetic voice recognition
6 Jan 2012
UK firm Novauris is aiming to take on the market leading computer voice recognition system with a different take on the problem
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Technology takes to the farm
6 Jan 2012
A futuristic farming project in Japan could set out the model for transforming the countryside to meet our growing needs.
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The Engineer's Top 10 Technologies of 2011
23 Dec 2011
It’s time for The Engineer’s roundup of the year’s best technology stories, our pick of the most groundbreaking, influential or exciting developments in engineering over the last 12 months.
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Track simulator aids design of Winter Olympics bobsleigh
21 Dec 2011
German engineers are helping to design a 2014 Winter Olympics bobsled run using a new track simulator.
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Welsh research centre drives development of low carbon building technology
15 Dec 2011
In Wales’ heavy industry heartland a bold vision of the built environment is taking shape
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Non-damaging laser gun could be used to control rioters
13 Dec 2011
Police officers could use a new laser gun to temporarily blind rioters as a way of controlling disturbances without injuring people.
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'Seeker' navigation system could take Mars rovers further
12 Dec 2011
Future Mars rovers could travel further than ever before without human intervention thanks to an autonomous navigation system being designed in the UK.
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This week in 1877
12 December 2011
British torpedo boats make waves abroad
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Power house
12 December 2011
A Welsh research centre is driving the development of a host of low-carbon building technologies.
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Technology can simultaneously monitor all points of a pipeline
9 Dec 2011
Engineers in the UK have developed a way to simultaneously monitor every point along an underwater pipeline using fibre-optic cable.
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UK blast injury research centre launched
8 Dec 2011
A new £8m centre researching the effects of roadside bomb blasts hopes to produce improved body protection and vehicle design for soldiers in Afghanistan.
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'Smart underwear' could warn incontinence sufferers of leaks
7 Dec 2011
Scientists are developing ‘smart underwear’ that can vibrate or send a text message to warn wearers if their incontinence protection is leaking.
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Liquid-nitrogen engine could be an alternative to batteries
6 Dec 2011
A design for a liquid-nitrogen-powered vehicle engine could provide an alternative to batteries and fuel cells following a planned feasibility study.
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The 2011 Energy & Environment Winner - CES
2 Dec 2011
Highview’s scalable liquefying technology stores excess energy as a cryogenic fluid until it is needed.
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Robot-human interaction on display at Science Museum
1 Dec 2011
The Science Museum is showcasing the work of researchers hoping to improve how humans and machines interact, as part of European Robotics Week.
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Government invests £200m in science and engineering
29 Nov 2011
The chancellor has unveiled £200m of investment in science and engineering, alongside a £5bn infrastructure plan, in today’s Autumn Statement.
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Abrasive water-jet model could enable lower-cost milling
25 Nov 2011
New research could enable lower-cost milling on difficult materials using adapted water-jet cutting machines.
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Research points to more advanced voice recognition
25 Nov 2011
New research could lead to voice-recognition systems that can teach themselves to better understand speakers.
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UK MoD research developing integrated aircraft defences
24 Nov 2011
Aircraft defences such as on-board lasers that destroy approaching missiles could become easier and cheaper to install thanks to UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) research.
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Scientists develop method for monitoring of telecoms
24 Nov 2011
Scientists at Oxford University are hoping to licence technology that could make it easier to monitor telecommunications signals in optical fibres.
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Engineers test wireless LED contact lens on a living eye
22 Nov 2011
Contact lenses that display information to the wearer’s eyes have moved a step closer thanks to a recent research project.
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Engineers help NASA discover if Mars once supported life
21 Nov 2011
European engineers are helping NASA prepare for the first of two missions to discover whether Mars could have once supported life.
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Queen Elizabeth prize: possible pitfalls, possible glory
18 Nov 2011
The new Queen Elizabeth Prize could bring some much-deserved recognition to Britain’s engineers and counter media misconceptions
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Neutron microscope could aid speedier measurements
18 Nov 2011
British engineers have unveiled a neutron microscope that could enable scientists to make measurements up to 30 times faster than existing UK facilities.
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Wireless pacemaker could improve heart regulation
16 Nov 2011
A wireless pacemaker system has been developed that could lead to more effective heart regulation and make implantation surgery easier.
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Pavegen founder Laurence Kemball-Cook
14 November 2011
Laurence Kemball-Cook’s electricity-generating pavement slabs are soon to be rolled out across the world.
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Ultrasound could improve the efficiency of industrial baking
7 Nov 2011
Engineers researching how ultrasound could be used to improve industrial baking have received £500,000 in government funding to commercialise the technology.
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Study finds biofuels produce as much carbon as fossil fuels
4 Nov 2011
Biofuels made from vegetable oils are as bad as fossil fuels when it comes to carbon emissions, a study says.
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3D video microscope helps scientists study HIV
4 Nov 2011
A microscope system that captures 3D video of cells at very high resolution is helping scientists understand how AIDS and other diseases spread.
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Fracking-induced tremors are 'extremely rare', says report
3 Nov 2011
The report into the Lancashire fracking operation found it probably did cause earth tremors, but also highlighted the rarity and relatively small scale of the seismic activity.
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Ricardo launches Hyboost efficient engine system
3 Nov 2011
The Engineer reports on Hyboost, a high-torque, supercharged but small engine developed by Ricardo, which could improve vehicle efficiency without sacrificing performance
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Coloured light could provide home treatment for tinnitus
2 Nov 2011
Research into treating tinnitus with coloured light could lead to a personal medical device under a Design Council-supported scheme.
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Hyboost programme promises engine efficiency
31 Oct 2011
A downsized engine that packs a big punch could improve vehicle efficiency without comprising performance.
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Method is able to predict best drug combinations for illnesses
27 Oct 2011
Researchers at Manchester University have devised a way to predict the best combinations of drugs to treat specific illnesses from billions of possibilities.
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Microwave imaging system can detect when fruit is ripe
26 Oct 2011
Robot fruit pickers could one day replace humans in the fields thanks to an imaging system that identifies ripe crops.
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CAD systems that detect eye movement may aid designers
25 Oct 2011
Future CAD systems could speed up the design process by tracking designers’ eye movements with a camera as they work.
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US researchers create suit that can enable paraplegics to walk
25 Oct 2011
An exoskeleton that allows paraplegics to walk using technology based on military research made its European debut in London last week.
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Fuel leak postpones proposed launch of Galileo satellites
20 Oct 2011
The launch of Europe’s first global navigation satellites has been postponed for at least 24 hours due to a fuel leak.
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Record producer Steve Levine talks about electric cars
20 Oct 2011
The Engineer visited Grammy-winning producer Steve Levine to talk about his work designing sound for electric vehicles
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Wireless charger can restore vehicles' batteries on the move
18 Oct 2011
Wireless-charging technology could enable different electric vehicles to replenish their batteries using the same infrastructure while moving.
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National Grid's London power tunnels project
17 October 2011
An ambitious tunnelling project will help the UK’s capital city keep up with rising electricity demand.
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Manufacturing a recovery
14 Oct 2011
There may be no signs of growth in the UK economy but the government’s long-term strategy for innovation is looking promising.
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X-ray technology can analyse surfaces with minimal damage
13 Oct 2011
New X-ray scanning technology — the first of its kind in the UK — could improve production of devices and materials used inside the body.
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Researchers investigate heat- and light-emitting walls
12 Oct 2011
Walls that emit heat and light are among the ideas that researchers at a Welsh sustainable building centre are investigating for possible mass-production.
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Direct current electricity could cut power bills, claims creator
12 Oct 2011
The creator of a home electricity system that uses direct current claims it could cut users’ bills by up to 30 per cent.
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Researchers hope to produce chemical-detection robots
12 Oct 2011
Automated robot sniffer dogs could one day be seen searching airports for illegal substances, thanks to research at York University.
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Device could aid detection of nuclear materials at borders
7 Oct 2011
A Swiss firm will compete for $200,000 (£129,000) of funding in London this month after developing technology that could improve efforts to catch smugglers and terrorists handling nuclear materials
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Work starts on project to build solar bridge at Blackfriars
5 Oct 2011
Work has begun on what may be the world’s largest solar bridge as part of the new Blackfriars railway station in London.
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Osborne announces science and engineering investment
3 Oct 2011
Plans to invest £195m in UK science and engineering announced by George Osborne today have been welcomed by members of the research community.
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Cyborg pioneer Prof Kevin Warwick
3 October 2011
Brain building, medical devices and ’terminators’ are all in a day’s work for the UK’s most divisive roboticist.
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Lab-grown human brains could control robots, says Kevin Warwick
30 Sep 2011
Professor Kevin Warwick has built a robot controlled by rat brain cells grown in a lab - and wants to do the same with human neurons.
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Firm prepares demonstration of hydrocarbon fuels project
30 Sep 2011
A company that claims to be able to produce hydrocarbon fuels from air and electricity is preparing a demonstration project.
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UK MoD integrates training simulation programs
29 Sep 2011
The Ministry of Defence is using a new system to run its separate battlefield, vehicle and command simulations together.
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Facial analysis method heralds era of ultra-realistic animations
28 Sep 2011
A new method of analysing faces on 3D video could help the film industry create more realistic animations without actors having to wear distracting markers.
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Portable mine-clearance device could help to counteract IEDs
26 Sep 2011
A new portable mine-clearance system could help soldiers in Afghanistan more easily tackle improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
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How silicon is our valley?
23 Sep 2011
It might not be feasible to copy the ’Silicon Valley’ approach to exploiting technology exactly, but the UK has its own set of skills it can bring to bear on the problem.
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BAE unveils infrared 'invisibility cloak' for military vehicles
21 Sep 2011
BAE Systems demonstrated its Adaptiv thermal cloaking technology at last week’s Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEi) show in London.
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UK's first hydrogen refuelling station unveiled at Honda plant
20 Sep 2011
The UK’s first public hydrogen-vehicle refuelling station opened today at Honda’s manufacturing plant in Swindon.
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Funding given for project to replace rare earth magnets
20 Sep 2011
A project to replace expensive and environmentally damaging rare earth metals in electric vehicles with steel has received £518,000 to commercialise its technology.
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Naval radar could help crew react quicker to attacks
15 Sep 2011
A new naval radar could shave vital seconds off the detection of enemy ships, allowing crew members to react quicker to an attack.
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Wireless system enables UAVs to communicate with operators
14 Sep 2011
British engineers are preparing to test technology for sending data across an airborne network of civilian unmanned aerial vehicles.
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Process points way to cheaper, more flexible lithium batteries
13 Sep 2011
Cheaper, flexible lithium batteries could be on their way thanks to a new manufacturing process developed at Leeds University.
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Scanning device could reveal secrets of historical documents
13 Sep 2011
New technology developed by Oxford University’s classics department could help reveal the secrets of historical documents.
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Stuck in first gear
9 Sep 2011
The UK has an impressive array of companies that will serve it well as electric vehicles take off, but a step-change is needed if it wants to compete globally.
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Research shows widespread satisfaction with EVs
7 Sep 2011
Electric vehicle drivers quickly overcome fears about running out of power but most still believe petrol cars perform better, new research suggests.
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Computer game technology helps to spot leaking pipes
6 Sep 2011
Researchers at Exeter University are using computer game technology and artificial intelligence to help predict floods and spot leaking pipes.
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Portable 3G basestation could benefit soldiers in Afghanistan
5 Sep 2011
British soldiers in Afghanistan could one day relay video footage of a combat zone to their colleagues using a portable mobile phone network.
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Enter the Wildcat
5 Sep 2011
An adapted motorsport off-roader could offer protection in combat operations thanks to its sheer agility.
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Hospital installs tricorder-like health-analysis facility
2 Sep 2011
Doctors in a Leicester hospital have installed a £1m disease detection facility inspired by Star Trek to help diagnose patients more quickly.
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Development could usher in single-touchscreen cockpits
1 Sep 2011
Future cockpits could use a single interactive touchscreen instead of multiple displays thanks to technology under development by Thales.
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Power plant technology could cut the cost of solar power
30 Aug 2011
UK researchers are helping design a power plant that could make generating heat and electricity using solar thermal energy cheaper.
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Research aims to deliver EV power-management systems
25 Aug 2011
New research into electric-vehicle charging systems could provide technology for electricity networks to use car batteries for storing excess power.
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Vesicles could help locate tumours or track medication
23 Aug 2011
A new system for monitoring drugs and disease in the body using vibrating organic molecules is under development at Nottingham University.
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Researchers design device to assess children's lungs
22 Aug 2011
Technology under development at Oxford University could allow doctors to monitor lung diseases in young children by measuring the gases they breathe out.
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When science goes bad: how impossible is too impossible?
19 Aug 2011
When science fiction filmakers don’t pay enough to scientific realities, even the best storyline can come crashing down.
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Don't get carried away by the increase in science A-levels
18 Aug 2011
Young people might be more interested in science, but it doesn’t mean the public has changed its mind on engineering careers
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SSTL satellites to help Nigeria monitor its natural resources
18 Aug 2011
Two British-made satellites that are set to help Nigeria monitor its natural resources and aid disaster relief were launched from Russia yesterday.
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Solar-powered car heads to Australia for global race
16 Aug 2011
A team from Durham University are preparing their vehicle for the World Solar Challenge this October.
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Bluebird's not over
15 Aug 2011
An accident has halted an attempt to break the UK electric-powered land speed record by the great-grandson of the original Blue Bird driver Sir Malcolm Campbell.
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Engineering needs to invest in work experience
12 Aug 2011
Companies are demanding students complete work experience before they can get a job, but too few are offering the placements in the first place
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IET reveals difficulties in recruiting high-level staff
10 Aug 2011
Almost half of engineering companies are struggling to recruit senior-level engineers owing to competition for experienced staff, new research suggests.
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Time for another landmark in British computing
5 Aug 2011
It’s 20 years since a British researcher published the first website, but now there’s a new opportunity for the UK to make its mark on digital technology - let’s not waste it.
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Plan for instruments to create 3D map of galaxy gets funds
4 Aug 2011
Plans to design instruments that will help create a 3D map of the galaxy have received £500,000 of UK funding.
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Team explores integration of renewable energy devices
2 Aug 2011
German researchers are hoping to make it easier to integrate different small-scale renewable energy devices in order to avoid intermittency problems.
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Facial-recognition software could help to save great apes
1 Aug 2011
Attempts to save populations of great apes could be helped by new facial-recognition software designed to monitor the animals in the wild.
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Supacat turns 4x4 rally car into military vehicle
29 Jul 2011
The Engineer tests out a new high-mobility military vehicle based on the Wildcat rally 4x4.
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Program could help predict effectiveness of treatments
28 Jul 2011
A proposed computer model of every process in the human body could help predict how well treatments will work on individual patients.
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Home Office funds research into fingerprinting technology
26 Jul 2011
Research into fingerprinting technology that could reveal a suspect’s diet, drug habits and even their ethnicity has received Home Office funding.
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Crowd-simulating software could improve building design
26 Jul 2011
A new project that uses artificial intelligence to model how crowds move could help architects design better buildings.
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Technique turns car windows into computer displays
22 Jul 2011
Glasgow University researchers are helping to develop a technique that aims to turn car windows into computer displays and create more efficient smartphone screens.
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China cracks down on counterfeit culture
22 Jul 2011
Fake Apple stores might show the extent to which counterfeiting is part of Chinese economic culture. But all this could be about to change.
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Government sets out cap on immigrant engineers
21 Jul 2011
The number of non-European engineers granted top-level visas to seek work in Briain will effectively be limited to 200 under rules announced yesterday.
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Apprenticeships and careers
18 Jul 2011
Engineers can do business it seems, as an inventor wins this year’s Apprentice. But new data suggests engineering graduates are having more trouble getting hired.
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Deep-space radio system could boost satellite communication
14 Jul 2011
Satellites orbiting other planets could communicate with Earth up to 20 times faster using a new deep-space radio system from BAE Systems.
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Researchers use atomic layer epitaxy to create silicon chips
13 Jul 2011
Warwick University researchers are hoping to use a new way of creating silicon-based chips to develop electronic cooling systems for spacecraft sensors.
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Researchers develop heat-regulating building material
12 Jul 2011
Scientists from Nottingham University have developed a heat-storing material that overcomes the problem of how to release its energy quickly.
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Pilot plant turns wastewater into protein for feed and fuels
12 Jul 2011
An industrial plant that turns wastewater into protein for animal feed and biofuels is due to open in Gloucestershire next month.
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Project works on robots that can recognise human emotions
8 Jul 2011
UK researchers are helping create robots that recognise emotions, in order to encourage people to accept them as part of everyday life.
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End of the shuttle, but not the end of humans in space
8 Jul 2011
The final shuttle launch is by no means the end for man’s exploration of space
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The future of motoring?: self-driving car makes UK visit
7 Jul 2011
General Motors’ new concept car paid its first visit to the UK this week and The Engineer was on hand to try it out
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LED-grid glasses could help partially sighted people to see
5 Jul 2011
Scientists at Oxford University have created a pair of electronic glasses to help people with sight-destroying diseases see their surroundings again.
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HD camera to provide live video feed of Earth from space
4 Jul 2011
British engineers are to build the world’s first camera to provide a live video feed of the Earth from space.
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Magna Parva director Andrew Bowyer
4 July 2011
Magna Parva, a rising star of UK technology, is led by an engineer who believes in concentrating on business.
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Government should keep its distance from energy lobbies
1 Jul 2011
This isn’t Fukushima-gate but governments should take a more neutral stance in the energy debate
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Wingless aircraft could usher in UAVs that enter buildings
30 Jun 2011
A new aircraft that flies without wings or traditional rotors could lead to high-speed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are small and accurate enough to enter buildings.
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DNA sequencing test could aid selection of cancer treatment
30 Jun 2011
Selecting a patient’s cancer treatment could become easier and cheaper thanks to plans to create a standard test with DNA sequencing technology.
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Small-scale turbine is 'very efficient' at lower wind speeds
30 Jun 2011
The creators of a vertical-axis wind turbine say their new design could at least double the energy it captures at lower speeds.
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Cryptography research may lead to more secure technology
28 Jun 2011
More secure medical records and electronic voting are two of the things that cryptographers at Bristol University are hoping their latest research could lead to.
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3D bone modelling software may help police identify bodies
27 Jun 2011
New software for making detailed 3D computer models of bones could one day help the police to identify bodies.
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Acousto-optic system enables speaker output to be analysed
22 Jun 2011
A new laser system that can visualise sound waves could help speaker manufacturers improve their products’ audio quality.
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UK and Ireland team up to tap renewable energy resources
21 Jun 2011
Electricity demand from the UK could boost Ireland’s renewable energy industry following a government deal between the two countries.
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MIT study calls for international increase in shale gas research
13 Jun 2011
Research into tapping shale gas should be substantially increased because of its potential role in cutting carbon dioxide emissions, a new report says.
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Project simulates human brain to enhance computer power
10 Jun 2011
A new project to simulate the human brain could make computers more powerful and less energy-hungry, researchers claim.
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Lung-imaging system wins medical innovation award
9 Jun 2011
A medical-imaging technology that enables earlier diagnoses of lung diseases has won a major medical innovation award.
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Regrowing our economy is more than just a game
8 Jun 2011
Britain’s involvement in ground-breaking technology highlights the need to be more positive about our economic recovery.
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Programme looks forward to automated factories in space
8 Jun 2011
Future space equipment could one day be built in off-planet automated factories, following a new programme by UK firm Magna Parva.
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British Kinect developers win RAE's highest innovation award
7 Jun 2011
British researchers who helped develop Microsoft’s motion-capture games controller, Kinect, have won the Royal Academy of Engineering’s highest innovation award.
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Turn over a new leaf for using CO2
3 Jun 2011
Should industry focus on using carbon dioxide instead of finding ways to reduce and store it?
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Microscope system could lead to better cancer treatment
1 Jun 2011
A groundbreaking microscope and laser system has helped scientists to make an important advance in research to improve cancer treatment.
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Gravity-fed wastewater system could aid developing world
27 May 2011
A gravity-powered mobile wastewater system that cuts energy use by more than 90 per cent could help rural communities in the developing world.
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Science hands humanity a conundrum
27 May 2011
Limb transplants and robotic arms are forcing us to confront issues that were previously restricted to science fiction.
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Wind forecasts could improve National Grid's efficiency
26 May 2011
A new wind-power forecasting system could help National Grid cut the costs of bringing more turbines into the electricity network.
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Low-carbon policy won't drive out manufacturers, says Huhne
24 May 2011
The government won’t set policies that risk driving manufacturers out of the UK in order to reach carbon-cutting targets, Chris Huhne has said.
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Bacteria-growing water toxicity monitor wins innovation award
24 May 2011
A device that grows light-emitting bacteria to continuously detect for water impurities has won a university Innovation Award.
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Competition invites engineers to design future pylons
23 May 2011
Engineers have been called on to redesign Britain’s electricity pylons ready for a doubling of energy infrastructure investment over the next decade.
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Scientists extend the battery life of forest climate monitors
23 May 2011
Scientists in Germany have boosted the life of wireless sensors designed to protect forests by monitoring their climate conditions.
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System could boost production of cancer-killing isotopes
19 May 2011
A new system for making radioactive material used to cure cancer could help increase production and lead to more effective treatments.
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£5m technology initiative to establish data-sharing network
18 May 2011
A new £5m initiative aims to explore how connecting everyday technologies such as cars and electricity meters to the internet could make them more useful.
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Sensor uses sound waves for temperature measurement
16 May 2011
A sensor that uses sound waves to measure temperature could replace thermometers that lose accuracy in harsh environments such as nuclear power stations.
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Energy challenges and security solutions
16 May 2011
It’s good news for the UK’s renewable energy sector this week as the government prepares to prove its green credentials with an ambitious new set of emissions targets.
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Early warning system could predict landslides weeks in advance
11 May 2011
The creators of a new landslide early-warning system claim it could help predict catastrophic events weeks or even months before they happen.
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UK launches national satellite operations base at ISIC
9 May 2011
The UK’s new national satellite operations base has been officially launched as part of a £40m space business and research centre.
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To boldly go where no budget has gone before
6 May 2011
The US wants the private sector to come up with plans and funding for an interstellar space travel programme. Maybe it could work with the right crazy idea.
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Spacesuit allows astronauts to feel as if they're on Mars
6 May 2011
Austrian scientists have tested a new spacesuit that simulates the experience of being on another planet.
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Research project eyes fuel savings for container ships
5 May 2011
Future container ships could combine wind, solar and battery power to save fuel and cut emissions thanks to a new research project.
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Scanning devices predict the location of underground pipes
5 May 2011
A scheme to create 3D maps of underground infrastructure using an array of sensors has reached the technology prototype stage.
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Lens array could make skin-cancer scans more efficient
3 May 2011
A new microscope could provide doctors with a handheld device for looking for signs of skin cancer.
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Seven-figure funding for rice-husk building material
3 May 2011
A company that turns rice husks into a virtually waterproof wood substitute has received a seven-figure sum from a UK investment firm.
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Busting the dam of engineering indifference
28 Apr 2011
A new documentary is set to recreate the amazing engineering behind the Dam Busters’ bouncing bomb.
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Car suspension system offers greater safety and efficiency
27 Apr 2011
Scientists claim that a new electromagnetic suspension system could improve the comfort and safety of car journeys while reducing power consumption.
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Scientists use new imaging technique in pier rescue
27 Apr 2011
Scientists are helping to rescue fire-damaged Hastings Pier with a new digital-imaging technique that spots structural changes.
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Out of the box: sustainable product design
The Engineer - Sustainability Supplement
Changing consumer habits and pressures to be green are driving a new approach to product design.
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Software helps rural patients manage chronic conditions
21 Apr 2011
A project using mobile phones to help rural sufferers of chronic diseases manage their conditions has received £1.6m of funding.
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Coal ash to capture landfill gas for power generation
20 Apr 2011
An energy generation scheme that makes use of domestic, plant and industrial waste could help to give new life to former landfill sites.
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Tiny sensor could make it easier to collect ocean data
19 Apr 2011
Scientists could use live fish to monitor the temperature and saltiness of the oceans thanks to a tiny new sensor.
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Acoustic touchscreens could enable cheaper smartphones
18 Apr 2011
Mobile phones could be given touch-sensitive screens without using expensive, rare materials thanks to a new acoustic recognition system.
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A long engagement
15 Apr 2011
A new series of unusual events aims to turn the public onto engineering. Will knitting groups and music festivals prove to be the right platforms?
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Power system uses multiple intermittent renewable sources
14 Apr 2011
Engineers in the UK and India are hoping to combine solar, biomass and hydrogen generating technology to power remote villages.
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ALM could 'revolutionise' industrial mass production
13 Apr 2011
EADS and GKN have launched a research project to develop additive layer manufacturing for mass-producing aircraft parts.
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Wastewater-treatment system could also produce electricity
7 Apr 2011
Researchers in Scotland are hoping a new low-cost wastewater-treatment system for the developing world could also produce electricity.
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Accelerator could treat cancer and help generate nuclear power
7 Apr 2011
Treating cancer and generating nuclear power are two possible applications of a new kind of particle accelerator tested for the first time last week.
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British firm receives funding to develop low-cost solar cells
7 Apr 2011
A British firm hoping to produce the next generation of low-cost solar cells has received £1.4m to commercialise its technology.
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3D display technology is no headache, claim researchers
5 Apr 2011
A new 3D display technology that promises to stop users getting headaches could also help doctors carry out surgery.
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Subsea cable launch begins integration of energy markets
4 Apr 2011
The first subsea electricity cable between Britain and the Netherlands opened last week, starting the integration of the UK and European energy markets.
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A winning idea for engineering
1 Apr 2011
The government thinks a Nobel Prize-style award could inspire the next generation of engineers. But it’s going to need some careful planning if it’s to succeed.
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Using adjacent phone antennas could improve data transfer
31 Mar 2011
Future mobile phones could receive data faster by using antennas on nearby handsets as well as their own, according to Bristol University researchers.
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Reusing nuclear fuel 'could cut costs of new power stations'
30 Mar 2011
Reusing Britain’s spent nuclear fuel could cut more than £5bn off the costs of new power stations, according to a new report.
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Government announces Nobel-style engineering prize
28 Mar 2011
The UK government wants to promote a Nobel-style international prize for engineering as part of a plan to support UK advanced manufacturing.
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Flying the flag for Britain's green innovation
28 Mar 2011
Britain’s environmental innovation will be on display this week as the government leads its first green trade mission.
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System protects historic buildings from earthquakes
24 Mar 2011
UK-based engineers are helping to protect the world’s historic buildings from earthquakes with a new anchoring system.
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System uses piezoceramics to dampen vibrations in cars
24 Mar 2011
Engineers in Germany are hoping to reduce noisy vibrations in cars by using ‘smart materials’ that automatically change their shape.
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Engineers offer cautious welcome to Osborne's Budget
23 Mar 2011
Greater tax allowances for research, £2bn extra for the Green Investment Bank and 50,000 extra apprenticeships were among the announcements in today’s Budget.
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Video system analyses and develops boxers' performance
23 Mar 2011
British boxers are hoping new performance analysis technology could help propel them to victory at the 2012 Olympics.
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Sea creature fibres could help regrow human muscle tissue
21 Mar 2011
Tiny fibres from unusual sea creatures could help to regrow human muscle tissue, following research from Manchester University.
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Solar array floats toward improvement of silicon cells
14 Mar 2011
A new kind of solar array designed to float on water could improve the efficiency of silicon cells in hot weather.
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Government urged to support manufacturing in UK Budget
7 Mar 2011
The UK government needs to deliver on its promises of supporting manufacturing and upgrading infrastructure in the upcoming Budget, according to engineering bodies.
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Chemical-free system removes arsenic from drinking water
4 Mar 2011
A chemical-free system for removing arsenic from drinking water has been installed in the US after helping rural communities in India.
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Holding out for a hero
4 Mar 2011
Engineering needs a champion to help the public understand the excitement and potential that it holds. But who could step forward? We have some ideas.
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Geneva Motor show highlights battery and hybrid electric cars
2 Mar 2011
Luxury car manufacturers have unveiled a slew of high-end battery and hybrid electric vehicles at the Geneva Motor Show.
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Chief executive to outline UK infrastructural challenge
1 Mar 2011
A technological revolution in the UK’s infrastructure is already underway but policy changes are needed in order for them to succeed, the chief executive officer of National Grid will state tonight.
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Radio-guided technique for removing lung nodules
28 Feb 2011
Doctors in Italy have developed a way of removing potentially cancerous lung nodules using a form of radioactive imaging.
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Going for gold: water hydraulic drilling
28 February 2011
UK-developed hydraulic drilling technology could be vital for the future of South Africa’s mining industry. Stephen Harris reports
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Yorkshire Water facility to test vegetable-oil building blocks
24 Feb 2011
A facility for testing building blocks made with vegetable oil is to open at a Yorkshire Water site near Leeds.
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3D screen could offer more realistic videoconferencing
23 Feb 2011
A new glasses-free 3D video screen that can be watched by multiple users could help create more realistic videoconferencing.
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Vehicle exhaust system could reduce soot emissions
23 Feb 2011
Greenhouse-gas emissions from diesel-powered vehicles could fall thanks to a new exhaust-monitoring system co-developed by Volvo.
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Cryogenic energy storage plant could provide valuable back-up
22 Feb 2011
The UK’s first cryogenic power storage plant, which uses liquid nitrogen to store and release energy, is scheduled to open next month.
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Monitor offers more accurate blood-pressure readings
21 Feb 2011
Scientists have unveiled a new, more accurate blood-pressure monitor that calculates the flow close to the heart.
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Scientists suggest 'anti-laser' could drive new computers
18 Feb 2011
Scientists behind the world’s first ‘anti-laser’ say it could help create the next generation of computers.
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Remote tool could be used to detonate IEDs in Afghanistan
16 Feb 2011
Soldiers in Afghanistan could detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs) with a remote tool created by researchers in Switzerland.
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Radio device could double speed of wireless networks
16 Feb 2011
A new device that can send and receive radio signals at the same time could double the speed of wireless internet networks.
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Engineering bodies call for better careers advice
15 Feb 2011
Plans to change school careers advice could mean fewer young people consider a job in engineering, professional bodies have warned.
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Self-sealing CO2 could close CCS cracks
14 Feb 2011
A new process could automatically seal cracks in underground carbon dioxide stores, according to researchers in Edinburgh.
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Future satellites could be microchip size
14 Feb 2011
Thousands of microchip satellites could one day orbit the Earth and other planets, following an experiment on the upcoming space shuttle mission.
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Satellite, or salty chip?
11 Feb 2011
Could swarms of mainly sacrificial, microchip-sized satellites be useful for investigating the atmosphere of Earth and alien planets, or would they add to the existing problem of space junk? And what would happen if one fell on your head? Careful selection of materials and orbits could be the key.
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Electric nose wheel could reduce aircraft emissions
10 Feb 2011
Commercial aircraft could cut their on-ground emissions by one quarter with a new hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion system, according to its creators.
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PUF technology could help tackle industrial piracy
9 Feb 2011
An anti-counterfeiting device that creates a digital fingerprint for microchips based on their unique physical structure could help tackle industrial piracy.
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Report calls for strategy to prevent infrastructure failure
8 Feb 2011
Engineers need a new strategy to stop widespread infrastructure failure owing to climate change, according to a report from the UK’s engineering bodies.
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Drilling to begin on Newcastle geothermal energy scheme
31 Jan 2011
An exploration team in Newcastle plan to drill through old mining tunnels to search for geothermal energy under the city centre.
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High voltage, low priority
28 Jan 2011
Energy storage is going to be a vital part of approach to generating enough clean energy. So why does research into possible solutions have such a low priority?
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French company proposes offshore nuclear power
27 Jan 2011
Building nuclear power stations underwater could help protect them from terrorist attacks, according to a French company hoping to do just that.
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Fibre-optic implant could monitor wounds for infection
26 Jan 2011
Fibre-optic implants could be used to monitor healing wounds for signs of infection if research by Aston University scientists is successful.
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Implant offers alternative to high blood pressure drugs
25 Jan 2011
Chronic high blood pressure sufferers could benefit from an implant that sends electrical pulses to the brain, say doctors at Bristol University.
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Xbox Kinect helps further development of holographic TV
25 Jan 2011
Researchers in the US have brought holographic TV a step closer by turning a motion-capture gaming device into a specialised camera.
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Prototype projector still shines through in sun-lit rooms
21 Jan 2011
Scientists in Germany have developed a tiny projector that displays or records sharp, bright images and video, even in a sun-lit room.
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Future phone networks to use miniature base stations
21 Jan 2011
Future mobile phone networks are set to use intelligent miniature base stations to manage vast amounts of data transfer without central planning.
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Ban on UK shale gas drilling operations 'unnecessary'
19 Jan 2011
Concerns over shale gas drilling has led to calls for a moratorium on UK operations, but the company bringing the controversial technique to Britain says its methods are much safer than those coming under scrutiny in the US and such a ban is not needed.
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Cloaking device is able to hide underwater objects from sonar
18 Jan 2011
Scientists in the US have succeeded in making a cloaking device that hides underwater objects from sonar.
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Evidence from the US prompts calls to stop fracking
17 Jan 2011
Scientists are warning that plans to use a new method of gas drilling in the UK could contaminate water supplies.
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Electromagnetic liquid pistons offer microscale pumping
17 Jan 2011
Researchers in the US have developed tiny liquid pistons that could be used in drug delivery devices or as low-energy camera lenses.
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Sensor could prevent X-rays from damaging healthy cells
13 Jan 2011
Doctors could avoid mistreating cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy with a new radiation detector under development at Bristol and Swansea universities.
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Low-energy microscope aids pharmaceutical developments
13 Jan 2011
Scientists are using a new kind of low-energy microscope to develop improved vaccines and drugs.
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Goonhilly to rejoin deep space communications programme
12 Jan 2011
Goonhilly satellite station in Cornwall is to become the UK’s biggest centre for communicating with deep space missions, under plans revealed yesterday.
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Organic battery system holds promise for Malaysian market
12 Jan 2011
A method of making electric vehicle battery components from organic material is set to provide jobs in Malaysia’s rural communities.
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CMOS camera provides 3D picture of surroundings
11 Jan 2011
Researchers at Nottingham University are developing a 3D camera they hope could become part of Europe’s first Mars rover.
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The first sign of green shoots?
10 Jan 2011
The first Briefing of 2011 brings some good news – welcome for all those suffering back-to-work blues
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High-flying ambition, but short of a plan
7 Jan 2011
The aviation industry has some impressive plans for cutting future emissions but still faces a major challenge if its total carbon footprint is to fall
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Blame for Deepwater Horizon disaster must be shared says report
6 Jan 2011
BP’s shares rose today after a US panel split the blame for the Gulf of Mexico spill between the oil company, its contractors and regulators.
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Fluorescence test can show water quality
6 Jan 2011
People in disaster areas could one day test if water is safe to drink in seconds using technology under development at Birmingham University.
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The Engineer's Top 10 Technologies of 2010
24 Dec 2010
A look back at the most groundbreaking, influential or exciting new technologies we’ve written about in the last 12 months.
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'Spiral' escalator could give crowds a lift
23 Dec 2010
A monorail-inspired design could help create the world’s first continuous spiral escalator.
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Silicon chip could enable rapid genome sequencing
21 Dec 2010
New DNA-reading technology could help create a device for sequencing a person’s entire genetic code in minutes, according to its UK-based inventors.
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Doubts cast on fingerprint security for online banking
20 Dec 2010
A new fingerprint security system could offer an alternative to remembering multiple online account passwords.
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UK hospital performs keyhole surgery using 3D imagery
17 Dec 2010
Doctors will today perform the world’s first remotely viewed 3D keyhole surgery at the Royal Surrey County Hospital.
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TSB-funded research project to tackle GPS jamming
14 Dec 2010
A new research project aims to tackle GPS jamming that can disrupt police operations and interfere with airport navigation systems.
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Non-polluting hydrogen buses coming soon to London
10 Dec 2010
The UK’s first hydrogen bus fleet will begin operating in London this month, refuelling at the country’s largest permanent hydrogen station.
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Shot in the dark
10 Dec 2010
Acoustic gunshot detection technology is being installed in Birmingham, with police claiming it will help them crack down on gun violence without infringing the civil liberties of the majority.
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RFID tag to benefit store inventory management
9 Dec 2010
A new system of electronic tagging could improve shop inventory and security systems without invading customers’ privacy, its inventors claim.
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Wireless internet gets set for remote parts of Scotland
9 Dec 2010
A British firm is hoping to bring self-sufficient wireless internet access to remote parts of Scotland.
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Predictive technology could boost smaller wind turbines
9 Dec 2010
Small wind turbines could capture more energy by predicting when gusts of wind will occur, using software under development by a British firm.
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New technology extends the life of lithium-ion batteries
8 Dec 2010
A company creating longer-lasting rechargeable batteries is hoping its silicon-anode technology will contribute to a new UK manufacturing sector.
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GM to streamline production of fuel-cell systems
7 Dec 2010
General Motors hopes to slash the costs of its hydrogen fuel cells by 75 per cent as it targets a significant rise in alternative fuel vehicle sales by 2015.
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Project Topless
3 Dec 2010
The £3.3 million TOPLESS project has helped put the UK at the forefront of the PLED industry
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Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
3 Dec 2010
As the UK and much of northern Europe is hit by heavy snowfalls, electric vehicle (EV) owners might be concerned about the amount of power their in-car heaters, lights and windscreen wipers are draining from the batteries.
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Humanoid robot could help out in understaffed factories
2 Dec 2010
A new human-like assembly robot could bring the science fiction vision of people and androids working together a step closer.
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Terahertz technology could help aircraft to land
26 Nov 2010
Technology used in controversial airport body scanners could help aircraft land in poor visibility or power high-bandwidth communication systems, says a new UK company.
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WS Atkins anticipates future growth for the energy sector
25 Nov 2010
The energy sector is top of the list of growth areas for UK engineering, the boss of consultancy WS Atkins said today.
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Treatment to thicken carbon dioxide could aid oil production
24 Nov 2010
A new environmentally friendly treatment for liquid carbon dioxide could improve the efficiency of using it to extract oil from the ground.
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Ultra-small implant to improve muscle stimulation
22 Nov 2010
A tiny new spinal implant could allow paraplegics to regain more muscle function in their lower body than ever before.
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Multi-directional wave-testing centre gets funding boost
22 Nov 2010
The world’s first multi-directional wave- and current-testing centre for marine energy is set for construction in Scotland after receiving £6m in public funding.
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University DC network could save money and energy
19 Nov 2010
Researchers at Bath University are attempting to resurrect low-voltage direct-current power transmission in order to save money and energy.
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Robot speeds up recovery of undersea radioactive particles
17 Nov 2010
A new underwater robot is helping shave years off a nuclear clean-up operation taking place off the north coast of Scotland.
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LED lighting system kills hospital superbugs
16 Nov 2010
A lighting system that kills bacteria, including superbugs such as MRSA and C difficile, has completed trials at a Glasgow hospital.
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Non-contact sensor detects changes in muscle movement
16 Nov 2010
The inventors of a new contactless heart rate sensor say it could be used to detect people through walls or control artificial limbs.
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BAE tests defence software based on ALADDIN project
15 Nov 2010
Co-ordinating military attacks, managing aerial drones and monitoring terrorists online could all become easier with new software under trial by BAE Systems.
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Lockheed to tailor SMSS vehicle for UK forces
10 Nov 2010
Lockheed Martin is looking to adapt a robotic vehicle that carries combat troops’ equipment for use by UK forces.
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Airlines forewarned of Rolls-Royce engine issue
5 Nov 2010
Rolls-Royce was warned months ago about the safety of the engine model powering a Qantas aircraft forced to make an emergency landing yesterday.
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WFS Technologies develops radio for AUVs in Arctic seas
5 Nov 2010
Underwater robots operating in the Arctic could soon be able to communicate through ice for the first time thanks to work by a British firm.
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Stone cold groove
5 Nov 2010
Of all the materials you could use to create a musical instrument, concrete is probably not the first that springs to most people’s minds.
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Airbus and Rolls-Royce help investigate aircraft failure
4 Nov 2010
Airbus and Rolls-Royce are helping investigate the engine failure that forced a Qantas aircraft to make an emergency landing in Singapore earlier today.
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Laser has clinical and security applications
3 Nov 2010
A novel laser system that could help detect bone diseases is to be tested at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.
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Supercharged engine to cut exhaust emissions
3 Nov 2010
A project to cut large car engine CO2 emissions by more than a third has received £2.2m from the Technology Strategy Board (TSB).
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Wireless charging technology for electric cars unveiled
2 Nov 2010
Wireless charging for electric cars took a step forward last week when a new firm unveiled its technology in London.
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Defence cuts 'could benefit' engineering industries
1 Nov 2010
The defence industry is bracing itself for tens of thousands of private-sector job losses following the government’s budget cuts, but some are hoping other industries will gain from the influx of engineers to the market.
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EPSRC funds commercial gas-blockage detector
28 Oct 2010
Researchers who pioneered the use of sound waves to detect blockages in undersea gas pipes have won funding to develop a commercial product.
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SeaSequestor could cut costs of carbon capture and storage
27 Oct 2010
An autonomous buoy system that injects liquid CO2 into the seabed could help cut the costs of carbon capture and storage.
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Camera monitors blood sugar via eye scans
27 Oct 2010
Diabetes sufferers could one day measure their blood sugar levels using a handheld camera that analyses changes in the eye.
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TSB award recognises screen-printed solar cells
26 Oct 2010
A firm developing organic solar cells that can be printed onto glass to create power-generating windows has won £100,000 to commercialise its technology.
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Cameron looks to network of UK technology centres
25 Oct 2010
David Cameron today confirmed plans to create a UK network of technology centres to help turn more university research into commercial products.
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Invention slashes hydrogen electrolyser costs
25 Oct 2010
Hydrogen electrolysers could become over 90 per cent cheaper to build, the inventors of a new device claim
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Arcola to produce 500W fuel-cell lighting system
22 Oct 2010
A British firm is hoping to help music festivals and other arts events reduce their carbon emissions with a portable hydrogen fuel cell.
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Coalition 'signals desire' to support science research
20 Oct 2010
The government has frozen its science research budget for the next four years under the spending review announced today.
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Government refocuses UK defence budget
20 Oct 2010
Britain’s tanks and aircraft are to be scaled back in favour of technology to support operations in Afghanistan, as part of the defence review unveiled yesterday.
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Defence review considers UK aircraft carrier launch systems
19 Oct 2010
One of Britain’s two new aircraft carriers could be fitted with an electromagnetic launching system as part of defence changes announced today.
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Spray-on skin moves towards commercialisation
19 Oct 2010
A British firm developing spray-on skin cells for burns victims has won £100,000 to commercialise its technology.
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Rejection of Severn tidal barrage provokes response
18 Oct 2010
Engineering firms have hit out at the government’s rejection of plans to build a tidal barrage across the Severn Estuary.
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Sensors could optimise British performance at 2012 Olympics
18 Oct 2010
UK Sport has unveiled a series of sensors that could help optimise British athletes’ performance at the London 2012 Olympics.
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System may herald nuclear fusion power generation
14 Oct 2010
UK researchers are developing a high-intensity laser system that could bring nuclear fusion power generation a step closer.
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Landslide detector wins enterprise award
14 Oct 2010
An early-warning device for detecting landslides has won a Loughborough University enterprise award.
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Rio Tinto systems to speed mine excavations
13 Oct 2010
Rio Tinto claims it could double the rate of mine excavation and improve safety with three new systems it plans to test in 2012.
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Brain probe to replicate features of wood-boring wasp
12 Oct 2010
A new insect-inspired design for neural probes could help counter the effects of diseases such as Parkinson’s without risking further brain damage.
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Project to improve human-computer communication
11 Oct 2010
A new £5.5m project aims to improve human-computer communication for disaster response teams and home energy management.
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UK industry awaits coalition's defence decisions
8 Oct 2010
While debate rages over the government’s defence review, analysts are concerned the focus on Afghanistan will have the biggest impact on the UK’s defence industry.
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New game characters could be able to 'think for themselves'
7 Oct 2010
Researchers at Essex University hope to give video game characters the power to think for themselves instead of relying on software instructions.
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Team looks at possibility of biodegradable cars
5 Oct 2010
Cars could one day become biodegradable using materials under development at Sheffield University.
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MIT develops low-cost cameras for measuring heart rate
5 Oct 2010
Doctors could soon use low-cost cameras to check a patient’s pulse, respiration and blood pressure thanks to scientists in the US.
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TSB funds robots for radioactive environments
4 Oct 2010
Robots could increasingly carry out the more dangerous tasks in nuclear power stations, following research funded by the Technology Strategy Board.
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Handheld device detects illegal drugs and super bugs
4 Oct 2010
A new method of detecting illegal drugs and super bugs will be used in a government-backed handheld device that analyses saliva.
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Power station taps Niagara
4 October 2010
Surpassing Tesla and Westinghouse’s original hydroelectric plant, the Sir Adam Beck power station had to generate electricity without harming the natural spectacle of Niagara Falls
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Jetcars and Batmobiles
1 Oct 2010
You’d be forgiven for thinking that a car with jet engines would be a fuel-hungry cousin of the Batmobile rather than the latest development in electric vehicle technology.
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Therapeutic computer games target stroke sufferers
30 Sep 2010
Researchers in Ireland are helping to design therapeutic computer games for sufferers of strokes, phobias, addictions and anxiety disorders.
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Software improves realism of computer animation
28 Sep 2010
Software modelled on the human brain could soon bring a new level of realism to computer animation.
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UK 'needs better supply chain' to reduce offshore wind cost
27 Sep 2010
The UK needs a better supply chain to help reduce the cost of offshore wind electricity, which has doubled since 2005, researchers said today.
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Spent EV batteries could make renewable power more reliable
24 Sep 2010
Spent electric car batteries could be used to improve the effectiveness of wind and solar power generation thanks to planned research by several vehicle manufacturers.
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iCARE system could provide home help for the elderly
23 Sep 2010
Scientists in Leicester are developing an integrated home sensor system to monitor elderly people in their homes and summon help in emergencies.
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Three-speed gearbox could improve efficiency of EVs
21 Sep 2010
Antonov has unveiled a three-speed gearbox that could improve the efficiency of electric vehicles and give a smoother gear change.
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TSB grants £24m toward low-carbon vehicle development
20 Sep 2010
British-based car firms will receive £24m under government plans to develop the UK’s low-carbon vehicle industry through six technology research projects.
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Spaceship noises and electric Jags
17 Sep 2010
Britain is fast becoming a world centre for electric car development, as a trip to the Low Carbon Vehicle Event at Millbrook Proving Ground showed.
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Sensors to operate in very high temperatures
16 Sep 2010
Newcastle University is developing wireless sensors that can withstand the very high temperatures of hostile environments such as nuclear power plants.
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Fingerprint device could detect illegal drug use
15 Sep 2010
Police officers could soon be able to detect illegal drug use with a device that analyses a suspect’s fingerprints.
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Autonomous EV to drive GM into Asian markets
15 Sep 2010
General Motors (GM) is hoping an autonomous, two-wheeled electric car will help the manufacturer make serious inroads into the emerging Asian markets.
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Carbon nanotube antennas intensify solar energy
14 Sep 2010
Scientists in the US have found a way of concentrating solar energy in a way they claim could make photovoltaic cells 100 times more powerful.
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TSB project funds test device for farm-based diseases
13 Sep 2010
A device that could help contain outbreaks of diseases such as avian flu has won funding under a £12m government project aimed at improving infection diagnosis.
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Device prevents long-distance signal degradation
10 Sep 2010
Southampton University scientists are developing a way to stop complex data signals sent by optical fibre from degrading over long distances.
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Researchers question mobile phone security
8 Sep 2010
The mobile phone industry last month unveiled its latest set of security protocols, but some researchers are arguing more work is needed to improve the existing system.
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MIT creates plant-inspired solar cell
6 Sep 2010
Researchers in the US are hoping to improve the efficiency of solar power cells using plant-inspired technology that repairs itself when damaged by the sun.
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Combustion engine doubles thermal efficiency
2 Sep 2010
A British firm claims to have designed an internal combustion engine with more than double the thermal efficiency of current high-performance models.
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TSB funds 'smart' energy meter projects
2 Sep 2010
Technology that allows consumers to control all the energy usage in their homes in one place is to gain from £3.8m in government funding.
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Security system identifies faces in real-time
1 Sep 2010
An infrared security camera developed by UK firm OmniPerception performs facial recognition in real time.
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Fuel-cell technology may increase CCS plant efficiencies
1 Sep 2010
Plans to use hydrogen fuel cells to increase energy efficiency at carbon capture and storage (CCS) plants will be entered into a competition for government funding.
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Not enough students take STEM A Levels, warns IET
24 Aug 2010
The increasing number of students taking science, technology and maths A Levels is not enough to address the UK’s skills shortage, leading engineers have warned.
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Technology offers possibility of scanning for oil from the air
20 Aug 2010
A Scottish firm is hoping to develop technology to scan for underground oil deposits from the air.
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Chemical weapon detectors inspired by butterfly wings
19 Aug 2010
GE is taking inspiration from the nanostructure of butterfly wings to develop sensors for detecting chemical weapons and explosives.
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Smart clothing could power electronic devices
17 Aug 2010
Researchers at Southampton University have revealed their plans to develop clothing fabric that generates electricity through wearers’ movement and body heat.
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Device uses light to measure blood sugar levels
16 Aug 2010
A non-invasive device for measuring blood sugar levels using light will undergo its latest set of trials this autumn.
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Gaming leads the 3D way
13 Aug 2010
I’ve been converted. A few weeks ago I finally had my first taste of 3D cinema in the form of the new Toy Story film and was severely disappointed. But now I’ve seen the future of 3D - handheld and glasses-free - and it looks good.
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Sheffield University trials 20-minute oral cancer test
12 Aug 2010
A non-invasive test for oral cancer that could provide diagnoses in under 20 minutes is being trialled at Sheffield University.
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Nanoparticles may advance medical technology
12 Aug 2010
Scientists at Leicester University hope to develop a new kind of nanoparticle that could improve cancer treatment and MRI scans.
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CO2 rocket could fuel return missions from Mars
11 Aug 2010
Hertfordshire University is developing a carbon-dioxide-fuelled rocket that could help solve the problem of how Mars missions return to Earth.
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Biomimetics may improve building materials
10 Aug 2010
Reading University is hoping to reduce the impact of buildings on the environment by developing a new kind of façade that mimics biological skin.
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Renewables sector welcomes government feed-in tariffs plan
9 Aug 2010
The renewable energy sector has welcomed government plans to allow councils to sell micro-generated electricity to the grid.
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Implant encourages tissue growth
6 Aug 2010
A new device made from silk protein could help regrow cartilage in injured knee joints.
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Vehicle charging initiative in doubt following roll-out
4 Aug 2010
The UK’s £30m scheme to install an electric-vehicle charging network has begun rolling out in north east England, but the scheme’s initial proposals are already in doubt.
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Green sewage plant could be powered by its own waste gas
2 Aug 2010
US developed self-powered sewage treatment technology offers hope for developing world sanitation
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Boris bike gets The Engineer test
30 Jul 2010
As the UK’s first cycle hire scheme gets going in London, we take a look at Boris Johnson’s new bikes
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GMS develops underwater ROV
29 Jul 2010
The creators of a new underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) claim almost any problem with the device can be repaired in less than 20 minutes.
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British entrepreneur holds internet security key
28 Jul 2010
A British entrepreneur has been given a key to help restore the internet’s latest international security system.
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ESA radar will track space debris
27 Jul 2010
The European Space Agency has begun development of a new radar system to catalogue space debris and protect satellites and other craft from collisions.
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Government backs UK wind power
26 Jul 2010
Energy secretary Chris Huhne has pointed to an increase in UK wind farms ahead of a key policy announcement this week.
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Conservative donor 'tried to invest in Forgemasters'
23 Jul 2010
The Conservative Party donor who lobbied against a government loan to Sheffield Forgemasters also tried to invest in the company, it emerged today.
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Is 3D cinema all it's cracked up to be?
23 Jul 2010
As a technology journalist I’m embarrassed to admit this, but until this week I’d never seen a 3D film. It wasn’t that I was strongly against the concept, just that a confluence of events happened to prevent me watching one.
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Ceramic plate speeds blood cleaning
23 Jul 2010
A new ultrasound device could help speed the recovery of open-heart surgery patients
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SMI aims to turn carbon dioxide into fuel
22 Jul 2010
Fuel-cell technology could be used to convert carbon dioxide into usable hydrocarbons and create self-powered desalination plants following new research at Surrey University.
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Organic LED could improve efficiency of LCD screens
22 Jul 2010
Scientists at Imperial College London are developing a new kind of organic LED that could hugely improve the efficiency of LCD screens.
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UCL technology analyses Sun's effect on Earth
21 Jul 2010
Scientists at University College London are hoping to learn more about how solar activity affects the Earth by developing technology for Europe’s next space-science mission.
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Giving Britain's armed forces the technological edge
16 Jul 2010
A visit to BAE’s Advanced Technology Centre provides an intriguing behind the scenes glimpse of tomorrow’s military technology
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Software to deliver HDR images to non-LED TVs
15 Jul 2010
Research at Warwick University could speed up delivery of the next generation of TV image quality.
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UK needs 'better engineering careers advice service'
14 Jul 2010
The UK needs a better careers advice service to tackle the widening engineering skills gap, according to delegates speaking at the Royal Academy of Engineering yesterday.
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Informed decisions
14 Jul 2010
Presenting teenagers with better information about the possibilities of a career in engineering seems like a vital way to address the growing skills gap in the sector.
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MoD unveils autonomous unmanned military aircraft
13 Jul 2010
The Ministry of Defence has unveiled a prototype unmanned combat aircraft that could pave the way for Britain’s first autonomous stealth fighter-bomber.
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Willetts proposes new model for funding innovation
9 Jul 2010
The science minister has given his support to state investment in research while calling for a rethink in the spending and assessment model.
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ATMOS develops low-cost spray-on solar panels
8 Jul 2010
A UK company developing spray-on solar panels says its technology could be up to 10 times cheaper to produce than traditional photovoltaic cells.
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Hydroelectric generator targets developing countries
7 Jul 2010
Students at Cambridge University have developed a portable hydroelectric generator that could be used to power homes in developing countries.
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Ultrasound technology guides anaesthetic injections
7 Jul 2010
Operations performed with regional anaesthetic could become easier using technology under development at Dundee University.
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Material could help super-fuels development
6 Jul 2010
A newly created material capable of storing vast amounts of energy could help scientists develop new kinds of super fuels and batteries.
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Micro LEDs offer increased efficiency levels
6 Jul 2010
A new Strathclyde University spin-out is developing tiny LEDs that measure just one 50th of a millimetre across but are more efficient than traditional models.
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Toyota issues luxury car recall
5 Jul 2010
Toyota recalled 90,000 Lexus and Toyota Crown models in Japan today in response to defects that could potentially stall the engine.
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Sequencing technique may revolutionise data storage
2 Jul 2010
New research could one day help scientists store vast amounts of information in the same way genetic codes are saved in DNA.
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Solar aircraft's first flight postponed
2 Jul 2010
The first manned day and night flight of a solar-powered aircraft has been postponed due to technical problems.
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Personal zoom gives viewers control of TV
2 Jul 2010
Taking cues from first-person gaming, an international team is developing a TV service that allows viewers to customise live coverage of sports and music events.
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Car-making process cuts capital investment
30 Jun 2010
Formula One designer Gordon Murray has unveiled the first car to be built with a new manufacturing system he claims reduces capital investment by 80 per cent.
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Green Investment Bank will unlock funding for innovators
29 Jun 2010
Firms developing high-risk technology would receive more money than through current funding models under proposals for a green investment bank.
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Microsoft creates glasses-free 3D technology
25 Jun 2010
Microsoft is developing glasses-free 3D technology that follows viewers’ movements and projects images directly into their eyes.
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Modified biosensors improve early cancer diagnosis
25 Jun 2010
Imec has found a way to improve the biosensors used for the early diagnosis of cancer using nanotechnology.
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Ampera makes compelling case for electric family cars
25 Jun 2010
Pulling away in Vauxhall’s new extended-range electric car was pretty terrifying. Nothing to do with the car’s design, but because I was in control of a €1m, hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind prototype.
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Astrium to develop re-ignitable engines for ESA
25 Jun 2010
Astrium has won a €20m contract to develop technology for re-ignitable engines for the European Space Agency (ESA).
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Sensors could prevent heart disease complications
23 Jun 2010
Mobile sensors designed to unlock the secrets of the body’s electrical activity could create a new early warning system for heart disease patients.
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Budget welcomed by engineering bodies
22 Jun 2010
Lower business taxes and a focus on green and infrastructure investment were among the budget measures welcomed by engineering trade bodies today.
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EADS unveils four-engine electric aerobatic plane
22 Jun 2010
The world’s first four-engine electric aerobatic plane is set to be unveiled at the Green Aviation Show in France.
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Oxford University launches invention fund
21 Jun 2010
Oxford University has launched a £5m fund to help turn more research ideas into commercially viable technologies.
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Searaser device promises "lowest-cost" offshore power
18 Jun 2010
A new device for harnessing wave energy is promising renewable electricity at a cost to rival fossil fuel sources.
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Atkins announces fall in pre-tax profit
17 Jun 2010
Atkins, the UK’s largest engineering and design consultancy, has reported pre-tax profit of £96.6m - an annual fall of almost six per cent.
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EDF approves nuclear build policy
17 Jun 2010
EDF Energy has welcomed the government’s position on building new nuclear power stations without subsidies, which was set out in a speech to the Nuclear Industry Forum.
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Obama calls on BP to create compensation fund
16 Jun 2010
Barack Obama has demanded BP create a compensation fund to deal with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, which could add $20bn to the firm’s cleanup bill.
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Plastic antibodies put to the test
15 Jun 2010
Scientists in California have used tiny plastic particles as artificial antibodies for the first time in live animals.
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BP catching 'less than half' of oil from spill
14 Jun 2010
BP may be catching less than half the oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico, according to new estimates.
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Riversimple Hydrogen car to begin Leicester trials
11 Jun 2010
Hydrogen fuel-cell powered cars will appear on Britain’s roads for the first time by spring 2012 through a trial in Leicester.
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Kite turbines generate more power
11 Jun 2010
A US firm is developing kite-based turbines that could generate nearly twice the power of traditional wind farms at a fraction of the cost.
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Dual-turbocharged GE engine cuts costs
11 Jun 2010
GE Energy has launched the world’s first double-turbocharged gas engine, which could save companies in developing countries millions of euros in fuel bills.
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Surgeons use iStent implant on UK glaucoma patient
8 Jun 2010
The smallest medical device to be implanted into the human body has been used in an eye operation for the first time in Britain.
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BP containment cap could capture "majority" of oil
7 Jun 2010
BP claims it is capturing over 10,000 barrels of oil a day through its latest attempt to cap the leaking well in the Gulf of Mexico.
