Fibre optics could be the answer to water loss from leaky pipes

Jul21
by on July 21, 2023 at 1:27 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized


Approximately 48.6 billion cubic meters of water are lost around the world every day. According to the International Water Association (IWA), the main culprits for this loss are underground leaks on water mains and service pipes. To monitor leaks in water pipeline networks, researchers at the Polytechnic University of Milan have experimented with a novel method using fibre optics — the inexpensive and commonly- used technology that allows us to have fast internet at home. The scientists developed a distributed fibre optic sensing (DFOS) cable based on the so-called Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS) technology, which enables the processing and storage…

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AI in healthcare could exacerbate ethnic and income inequalities, scientists warn

Jul21
by on July 21, 2023 at 9:42 am
Posted In: Insider


Scientists fear using AI models such as ChatGPT in healthcare will exacerbate inequalities. The epidemiologists, from the universities of Cambridge and Leicester, warn that large language models (LLMs) could entrench inequities for ethnic minorities and lower-income countries. Their concern stems from systemic data biases. AI models used in healthcare are trained on information from websites and scientific literature. But evidence shows that ethnicity data is often missing from these sources.  As a result, AI tools can be less accurate for underrepresented groups. This can lead to ineffective drug recommendations or racist medical advice. “It is widely accepted that a differential…

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European VC deal value down 61% in first half of 2023, report finds

Jul20
by on July 20, 2023 at 8:16 am
Posted In: Uncategorized


Venture capital funding in Europe is plummeting as investors shift focus from growth to cutting costs. In the first half of 2023, European VC deal value was 61% lower than at the same time last year according to a new report by Pitchbook, a financial data firm. The total capital raised in the continent was €8.9 billion. At the current rate, the full year is on track to pace 37% below 2022 levels. Analysts blame the decline on surging interest rates, high inflation, fundraising hurdles, and a subdued IPO market. These economic headwinds have prompted new investment strategies. Instead of prioritising…

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Stellantis inks €10B in deals to secure chip supply for EVs

Jul19
by on July 19, 2023 at 10:23 am
Posted In: Uncategorized


Today’s cars, especially EVs, rely on hundreds of different types of microchips to function. But supply chain shortages of semiconductors during the pandemic forced many automakers to cut down production of certain models, sounding a clear warning to the industry — securing a long-term supply of chips is a matter of business survival.  Stellantis, the world’s third largest automaker, has inked contracts worth  €10bn through 2030 with leading semiconductor manufacturers like Infineon, NXP Semiconductors, onsemi, and Qualcomm. Furthermore, Stellantis is partnering with autonomous vehicle tech firm aiMotive and SiliconAuto, both subsidiaries of the automotive giant, to develop its own “differentiating…

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Gender quotas in the boardroom are good for everyone — here’s why

Jul18
by on July 18, 2023 at 8:39 am
Posted In: Future of Work


After decades of admirable, if slow, progress toward gender balance in its boardrooms, Norway has taken a giant leap. Last month, the pioneering Nordic state mandated that 40% of seats on the boards of all large and medium-sized companies should go to women within five years. This makes Norway the first country in the world to take such a monumental measure and it means that by next year, 8,000 companies should have hit the target quota, expanding to around 20,000 firms with more than 30 staff by 2028. It’s a step that goes even further than anything the EU—of which…

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