A recent study by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has revealed that the transportation sector has the capacity to nearly halve its CO2 emissions by 2050, and thus contribute far more than previously thought to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Realising this would require further efficiency improvement and, particularly, promotion of public transport in cities, alongside a large scale shift to electric cars.

We’ve all had the phone call… you have a snivel that’s fast turning into the flu, you’ve pulled a muscle playing squash and can hardly move or the kids have come home from school with the dreaded lurgy. You dial the number for your local GP, only to discover that you can’t get an appointment with your registered doctor for another three weeks!

The TV and movie buffs out there will be all-too-familiar with the threat (if an albeit exaggerated one), of dipping your toe in the water in certain parts of the world. However, beach goers in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, can rest easier in their flip-flops after an innovative new project was announced to monitor the state’s coastline against shark attack using state of the art technology.

The wake of the recent terror attacks in Paris has left many of us apprehensive and anxious, and has raised concerns over our personal and national security. And, with technology playing an increasingly integral role in international terrorism, many MPs in the UK have called for a weakening in encryption technology in an effort to assist our police and security forces.

Although a world where all the cars on the road are automated is still some way off, the reality is they already exist in parts of the US such as California and Florida, and the development of driverless systems for many of the world’s traditional automotive manufacturers is well underway.

The integration of technology in the lives of today’s children is commonplace, with most owning a smartphone and tablets being used as a regular learning tool in the classroom. You could therefore be forgiven for assuming that the current generation of children are infinitely more astute than their predecessors when it comes to technological skills and IT literacy. 

Along with the launch of a software update for its Model S electric car, Tesla has accelerated the development of its AutoPilot software to help bring full automation of the company’s cars ever closer. Company Chief Executive Elon Musk recently took to Twitter to appeal for engineers in an effort to increase the AutoPilot software team. 

  We know how hard getting a funding can be, especially in the UK. And that is why we have some good news for you who seek to start a PhD! The PhD Funding Fair 2015 will occur in central London on the 1st December.

There has recently been a reported slowdown in China’s economic growth. Although it did in fact grow by 6.9% in the third quarter (a rate that would be the envy of many countries), that represents the slowest rate of growth since 2009. Manufacturing and construction has experienced a marked decrease, which has in turn seen a decline in the demand for oil, iron ore and other commodities – an impact which has been felt globally. De...

  Hobbyists and makers have come up with some innovative ways to implement the computer into devices: from home automation products to beer brewing systems. This Raspberry-pi powered computer was designed with makers in mind.

Electronic Specifier is pleased to announce the productronica 2015 special edition magazine. Now in its 40th year, productronica is the World’s leading event for electronics development and production combining an exhibition which this year will showcase around 1200 exhibitors with a variety of special focus areas, conferences and for the first time, a new event called IT2Industry which targets the industrial Internet of Things – bett...

  Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University have discovered a way to produce hair-like strands with a low-cost 3D printer. This novel concept was inspired by glue-gun residue. 

  Ohio State University engineers have developed a new welding technique in which a high-voltage capacitor bank creates a very short electrical pulse inside a thin piece of aluminum foil.

Offering children the chance to engage with a story on an unprecedented level, a new interactive story app allows kids to star in their own adventure. Before the story begins, children personalise their character by adding their own photos and typing their name (the app currently features narrations for around 2,000 of the UK's most popular boys’ and girls’ names).

  A group of Carnegie Mellon researchers is bringing medical technology even closer to 3D printing functional hearts.

  There are a plethora of hi-tech alarm clocks out there. Here's yet another. Only this one can be integrated into a smart home. 

  Have you ever watched one of those crime series on television? If so, you've probably seen the traditional methods of fingerprinting. A scientist has developed something a little different.

  New York engineer Ross Zhuravskiy created the Touch Lumen flashlight with a simple principle. So it doesn't need any batteries - only the touch of your hand. 

  When a pregnant woman's ultrasound revealed a lump on her unborn baby's face, doctors turned to 3D printing to figure out what the next steps were.

In the quest for increased performance, flexibility, configurability, communications and remote monitoring and control, the power electronics industry is increasingly moving from analogue to digital power converters, particularly when high-density power output is required. Many mission-critical operations in aerospace and defence, as well as some industrial applications, require high output power in the multi-kilowatt range.