This week it was announced that from September, more than 100 schools across Barnet in London will go ‘smartphone-free’. This isn’t the first time smartphones have been banned in London and comes as the Safer Phones Bill continues to gain momentum. Joining us to explain, is The London Standard's chief political correspondent, Rachael Burford.

We're also joined by Clare Fernyhough, founding partner of Smartphone Free Childhood, who explains the negative impacts smartphones have on children.

Let us know what you think at podcasts@standard.co.uk

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After almost 20 years in development Microsoft’s Majorana 1 chip has been unveiled. Experts are seeing it as a leap towards quantum computing but what is that? And what does it mean?

Elsewhere, researchers at Imperial College London and Google have been testing an AI co-scientist to see how it might contribute to advanced experiments.

Dr Tiago Costa, who co-led the experimental work tells us how they challenged the tech and what they learnt from collaborating with AI.

Also in this episode:

• Microsoft unveils new quantum chip
• Apple’s iPhone 16e revealed
• NASA’s latest asteroid warning
• Placenta tissue is used to save a man’s eye
• NASA’s Curiosity rover captures shimmering rainbow clouds over Mars.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The scent of ancient Egyptian mummies has been unlocked thanks to pioneering smell analysis. We hear from UCL’s Dr Cecilia Bembibre about the research conducted on nine mummified bodies that could allow museum visitors to experience the aromas of the past through "smellscapes."

Also in this episode:

• South Korea halts downloads of DeepSeek over security fears.
• The Royal Society faces pressure over Elon Musk’s fellowship.
• Cambridge researchers develop a brain implant that could revolutionise Parkinson’s treatment.
• Leaked details suggest Apple is working on a foldable iPhone.
• Scottish company Skyrora prepares to launch a rocket from Shetland in 2026.

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Apple and Google have been assured there won’t be penalties for allowing TikTok downloads from their app stores - although the ban is still set to be enforced in April.

Plus, scientists have discovered how cancer cells break away from tumours and spread through the body. We hear from Victoria Sanz Moreno, professor of cancer cell and metastasis at the Institute of Cancer Research about what the research means for future cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Also in this episode:

• A cooling system inspired by elephants’ ears could be used to keep systems running on the moon
• Man from uncontacted Amazon tribe emerges from forest
• Is Gen AI affecting our critical thinking?
• Two furry friends from London Zoo take a trip to the dentist

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a replay of a preview taken from our sister podcast Brave New World. Is it possible to live forever – and would you even want to? Evgeny Lebedev is joined by David Walliams to explore the science and ethics of age reversal. He also meets longevity pioneer Dr David Sinclair, who gives advice on how to extend lifespans - and tells David Walliams how to reverse his biological clock.

To hear the whole episode search 'Brave New World Evening Standard' on your podcast provider.

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Professor ​of ​neuroscience ​at ​University ​College ​London, Sonja Hofer, explains how researchers made the fascinating discovery, with hopes it can one day support PTSD and anxiety treatments.

We head back to Paris for the AI Action Summit, with Andrew Strait, associate director at the Ada Lovelace Institute and former ethics researcher at Google’s DeepMind AI project.

Why the moon has been placed on a heritage protection watchlist, with John Darlington, director of projects at the World Monuments Fund.

Also in this episode:

• Has Earth’s inner core changed shape?
• Female downhill mountain-bikers at ‘significantly greater risk of injury’
• When is the ‘most affordable’ iPhone SE 4 release date? Plus, new date for Apple’s AI iOS 18.4 beta testing

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