Labour has bet big on green industrial policy. But there may be there cheaper ways to net zero: Labour’s first budget in 15 years included a highly anticipated change to the so-called fiscal rules which constrain how much the government can borrow or spend. By relaxing the rules, chancellor Rachel Reeves has opened the door …
How supermarkets are changing their branding to make you think they’re cheaper: Discounters have long copied more established brands – but now it's working the other way too. Tesco UK shoppers have specific preferences when it comes to their favourite supermarkets. M&S was voted as the best in a recent survey, followed closely by German …
New TB skin test could offer cheaper and easier way to detect the disease: Detecting tuberculosis early could play a significant role in eradicating the world’s most deadly infectious disease. The World Health Organization says 1.5 million people die from this devastating disease each year. People infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the TB bacteria that attack …
How sodium-ion batteries could make electric cars cheaper: Cars that burn petrol and diesel must be replaced with renewable alternatives if the climate crisis is to be overcome. Electric vehicles (EVs) are widely viewed as the best option available. This is because EVs can be powered by renewable electricity from the grid, avoiding the need …
Renewables are cheaper than ever yet fossil fuel use is still growing – here’s why: Wind and solar are the world’s fastest growing energy sources and together generated 12% of global electricity in 2023. The amount of energy produced by wind and solar is expected to increase and accelerate. Wind generated 1 terawatt (TW) for …
Foundation year courses are about to become cheaper – but this could make it harder for disadvantaged students to go to university: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock The UK government has announced that the maximum tuition fee for foundation years in English universities will be cut from £9,250 to £5,760. The reduction will apply to all classroom-based courses, such …
Ditch the 4×4 – THIS Solar 5×5 is Much Cheaper and Has a Much Higher ROI: Let’s first warn sensitive readers that we will be using two South African swear words extensively in this article: Eskom and Loadshedding. If you have a weak heart or are prone to uncontrolled bursts of anger when things go …
Cheaper, tougher, less toxic: new alloys show promise in developing artificial limbs: Knee replacements can ease people's pain – but they are also often prohibitively expensive. Dragana Gordic/Shutterstock Titanium is a strong, resilient and relatively light metal. Its properties have also been well studied; scientists know a great deal about it. All of this makes …
These air conditioner alternatives are cheaper – and better for the planet: Goodluz/Shutterstock Heatwaves in numerous countries during 2022 sent all-time temperature records tumbling. On the day before the UK endured a shaded air temperature of 40°C for the first time ever, the Met Office issued its first ever red alert for extreme heat, which …
Clinical trials without humans – why computer simulations could make drugs a lot cheaper: Before a drug or medical device is approved for use in humans, it must undergo a clinical trial. Clinical trials ultimately aim to answer two simple questions: is the drug or device safe? And does it do what it’s supposed to …
Why are gas prices still high despite oil getting cheaper – and what will happen next? Energy expert Q&A: While Putin reduces Russian gas supplies, Europe has become more dependent on shipments of LNG. Bill Chizek Photography/Alamy While thermometers have been well into the red across the northern hemisphere, people are panicking about the cost …
Renewables are cheaper than ever – so why are household energy bills only going up?: Fokke Baarssen/Shutterstock Not for the first time, global energy markets are in turmoil. Internationally traded gas prices more than quadrupled in 2021. In their wake, many energy suppliers have gone bust and household bills across Europe are set to soar. …
Climate finance: it’ll be cheaper in the long run if poorer countries receive it as a matter of urgency: Climate finance can help developing countries cut their emissions. Prashanth Vishwanathan (IWMI) / flickr, CC BY-NC-SA The almost mystical Green Climate Fund is back in the headlines at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. The fund …
Medical oxygen should not be a luxury – we’re trying to develop a cheaper way to produce it: Medical oxygen. Shutterstock/Poh Smith People might once have considered oxygen a human right. But the pandemic has revealed that access to oxygen – in a pure form, for medical use – is a luxury in most low …
South Africa in the news: 3rd Major COVID-19 Vaccine Shown to Be Effective and Cheaper: Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca says that late-stage trials showed its coronavirus vaccine was up to 90% effective, giving public health officials hope they may soon have access to a vaccine that …: “South Africa” – BingNews AstraZeneca’s Oxford coronavirus vaccine is …
South Africa in the news: Gov’t urged to back int’l campaign to make COVID-19 vaccine cheaper, available for everyone: Sen. Risa Hontiveros is calling on Malacañang to support an international campaign to ease intellectual property agreements in order to ensure universal access to an affordable and effective COVID-19 …: “South Africa” – BingNews How SCG’s …
South Africa in the news: Edinburgh University scientist helps discover potentially ‘game-changing’ new way to spot Covid outbreaks earlier and make testing ’20 times cheaper’: A University of Edinburgh scientist has helped discover a potentially “game changing” new way to spot Covid-19 outbreaks earlier and cut testing costs by pooling samples to identify positive cases.: …
The UK plans to build huge batteries to store renewable energy – but there’s a much cheaper solution: Petrmalink/Shutterstock The UK electricity system is undergoing significant and rapid change. It has the world’s largest installed capacity of offshore wind, has effectively stopped generating electricity from coal, and has recorded a 20% drop in demand since …