Tech and Science Daily | The Standard

On this Christmas Eve edition of Tech and Science Daily from The Standard, we’re keeping it festive but still very London: Thames Water tackles a fresh Whitechapel fatberg blockage, while Crystal Palace Park’s iconic Victorian dinosaur sculptures get a long-overdue restoration glow-up. After the break, we dip into seasonal gaming with Fortnite Winterfest and GTA festive gifts, plus a quick consumer tech check-in for last-minute kit. And in science, we’ve got a hopeful update on new research reshaping how we think about dopamine and movement in Parkinson’s. Head to Standard.co.uk for all the latest Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s Tech and Science Daily from The Standard, we look at plans for robotaxi trials in London in 2026, plus the surprising UK science story being dubbed the “year of the octopus” after a boom in sightings and catches off England’s south coast. Then Alan Leer drops into an interview with Johannes Maunz, Senior Vice President of AI at Hexagon, on AI-enhanced digital twin mapping — and how virtual city models could help London plan everything from driverless transport to climate-resilient infrastructure and pedestrian-first streets. For more updates, visit standard.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tech and Science Daily from The Standard, we lead with an extended interview package on claims from former Vodafone franchisees — with 62 ex-partners taking legal action and Vodafone denying wrongdoing. Plus, a London commute upgrade: South Western Railway trials Starlink-powered “super Wi-Fi” on routes in and out of London Waterloo, and we wrap with a quick contactless payments rule change and a free S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 content update. For more, visit standard.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On our sister podcast Brave New World, Host Evgeny Lebedev is joined by Professor Tim Spector and Dr Federica Amati — two of the leading scientific voices behind personalised nutrition company ZOE — to rethink everything we’ve been told about food. From the myths around “good” and “bad” fats to calorie-counting obsessions, they explain why so much nutritional advice is outdated, oversimplified, and in some cases actively harmful. They also explore the impact of ultra-processed foods on gut health, question whether breakfast really is the most important meal of the day, and unpack how time-restricted eating could help optimise daily health.Here’s your special preview. To hear the full episode, just search Brave New World Evening Standard on your podcast app. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Government opens a call for evidence on reforming planning rules to speed up digital infrastructure rollouts in England, Ofcom issues a £20,000 fine under the Online Safety Act for failing to respond to information requests, and the Steam Winter Sale kicks off for the annual backlog-pile-on. We also finish on a genuinely wholesome tech-for-good story from SpecialEffect, where a small telepresence “robot double” helps a child stay connected to school during leukaemia treatment. For all the latest news head to Standard.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.