Technology

Scientists have discovered a rare molecule in the clouds of Venus, which suggests colonies of living microbes could be thriving in the oxygen-free environment high in the planet’s atmosphere. While the surface of Venus is far too hot to sustain life, with a mean temperature of around 464C (867F), astronomers have speculated that life could

For the first time in many weeks, the official measures of the UK’s coronavirus outbreak are all pointing in the wrong direction. The government says the R number in the UK is between 1.0 and 1.2, meaning it is now definitely above 1 for the first time since March. Scotland’s R could be as high

The NHS coronavirus contact-tracing app for England and Wales will be launched on 24 September following months of delays. Businesses including pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas are being urged to ensure they have NHS QR code posters visible for customers to scan using the app and check-in. The QR codes are designed to help businesses

President Trump says he will not be extending the 20 September deadline for TikTok’s parent company ByteDance to sell the popular video-sharing app. The sale has been forced by an executive order prohibiting US companies from engaging in any transactions with ByteDance as the US administration applies pressure on what it described as “untrusted” Chinese

Hackers from China, Russia and Iran are attempting to spy on the presidential campaigns of Donald Trump and Joe Biden, according to Microsoft. The tech giant says that the same group of cyber criminals from Russia that attempted to interfere in the 2016 US election are trying to break into email accounts belonging to staff

Twitter has announced plans to label and remove messages that spread false information about how to vote, or that could intimidate or suppress voter turnout. The rules will come into place on Thursday 17 September and come a few hours after another incident of US President Donald Trump falsely claiming, as he has done repeatedly,

As the government launches mass coronavirus testing in Liverpool, Sky News looks at the different types of tests available. There are two different strands of testing – one is to find out if a person currently has COVID-19 and the other determines if they have had it and have built up antibodies. PCR testing and

Boris Johnson is due to unveil his roadmap for lifting the current lockdown, with rapid mass testing set to be a key part of the prime minister’s plan for easing COVID restrictions. Ministers have said lateral flow tests will be used to crack down on fresh coronavirus outbreaks once national restrictions are loosened. It has

Apple is set to announce new gadgets later today, but there are rumours the next-generation iPhone will be kept back until October. Here’s what to expect – and what not to expect. Image: Tim Cook will reportedly not unveil new iPhones until October Due to the coronavirus, the event is being held online – like

Microsoft has revealed the release date for its new Xbox consoles – and the price of the flagship model. The previously announced Xbox Series S, the smallest Xbox to date, will go on sale worldwide on 10 November for £249 ($299). The premium version, the Series X, will be out the same day for £449

Microsoft has officially confirmed the name and price of its smaller and cheaper next-generation Xbox console, following a series of leaks hinting that such a product was in the pipeline. The Xbox Series S will be available for £249 ($299 in the US) and won’t have a disc drive, instead depending on users purchasing and

Robots could be used in care homes after a study found they can improve mental health and have the potential to reduce loneliness in vulnerable older people. A robot called Pepper was tested in care homes in the UK and researchers found adults who used the robot for up to 18 hours across two weeks

Newcastle University is being held to ransom by cyber criminals in an attack which has been disrupting IT systems since the beginning of the month. The cyber crime group behind the attack – known as DoppelPaymer – previously leaked documents online relating to Elon Musk’s companies SpaceX and Tesla. The criminals have posted stolen files

A breakthrough in brain-controlled prosthetics could give paralysed individuals the ability to control computer cursors and potentially limbs in the future. Using machine learning techniques, scientists were able to read brain signals simply by placing an array of electrodes on the surface of the brain. It allowed the patient to control a computer cursor straight

China’s experimental reusable spacecraft has successfully landed back on Earth, according to state media. The spacecraft launched into orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Friday, with a Long March-2F carrier rocket, according to the official Xinhua news agency. Its purpose was to test reusable technologies, providing “technological support for the

Facebook has said it will block a Frenchman suffering with a rare and incurable disease from livestreaming his death on the platform. Alain Cocq, who has lived with a degenerative disease for 34 years, has stopped eating, drinking and has not taken his medication since Friday night. The 57-year-old said he would livestream his death