Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Swiss technology innovation centre CSEM to research and develop solar energy technologies, as the city-state seeks to expand renewable power generation despite limited land. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of Singapore International Energy Week. It covers research and knowledge exchange on solar photovoltaic technologies and grid-integration solutions, alongside assessments of solar technologies for safety, reliability and performance. The partners will also identify potential demonstrati
UNESCO has called for urgent investment to rebuild Sudan’s scientific research sector, proposing a five-year recovery plan worth US$1.5 billion to restore institutions and protect the country’s scientific knowledge. The proposal was presented at a forum in Khartoum on 21 and 22 October, bringing together researchers, universities and international partners to discuss the impact of conflict on Sudan’s scientific infrastructure. The plan aims to restore research facilities, support scientists and strengthen the country’s capacity for scientific development. Sudan’s conflict, whi
The United Arab Emirates has completed development of a locally built probe for its Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt, scheduled to launch in early 2028. The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) designed, assembled and tested the probe in Abu Dhabi before its planned integration with the MBR Explorer spacecraft in the United States. The project involved the UAE Space Agency, technology company HEX20, Khalifa University and the UAE University’s National Space Science and Technology Center. It aims to strengthen the country’s domestic expertise in spacecraft engineering and deep-spa
South Africa will allow retailers, telecommunications companies and financial technology firms to access its national payments system directly from mid-2027, ending banks’ traditional dominance over payment processing. The reform is part of the South African Reserve Bank’s Payments Ecosystem Modernisation programme. It will enable eligible non-bank providers to connect to infrastructure used to clear and settle payments nationwide, rather than relying on banks as intermediaries. The central bank expects the change to increase competition, reduce transaction costs and encourage innov
Japan’s space agency is preparing to launch its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission to collect samples from Phobos, one of Mars’ two moons. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has scheduled the launch for October 20, 2026. The spacecraft will lift off aboard an H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center. It is expected to reach Mars in August 2027 before beginning detailed observations of Phobos. The mission will examine the moon’s topography, internal structure, composition and gravity. MMX aims to collect at least 10 grams of surface material from Phobos through two p
Bengaluru-born astronomer Ramya Manjunath Anche has been selected to lead NASA’s PUFFINS space telescope mission, a $20 million project designed to investigate the properties of interstellar dust. Anche, an assistant research professor at the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory, will serve as principal investigator for the mission. PUFFINS stands for Polarimetry in the Ultraviolet to Find Features in Interstellar Dust. It has been selected through NASA’s Astrophysics Pioneers programme, which supports smaller, cost-capped missions designed to address important questions in as
Scientists at the University of Konstanz have identified a bacterial enzyme that can break down certain biodegradable plastics. The discovery has attracted attention for an unexpected reason: the same enzyme can also act on some antibiotics. Researchers identified the enzyme while investigating microorganisms in soil where a biodegradable polyester known as LCAP was decomposing. Unlike conventional plastics, which remained largely unchanged in the experiments, the polyester showed signs of substantial breakdown over time. The team named the enzyme “Pac-Man” because of its role in br
Engineers at the University of Bristol have developed a miniature liquid-metal pump that could help make soft robots and wearable devices lighter and more adaptable. The device, described in Nature Communications, weighs just 0.2 grams and occupies 0.086 cubic centimetres. The pump, known as LIMA, uses magnetohydrodynamics to move fluid. When an electric current passes through a liquid-metal droplet in a magnetic field, it generates a force that drives the metal back and forth. This movement displaces surrounding fluid, producing a pumping action. Unlike conventional systems that rely o
Orange, infrastructure investor Equitix and Irish subsea cable developer MDM have formed a joint venture to develop the Pisces subsea cable system, with deployment expected in 2028. The 3,125-kilometre cable will feature 16 fibre pairs, connecting Galway in Ireland with landing points in France, Spain and Portugal. Orange will also develop a cable landing station at Sopelana in Spain. The project will provide an alternative route for Irish data traffic travelling through the United Kingdom, diversifying connections between Ireland and continental Europe. The system is designed to offer
Malaysia is developing a 2,300-acre artificial island off Penang to strengthen its semiconductor industry amid rising demand for chips used in artificial intelligence infrastructure. Known as Silicon Island, the development is being built through land reclamation south of Penang Island. The state has been a major electronics manufacturing centre for more than five decades, but limited industrial land is creating pressure for expansion. The project aims to attract higher-value activities, including semiconductor design and advanced packaging, beyond traditional chip assembly and testing.