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The NHS’s IT system is at risk of further cyber attacks, according to the founder and CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre.
Ciaran Martin, a professor at the University of Oxford, highlighted three critical issues facing healthcare providers in terms of cybersecurity: outdated IT systems, the need to identify vulnerabilities and the importance of basic security practices.
Tech & Science Daily speaks to health reporter Daniel Keane from the Evening Standard, who explains the impact of such attacks and what NHS England’s response has been so far.
Four NASA volunteers who spent a year in a simulated “Mars bunker” have spoken publicly for the first time since completing their mission.
The team lived and worked in a 157 square meter space to simulate a mission to the Red Planet.
Scientists say a new pill could increase the chances of successful IVF treatment after initial trials showed “promising results”.
The first pill of its kind, OXO-001 from Oxolife, is now being tested on a larger group of women in a so-called phase 3 clinical trial. The trial involves women who use their own eggs.
And the rest
Apple Intelligence and a better Siri could be coming to iPhones this spring via the iOS 18.4 update.
The tech giant is remaining vague on when users can expect the AI system to be available to everyone, simply saying “next year.”
Could Microsoft employees in China soon be limited to iPhones? And why ChatGPT is ‘officially funnier than people’.
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Here’s a fully automated transcript of today’s episode:
Hi, I’m Rochelle Travers and this is The Standard’s Tech and Science Daily podcast.
Can a pill increase the chance of pregnancy?
Let’s start.
The founder and CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre warns the NHS’s IT system is at risk of further cyber attacks.
This is Daniel Keane, health reporter for The Standard.
Professor Ciaran Martin, director of the National Cyber Security Centre, has warned that parts of the NHS IT system are outdated and could be susceptible to further cyber attacks.
This comes after three major NHS hospitals in London were hit by a major cyberattack in June.
Professor Martin, now a professor at the University of Oxford, highlights three critical issues facing the NHS’s cybersecurity: legacy IT systems, the need to identify vulnerabilities and the importance of basic security practices.
I think many people who work in the NHS can identify with Professor Martin’s comments.
There have been several high-profile cyber attacks, most notably in Scotland last year, where patient data was stolen and sold on the dark web.
So it’s quite a serious problem and without investment it’s unclear whether patients can trust that their data is safe.
NHS England has said it wants to increase cybersecurity resilience and has invested £338 million over the past seven years to tackle the issue.
However, it is still unclear what exactly happened during the recent hack and how big its impact is.
NHS England has provided weekly updates on the number of operations and procedures cancelled in London due to the cyberattack.
But what complicates matters further is the fact that Synovus, the party that processes the blood test results and was the source of the attack, is a private company.
So they’re continuing their investigation and trying to figure out how their systems got hacked, and it could be a few months before we find out what really happened here.
In the meantime, the NHS and other cybersecurity officials within government are being extra prepared for another attack.
But that doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen.
And we’ve seen that if you’re vulnerable enough to be hacked once, it can happen again.
NASA volunteers who spent a year in a simulated “Mars bunker” have spoken publicly for the first time since completing their mission.
Seen here are two crew members: Medical Officer Nathan Jones and Commander Kelly Haston.
Wow, that went fast.
I really hope I don’t cry when I stand here in front of you.
The P01 was a unique experience with great challenges, joys and sorrows, and a lot of hard work with a good dose of fun.
I’ve often been asked: Why are we so obsessed with Mars?
Why go to Mars?
Because it’s possible.
Because space can unite us and bring out the best in us.
The four-person team emerged Saturday around 5 p.m. local time after spending 12 months in NASA’s first simulated Mars environment.
At the Johnson Space Center in Houston, the quartet lived and worked in a 1,600-square-foot (157-square-meter) room to simulate a mission to the Red Planet.
Here, NASA’s deputy director of flight missions, Kjell Lindgren, welcomes them.
The road to Mars has many challenges.
The crew and their families have dedicated a year of their lives to NASA, to the country, and to human space exploration.
They were the first CHAPEA crew, which stands for Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog, and were focused on creating possible conditions for future Mars operations. They did this by conducting simulated spacewalks and growing and harvesting vegetables to supplement their food supply. They also maintained the habitat and equipment.
Two more CHAPEA missions are expected in 2025 and 2027.
Scientists say a new pill could increase the chances of successful IVF treatment.
After the first tests showed promising results.
The first tablet of its kind, called OXO-001, developed by Spanish biotechnology company OxoLife, has already undergone preclinical testing.
The findings showed that the drug increased a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant and were clinically significant.
The pill is now being tested in a larger group of women in a so-called phase 3 study, in which women participate who use their own eggs.
Let’s move on to the ads.
Coming soon: Is artificial intelligence funnier than humans?
Welcome back.
Apple Intelligence and a better Siri could be coming to iPhones this spring via the iOS 18.4 update.
Bloomberg technology journalist Mark Gurman made these claims in his latest Power On newsletter.
Apple has been fairly vague so far about when users can expect Apple’s AI system to be available to everyone, simply saying next year.
It is still unclear what exactly we can expect from the most important AI functions.
But we’ll likely learn more about them as better versions of iOS 18 begin integrating them later in 2024.
In the meantime, features like ChatGPT integration, a new Siri interface, and deeper product knowledge that will allow Siri to provide you with basic technical support are expected this fall.
Microsoft employees in China are reported to be restricted to using iPhones for work-related activities only starting in September.
According to Bloomberg News, the move comes as Android devices in China lack Google’s Play Store to distribute authentication and identity apps for the company’s workforce.
Microsoft is stepping up its internal security measures following a series of high-profile cyberattacks in recent years.
And finally, could artificial intelligence soon replace comedians?
Well, according to a new study from the University of Southern California, it’s possible that people find ChatGPT 3.5 funnier overall than humans.
As part of the study, participants were asked to rate the funniness of jokes made by people (who were not professional comedians) compared to jokes made by ChatGPT.
And overall, nearly 70% found the AI chatbot funnier.
They also compared the work of professional writers with ChatGPT and asked ChatGPT to rewrite the headlines of a satirical news site.
In this part, people were rated just as good as ChatGPT.
According to Drew Gorenz, who conducted the study and is an amateur comedian, the implications are generally more positive for people who want to incorporate a little humor into their communications, but less positive for people in the comedy industry.
You are informed.
Come back at 4pm for The Standard podcast with the latest news and analysis.
Tech and Science Daily will be back tomorrow at 1pm.
See you then.