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Who is behind the big hack attacks?
More than 100 organisations around the world are believed to have been hacked in ransomware attacks since 2022 by a single hacker group. The most recent occurrence of a ransomware attack was on a company responsible for analysing blood tests for the UK's National Health Service which prompted some major London hospitals to declare a 'critical incident', with many operations postponed. It is believed that a criminal organisation known as Qilin, consisting of individuals fluent in Russian, orchestrated this malicious act, by inserting a piece of software into the company’s IT system which locks it. Once payment is received then access is restored. Ania Lichtarowicz has been investigating for SOEP.

Would tweezers be better than robotic hands?
What if, instead of having hands, we had some kind of bionic device at the end of our arms. Could we adapt to it as naturally as if we’d never had hands in the first place? Researchers in Italy have been addressing that very question using virtual reality. They’ve devised a set of virtual tweezer hands and invited volunteers to try using them to perform dextrous tasks. Professor Viviana Betti leads Cosync, a lab specialising in neurological research at the Sapienza University of Rome in Italy, and the Laboratory of Neuroscience and Applied Technology at the Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, also in Rome.

The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ghislaine Boddington.

More on this week's stories:
The organization tracking the hackers – Group-IB
Rewiring the evolution of the human hand: How the embodiment of a virtual bionic tool improves behaviour

Support the Show.

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Recording and audio editing : Lansons | Team Farner

For new episodes, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or via this link:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265960/supporters/new

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If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts

Contact us by email: hello@somewhereonearth.co
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484

Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World

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Who is behind the big hack attacks?
More than 100 organisations around the world are believed to have been hacked in ransomware attacks since 2022 by a single hacker group. The most recent occurrence of a ransomware attack was on a company responsible for analysing blood tests for the UK's National Health Service which prompted some major London hospitals to declare a 'critical incident', with many operations postponed. It is believed that a criminal organisation known as Qilin, consisting of individuals fluent in Russian, orchestrated this malicious act, by inserting a piece of software into the company’s IT system which locks it. Once payment is received then access is restored. Ania Lichtarowicz has been investigating for SOEP.

Would tweezers be better than robotic hands?
What if, instead of having hands, we had some kind of bionic device at the end of our arms. Could we adapt to it as naturally as if we’d never had hands in the first place? Researchers in Italy have been addressing that very question using virtual reality. They’ve devised a set of virtual tweezer hands and invited volunteers to try using them to perform dextrous tasks. Professor Viviana Betti leads Cosync, a lab specialising in neurological research at the Sapienza University of Rome in Italy, and the Laboratory of Neuroscience and Applied Technology at the Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, also in Rome.

The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ghislaine Boddington.

More on this week's stories:
The organization tracking the hackers – Group-IB
Rewiring the evolution of the human hand: How the embodiment of a virtual bionic tool improves behaviour

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Recording and audio editing : Lansons | Team Farner

For new episodes, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or via this link:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265960/supporters/new

Follow us on all the socials:

• Join our Facebook group
• Instagram
• Twitter/X

If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts

Contact us by email: hello@somewhereonearth.co
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484

Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World

Send us a Text Message.

Rare earth element boom poisoning Myanmar
Growing demand for electric vehicles and wind turbines might look good for emissions, but there’s an environmental cost too. Regions, habitats and livelihoods in Myanmar are facing significant damage because the surge in demand for permanent magnets is driving up mining for rare earth elements according to a report from Global Witness. CEO Mike Davies tells us more.

SOEPSUDS and your comments and questsions
We catch up with our SOEPSUDS numbers and update the database. We’re also checking out your comments and thoughts – do keep us posted on our socials and WhatsApp:
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WhatsApp: +44 7846 329 484

The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Peter Guest.

More on this week's stories:
Rare earth boom poisoning Myanmar

Support the Show.

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Recording and audio editing : Lansons | Team Farner

For new episodes, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or via this link:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265960/supporters/new

Follow us on all the socials:

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If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts

Contact us by email: hello@somewhereonearth.co
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484

Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World

Subscriber-only episode

Send us a Text Message.

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Recording and audio editing : Lansons | Team Farner

For new episodes, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or via this link:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265960/supporters/new

Follow us on all the socials:

• Join our Facebook group
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• Twitter/X

If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts

Contact us by email: hello@somewhereonearth.co
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484

Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World

Subscriber-only episode

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Millions of gallons of water needed for new data centres in Chile during 30 year drought
Chile looks set to become the data centre capital of Latin America, with the country’s President announcing another 28 proposed developments. But these data centres require vast amounts of electricity to run and huge volumes of water to cool them. With the country experiencing a severe long term drought, predicted to last until 2040, how can building these centres benefit the environment and local communities. Rest of World Latin American reporter Daniela Dib has been investigating these concerns.

Concrete alternatives not very eco-friendly
New biobased building materials made from fungi and agricultural residues have been hailed as a possible environmentally friendly concrete replacement. However, new research suggests that these alternatives need huge amounts of electricity to produce and have a shorter lifespan than concrete. To discuss these potential issues as well as how to overcome them, the researcher behind the findings, Stefania Akromah of the University of Bristol joins us on the show.

The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Peter Guest.

More on this week's stories:
U.S tech giants are building dozens of data centers in Chile. Locals are fighting back
Potential Environmental Impact of Mycelium Composites on African Communities

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Recording and audio editing : Lansons | Team Farner

For new episodes, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or via this link:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265960/supporters/new

Follow us on all the socials:

• Join our Facebook group
• Instagram
• Twitter/X

If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts

Contact us by email: hello@somewhereonearth.co
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484

Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World

Send us a Text Message.

Millions of gallons of water needed for new data centres in Chile during 30 year drought
Chile looks set to become the data centre capital of Latin America, with the country’s President announcing another 28 proposed developments. But these data centres require vast amounts of electricity to run and huge volumes of water to cool them. With the country experiencing a severe long term drought, predicted to last until 2040, how can building these centres benefit the environment and local communities. Rest of World Latin American reporter Daniela Dib has been investigating these concerns.

Concrete alternatives not very eco-friendly
New biobased building materials made from fungi and agricultural residues have been hailed as a possible environmentally friendly concrete replacement. However, new research suggests that these alternatives need huge amounts of electricity to produce and have a shorter lifespan than concrete. To discuss these potential issues as well as how to overcome them, the researcher behind the findings, Stefania Akromah of the University of Bristol joins us on the show.

The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Peter Guest.

More on this week's stories:
U.S tech giants are building dozens of data centers in Chile. Locals are fighting back
Potential Environmental Impact of Mycelium Composites on African Communities

Support the Show.

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Recording and audio editing : Lansons | Team Farner

For new episodes, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or via this link:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265960/supporters/new

Follow us on all the socials:

• Join our Facebook group
• Instagram
• Twitter/X

If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts

Contact us by email: hello@somewhereonearth.co
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484

Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World

Send us a Text Message.

Technology is not the problem (we are)…
Can we really lay the blame for our problems to the rise of technology or should be take responsibility for our actions and how we are choosing not to relate to the world around us? Author, tech journalist and comedian Timandra Harkness is on the show to challenge the way we think and deal with the choices presented to us by tech. Her new book “Technology is Not the Problem” explores the themes of our own self worth and of who we are. Are we choosing to lose ourselves to the choices that tech makes for us?

Why do only a fifth of Brazilians have good internet access?
According to The Brazilian Steering Internet Committee only 22% of Brazilians have satisfactory connection to the internet, despite just over 84% of people aged 10 and over, using it. Angelica Mari explains who has access and why the quality of the connections leaves much to be desired.

The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Angelica Mari.

More on this week's stories:
Technology is Not the Problem
Lack of good quality Internet access in Brazil

Support the Show.

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Recording and audio editing : Lansons | Team Farner

For new episodes, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or via this link:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265960/supporters/new

Follow us on all the socials:

• Join our Facebook group
• Instagram
• Twitter/X

If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts

Contact us by email: hello@somewhereonearth.co
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484

Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World

Subscriber-only episode

Send us a Text Message.

Technology is not the problem (we are)…
Can we really lay the blame for our problems to the rise of technology or should be take responsibility for our actions and how we are choosing not to relate to the world around us? Author, tech journalist and comedian Timandra Harkness is on the show to challenge the way we think and deal with the choices presented to us by tech. Her new book “Technology is Not the Problem” explores the themes of our own self worth and of who we are. Are we choosing to lose ourselves to the choices that tech makes for us?

Why do only a fifth of Brazilians have good internet access?
According to The Brazilian Steering Internet Committee only 22% of Brazilians have satisfactory connection to the internet, despite just over 84% of people aged 10 and over, using it. Angelica Mari explains who has access and why the quality of the connections leaves much to be desired.

The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Angelica Mari.

More on this week's stories:
Technology is Not the Problem
Lack of good quality Internet access in Brazil

Support the Show.

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Recording and audio editing : Lansons | Team Farner

For new episodes, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or via this link:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265960/supporters/new

Follow us on all the socials:

• Join our Facebook group
• Instagram
• Twitter/X

If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts

Contact us by email: hello@somewhereonearth.co
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484

Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World