Tech Now - Season 1 / Year 2025

Can we clean up air travel? Adrienne Murray takes to the skies in Sweden to explore developments in electric flight. Joe Tidy visits rural Zambia to see how Bitcoin is helping electricity projects to get thousands of villagers on the grid. Nick Kwek has the tech developments from the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas. And Alasdair Keane gets up close to the rhinos at a new conservation centre in the UK.

Marc Cieslak has the highlights from the Game Developer Conference in San Francisco, where thousands in the industry come together to share the latest innovation and emerging trends. Zoe Kleinman heads behind the scenes at Microsoft's HQ as the company celebrates its 50th anniversary. Alasdair Keane meets the robots helping to test and develop the soaps and shampoos we use every day. Plus Laura Goodwin takes us into the world of AI scents. 

Could nuclear fusion supply endless clean energy? Nick Kwek visits the Fuse testing lab in Montreal - a startup with the goal of using nuclear fusion to solve the world's energy problems. And Zoe Kleinman heads behind the scenes of Microsoft's quantum computing lab. Plus, in gaming news Tom Gerken gets his hands on the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. 

Paul Carter explores how one of the world's fastest supercomputers is shaping climate research. Laura Goodwin finds out how scientists from around the world are collaborating on mapping the cosmos with the largest camera ever built. Nick Kwek chats to Bluesky CEO Jay Graber about the future of social media, and Alasdair Keane meets the winner of the Sony World Photography Awards

 

Alasdair Keane visits the McLaren Technology Centre to see how the Formula 1 team is using recycled materials in its cars, as it aims to make the sport more sustainable. 

Jacqui Wakefield meets professional rugby player Dan Biggar to find out how a smart ball is tracking and analysing performance in real time, Imran Rahman-Jones checks out the latest tech being used to make alcohol-free beer, and Yasmin Morgan-Griffiths explores a growing chatbot phenomenon which allows people to 'talk to the dead'. 

Lara Lewington explores a controversial new form of genetic testing which claims to predict how likely an unborn child is to develop diseases. Also, Alasdair Keane meets an AI version of author Agatha Christie, created to give a course on crime writing, Paul Carter has the latest developments in accessible gaming, and Tom Gerken chats to the boss of the global Anime streaming service Crunchyroll.

Adrienne Murray heads behind the scenes at the European Spallation Source in Sweden, created to produce the world's most powerful source of neutrons. Lily Jamali asks can we ever really delete our data? Nick Kwek explores the growing area of digital clones, where your digital self will act, talk and write like you, and complete tasks on your behalf. Plus, why physicists have created one of the world's smallest violins. 

The world's largest telescope is opening in Chile's Atacama Desert. Ione Wells has behind the scenes access to the Rubin Observatory, which will give scientists a closer look at stars and galaxies far beyond our solar system. Paul Carter visits an Amazon warehouse introducing a new robot with a sense of touch. Nick Marsh explores the future of electric cars in China. And how do you make a dinosaur? Tom Gerken meets Frontier Developments to find out how the company is creating its new Jurassic World game.

Ione Wells explores the search for Chile's stolen children, decades after they were taken during the country's military dictatorship, and asks if tech can help families find answers. Alasdair Keane visits the Rotterdam startup producing a greener alternative to cement. Plus, can AI clone you? Marc Cieslak puts a digital clone system to the test. And Nick Kwek takes a journey through the latest digital art projects at SXSW London. 

Exploring some of the latest tech innovations in the world of sport: Jacqui Wakefield investigates boxing and the AI being developed to detect concussion amongst fighters; Andrew Rogers meets the competitors preparing for the Esports World Cup; Laura Goodwin finds out how to design, engineer and build an e-bike; and the Paralympic wheelchair fencers using biomechanics to improve performance.

As Chile plans to ramp up lithium mining - a mineral crucial to the EV industry - Ione Wells explores if it can be done more sustainably. In northern Sweden, Adrienne Murray visits a plant aiming to make steel production greener. Plus, Alasdair Keane meets the marine robot cleaning up litter, and Jacqui Wakefield checks out the Kenyan start-up using plastic waste for 3D printing.

Yasmin Morgan-Griffiths has exclusive behind-the-scenes access to La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona to see how technology is playing a key role in completing Gaudi's vision for this historic landmark. Alasdair Keane explores an ambitious CO2 storage project in Rotterdam, and Nick Kwek finds out about the space tech which could provide solutions on earth. Plus, Paul Carter visits the home of football club Borussia Dortmund, to explore how data and AI is taking sports broadcasting into the next generation.

Joe Tidy explores a controversial new research paper, which forecasts how the rise of artificial intelligence may play out - and if it could destroy humanity. Plus, Alasdair Keane visits Schiphol Airport to see how self-driving vehicles are being trialled to help with airport logistics; Martin Sharkey has the story behind the creation of QR codes; and the young competitors taking part in the UAS Challenge, which pushes the limits of autonomous flight.