Strava buys London-based run training app Runna

Fitness social network Strava is buying Runna, the training app. Strava said that it had decided to buy the app to help continue what had been “unprecedented growth” last year.

London-based Runna offers personalised running plans and coaching to users who might be training for marathons or other races. It was only founded in 2022, but has quickly become one of the world’s most popular training apps and says it has helped “millions” of people train for their first race.

Strava said that the two apps will run separately “for the foreseeable future” but that it would “invest in growing the Runna team and further accelerate the development of the Runna app”, according to its chief executive Michael Martin.

“Coming off Strava’s accelerated innovation and unprecedented growth last year, it was the right time to look for complementary businesses that could create even greater value for our users,” Mr Martin said in a statement. “Running is booming worldwide—nearly 1 billion runs were recorded on Strava in 2024. Runna’s mission to give every runner a personalized plan to achieve their goal is a perfect fit.”

Neither Strava or Runna announced the terms of the deal. But it is thought to be bringing early backers a multimillion pound payout.

“We are delighted to become part of Strava as we continue to focus on bringing the world the most customized and personalized training plans available,” said Dom Maskell, co-founder and chief executive officer at Runna. “We have spent many hours together with Strava senior management and we couldn’t be more excited to be on the same team.”

Strava has bought other coaching platforms in the past. In 2022, for instance, it bought Recover Athletics, a “prehab” platform that offers stretches and other exercises aimed at helping runners avoid injuries.

But the company’s acquisitions have not always been entirely well-received. Last year, for instance, Strava bought mapping and guidebook app FATMAP and shut it down, integrating its features into its own platform but upsetting some of the company’s customers.

Strava also integrates with more than 100 training apps through its API, which allows other platforms to both read and write data to it. Strava said it remained committed to “maintaining this role as the open platform for fitness and to supporting all developers, alongside Runna”.

Read more: Women are using ChatGPT as a free therapist – can AI replace mental health experts?

Half of vessels in Scotland ‘invisible’ to marine tracking systems – study

Researchers have said more than half the vessels in Scotland are essentially “invisible” to standard maritime tracking systems.

Heriot-Watt university researchers say only 43% of vessels within 10 kilometres of the Scottish coast broadcast an Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal, the standard tool used globally to monitor ship movements.

The Heriot-Watt team says this lack of visibility poses significant risks to marine life, safety and sustainable ocean management.

The study, which relied on more than 1,800 hours of land and sea surveys conducted between 2019 and 2024, covered nine of Scotland’s 11 marine regions and showed huge regional and seasonal disparities in AIS visibility.

It was published in the academic journal Marine Policy.

Much of the data was collected by citizen scientists from several organisations – volunteers were trained to follow a standardised method to survey and quantify ships.

Volunteers from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Shorewatch in Shetland, the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust and the Community of Arran Seabed Trust all participated.

Dr Emily Hague from Heriot-Watt’s school of energy, geoscience, infrastructure and society said: “This data challenges the assumption that we can rely on AIS to tell us what’s really happening in our coastal seas.

“In some areas, over 75% of vessel activity goes unrecorded.”

The study highlighted a number of regional variations.

In the Outer Hebrides, only 20% of vessels observed were transmitting AIS data, despite the area being a hotspot for ecotourism, fishing and aquaculture.

The Orkney Islands showed a higher rate, with 58% of vessels broadcasting.

In the Forth and Tay, home to some of Scotland’s busiest ports, AIS coverage reflected true traffic only 8% of the time, raising questions about under-represented commercial and recreational traffic.

Smaller vessels, such as fishing boats under 15m, recreational craft and jet skis, accounted for much of the missing data.

They are not legally required to carry AIS, but could voluntarily install and broadcast data.

Dr Hague said: “AIS data is used by governments, conservation bodies and researchers to model vessel-related impacts such as underwater noise pollution, whale and dolphin collision risk, anchor damage to the seabed, greenhouse gas emissions and climate impact.

“But if over half of vessel movements in inshore waters are missing, existing models may be severely underestimating these impacts.

“This could lead to inadequate management, conservation and safety policies.”

Dr Lauren McWhinnie from Heriot-Watt University said: “Scotland’s coasts are a vital habitat for species like bottlenose dolphins, minke whales and orca.

“Without accurate data, it’s difficult to assess and mitigate threats to these species.”

The authors suggest that where there are high volumes of non-AIS vessels, AIS data should be supplemented with other tracking methods, such as land-based observations and citizen science, to build a complete picture.

Dr McWhinnie said: “Ideally, even smaller vessels would broadcast their position using AIS.

“Improving data will benefit coastal communities, providing information that will allow them to balance tourism and other vessel-based activities with local sustainability and environmental objectives.

“It will also enable researchers and conservation groups to provide better evidence when it comes to measures for protecting marine life.

“With an improved understanding of the activities and movement of different types of vessels, marine planners and policymakers could tailor regulations to maximise their potential effectiveness.

“The wider maritime sector could further benefit through improved safety and awareness.”

Carole Davis, a volunteer for WDC Shorewatch in Shetland, said: “I was pleased to be involved with this research, as I thought that the additional data obtained would hopefully provide more detailed information on the potential impact of vessels and would help to increase awareness of the importance of citizen scientists in marine research.”

The study recommends applying correction factors when using AIS to model coastal impacts, taking into account local vessel type, region and season.

Until universal tracking is possible, the researchers argue, such adjustments are crucial to avoid blind spots in maritime governance and any AIS-based risk assessments.

Dr Emily Hague said: “We need transparency at sea. Scotland’s blue spaces are getting busier and without better data we’re navigating blind when it comes to understanding the potential impacts.”

The research was published in Marine Policy.

Read the full report here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106719.

‘All clear’: Spotify back up and running after service outage

Spotify is back up and running, the music streaming giant has announced after it was hit with a service outage which left thousands of users unable to stream music on Wednesday afternoon.

The platform gave the “all clear” around three hours after it first announced that it was aware people were experiencing “issues”.

Spotify denied its service outage was the result of a “security hack”.

Just after 5pm, the company posted on X, formerly Twitter: “All clear – thanks for your patience.”

It urged users to contact @SpotifyCares on the social media platform if they still need help.

Earlier, thousands of UK users reported being unable to stream music via Spotify online, with audio already downloaded to a user’s library only being accessible.

According to service monitoring site Downdetector, problems began at Spotify at around 1pm on Wednesday, with more than 20,000 reports of user issues with the service being logged afterwards.

It said users were reporting problems with both the Spotify app and website.

In its initial statement on the issue posted to X, Spotify said: “We’re aware of some issues right now and are checking them out.”

In an update afterwards, the company said reports of the outage being a security breach were “false”.

In February, the Sweden-based firm announced its user numbers had hit a record high of 675 million globally, a rise of 12% over the last year.

Spotify down: App not working amid major outage

Spotify has broken in a major outage.

“Something went wrong,” a message to users of the music streaming app showed. “Try again.”

The problems appeared to be affecting users right across the world and on both the mobile and desktop versions of the app.

“We’re aware of some issues right now and are checking them out!” the company posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Spotify does operate a support page that is intended to update users on any outages, but that was also affected by the problems and would not load.

The outage began just after 2pm UK time, or around 9am eastern. Many online noted that it had come in the middle of the working day, and left them without music to stay entertained.

Spotify says it has 675 million users, of whom 263 million are paying subscribers. The company is now in more than 180 markets.

The outage comes exactly a week since Spotify experienced another, much shorter outage.

This vegetable could help make EV batteries cheaper and longer-lasting

Scientists have found that an unlikely new ingredient could help improve the lithium batteries used in electric vehicles and renewable energy systems – corn.

They have discovered that a protein found in corn can dramatically boost the performance of lithium-sulphur batteries, a next-generation alternative to today’s lithium-ion batteries that power everything from electric vehicles to smartphones.

Lithium-sulphur batteries have long been seen as a promising option for future tech, since they are lighter, cheaper and more environment friendly than the batteries we use today.

The biggest challenge in bringing them to use is that these batteries don’t last very long.

But researchers at Washington State University have shown that a protective barrier made using corn protein could extend the battery’s life by hundreds of charge cycles and potentially help get them into real-world products such as electric cars or solar power systems.

“This work demonstrated a simple and efficient approach to preparing a functional separator for enhancing the battery’s performance,” said Katie Zhong, professor of mechanical and materials engineering at the university and an author of the study. “The results are excellent.”

The corn protein works by targeting two of the biggest technical problems that have held lithium-sulphur batteries back.

In a lithium-sulphur battery, energy is stored using sulphur, a cheap, non-toxic material. But during charging, some of this sulphur can drift into the liquid centre and react with the lithium side, causing the battery to wear out much faster than a conventional one.

The lithium itself can grow tiny metal spikes known as dendrites, which can puncture the barrier inside the battery and lead to short circuits.

To solve these problems, the researchers added a thin coating of corn protein, called zein, to the separator, the layer that sits between the battery’s two sides. The coating formed a barrier which they found kept sulphur from leaking across and helped prevent dendrites from forming.

Because proteins naturally fold in on themselves, the researchers added a small amount of flexible plastic to open up the structure. This enabled amino acids in the protein – its most reactive parts – to interact more directly with the rest of the battery.

Having put that structure in place, the researchers built a small test battery that kept its charge through more than 500 cycles – far longer than lithium-sulphur designs typically manage.

Their study, published in the Journal of Power Sources, backed the results with lab experiments and simulation models, showing improvements in both stability and performance.

“Corn protein would make for a good battery material because it’s abundant, natural, and sustainable,” said Dr Jin Liu, professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and a corresponding author on the paper.

The team is now looking into which parts of the protein structure contribute most to performance. Zein is made up of amino acids, and identifying the ones responsible for blocking sulphur migration and preventing dendrite formation could help improve the design even further.

“The first thing we need to think about is how to open the protein, so we can use those interactions and manipulate the protein,” Dr Liu said.

“A protein is a very complicated structure,” said Dr Zhong. “We need to do further simulation studies to identify which amino acids in the protein structure can work best for solving the critical shuttle effect and dendrite problems.”

The research is still in the early stage, but if lithium-sulfur batteries can be made reliable enough for real-world use, they could replace lithium-ion batteries in many key sectors – particularly electric vehicles and large-scale renewable energy storage.

So far, the approach has only been tested in coin-sized batteries, but the team hopes to collaborate with industry partners to evaluate whether the breakthrough can be scaled up.

Global demand for lithium-ion batteries is expected to soar over the next decade. In 2023 alone, battery deployment in the power sector increased by more than 130 per cent.

Lithium-sulphur batteries could be a more affordable and perhaps a comparatively cleaner alternative to the lithium-ion technology used in most electric vehicles and consumer electronics today.

Lithium-ion batteries rely on metals like cobalt and nickel, which are extracted through environmentally damaging mining under harsh labour conditions.

While sulphur is a byproduct of oil and gas refining, it makes use of an existing waste stream rather than requiring new extraction.

Sulphur is also lighter than the metal oxides used in conventional battery cathodes, so lithium-sulphur designs also come with the promise of higher energy density, which means lighter batteries that can store more power, an advantage for electric vehicles, aircraft and even grid-scale renewable storage.

And with both sulphur and corn protein widely available, the technology could also cut production costs, making it more accessible as demand for clean energy storage grows.

You can now lease a PS5 with no upfront costs — here’s how

Imagine waking up tomorrow with a brand-new PlayStation 5, ready to dive into your favourite games – without handing over a hefty upfront fee. With Flex, that’s now a reality. Forget saving for months just to grab the latest console; Flex makes upgrading your gaming experience as easy as pressing play.

Whether you’re eager to explore next-gen worlds with the PS5 Pro or simply looking for a hassle-free way to immerse yourself in another realm, Flex has you covered. You can start your adventure in Horizon Forbidden West or master the challenges of Elden Ring, all while enjoying the flexibility to upgrade whenever you want.

The best part? You don’t need to break the bank to get started. With Flex, you can choose a payment plan that suits your needs, and with free next-day delivery, you could be playing your new PS5 before you’ve even made tomorrow’s morning cup ‘o Joe. Whether you choose a short-term plan or go for something longer, Flex keeps things simple.

Ready to fast forward on the NPCs and get into the action? With Flex, the future of gaming is in your hands.

With PlayStations leasing proposition called Flex, you’re the one calling the shots. Whether you’re one for the freedom of a monthly rolling plan or prefer the more predictable payment schedules of 12, 24, or 36-month terms, there are options to suit everyone’s needs. It’s like picking your ideal game difficulty – only here, you’re in control of how long you want to play. Plus, applying won’t impact your credit rating, so you can keep your financial *and* Astro Bot game strong.

When you’re ready to upgrade, keeping your tech fresh has never been easier and you’ll even have 14 days to transfer those all-important high scores from one device to the next. If you have an even older device lying around, don’t forget you can get trade-in cashback to make your next move even smoother.

For the accident prone among us (this is a judgement-free zone), optional insurance from just £3.99 a month adds extra protection, so you can game confidently. And, of course, if you change your mind, enjoy peace of mind with a free 14-day return policy. Flex is designed to keep gaming accessible, giving you the power to play your way.

Discover PlayStation Flex now

With Flex, you won’t be left waiting to dive into the Japanese gameplay of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Enjoy free next-day delivery, and your PS5 Pro could be at your door before you know it. Featuring breathtaking 4K visuals and advanced ray tracing, the PS5 Pro brings lifelike lighting and reflections to your games, making every environment feel as though you’re there. Whether you’re uncovering 16th-century mysteries or mastering legendary fights, ultra-fast load times are part and parcel of the PS5 Pro experience. No delays, just pure gaming thrills.

Shop the PS5 Pro with PlayStation Flex

When your lease term ends, Flex lets you easily switch to the latest model or accessory. Whether you’re upgrading from a PlayStation 5 Digital Edition or adding a new DualSense Edge controller to elevate your gameplay, the choice is yours. Return your old device or keep it with monthly payments – it’s entirely up to you. Plus, leasing with Flex helps reduce your carbon impact by 56 per cent, making it a greener choice, too. And with the first payment due 14 days after your order is confirmed, you’ll have the hi-spec sound system and flat screen set up before a single payment leaves your account.Want to keep your tech in pole position? Consider Flex your next point of call.

Explore PlayStation Flex now

All leasing with PlayStation is powered by Raylo.

Google is killing Google.co.uk

Google will stop using Google.co.uk, and other local versions of its search engines.

Users will instead be sent to the global version of Google – no matter where they are in the world.

The company says that its work to make the results of any search locally relevant mean that users now no longer need to look at a specific version of the site for their country.

For years, Google directed people to a version of the site focused on their country. UK users would see Google.co.uk, for instance, or Google.ng in Nigeria and Google.com.br in Brazil.

Since 2017, Google has been phasing that out, and showing the same information to people whether they were searching on their country’s version of the site or the global version at Google.com.

Now that improvement means that “country-level domains are no longer necessary”, Google said.

That means that visitors to the local address will instead be sent to Google.com. That will “streamline people’s experience on Search”, it said.

The change will come gradually over the coming months and might come with some prompts to change search preferences.

“It’s important to note that while this update will change what people see in their browser address bar, it won’t affect the way Search works, nor will it change how we handle obligations under national laws,” Google said.

There are now more bots than humans on the web – and that’s dangerous

They’re on Facebook, posting bizarre AI images seemingly created to play on the emotions of people without the media literacy to spot that they’re entirely made up. They’re sending you messages, trying to steal money or push cryptocurrency. They’re even – apparently – going to watch Oasis and do driving tests, snapping up tickets before actual humans can get their hands on them.

So it won’t be much of a surprise, even if it is something of an outrage: last year year, for the first time in a decade, more internet traffic is being generated by automated bot systems than by actual humans. That’s according to Thales Bad Bot Report, an annual survey of the state of the internet, which reported that bot activity accounted for 51 per cent of internet traffic in 2024. (It has been creeping up: last year it was exactly half, the year before that it was about to tip over.)

Perhaps more alarming than the sheer number is that the cyber security firm noted that the likely drivers of the rise is the increase in AI and large language model tools, which make it easier to automate the creation of bots for malicious purposes. Cyber criminals can use automated systems to make automated systems.

That has meant that while the number of attacks and bots conducting them might have increased, the sophistication of those attacks has actually reduced. The travel industry for instance was found to be experiencing amongst the most attacks, but many are fairly simple compared with before. Thales said that this “shift indicates that AI-powered automation tools have lowered the barriers to entry for attackers, allowing less sophisticated actors to initiate more basic bot attacks”.

Cyber criminals are giving up on sophisticated attacks, and just attacking, with the ease of automation meaning that they can do so much more frequently and in widespread ways.

In short, the barrier to entry to automating the internet has become much lower: it is possible now to do so simply by chatting with an AI system and asking it to do the work. This is a problem right across the web, where sophisticated automated attacks at least once came with the restriction that they required skill and resource to conduct. Now, people can overrun the web with bots that were summoned into existence with just a few words into ChatGPT or similar systems; eventually, those bots can create their own bots, easily regenerating and spreading like a virus.

It’s all a reminder of the theory of the “dead internet”, the idea that the web is not really populated primarily by humans but by an array of computers, all chatting to each other. It is often described as a conspiracy theory but it is at least a half-truth: there is a whole web of automated chatter. You can see it more than anywhere now on X, where automated systems built to reply to posts will then reply to other automated systems, often generating long conversations with nothing produced but a host of meaningless words and some activity on a distant computer running an AI system.

Part of the horror of the dead internet theory is that we might not know. The old joke goes that on the internet nobody knows you’re a dog, but nobody knows you’re a bot either; the same anonymity and ease of use that made it such a powerful platform means that you can never be sure if there is another human on the other side of the connection. But the implication of the dead internet theory is that the horror might simply be that we are alone and confused, not under attack, as the Thales report implies.

Perhaps the more worrying thing about this picture of the internet is that it is not actually dead – in fact, those bots are rapaciously alive, at least in some form. Those automated systems are careening round the internet looking to exploit its weak spots: exploiting vulnerabilities, stealing money through payment fraud, and trying to take over accounts.

It might be better if it were dead after all.