Europe's data centre power demands plus other technology news to know

Power consumption by data centres in Europe is set to triple by 2030 and will require a big rise in electricity supply from mostly low-carbon sources, according to a new report from McKinsey & Company.

The research, covering areas including the European Union (EU), Norway, Switzerland and Britain, found that the total IT load demand for data centres will rise from 10 gigawatts (GW) today to 35 GW by 2030, Reuters reports.

At current growth rates, Europe's data centre power consumption is expected to reach 150 terawatt hours (TWh) by the same date, up from approximately 62 TWh at present.

Exclusive of power generation capacity, meeting demand for data centres in Europe will require at least $250 billion in investment, the report also found.

A new Google study claims to have found the conditions under which quantum computers can outperform their supercomputer counterparts.

The research, published in Nature, used a quantum computer processor called Sycamore. It ran random circuit sampling, a simple quantum algorithm that generates a random sequence of values, explains Interesting Engineering.

When analyzing Sycamore's output, researchers found that when it was run in a mode with a lot of noise interference, it could be beaten (or "spoofed") by classical supercomputers. However, when the noise was lowered to a particular threshold, the computation became complex enough that spoofing was effectively impossible.

eBay is set to limit sales of e-bikes and e-bike batteries in the UK to "eligible business sellers" only following a rise in battery fire incidents, the BBC reports.

A robot conductor has debuted in Germany, with two performances in the eastern city of Dresden, writes The Guardian. The three-armed MAiRA Pro S performed in a two-part concert, with the first half purely human and the second led by the robot.

A team from a university in Chile has built a 3D-printed concrete house, which they say is Latin America's first such home. The walls were built in just 29 hours, and the pieces took two days to assemble, according to Reuters.

The UK is considering introducing new rules that would require all new electronic devices to use the same type of charging cable, in a move that would replicate regulations introduced in the EU that come into force at the end of this year.

An international research team has discovered how the human body creates skin from a stem cell, in a breakthrough that could not only help combat ageing but also produce artificial skin for transplants and to prevent scarring.

The EU has announced a new initiative that will see the bloc link up with venture capital firms in the region to boost tech investment. The move comes amid concerns it's lagging behind the US and China.

Industry data has shown that hybrids overtook petrol-powered vehicles for new car sales in the EU for the first time in September, with hybrids accounting for 32.8% of the total.

A children's hospital charity in Glasgow, Scotland has introduced a "gamer in residence" to support young patients. The job involves playing video games with the children to alleviate their boredom and provide some light relief.

2025 will mark 100 years of scientific discoveries and breakthroughs based on quantum mechanics. With a second century of quantum development on the horizon, two quantum experts explore how governments, civil society and the private sector can collaborate to ensure inclusive and equitable advances.

Innovators need to learn to explain and sell the value of the technology they're developing, argues Thomas Crampton, Co-Founder, Crampton Blackie Partners. He explores four ways innovators and entrepreneurs can engage more effectively with investors.

This year's list of Nobel Prize winners features work in areas from across emerging technologies. Read our round-up of the researchers behind this year's prizes.