Weekly Tech Round-Up
This week: robots helping monitor radiation at Sellafield, Nintendo’s Switch breaks records, investigations into Elon Musk’s X platform, a powerful password manager app, and a simple number that could help stop bank fraud.
☢️ Robot Dog Tested to Monitor Radiation at Sellafield
Sellafield nuclear power plant is testing whether a robot can be used to monitor radiation levels safely.
The Cumbrian site has completed its first trial of a swabbing tool designed to be used by Spot, a four-legged robot capable of accessing hazardous areas containing radioactive material.
The robot is able to swab surfaces and collect samples in areas that would otherwise require human access. It is hoped the technology will improve monitoring while reducing the need for workers to enter dangerous environments.
Source: BBC News
🎮 Nintendo Switch Becomes Best-Selling Nintendo Console Ever
The Nintendo Switch is now the best-selling Nintendo console in history, surpassing 155 million sales since its launch in 2017.
The device, which saw a surge in popularity during the pandemic, has now overtaken the Nintendo DS as the company’s most successful gaming hardware.
Overall, the Switch is now second only to Sony’s PlayStation 2 in global gaming console sales, which sold more than 160 million units following its release in 2000.
Nintendo also said its sequel, the Switch 2, had made a strong start since launching in June 2025, selling 17 million units by the end of the year.
Source: BBC News
⚖️ X Offices Raided and UK Regulator Investigates Grok AI
The French offices of Elon Musk’s social media platform X have been raided by the Paris prosecutor’s cyber-crime unit, as part of an investigation into suspected offences.
Separately, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched a probe into Musk’s AI tool Grok, over concerns about its potential to produce harmful sexualised image and video content.
The company said it was “disappointed” but “not surprised,” and accused the Paris Public Prosecutor’s office of carrying out an “abusive act.”
Source: BBC News
🔑 App of the Week: Proton Pass
This week’s app of the week is Proton Pass, a modern password manager created by the Swiss security experts behind Proton Mail.
Proton Pass allows you to securely store and manage your passwords across multiple devices. It is cross-platform, free to use, and allows unlimited password storage.
Password managers help improve security by generating strong, unique passwords for every account and storing them safely so you don’t have to remember them all.
Proton Pass is available free on iOS and Android:
📞 Anti-Scam Tip: Call 159 to Reach Your Bank Safely
Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis is urging bank customers to remember the simple three-digit number 159.
If you receive a suspicious call from someone claiming to be your bank, hang up and dial 159. This will connect you directly to your bank’s official number safely and securely.
This anti-scam initiative was launched by StopScamsUK in 2021 to provide a simple, memorable way for customers to contact their bank without risk.
The service currently covers 99% of the UK banking market, including:
- Barclays
- HSBC
- Lloyds
- NatWest
- Nationwide
- Monzo
- Santander
- Halifax
- Revolut
- Bank of Scotland
- And many more
Remember: if something doesn’t feel right, stop, hang up, and dial 159.
