While robots have already been taking human jobs in many industries such as car manufacturing, as they become increasingly sophisticated there are growing fears they will put more employees at risk. Now a major electronics company that supplies Apple and Samsung has announced it is to replace 60,000 staff with robots. Foxconn, the Taiwanese company which assembles iPhones and iPads, has brought in machines to perform repetitive tasks and axed more than half its 110,000-strong workforce at a factory in Southern China. In a statement the company said: 'We are applying robotics engineering and other innovative manufacturing technologies to replace repetitive tasks previously done by employees.' As robots increasingly make their way into the workforce, some have argued that they will soon be taking over many traditionally human jobs.

Johannes Kuehn and Professor Sami Haddadin from the Leibniz University of Hannover presented their work at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) in Sweden last week. In the video below, you can see them demonstrating their "nervous robot-tissue model that is inspired by the human skin structure" on a robotic arm. The robotic nervous system classifies pain as light, moderate (such as strong collisions) or severe (anything that can damage the machine). "In the [light] pain class, such contacts occur that may harm the robot or prevent it from performing the task. The robot "feels" uncomfortable and shall smoothly retract until the contact event is over and return thereafter.

It was as far back as 1991 – when Nirvana's Nevermind was riding high in the album charts, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves was the must-see film in cinemas; and escalating tensions led to the first Gulf War – that we had a sneak preview of how networked connectivity would eventually impact our lives. That year, researchers at the University of Cambridge Computer Labs invented the world's first webcam to solve their coffee problem. Frustrated by pointless trips down the hall to the coffee machine only to find the pot empty, they set up a video camera near the machine and networked it to a computer. Now they could see whether the coffee pot was full or empty in real time. Today billions of devices across the world are networked, sharing what they see, hear and otherwise sense with the internet.

Everyone had his or her favorite drink in hand. There were bubbles and deep reds, and the sound of ice clinking in cocktail glasses underlay the hum of contented chatter. Gracing the room were slender women with long hair and men dressed in black suits, with glints of gold necklaces and cuff links. But it was no Gatsby affair. It was the annual Imperial College quantum gravity cocktail hour. The host was dressed down in black from head to toe--black turtleneck, jeans, and trench coat.

American airport security has never been something to look forward to, but in the past few weeks, it's attained new levels of misery. The busy summer travel season is only just starting, and already the public's been warned to expect the worst. Understaffed Transport Security Administration checkpoints mean lines spilling out of airport doors. Hauled before Congress for a ritual grilling, TSA chief Peter Neffenger pledged to increase staffing (including sniffer dogs) and encourage more people to enroll in the TSA Pre-Check program, in which trusted travelers (who've undergone background checks and paid a fee) pass through a quicker, less rigorous screening. He sacked his head of security.

An electronics company which supplies Apple and Samsung has replaced 60,000 staff with robots. Foxconn, the Taiwanese company which assembles iPhones and iPads, has brought in machines to perform repetitive tasks and axed more than half its 110,000 staff at a factory in China. Water company Pennon has marginally increased profits thanks to growth in its waste management business. The firm, which owns South West Water and Bournemouth Water, reported pre-tax profits up 0.3 per cent to 211.3m in the year to the end of March. Profits at South West Water fell 4.9 per cent to 159.7m but earnings at its Viridor waste recycling business rose 45 per cent to 116.5m.

Nasa has announced that it has found evidence of flowing water on Mars. Scientists have long speculated that Recurring Slope Lineae -- or dark patches -- on Mars were made up of briny water but the new findings prove that those patches are caused by liquid water, which it has established by finding hydrated salts. Several hundred camped outside the London store in Covent Garden. The 6s will have new features like a vastly improved camera and a pressure-sensitive "3D Touch" display

Nasa has announced that it has found evidence of flowing water on Mars. Scientists have long speculated that Recurring Slope Lineae -- or dark patches -- on Mars were made up of briny water but the new findings prove that those patches are caused by liquid water, which it has established by finding hydrated salts. Several hundred camped outside the London store in Covent Garden. The 6s will have new features like a vastly improved camera and a pressure-sensitive "3D Touch" display

Nasa has announced that it has found evidence of flowing water on Mars. Scientists have long speculated that Recurring Slope Lineae -- or dark patches -- on Mars were made up of briny water but the new findings prove that those patches are caused by liquid water, which it has established by finding hydrated salts. Several hundred camped outside the London store in Covent Garden. The 6s will have new features like a vastly improved camera and a pressure-sensitive "3D Touch" display

Continue is a new annual conference from the National Videogame Arcade, supported by Arts Council England, about exploring the role of video games in contemporary culture. A mix of presentations, case studies and hands-on playing, the event aims to set the agenda for games and culture over two days. As a media partner for the event, we will be hosting a panel discussion about the untapped value of video games to the cultural establishment – and not only financially. The discussion will be streamed live via Twitch (embedded below) from 12pm BST on Thursday 26 May. We're also inviting you to submit questions for the discussion.