Science and Technology

The latest science stories from around France, plus developments in French tech and news updates for smarter living in France.

Gadget inspector: French tech firms reveal the future

Such is the vitality of the technology sector in France that the country had the third largest national presence in the startup section of the recent prestigious CES electronics innovation show in Las Vegas.

Meet Reachy, the French robot the world looks set to see a lot more of

The award-winning tech from a Bordeaux company could potentially ‘work’ as a waiter or helping people with disabilities

Toothbrush reinvented by French entrepreneurs to clean in five seconds

The new brush, which looks like a mouthguard, has proved a hit with consumers despite its cost

Drones can replace scaffolding to clean roof and walls of French homes

The small flying devices carry a hose and spray chemical onto mossy surfaces that are hard to reach

Glow-in-dark boules ball solved night game problem for French inventor

The electronics engineer found his evening pétanque sessions cut short by poor light - he invented the answer

French firm’s solar panel sails let yachts produce their own power

The OPV panels, different to more common silicon-based ones, can potentially be used on the canvas of tents, awnings and airships too

New GPS address system in place across France after a decade roll-out

A house number and street must now appear on standardised addresses by law - but local communes got to name their own streets

Mobile app helps blind hikers explore France

The Robert Louis Stevenson Trail in the south of France is now fully accessible to visually-impaired people, thanks to an app which reads out regular directions

Make sense of France’s rollout of new 5G mobile phone technology

Seen by some as a tech revolution, by others as a health hazard, this new generation mobile network is coming (slowly) to you

Cyber crime in France: campaign looks to boost preventative practices

We look at how to avoid cyber attacks and what you can do if you fall victim to one

Update: Where is 5G in France now and how is the rollout progressing?

Installation of the next generation of mobile internet coverage in all areas of France began in November 2020 and will take around 10 years

Mosquito screen reinvented by French couple after mesh misery abroad

Their polycarbonate solution also lets in more light and cools air coming through

French firm's needle-free injections win US government contract

The no-needle system uses space rocket technology to ‘shoot’ medicine into patient

Home heating system uses ‘sunshine’ paint invented in France

The revolutionary paint emits infrared waves which warm a room like sunshine - company says it is cheaper than traditional heating

Pollen sensors show real-time data to hay fever sufferers in France

The devices detect fine particles and can be linked to a phone app, which will warn you when pollen spikes

Defibrillator alarm system wins top invention prize in France

An ingenious firefighter has invented a way to get the life-saving kit to cardiac-arrest victims more quickly

Coloured solar panels can offer solution for protected areas in France

Standard grey and black solar panels do not comply with aesthetic regulations in some historical locations but this new technology provides an alternative although more expensive

Driverless cars inspire French AI expert to build tool for blind

The car technology can be adapted to warn blind and partially sighted people of hazards in their path

French villagers beat off Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite base station

The locals found out by accident that the station had been approved in their village near the Unesco site Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy

New property website makes life easier for landlords in France

The painful paperwork of renting out French property prompted landlord, Bruno Cantegrel, to launch the ‘Monsieur Hugo’ digital platform

New electricity line between France and UK to run along Channel Tunnel

This third high-voltage link will have capacity to carry surplus power generated by French nuclear stations to UK households

French linguist uses AI to show what Macron has in common with Blair

How artificial intelligence software predicted what President Macron would say in his first re-election speech and his surprising inspiration