Sensing the Signal

What did the World Cup tell us about human trafficking?

The illicit and immoral business of human trafficking generates billions of dollars and Stop the Traffik is one of the organisations dedicated to uncovering and countering this activity. In the past, events such as the men's football World Cup or the Olympics have prompted spikes in trafficking. With the largest ever FIFA World Cup, taking place across the US, Canada, and Mexico this summer, there were fears that this would drive a significant increase in trafficking for sexual exploitation. In this episode, we follow up on the conversation that we began in December 2025 with Neil Giles and Alice Nottage from the Stop the Traffik (check out episode 20) to find out what their data and investigations revealed about human trafficking around the FIFA World Cup 2026. Relevant links: https://stopthetraffik.org/getting-our-head-in-the-game-preparing-for-trafficking-risks-at-the-world-cup/

How Could a Mission to Venus Shape Defence Technology?

Creating a sensor to test the atmosphere of Venus was just the start for Space AM, one of the UK's recently announced 'Defence Unicorns' in which the MOD is making unprecedented investment. Building technology for defence was not what Chris Isaac, CEO of SpaceAM, originally set out to do, yet the unique advanced technology he and his co-founder created in the commercial sector has proven to be of immediate interest to the military. On this episode of Sensing the Signal, we talk to Chris Isaac about the technology, the problems it is addressing, and the journey towards becoming a UK defence unicorn. Outline 00:00 — Recap: the Defence Investment Plan and the SME problem 01:00 — A possible biomarker on Venus sparks a private mission race 02:33 — Sycamore seeds in the woods, and the birth of Space AM 05:46 — From art school and hypercars to a letter from the US 09:40 — Designing for sulphuric acid: coatings, sensors and every last gram 13:11 — Five years of Venus R&D turns out to be dual-use 17:03 — Fundable but unfunded: soldering irons, demos and dead ends 21:33 — Named a Defence Unicorn, and why the money moved so fast 25:40 — Eight-layer boards nobody in the UK can build 30:03 — Sovereign capability, medical spin-offs and ISO 27001 in six weeks 33:26 — The Formula One parallel: hard problems pay dividends elsewhere 37:50 — The hire he didn't see coming, and a very expensive fire door 41:12 — Sovereign AI: shrinking large models onto a grain of rice 43:36 — VCs, Series A, and the ambition to become a UK neoprime 45:24 — Host debrief: what this says about UK defence innovation

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How can the UK be more creative with Defence investment?

The UK's Defence Investment Plan (DIP) has finally arrived after a long delay, and not before prompting the Secretary of Defence to resign. As the Prime Minister soon followed, the revised plan has already had a significant, albeit unintended, impact on the UK before even being implemented. What does it tell us about the state of Defence in the UK? And will it deliver the capability improvements the UK requires if it's to modernise and keep up with NATO allies and partners? In this episode, Terry Pattar and Chris Toase of Atreides discuss what they wanted to see in the DIP and whether it does enough to provide UK defence industry with the positive signals required to drive growth. Outline 00:00 – Intro: recorded before the Defence Investment Plan was published 00:51 – Setting the scene: SDR one year on, DIP delays, and the Defence Secretary's resignation 06:56 – Spending creatively: infrastructure, clusters, and closing the innovation "valley of death" for SMEs 12:38 – The nuclear deterrent debate and short-term vs long-term priorities 19:05 – Sub-threshold threats: disinformation, influence operations, and are we really in peacetime? 26:33 – Aid cuts, corruption, and why soft power matters for defence 30:00 – Drones, the risk of fighting yesterday's war, and building grassroots capability 35:22 – Final pre-publication thoughts: NATO integration and rethinking defence engagement 40:41 – Post-publication reaction: the numbers, shifted priorities, housing, and small-business procurement 01:04:46 – The politics of the resignation, what to watch next, and wrap-up Previous Episodes Referenced Ep. 24: How is Russia's war machine building an entire AI-driven drone ecosystem? Ep. 23: What can Defence learn from F1? Ep. 20: How can we defend against disinformation? Ep. 17: What are the key trends in defence technology? Ep. 16: What is the UK doing to prepare for the next war?

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Why is climate change our biggest security challenge?

In 2026 wars and small conflicts seem endemic around the world and threats to international security appear to be increasing. Yet, there remains a lack of discussion on the role of climate change in driving conflict. With food security becoming an urgent priority around the globe, while melting glaciers reshape our geography, and the competition for natural resources heats up, there is an urgent need to better understand the climate crisis as an international security issue. The first quarter of the twenty first century has already shown that drought is a leading indicator of conflict. What other threats can we anticipate by monitoring our rapidly deteriorating climate? We discuss this question and the topic of why climate change is our biggest security challenge with Arthur Snell, an expert on geopolitics and author of the book ‘Elemental: The New Geography of Climate Change and How We Survive It’. Episode Outline 01:24 — Arthur's background: Foreign Office postings in Yemen, Iraq and Afghanistan, and how he came to write about climate and geopolitics 05:25 — The Sahel: the role of climate alongside other factors in regional instability 07:15 — Perceptions of climate change and why some politicians question it 13:23 — The challenge governments face in communicating the costs of climate policy and defence 16:40 — COP summits, the 1.5°C target, and what has and hasn't been achieved internationally 22:52 — Climate as a catalyst in conflict 26:34 — Different energy strategies 30:17 — Climate change as a national security consideration 32:31 — Ukraine: critical minerals and agricultural land as factors in the conflict 33:51 — The relationship between aid budgets, defence spending, and stability 36:40 — The global food system: supply chains, agricultural yields and trade dependencies 39:45 — Water: shared river basins, dam building and displacement from rising sea levels 44:10 — Developments in renewable energy costs and scale 50:47 — Consumer-led adoption of solar power in South Asia and Africa 53:49 — AI data centres and future energy demand 59:27 — Arthur's book and his podcast Behind the Lines Resources and Links Elemental: The New Geography of Climate Change and How We Survive It by Arthur Snell Behind the Lines with Arthur Snell - https://www.playpodcast.net/podcast/behind-the-lines-with-arthur-snell/

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How is Russia's war machine building an entire AI-driven drone ecosystem?

Russia's military is rapidly overhauling its capabilities through the adoption of new technology, specifically by enhancing command and control functions, while also building an entire ecosystem for advanced drone development adopting military AI. This is giving Russia's military the ability to field test and iterate autonomous drones with the potential to take humans out of the loop for targeting. We talked to a returning guest on the podcast, Kateryna Bondar, a Senior Fellow at the Wadwhani AI Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington D.C. about her research into these developments in Russian military capability that are already having a direct impact on the battlefield in Ukraine. In this episode, Kateryna explains how Russia has pivoted it's approach to defence technology and industrial development, employing greater flexibility and incorporating more dual-use technology, while also driving the development of the human capital necessary to deploy a mass of drones.

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What can Defence learn from F1?

Speed + technology + innovation + faster adaptation = high performance in engineering, all ultimately underpinned by intelligent decision making. These are all concepts we associate with Formula 1, but there is so much more that we perhaps don’t readily consider when we think of the top level of motorsport. For example, the terabytes of data that are generated by each car during a race and then processed and analysed by a team of engineers and data scientists to inform decisions around how to improve performance and gain an advantage over competitors who are all doing the same. In this context, we talked to Mark Mathieson MBE, the founder of Purple Sector about his experience in F1 and more broadly in rapid delivery of engineering solutions on nationally significant projects such as the UK’s COVID Ventilator Challenge. The concept created by Purple Sector – Industrial Racecraft – has the potential to bring better connection and alignment into organisations, which is vital to improve the use of massive-scale data to speed up innovation and deliver intelligent decision advantage. And of course, we asked Mark for his thoughts on the new era of F1 that has launched in 2026 and what it tells us about technology and innovation, both within the sport and beyond.

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What can data insights reveal about people and their potential?

As the impact of 'AI' tools on the workforce continues to grow and information becomes harder to trust, manage, and analyse, organisations increasingly need people to adapt new tasks and changing environments. But are we doing enough to make the most of the skills and expertise of the people around us? How do we really see people and their potential? And how can data help us to create a better future for humanity? These are huge questions that we tackle on this episode of Sensing the Signal, with two wonderful guests: Cia Kouparitsas, a leader in developing human capability, and Sally Walker, an expert in the interface between humans and information. As the CEO of Greenbeam, Cia has pioneered a data-driven approach to helping ex-military personnel, among others, to find more fulfilling careers, while Sally's experience in national security has seen her lead organisations that brought together diverse thinkers to tackle intelligence challenges.

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What will be the Real Impact of Quantum Computing?

Whenever we hear about quantum computing, it's usually in relation to how it will fundamentally change the world once it hits the mainstream. But what is quantum computing? What will it enable us to do that conventional computing can't? And what is the reality behind the hype? On this episode of Sensing the Signal, we were privileged to be invited to peek behind the scenes at the UK's National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) where we discussed these topics with our guest, Michael Cuthbert, Director of the NQCC. In this conversation we covered the physics behind quantum computing, the potential technology and geopolitical impacts we might see in the future, and the role of the NQCC in advancing the UK's quantum computing capabilities.

How can we defend against disinformation?

Disinformation presents a pervasive and growing threat that is increasingly undermining our fundamental security, affecting us in ways that might not be obvious. More than ever we need to address the vital question: how do we defend our national security (and our own minds) against disinformation? In this episode of Sensing the Signal we talk to Rachele Gilman, an expert who has investigated cases of disinformation and is developing standards and frameworks that help us better understand and analyse the threat.

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How is data used to stop human trafficking?

Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar illegal industry that operates in plain sight. Yet most people very rarely notice the signs, let alone consider how this criminal activity can be stopped. Fortunately, one organisation is dedicated to uncovering and preventing human trafficking. In this episode, we talk to Neil Giles and Alice Nottage from Stop the Traffik and delve into the work of this small yet remarkable organisation, which has built an innovative and unique data analysis and intelligence-sharing capability. By understanding the lived experience of victims, Stop the Traffik creates a rich data picture that results in positive real-world impact across the globe, with many people freed from exploitation.

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What did we learn about intelligence and defence technology at DSEI UK 2025?

For this episode, we took the show on the road - to DSEI UK 2025, 'the flagship defence event for the UK' which is a global platform for the entire defence industry. This year saw an expanded Tech Zone that gave us several indicators of how defence tech is developing, particularly driven by current wars in Ukraine and elsewhere. We took the opportunity of having thousands of interesting people in the same place to talk to a selection of expert guests: Clay Hicks from Zignal Labs, Enrique Oti from Second Front Systems, Tony Reeves from Maiar, and Neil Sinclair, spokesperson for DSEI.

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What are the key trends in defence technology?

Ahead of the DSEI 2025 show, we talk to retired Rear Admiral Jon Pentreath, currently a Senior Military Advisor to DSEI, about the key trends in defence technology. In particular, we discuss innovative adoption of hardware and software solutions from non-traditional suppliers and what that means for military end-users. The trends are signified at DSEI by the Tech Zone being the fastest growing sector, with over 100 companies signed up. The range of companies involved also demonstrates how innovation in defence technology is happening outside the traditional defence sector, especially with increased involvement from SMEs.

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What is the UK doing to prepare for the next war?

The UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) signals a significant shift in defence posture, with the aim of gearing the UK’s military to be ready to fight a war - perhaps the next ‘World War’ - against a near-peer adversary. The SDR provides an insight into how the UK aims to reshape the military, particularly in light of a stated increase in overall defence spending, and how it will position itself in relation to NATO and other allies. The strategy is to pivot towards an “Integrated Force”, with “constant innovation”, while encouraging a “whole of society” approach. In a world of increasing geopolitical uncertainty, what does this tell us about the military capabilities that are needed to face current and future threats and challenges? On this episode, Matt Lane, a founder of 325X, a venture studio specialising in defence and cyber, addresses this question and gives his perspective on the UK’s SDR and what it means for the defence tech sector.

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How is AI hampering critical thinking in intelligence?

As AI tools become more commonplace in all types of knowledge work, including intelligence, they create benefits, but also risks. Nico Dekens (@dutchosintguy), an expert in open source intelligence and investigations has written about how AI tools are affecting critical thinking and analytical abilities. In this episode, we talk to Nico about his experiences in using AI tools and his recommendations for mitigating the potential risks of the unknown and the ‘black box’ character of AI.

Why is investigating corruption vital for global security?

How did an NGO going undercover help to bring down the brutal Khmer Rouge? And how did they go on to uncover corporate complicity in producing blood diamonds? And, more recently, how did they use commercially available data to identify the companies supplying jet fuel to the Russian planes that bombed civilians in Ukraine? In this episode of Sensing the Signal, we talk to Patrick Alley, a founder of Global Witness, who spent three decades investigating corruption and catching Very Bad People at the nexus of war, environmental crimes, and human rights abuses. We discuss how corruption underpins many of the world's conflicts and security problems.

What can we learn from Ukraine’s innovative use of technology on the battlefield?

As Ukraine defends itself from an existential threat, it has deployed a variety of technology solutions on the front line to support war fighters, often at high speed and with great effect. In this episode, we talked to Kateryna Bondar from the Center for Strategic and International Studies about her research into military technology in Ukraine, including unmanned systems and command and control platforms, and the impact of battlefield-driven innovation, AI integration, and allied collaboration. Through the discussion of these themes, we explore what other countries can learn from the rapid capability advancements made by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

How can governments keep up with commercial data and AI capabilities?

The breadth and depth of commercial intelligence capabilities is expanding at a dizzying rate, especially with the rapid growth of AI products coming into the market. These capabilities can have a huge impact on national security and defence, but only if they can be implemented before they are superseded. How can government organisations keep pace with these capabilities and use them effectively, particularly in classified environments? On this episode of Sensing the Signal, we discuss this with Tony Reeves, CEO of Maiar, a defence technology, intelligence analysis, and systems engineering company.

How can training our intuition be a game-changer for intelligence?

Intelligence analysis is all about using structured techniques to apply logic to help us understand uncertainty. But are we applying the full potential of human cognition? In this episode, Dr. Julia Mossbridge, a neuroscientist working at the edge of scientific research describes how intuition can be improved through training and why we should re-consider our perspectives on pre-cognition to help us analyse future events. Julia is one of a group of scientists and former intelligence officials advocating for a groundbreaking new initiative, Research and Innovation at the Scientific Edge (RISE), which aims to push the boundaries of scientific exploration: https://thedebrief.org/u-s-advocates-urge-white-house-support-for-rise-initiative-to-keep-u-s-ahead-in-edge-science/

How do political risk analysts sense the signals among the noise?

Conflict, domestic unrest, climate change, geopolitical shifts… these are all among the drivers of change that shape the world around us. In this episode, we talk to Anna Gilmour, Head of Geopolitical Risk at Verisk Maplecroft about how political risk analysts are continually tracking and monitoring hundreds of data points and combining these with their own expertise and experience to create effective analysis that enables decision-makers to plan for and mitigate the most critical risks.

How will the geography of space shape our future?

China plans to begin building a base on the moon in 2028, with the help of Russia. The US launched its Space Force in 2019 amid expanding interest in space exploration. More countries are developing highly capable space programmes, while an increasing range of private actors are putting satellites into orbit. What will all this mean for geopolitics and the intensifying great power competition on Earth? These are among the issues we discuss with journalist, broadcaster, and bestselling author of Prisoners of Geography and The Future of Geography, Tim Marshall, on this episode of Sensing the Signal.