Science
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Solar power and smart farms: welcome to utopia
Can we build utopia? For hundreds of years, we have been captivated by the dream of a perfect society. Now, amid the climate crisis, is it time to build an “ecotopia”?
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Climate crisis made heatwave five times likelier
Can Europe adapt to rising temperatures? Last week, France had its hottest day in history. Yesterday, experts confirmed that the heatwave was made five times more likely by the climate crisis.
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Maths theory holds the key to nature’s beauty
Is maths the secret of beauty? Scientists have discovered that the world’s most famous codebreaker was right when he proposed that natural shapes and patterns were ruled by a hidden formula.
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Groundbreaking trial for male contraceptive gel
Will male birth control transform gender relations? For six decades, women have borne the responsibility of long-term contraception, but a hormonal gel for men is finally on the horizon.
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Good boy! Puppy dog eyes evolved just for you
Is your dog really your best friend? Or is it just manipulating you? A new study has identified eyebrow-raising muscles that help puppies to produce their most irresistible expressions.
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We are built to believe, say scientists
Do humans need spirituality? An intriguing study has found that 71% of atheists believe in the supernatural. Why is belief so pervasive, even as we abandon traditional religion?
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Artificial stars could redesign the night sky
Why not re-write the stars? We have the ability. Already, Japan wants to create fake meteor showers, China wants an artificial moon for street lighting and Russia wants to sell advertising.
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Where no man has ever been, diver finds plastic bag
An explorer has completed the deepest-ever, solo dive, to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. There he found a plastic bag and some sweet wrappers. How do we stop the desecration of nature?
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Fake burger that could save the world
Is a meat-free diet to preserve our planet the future of eating? The value of the start-up, Impossible Foods, which makes a convincing alternative meat burger, has soared to $2 billion.
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Caster Semenya refuses to submit to new ban
Yesterday, new rules for female athletes kicked in to cap testosterone levels, igniting an explosive mix of issues. For many, this is discrimination. For others, it is fairness in sport.
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A world without humans could be a new Eden
Yesterday, a major UN report warned that a great extinction has begun on Earth, threatening human life. But the planet is a living organism and would thrive without us, say scientists.
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One million species at risk of extinction
Rainforests cleared. Oceans poisoned. Animals dying. Yesterday, a major UN report warned of the disastrous effects that humans are having on nature — and its consequences for humanity.
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Scientists bring pigs’ brains back from dead
The experiment has blurred the line between life and death, and provoked excitement and horror in equal measure. Does this mean we will one day be able to reverse death? Should we want to?
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Leonardo: artist, scientist, hipster, genius
This week, 500 years after his death, we honour Leonardo da Vinci, the man who created flying machines, scuba gear and a tennis racket — as well as the most beautiful artworks in history.
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The science behind the world’s greatest race
Should you run a marathon? Yesterday in London about 40,000 runners did. The incredible Eliud Kipchoge set a new record. Others used sheer willpower to stagger, limp or crawl to the finish.