Science
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You are part of the royal family. Probably.
A leading geneticist has calculated that almost every Briton is directly descended from Edward III. But many find facts like this scarcely believable. Why are we so bad at probability?
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The oldest man on Earth dies aged 113
As people mourn the death of the world’s oldest man, scientists are trying to unlock the secrets of long-life. Some say diet holds the key; others think technology could make us immortal.
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Nine-year-old masters world’s hardest game
Meet Sumire Nakamura, the world’s youngest professional Go player. Many say her precocious talent makes her a genius. But what is a “genius” anyway? And are they born, or made?
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The curse of the drone strikes again
Unbelievable. Europe’s biggest airport, with earnings greater than a small African country, shut down by little more than a remote-controlled toy. That is what happened to Heathrow this week.
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Flying cars and iToilets: welcome to the future
Thousands of glitzy new gadgets have been launched today at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Some of the innovations could transform our lives — but not necessarily for the better.
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Race to make Moon Earth’s eighth continent
Should we colonise the Moon? Yesterday morning, China successfully landed a spacecraft on the Moon’s far side. Some say a new age of lunar exploration (and exploitation) is beginning.
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The incredible story of triplets split at birth
Does nature or nurture determine who we are? Identical triplets were separated at birth and raised by very different families. Years later, the three strangers met for the first time.
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Mars, meat, monkeys: the best science of 2018
Will they change the world? 2018 has been a year of fascinating experiments and mind-blowing discoveries in science. We take a look at five of the best from the past year…
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You could soon be taking holidays in space
Would you be a space tourist? Virgin Galactic has launched a revolutionary new aircraft to the edge of Earth’s atmosphere — it could take tourists into space as early as next year.
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BBC breaks Attenborough’s golden rule… twice
Should nature documentarians save the lives of the animals they film? David Attenborough has always said that he will not change the course of nature. Yet the crew of...
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Debate rages as first designer babies born
Should gene editing be banned? Chinese scientist He Jiankui claims to have created the world’s first gene-edited babies. The research, banned in many countries, has been widely condemned.
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‘Attenborough has betrayed the living world’
Is this criticism fair? Environmentalist George Monbiot has denounced Sir David Attenborough, claiming his films do more harm than good. Attenborough’s new series,...
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New questions over Google’s ‘do no evil’ pledge
Is Google a force for good? Yesterday, staff around the world walked out of the tech giant’s offices over its handling of sexual misconduct claims. Does the company have a dark side?
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Book reveals Hawking’s last warning to humanity
Is humanity in danger? Genetically modified superhumans, climate chaos and an AI apocalypse — Stephen Hawking’s final book, which was published yesterday, predicts a future full of peril.
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Bacon roll: 0, Avocado: 1 as radio ad banned
Is the ban patronising? Regulators have axed a Costa Coffee advert for characterising avocados as a “poor breakfast choice”, and promoting bacon rolls. Not everyone was pleased by the move.