Technology
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Lunar water paves the way for new space base
Should anyone own the moon? After the discovery of water on the moon’s surface, the USA hopes to build a new lunar base, but some think that its resources should belong to all humanity.
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Google under fire for getting too big
Should we break up Google? The US government has launched a landmark antitrust case against the tech giant. The verdict could completely transform the digital world as we know it.
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The robot dolphin that could reinvent zoos
Could robot animals be good for nature? This model might replace wild dolphins in theme parks. So why not replace zoos entirely – with robot versions of wildlife, both living and extinct?
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The woman who reached for the stars
Is space travel the ultimate human achievement? Continuing our series on modern role models to mark Black History Month, we look at the extraordinary life of astronaut Mae Jemison.
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Facebook flushes out conspiracy theorists
Should all conspiracy theories be banned? Facebook has just announced a ban on QAnon, a wide-ranging conspiracy theory. But some believe that this opens the door to forbidding free thought.
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Parallel universe that moves backwards in time
Would it matter if there were multiple universes? Recent experiments involving subatomic particles called “neutrinos” have shone a light on mind-bending debates between physicists.
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The week science fiction became reality
Does progress make us happy? Scientific innovations can make life longer, easier and more convenient. But some say that technological progress does not guarantee happiness.
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‘Smartphones are taking control of our minds’
Could Facebook start a civil war? In a new documentary, experts on social media explain how its algorithms are manipulating us – and warn that the consequences could be disastrous.
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The post-pandemic city: China bets on the new normal
Has the pandemic killed the city as we know it? In the Chinese “new area” of Xiong’an the state is backing an ambitious plan for a more self-contained way of living. Will others follow?
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The super-cow v the old-fashioned plough
Was farming better 1,000 years ago? Scientists believe they have discovered how to breed “super-cows”. But others argue that agriculture was far more sustainable in medieval times.
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Scientists find possible life on Venus
Is there life on our neighbouring planet? A gas detected floating in the clouds above Venus could hold the key to extra-terrestrial life quite unlike anything we have ever imagined.
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UK newspaper hires new journalist: a robot
Has the human race peaked? Artificial intelligence is replacing people on a greater scale than ever before. Yet some scientists say robots may not be the only cause of humankind’s imminent...
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Alien-hunters to search over 200,000 new stars
Are aliens hiding in plain sight? Scientists are widening the search for life on other planets, but some argue we will never find it because we have no idea of what we are looking for.
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Coming soon – the day when we live forever
Should we be excited about the future? A podcast by academic technologist Balaji Srinivasan has caused a stir with its vision of how our lives will be transformed in the ultra-digital age.
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SpaceX capsule first splashdown in 45 years
Will Moon tourism be normal in 20 years’ time? For some, yesterday’s historic success of a manned commercial space mission is the start of a new era. But predictions are nearly always wrong.