Technology
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Bike that rides on water opens gadget show
Do gadgets make us happy? The cleverest scientists on the planet are dreaming up brilliant new inventions to make our lives smoother, but some societies see no need for them at all.
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‘Aliens exist and may already be among us’
Do aliens exist? Helen Sharman, a scientist who was the first Briton in space, has declared that there are definitely other forms of life in the Universe – and they may already be among us.
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Maths: the secret to the game of life
Are there any problems maths can’t solve? It is the secret of success in chess and fantasy football; it is why computers are making more of our decisions. But is life only a numbers game?
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Nasa scientist claims evidence of life on Mars
Has there been a cover-up? In a new article, a leading scientist claims that US space probes discovered life on Mars over 40 years ago but Nasa has always denied their full significance.
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Calls to boycott Amazon as parcels pile up
Should you boycott Amazon for Christmas? In the coming weeks, we will order 41 parcels every second. Not bad for a company that critics say exploits its workers and dodges billions in tax.
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Google, Facebook accused of human rights abuse
Are two of the biggest companies in the world laying waste to human rights? A major new report, yesterday, claims they are destroying the right to privacy, freedom of expression and equality.
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The fight to save a continent with emojis
Could a joyous new set of symbols reverse centuries of pessimism about Africa? One young, graphic design student set out to do just that. Against all odds, he is now on the brink of success.
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Death of Molly Russell leads to major reform
Will the new rules help? Social media sites will do more to keep young people safe from graphic images, after figures showed that teenage suicides in England have risen sharply.
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New robot ‘on the path to self-awareness’
Will robots ever be self-aware? Scientists at Colombia University have built a machine that learns about itself in the same way as a baby. Could it become more intelligent than a human?
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The disturbing rise of racist robots
Are robots racist? AI computers are showing sexist and racist bias. A growing number of experts fear that we have created AI in our own worst image, and it could have awful consequences.
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TikTok has become a ‘major cultural force’
Is TikTok reinventing creativity? On the viral app, users upload funny, weird and clever 15-second videos. Is the new format creating a new short art form, akin to the sonnet or the haiku?
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Mushrooms and 3D printing: green fashion is here
Should we all be wearing mushrooms and pineapple leaves? Our fast-fashion culture is wrecking the planet, so innovative companies are creating sustainable fabrics from unlikely sources.
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It has rain, water, clouds: so, maybe life too!
What a wonderful find — but does it have any point? Astronomers are thrilled by yesterday’s announcement about a habitable planet. The bad news: it would take two million years to get there.
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Modern icon receives coat of many colours
How will historians remember the iPhone? As a tech marvel that gave the gift of knowledge and brought us together, or a false idol that ushered in an era of self-obsession and isolation?
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Free speech debate rages after US killings
Should websites that promote violence be shut down? After 31 more deaths in the US, apparently fuelled by racist talk and easy access to guns, is it time to rethink western ideas of liberty?