Technology
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How an army of bots buys influence on Twitter
Are social media bots putting democracy at risk? The New York Times has discovered a “follower factory” which sells fake...
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Welcome to the future: air taxis and robodogs
Are we getting tired of tech? Countless weird and wonderful new gadgets are being launched this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Here are five ways your life could change…
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Facebook admits social media is bad for you
Is the answer to social media’s problems… more social media? Facebook has admitted that “passively” using its website may not be good for you. Its answer? Just use it a little differently.
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America’s secret UFO research unit revealed
Just how wacky is it to believe in UFOs? The US government has spent millions investigating sightings. Now previously secret footage reveals a dramatic encounter with possible aliens.
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Facebook is ‘ripping apart the social fabric’
Is Facebook destroying society? A former executive has revealed he feels “tremendous guilt” for helping to build the site — he claims it is “eroding the core foundations” of how we behave.
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2017 in review: the year the robots got smart
Should we be excited or afraid of advances in AI and robotics? This year, systems gained the ability to teach themselves skills and anticipate the future — one robot even gained citizenship.
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No end in sight for meteoric bitcoin rise
Could bitcoin replace traditional currency? The cryptocurrency’s value has doubled in a fortnight. One bitcoin is now worth over $15,000. But some believe the revolution has only just begun.
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Google’s landscraper and the city of tomorrow
Should we build horizontal skyscrapers? Google’s new London HQ is set to be one of the world’s first “landscrapers”, or very long buildings. Some would like these to replace high-rises…
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YouTube owns up to ‘sinister’ child problem
Is YouTube doing enough to regulate itself? The website has announced new measures to remove inappropriate content, particularly to do with...
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Not (that) far: a planet where life is likely
Would contacting aliens be such a good idea? Another planet that might support life has been found, while China is investing huge amounts in the world's most advanced alien-spotting radar.
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World ‘losing night’ due to light pollution
Should we be less afraid of the dark? A new survey shows that light pollution is increasing, posing risks to us and our environment. Campaigners are trying to reverse that trend.
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Zoella, YouTube, and the £50 advent calendar
Is the UK’s biggest YouTuber exploiting her fans? She has faced heavy criticism over the price of an advent calendar which parents called “tat”. Some say it is part of a much deeper problem.
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To the feisty lady on the bike… you’re fired!
Should companies be allowed to dismiss you for your social media persona? Juli Briskman lost her job after using a photo of her gesturing rudely at Trump’s motorcade as her Twitter profile.
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Quantum leap spells new age of computing
Will quantum computers change the world for the better? IBM has built the most powerful quantum computer ever. The technology has a long way to go, but some think it will change everything.
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Google takes giant leap in self-driving cars
Will self-driving cars change the world for the better? The first completely self-driving taxis are about to hit the road. Some say they will revolutionise our lives sooner than we think.