Technology
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AI unravels 50-year-old biological riddle
Was this the most important news story of 2020? Researchers at DeepMind have made a mind-boggling discovery that could eradicate diseases and put the brakes on climate breakdown.
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The Chinese apps challenging Silicon Valley
Should we welcome the “Chinafication” of social media? After years of following the West’s lead, Chinese companies are starting to make the running with the creation of revolutionary apps.
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‘We’re going to the stars’ says jetpack pilot
Are jetpacks the future of commuting? As a maverick inventor’s homemade jet suit is tested by mountain rescue teams, some wonder if the world is entering a new era of personal flight.
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Stop press: the world is a wonderful place!
Should there be correspondents for good news? Traditionally most events that make the headlines are bad – wars, disasters, deaths – while much that is praiseworthy goes unreported.
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DNA could be the key to your perfect diet
Should we match our diet to our genes? A new multi-million-pound industry is promising people the perfect meal, all based on the results of a DNA test. Some scientists remain unconvinced.
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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.