Technology
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Gaming industry moves to trans inclusivity
Does gaming need to be more inclusive? A new Harry Potter game will allow players to create trans characters. But some say it is just a small step for an industry that needs radical change.
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Bidder pays £50m for unique string of code
Are non-fungible tokens the future of art? The price was a new high for an artwork that exists only digitally, beating records for physical paintings by greats like Turner, Seurat and Goya.
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The rock from the birth of the Solar System
Can we learn all about the universe without leaving Earth? A meteorite that landed in a Gloucestershire driveway on Sunday has been hailed as a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.
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‘I’d like a room with an Earth view, please’
Would you take a holiday in a space hotel? The world’s first orbiting resort is scheduled to open in 2027, but some people feel their money would be better spent nearer to home.
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All eyes on Murdoch as Facebook row deepens
Was Facebook right to ban news content in Australia? As the tech giant responds to a new law, some warn this is a battle with only one real winner – controversial media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
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NASA starts the search for life on Mars
Is the Mars story more about psychology than science? It is presented as the ultimate quest for knowledge but many believe it tells us more about our deepest desires and dreams.
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AI has no idea of right and wrong say experts
Is the science of artificial intelligence unethical? As researchers warn that it can be used for racial profiling and surveillance, a new call for ethical control has just been published.
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A golden age of discovery starting right now
Are we on the brink of another scientific golden age? Hopes are rising that significant advances in clean energy, farming and medicine will end hunger and disease and stop climate change.
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Porknite! Fun-loving pigs learn video games
Do video games improve intelligence? Scientists have used them to teach pigs about rules and rewards. Research on humans shows gaming can enhance memory, spatial awareness and multitasking.
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Big Tech goes to war over privacy rights
Is privacy a human right? As Apple and Facebook trade furious blows over privacy rights, many argue that neither of these corporate giants should enjoy so much control of our personal data.
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Build-up of traffic on the outskirts of Mars
Could Mars be the answer to our problems? As spacecraft from three different nations hurtle towards the red planet, the creation of a colony there looks more and more plausible.
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World’s richest man, 57, gives up top job
Could you be as rich as Jeff Bezos one day? The world’s wealthiest man has shown ingenuity and ruthlessness as the head of Amazon, but there has also been an element of luck in his success.
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Shops now just a click away from oblivion
Could town centres be more fun without shops? As online retailers take over more and more traditional stores, planners are thinking of ingenious new ways to lure us back to the high street.
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Solar system may be ‘teeming with alien tech’
Are scientists refusing to face the truth about aliens? A top astronomer believes a strange object over Hawaii was an extraterrestrial craft – but claims his colleagues prefer not to know.
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How Google’s latest battle affects us all
Should access to Google search be a human right? As the tech giant vows to leave Australia if new regulations come into force, some worry its departure could put vital freedoms at risk.