Learner profile: Risk-takers
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Under fire: the Duchess dividing the world
Is Meghan right to speak out? The Duchess of Sussex has hit out at the Royal Family in an interview with Oprah Winfrey. Her criticism raises hard questions for British society as a whole.
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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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Battle of the brothers as royal rift opens
Are Harry and Meghan the future of British royalty? Some think they are a breath of fresh air in a stuffy institution – but others argue it was selfish to give up their royal duties.
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How a troubled tourist became a TV sensation
Is our obsession with true crime unhealthy? A new series about the disappearance of a young traveller has captivated millions. But critics say the genre harms victims and viewers alike.
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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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EU threatens to cut off vaccine supplies
Are coronavirus jabs the new currency of power? In the past, empires rose and fell on the back of salt, gold and oil. Now some argue it will be vaccines that reshape global politics.
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Global outcry as Putin critic Navalny jailed
Can one brave individual defeat a powerful state? By returning to Russia and risking imprisonment after an attempt on his life, Alexei Navalny has thrown down the gauntlet to Putin.
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The future: Roaring Twenties set to return
Can we look forward to another Roaring Twenties? As part of a new series on different visions of the future, we ask whether the end of the pandemic might prove to be one big party.
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2020: The year scientists did the impossible
Was 2020 a breakthrough year for science? From the Covid-19 vaccine to dinosaur eggs, the past twelve months have witnessed spectacular discoveries. Yet some claim this is nothing unusual.
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French army to develop bionic soldiers
Should “enhancing” humans be banned? French officials yesterday published proposals to develop bionic soldiers resistant to pain – and strengthened with drug enhancements and microchips.
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Dicing with death on the Grand Prix circuit
Are Formula One drivers the gladiators of our day? Roman Grosjean’s great escape has been hailed as a triumph for safety technology. But horrific accidents may also be a crowd-puller.
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Oxford creates a vaccine to cure the world
Is this going to be the universal vaccine – not just for the wealthy? The Oxford team has created a Covid-19 jab which seems to be highly effective, easy to use and widely affordable.
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Bitter row over naked statue of feminist icon
Is the new statue for Mary Wollstonecraft offensive? The women’s rights activist is finally being recognised more than 200 years after she died. Now critics are asking: why is she naked?
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The unknown soldier remembered 100 years on
Should we embrace the unknown? Memorials to unnamed soldiers affect us on a deep psychological level, but there are also philosophical reasons to accept the unknown and welcome uncertainty.
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Prince launches £50m prize to rescue planet
Could Prince William save the world? The future king has teamed up with global climate icon David Attenborough to create a green “Nobel prize” to inspire a new generation of innovators.