Learner profile: Thinkers
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Scientists on the brink of ‘ageing cure’
Would you want to live forever? In a new book, one scientist argues that we need to find a “cure” for the ageing process – but some think it would be a mistake to meddle with nature.
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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.
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Manchester’s Mother Teresa set for sainthood
Does religious faith give you special moral courage? Few argue with Elizabeth Prout’s incredible, selfless commitment. But some say that it would be impossible without a deep faith in God.
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Savage mountain finally beaten by teamwork
Is it madness? A team of Nepali climbers has risen to the ultimate mountaineering challenge, becoming the first to conquer K2 in the depths of winter. But some wonder what the point was.
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‘This is pre-fascism’ says top US professor
Is it local news that can save democracy? It might sound far-fetched. But respected academic Timothy Snyder is devastating in his diagnosis of America’s ills – and lucid in his prescription.
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Mysterious signal hints at nearby alien life
Would aliens look like us? As scientists pick up a mysterious radio signal from the Earth’s closest star, some think we could be on the brink of our first ever alien encounter.
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Learning to love our lives under lockdown
Can occasional lockdowns be good for us? Being confined to our homes by the pandemic has been a frustrating experience for many – but it has also produced some unexpected benefits.
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The future: how cyborgs could save the world
Can robots solve the climate crisis? As part of a new series on different visions of the future, we examine an exciting theory that hyper-intelligent AI will save our planet from disaster.
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Chinese cotton ‘tainted’ by slave labour
Does the west have the moral right to condemn China? Some think we have a duty to stand up for Uighurs who are being enslaved, but others think the west doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
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Britain’s future on knife edge in deal talks
Is the nation state doomed? As the UK hovers on the brink of a no-deal Brexit, some fear it is staking its hopes on an outdated ideal – but others say an independent nation can still thrive.
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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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‘Mr Greedy’ and the downfall of a tycoon
Is Philip Green a villain or a scapegoat? The Topshop boss is under fire for living it up while his employees lose their jobs – but isn’t a rotten society just as much to blame as he is?
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The epic battle to save Earth’s species
Is conservation the most important job? As the winners of a prestigious environmental prize collect their awards, some people say there is no more noble task than protecting our planet.
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Lockdown could be destroying your memory
Is memory a muscle? Lockdown could be causing forgetfulness, but humans have developed a number of ingenious methods to counter it, from memory palaces to mystical theatres to “chunking”.
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Covid triggers fear of ‘big state’ politics
Is "big government" necessarily a bad thing? The pandemic has lead to an explosion of public spending. For supporters of a small state, this will create a terrible threat to our liberties.