TOK: Imagination
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The struggle for the true meaning of Pride
Should Pride be a protest or a party? We are halfway through LGBT Pride Month. But alongside the parades and celebrations, there are fears that hard-won gay rights are under threat.
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Artificial stars could redesign the night sky
Why not re-write the stars? We have the ability. Already, Japan wants to create fake meteor showers, China wants an artificial moon for street lighting and Russia wants to sell advertising.
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1984 at 70: Still relevant says Orwell’s son
Even after a lifetime, can a classic still have a message? Few novels have had such an effect, with ‘Big Brother’, ‘newspeak’ and ‘thoughtcrime’ now firmly embedded in the English language.
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Women’s World Cup: nearly 1m tickets sold
Could women’s football be as good as men’s? Launching tonight, this year’s Women’s World Cup is the biggest ever — with fans claiming women are more resilient and more exciting to watch.
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Underwater metropolis planned as seas rise
Is the best response to climate change to invent new ways of living? The Japanese Shimizu Corporation plans to build a giant underwater metropolis powered by energy from the seabed.
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Black-spot tourism ‘feeds ghoulish fascination’
Is it tasteless to turn a disaster site into a tourist attraction? Since the release of HBO’s Chernobyl series, tour bookings to the site of the nuclear catastrophe have soared by 40%.
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Victoria at 200: a woman afraid of nothing
Tomorrow, Britain will celebrate the 200th birthday of one of its longest-reigning monarchs. The creator of ITV’s Victoria says the Queen makes a fine role model for young women today.
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The tech arms race shaping your future
Google has restricted Huawei’s use of Android this morning — a huge ramping up of the tech arms race between China and America. The eventual winner could dominate our lives for decades.
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Climate change, #MeToo and Game of Thrones
Blood. Ice. Death. Fire. Revenge. Last night, after eight years on our screens, the epic fantasy series finally reached its end. But what was Game of Thrones really about?
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Music, peace and a flicker of hope in Israel
Can Eurovision help solve the Israel-Palestine conflict? An absurd suggestion, perhaps. But, this weekend, all eyes are on Tel Aviv as it hosts the world’s biggest, glitziest talent contest.
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‘Idiot’ pro players accused of ruining Fortnite
Season nine is here, with new challenges to explore. However, some players say the game is being ruined by professionals who no longer play fair. Is there any point still trying to win?
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Reality TV probe as Kyle show is cancelled
MPs are to probe the reality TV industry after the suspected suicide of a guest who was publicly humiliated for lying on the Jeremy Kyle Show. A judge has called it “human bear-baiting”.
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Where no man has ever been, diver finds plastic bag
An explorer has completed the deepest-ever, solo dive, to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. There he found a plastic bag and some sweet wrappers. How do we stop the desecration of nature?
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Killing Eve’s murderous women break TV taboo
Today, female characters can be bold, brave and strong — but what about violent? Killing Eve, which dominated the BAFTAs, is a story of complex women who are as bloodthirsty as any man.
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The rise and rise of Britain’s billionaires
Do billionaires make their wealth at the expense of others? Yesterday, The Sunday Times published its annual Rich List, including a record 151 billionaires. Where does their money come from?