TOK: Imagination
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Discovered! Secret formula behind every genius
Are there rules to becoming a genius? A Harvard academic believes that he has established the key ingredients – but warns that those with great minds are not always great human beings.
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The young poet whose words are a joy for ever
Are we too obsessed with youthful genius? John Keats died 200 years ago today at the age of 25, having written some of the most beautiful and influential poems in the English language.
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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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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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Snubs, rancour and a triumph for three women
Do Hollywood award ceremonies really matter? The Golden Globes have been criticised for some controversial snubs. But its defenders say the headlines miss the event’s true purpose.
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Comic Relief thumbs its nose at the virus
Do the best jokes come from the hardest times? Some people question the idea of holding Red Nose Day during the pandemic, but the comedians launching it insist it is just what we need.
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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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From fictional French conman to surprise hero
Should we be so fascinated by brilliant criminals? A new French drama about a cunning conman has become a massive Netflix hit. But some say Lupin sends entirely the wrong message.
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Time to get rid of all borders, experts say
Should we get rid of all borders? As countries bicker over vaccine distribution, some thinkers dream of a world without boundaries. But others believe borders are integral to order.
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The man who had to teach himself to lie
Is honesty overrated? In a new magazine article, a writer tells of growing up in a family where nobody told a lie – and the difficulties it caused him in dealing with the rest of the world.
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How a room of your own can really shape you
Does your room help form your character? Joe Biden removed a bust of Winston Churchill from his office yesterday and replaced it with Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez and Martin Luther King.
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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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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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The future: get ready for the 15-minute city
Are we on the verge of a completely new way of living? As part of a series on different visions of the future, we look at an exciting proposal to create small, super-convenient cities.
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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.