TOK: Reason
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New young faces join the billionaires’ club
Can we learn anything useful from the latest list of billionaires? It now runs to thousands of people, one of them still a teenager – but the editor who oversees it is worried.
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Russian troops mass on Ukrainian border
Could Vladimir Putin start World War Three? Yesterday, Ukraine’s president asked Nato for help as hostile forces continued to gather to the north and east of Ukraine and in occupied Crimea.
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When passports can threaten your freedom
Is the world sleepwalking into captivity? Governments are proposing vaccination certificates as the key to resuming normal life, but critics see them as an infringement of liberty.
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Buried treasure solves pirate’s perfect crime
Is it wrong to love pirates? They were ruthless killers who terrorised the high seas, but a long tradition of books and film celebrates their swashbuckling adventures and rebellious spirit.
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New pandemic treaty prompts WW2 comparisons
Like World War Two, could Covid-19 create a new world order? Yesterday, 24 world leaders signed an open letter calling upon all countries to work together to fight future pandemics.
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The world’s biggest traffic jam is unblocked
Is trade what keeps the peace? The worldwide fallout from the blocking of the Suez Canal is a reminder of the vital part commerce plays in knitting different nations together.
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How blocking the sun could help fix climate
Is it a good idea? As a new report shines light on a radical idea to cool the Earth, some scientists warn that solar geoengineering might actually cause more problems than it solves.
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Alarm over growth of ‘human stock market’
Should selling the power to decide your personal choices be illegal? A new app allows people to pay for the pleasure of ‘controlling’ someone else’s life. Harmless fun? Or a slippery slope?
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The 16 words that will haunt Boris Johnson
Are capitalism and altruism compatible? Boris Johnson let slip that he thinks greed is the key to Britain’s successful vaccination programme. A shocking thought – but could it be true?
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Women’s football celebrates a TV triumph
Can it be as entertaining as men’s? Yesterday the BBC and Sky announced that they will pay millions of pounds to show top matches on TV, raising hopes that equality is not far off.
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Fierce criticism for ‘vital step to net zero’
THE GREEN REVOLUTION: 4/5 Politics. Are governments doing enough? The UK announced a £1bn plan to create green jobs and slash emissions yesterday. But many say a bigger vision is needed.
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Virtual Earth to test planet-saving science
THE GREEN REVOLUTION: 3/5 Science. Can science solve climate change? From dimming the sun to placing giant mirrors in the desert, some incredible projects are nearing completion.
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How it may soon be weird not to be green
THE GREEN REVOLUTION: 2/5 Society. Will being green soon be as normal as saying please and thank you? A recent book explains how things we take for granted can change remarkably quickly.
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Twelve months that became our longest year
Will this be the strangest year of our lives? Tomorrow marks twelve months of social distancing in Britain. It seems almost impossible – but could the future be even more bizarre?
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Grey goop that means a car can run on water
THE GREEN REVOLUTION: 1/5 Climate. Is hydrogen the key to fixing global warming? Research is speeding up, promising far lower costs than sceptics suppose. And the future scale is vast.