TOK: Reason
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Book calls Trump ‘a terrified little boy’
Can Donald Trump survive the wrath of his niece? A devastating new book paints the president as a psychologically unhinged fraud. The diagnosis is personal and poisonous – but is it deadly?
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Average tempo of a hit is the key to history
Is music what makes us human? As the world went into lockdown, pop music rediscovered its ecstatic streak. Researchers say that our choice of music is the best guide to how we really feel.
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Cancel culture letter sparks fierce backlash
Is “cancel culture” destroying argument? A letter signed by 150 public figures in defence of freedom of thought has launched a debate about intolerance, privilege, and the right to boycott.
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Sunak – a heartbeat from 10 Downing Street
Has he risen too far, too fast? This week, all eyes were on the whizz-kid chancellor. After a meteoric rise, Rishi Sunak is tipped to become Britain’s first prime minister from an ethnic...
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The 450-million-year-old crab saving humanity
Does it all come back to nature? A substance key to making a Covid-19 vaccine is only found in horseshoe crabs. But conservationists are worried declining numbers will threaten ecosystems.
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Iran nuclear base blitzed by deadly sabotage
Does Israel have the world’s best secret service? An explosion in Iran has caused major damage to the country’s nuclear programme – and few people doubt that Mossad agents were responsible.
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Modern slavery at heart of new virus outbreak
Will the world ever eliminate slavery for good? Nearly 200 years since the UK outlawed the abhorrent practice, modern-day slaves are revealed to be the source of a new coronavirus outbreak.
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‘Americans just don’t believe in science’
Are anti-science attitudes killing Americans? As the number of new virus cases in the US hits record highs, top doctor Anthony Fauci has pointed the finger at those who deny science.
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New fighter plane heralds era of robot wars
Should robots be used in war? The US Air Force wants to stage a battle between a robot fighter plane and a piloted one. But many warn that any use of AI in war could lead to disaster.
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The day that Chinese law came to Hong Kong
Should we fear China? Its growing military power and moves to suppress democracy in Hong Kong have alarmed many, but others believe that we should be more accepting of its values.
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Equality: the big idea and the harsh reality
Is equality just a dream? Boris Johnson pledged to “level up” society in a big speech yesterday – like hundreds of politicians before him. But why is such a simple idea so hard to achieve?
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Trump – the playground bully of politics
Do insults work? An article by legendary US journalist Carl Bernstein has revealed that Donald Trump is as rude in his talks with America’s allies as he is in tweets about his enemies.
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Politicians and advertisers turn on Facebook
Is Facebook bad for democracy? Advertisers are boycotting the social media site over its feeble response to hate speech, and a new parliamentary report is demanding immediate action.
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Cannibal rats swarm in lockdown infestation
Do rats deserve their evil reputation? The news that a hungry army of rodents is closing in on our homes will probably fill you with disgust. But some say we are too hard on the humble rat.
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Virus death toll reaches 500,000 worldwide
Will we prevent a second wave? Britain is on a “knife edge”, warns a government adviser this morning. And US test sites were overwhelmed, yesterday, as global infections passed 10 million.