Latest Stories
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2020: The year scientists did the impossible
Was 2020 a breakthrough year for science? From the Covid-19 vaccine to dinosaur eggs, the past twelve months have witnessed spectacular discoveries. Yet some claim this is nothing unusual.
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Taking Christmas advice from ancient Rome
Is giving really better than receiving? As people across the world spend billions on Christmas presents, a leading Roman philosopher’s thoughts on the subject have never been more relevant.
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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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All I want for Christmas is a number one hit
Why are Christmas songs so popular? They drive some people mad, yet they come back year after year and achieve huge sales – and one musicologist argues that some possess real merit.
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Electoral college calls time on Donald Trump
Will Trumpism be back? As the electoral college gives Donald Trump the boot, many hope that his cruel brand of politics will go with him – but others fear Trumpism may be here to stay.
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The genius who revelled in deception
Was John le Carré really a “giant of literature”? The spy novelist’s death has prompted a host of reverential tributes – but some critics believe that they overstate his achievements.
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Dire warnings as UK leaves the ‘magic circle’
Would no deal be a disaster for Britain? Yesterday was deadline day – but at the last minute both sides agreed to carry on talking, despite Boris Johnson warning that failure was likely.
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Book-reading soars as lockdown slows time
Would it make us happier to give up the internet and read books instead? Experts say it can cure us of our anxious online lives. But with all this free time, what should we read next?
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French army to develop bionic soldiers
Should “enhancing” humans be banned? French officials yesterday published proposals to develop bionic soldiers resistant to pain – and strengthened with drug enhancements and microchips.
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Found! Zombie worms and meat-eating sponges
Is deep sea research more important than space exploration? “No!” says Elon Musk, despite a rocket crash this week. “Yes!” say scientists racing to map the mysteries of the deep.
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Scientists spot ‘impossible’ new whale species
Are we killing species faster than we thought? Naturalists discover thousands of new animals and plants each year. Yet, at the same time, countless more are wiped out by humans.
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The man who says aliens have already landed
How crazy is it to believe in aliens? A former lieutenant-colonel in Israeli military intelligence has given an interview claiming that contact has been made with extraterrestrials.
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Japan turns to AI to boost birth rate slump
Should we replace romance with relationships arranged by AI? The Japanese government sees artificial intelligence as the answer to falling birth rates – and other countries may copy it.
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‘Mockery’: Olympic breakdancing under fire
Should breakdancing be an Olympic sport? Some claim that including the sport is a betrayal of the Olympic spirit, but others think breakdancing has earned its place in the limelight.
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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.