Latest Stories
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BBC predicts explosion of creativity and art
Could the virus spark an artistic renaissance? As lockdowns come into force and people around the world face lonely weeks ahead, the stage is set for a huge flowering of modern genius.
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Secrets of England’s greatest treasure trove
Should we all be neo-Saxons now? A new exhibition will highlight the dazzling artistic creations of the Anglo-Saxons and the lessons we can learn from their way of life, 1,400 years on.
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Mystic lamb’s humanoid face shocks art world
Does restoration ruin art? One of the world’s most famous paintings has been described as “a shock for everybody” after a clean-up revealed a sheep with extremely human-like eyes.
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Record as five black women win beauty crowns
Is this progress? Five black women now hold all the world’s top beauty titles, a development which is being hailed despite the troubled histories and controversial values of pageants.
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Man eats the world’s most expensive banana
Can a piece of fruit stuck on a wall be art? At an exhibition in Miami, an artist duct-tapes a banana to a wall and sells it for £91,000 — only for another artist to come along and eat it.
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The fight to save a continent with emojis
Could a joyous new set of symbols reverse centuries of pessimism about Africa? One young, graphic design student set out to do just that. Against all odds, he is now on the brink of success.
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#Nemesis: ‘better than a friend or a lover’
Everyone needs a nemesis. Or do they? Social media is abuzz with the idea. And history is full of arch rivals who pushed each other to be better — or drove each other to death.
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Mushrooms and 3D printing: green fashion is here
Should we all be wearing mushrooms and pineapple leaves? Our fast-fashion culture is wrecking the planet, so innovative companies are creating sustainable fabrics from unlikely sources.
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‘Back off, human! It’s MY family home now.’
Do we love animals more than humans? The winning entries for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition have a special power to warm our hearts, and make us gasp with amazement.
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‘Blatantly racist’: Democrats hit back at Trump
Is Donald Trump a racist? The US president sparked disbelief when he told four minority-ethnic Democrats to “go home” to their “crime infested” countries. But some still shy away from the word.
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Neil Armstrong, a reluctant American hero
What makes someone a hero? Centuries from now, Neil Armstrong will still be remembered as the first man to walk on the Moon. But he thought of himself simply as a “nerdy engineer”.
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Celebrating 50 years since mankind’s giant leap
Will humans ever live on the Moon? Tomorrow, it will be 50 years since the Apollo 11 astronauts began their historic journey to the Moon. Now, the world wants to go back — this time to stay.
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Nearly 50% are open to same-sex experiences
Is everyone a little bit gay? A new poll has found that four in 10 people are open to a same-sex experience. The number rises among young people. Is sexuality more fluid than we think?
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Trump celebrates with tanks and fighter planes
Is Donald Trump behaving like a tin-pot dictator? Last night, he turned the USA’s famous Independence Day celebrations into a military show of strength — with himself at the heart of them.
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Android artist’s show makes over £1 million
Can robots create art? One AI artist created by Oxford scientists has just completed her first solo exhibition and sold over £1 million worth of paintings. But some say it isn’t real art.