Latest Stories
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How hackers could hold the world to ransom
Is the internet a weapon of mass destruction? The announcement yesterday of a cyber attack on a major American pipeline has highlighted the vulnerability of our super-connected world.
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US investigates mysterious microwave attacks
Is the West under attack from an unknown enemy? Last week, the United States linked two attacks near the White House to an unexplained sickness that experts blame on a Russian secret weapon.
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On the road to greater social inequality
Could self-driving cars be racist? Experts worry that the machines of tomorrow are being inadvertently programmed to reflect human prejudices, and could make existing divisions even worse.
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First powered flight EVER on another planet
Do humans have a right to be on Mars? Elon Musk talks about colonising the Red Planet. And most people think there’s nothing wrong with exploration. But some are deeply worried.
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Wave of optimism as herd immunity forecast
Is this one of the greatest scientific achievements of all time? As the lockdown eases today, one group of experts says the UK has reached a major milestone in its fight against Covid-19.
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Scientists discover a new force of nature
Is it exciting to realise how little we really know? Yesterday, the news broke that a misbehaving particle might overturn our current understanding of physics, forces and matter itself.
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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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New discovery could revolutionise physics
Have scientists glimpsed something completely new in nature? A recent discovery in Switzerland could transform physics and upend everything we think we know about the universe.
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Coming soon – the truth about flying saucers
Are UFOs a sign of growing alien interest? The former head of American intelligence has said that sightings are far more common than we thought, and promised dramatic revelations to come.
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Gaming industry moves to trans inclusivity
Does gaming need to be more inclusive? A new Harry Potter game will allow players to create trans characters. But some say it is just a small step for an industry that needs radical change.
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Tension as UK raises cap on nuclear weapons
Will the next world war be a cyber-war? Britain’s defence review predicts increasingly volatile and aggressive digital conflicts – and imagines nuclear missiles as a desperate last resort.
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Bidder pays £50m for unique string of code
Are non-fungible tokens the future of art? The price was a new high for an artwork that exists only digitally, beating records for physical paintings by greats like Turner, Seurat and Goya.
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‘I’d like a room with an Earth view, please’
Would you take a holiday in a space hotel? The world’s first orbiting resort is scheduled to open in 2027, but some people feel their money would be better spent nearer to home.
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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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Porknite! Fun-loving pigs learn video games
Do video games improve intelligence? Scientists have used them to teach pigs about rules and rewards. Research on humans shows gaming can enhance memory, spatial awareness and multitasking.