Latest Stories
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Siri-ous business: Apple learns new dad jokes
Are corny jokes the best form of wit? Apple’s AI assistant, Siri, has been updated with new groan-worthy jokes. Some say they are “hilarious”, others “stupid” — a debate with a long history…
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A Wrinkle In Time: a lovely, messy, warm, flop
Does it matter what film critics think? A Wrinkle In Time adapts a beloved American fantasy novel. Some reviewers praise the film as revolutionary...
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Spring: ‘a spirit of youth in every thing’
Is there anything better than British springtime? Tomorrow marks the official beginning of the new season. It is a time of renewal that has inspired poets and artists for centuries…
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Fake news spreads ‘faster, deeper’ than truth
Is human nature to blame? A new study tracked the spread of falsehoods on Twitter and found that they are 70% more likely to be retweeted than truth. Why? Because lies are more surprising…
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‘World’s greatest girl band’ in royal reunion
Should we admire the Spice Girls? With a reunion (sort of) underway, the 90s stars may perform at Prince Harry’s wedding. Some say their message of “Girl Power” is needed now more than ever.
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Humble cartoonist holds secret to happiness
Do we take life too seriously? For decades Matt Pritchett has turned hard-hitting news into funny cartoons. He says humour can be found (almost) anywhere because “nothing matters very much.”
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Politics, KFC and the new ‘culture of apology’
What do apologies mean in today’s world? Damian Green, Oxfam’s boss, Fergie, KFC and Blenheim Palace have all recently said sorry. That word is becoming more common — and more controversial…
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Shakespeare exposed by plagiarism detector
Is the world's greatest writer a cheat? Software normally used to outwit exam fraud has disclosed an obscure manuscript that was the source of many of the Bard's most famous lines.
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Canadian leader coins new word: ‘peoplekind’
Should English be made gender-neutral? When Canada’s prime minister said “peoplekind” instead of “mankind”, many laughed. But efforts to banish gender bias from the language are common…
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Introducing Generation Z… or Delta… or Snap
What should teenagers call themselves? When The New York Times asked under-22s to give their generation a name, they got thousands of suggestions....
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Trump’s speech: ‘Gloomy’. ‘Amazing’. ‘Vile’.
Do we need a more presidential Donald Trump? In his State of the Union speech, the president spoke calmly and carefully. People noted the contrast with his usual rhetorical style…
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‘British rock’s cult hero’ dead at 60
Would you rather be a cult hero or a star? Mark E. Smith definitely knew which he wanted to be. The brilliant, violent singer of The Fall hated the mainstream — and people loved him for it.
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Britannia verdict: rubbish history, great TV
Should historical TV shows be accurate? The author of Britannia, which millions will start watching this weekend, says the facts do not matter and he hopes it will enrage...
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How Frankenstein could save the modern world
What can Frankenstein teach modern scientists? For 200 years, the tale has gripped readers. As humans gain greater powers to control life, many...
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2017 in review: the words that defined a year
What can “words of the year” tell us about the last 12 months? From fake news to fidget spinners to the robot apocalypse, 2017’s defining words vary from the playful to the deadly serious.