Latest Stories
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Stats spat over worldwide education rankings
Newspapers are bursting with grim data after Britain’s poor performance in a study known as ‘education’s world cup’. But how useful are sweeping international statistics like these?
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Stats guru says life is far better than we think
When Hans Rosling gave top students a questionnaire about the state of the world, their answers were less accurate than a chimpanzee’s. Why? Because they were far too pessimistic.
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Maths secrets of Simpsons revealed in new book
The most successful TV show of all time is written by a team of brilliant ‘mathletes’, says writer Simon Singh, and it is full of obscure mathematical jokes. Can numbers really be all that...
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Scrap the lottery, say critics, as prices double
Lotto ticket prices are doubling this weekend. The National Lottery has raised £30 billion for sport, charity and the arts – but has it made Britain a nation of gamblers?
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‘Crazy’ Real Madrid sign Bale for record fee
Welsh winger Gareth Bale has become the most expensive footballer in history after joining Spanish giants Real Madrid for £86 million. Is any player worth such staggering sums?
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New stats deepen mystery of UK’s vanishing crime
Crime in England and Wales is down nine per cent, new figures show, and has reached its lowest level since records began three decades ago. But who deserves the credit for this good news?
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Newcastle star strikes over moneylending sponsor
Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse was happy at his club. But when asked to wear a shirt advertising a high interest loan company, he simply refused to play. Is he in the right?
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Voters wrong about almost everything, says poll
A new survey has embarrassed the British public by showing that they are misinformed about important issues from crime to teenage pregnancy. Does this discredit democracy?
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‘Theory of everything’ provokes fierce backlash
When a famous mathematician claimed he had witnessed the solution to the great mysteries of physics, it set the internet buzzing with excitement. Is this ‘the answer’, or just a red herring?
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Debate rages on internet ‘snooping’ revelations
To the media, the IT worker who exposed mass US surveillance of overseas emails and phone calls is a hero. To CIA bosses he is a traitor. Is whistleblowing always an act of bravery?
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Angelina reveals dramatic cancer dilemma
Film star Angelina Jolie opted for radical surgery to prevent breast cancer, which an inherited genetic defect makes more likely. Her frankness has been hailed by health campaigners.
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Minimum wage rate draws fire from teenagers
Young employees will receive a higher hourly minimum wage, ministers announced this month. But under-21s still get less than adult workers: exploitation or a fair reflection of experience?
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‘Mozart of chess’ to challenge for world title
At 22, Magnus Carlsen already has the highest rating in chess history. Now, after winning a tightly-contested tournament, he faces India’s Vishy Anand in the official world championship.
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Ten years dramatically change UK population
The 2011 Census, released this week, reveals the immigrant and mixed race population is up, Christianity down. Disastrous transformation or fascinating fresh chapter in UK history?
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Greatest female chess player takes on the men
As schools rush to reintroduce the brain-boosting game of chess to the classroom, the world’s top players gather in London to compete. But where are the women?