Latest Stories
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Driverless cars ponder who should die first
Are some lives worth more than others? The rapid development of self-driving technology is raising questions about who should be saved in car crashes, and bringing up old ethical dilemmas.
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Curses and crystals: meet the modern witches
Should we take witchcraft seriously? A surprising number of young women are becoming witches, and not just for Halloween. What does magic and mysticism have to offer the modern world?
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11 dead in America’s worst anti-Semitic attack
Can we ever defeat anti-Semitism? On Saturday morning, a gunman walked into a synagogue in the US city of Pittsburgh and opened fire. The tragedy is a reminder of anti-Semitism’s deadly legacy.
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Book reveals Hawking’s last warning to humanity
Is humanity in danger? Genetically modified superhumans, climate chaos and an AI apocalypse — Stephen Hawking’s final book, which was published yesterday, predicts a future full of peril.
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We believe in miracles say 72% of young people
Are miracles possible? According to a new survey, three in five British people think miracles can happen. If so, it could explain the remarkable survival story of baby Lily Groesbeck.
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‘Beauty or brains… I was blessed with both!’
Is self-esteem overrated? The Apprentice returns next week, and the candidates have been unveiled. As usual, they ooze extreme self-confidence: a...
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Armchair assassins enter ethical minefield
Are drone pilots morally indefensible? With a click of a button, they can kill dozens. Now, the British Army is training ethicists to teach them about the morality of remote-control killing.
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Serena’s anger sparks row over sexism in tennis
Is Serena Williams a bad loser? Saturday’s US Open final descended into chaos after Williams launched a verbal tirade against the umpire. Tennis authorities have backed her claims of sexism.
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Boris sparks row over burkas in Britain
Should the burka be banned? Boris Johnson has refused to apologise over incendiary remarks he made about burkas. Meanwhile, Denmark has become the latest nation to outlaw the face covering.
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Books to rockets: the modern era’s richest man
Is Jeff Bezos a hero or villain? The billionaire entrepreneur has officially become the richest man in modern history, overtaking Bill Gates. But scandals consistently dog his Amazon empire.
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Moral storm as designer babies get green light
Is it ethical to genetically engineer humans? A top bioethics council has declared gene editing of human embryos “morally permissible”. Some fear the social consequences could be disastrous.
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The new test unlocking the secrets of death
Would you want to know when you are going to die? Scientists have developed a test that can tell how fast your body is ageing. Some think facing death is the key to living a meaningful life.
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‘Dr Opiate’ and the drugs that killed hundreds
What should happen to Dr Jane Barton? Yesterday an inquiry found her responsible for prescribing powerful drugs which “shortened the lives” of hundreds of patients in Gosport over 12 years.
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The modern twists on an ancient sun festival
Should we all celebrate the summer solstice? Pagans descended on Stonehenge this morning to celebrate the longest day of the year. Some think we all could benefit from a little sun worship.
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Outrage as US border policy puts kids in ‘cages’
Should there be “zero tolerance” towards illegal immigration? The UN has condemned America’s policy of separating children from parents. But Trump says the US “will not be a migrant camp”.