Tag: Futurology
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Sports, space and scandals: your guide to 2018
Will this be a good or bad year? In such turbulent times, predicting the future is even harder than usual. Start by noting down these five key events in the 2018 calendar…
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2017 in review: the year the robots got smart
Should we be excited or afraid of advances in AI and robotics? This year, systems gained the ability to teach themselves skills and anticipate the future — one robot even gained citizenship.
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Not (that) far: a planet where life is likely
Would contacting aliens be such a good idea? Another planet that might support life has been found, while China is investing huge amounts in the world's most advanced alien-spotting radar.
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Quantum leap spells new age of computing
Will quantum computers change the world for the better? IBM has built the most powerful quantum computer ever. The technology has a long way to go, but some think it will change everything.
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Billionaires on a mission to cure the world
Should we rely on the mega-rich to solve the world’s problems? Yesterday Bill Gates announced he would put $50 million into his latest mission — to cure Alzheimer’s. Rejoicing all round?
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Hacking the atmosphere ‘could save the world’
Could geoengineering stop or even reverse climate change? Today, as the UN discusses carbon emissions at a global conference, politicians in the USA will debate a far more radical solution.
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How science is transforming entertainment
Will we have more fun in the future? By 2050 we could take holidays in space, use cyborg superpowers, and play games in super realistic VR. Here are five predictions for the future of fun…
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How technology is shaping the future of love
Will machines help us make strong relationships? “The course of true love never did run smooth,” wrote Shakespeare — before AI and virtual reality. Here are five big changes facing dating…
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How machines will revolutionise the workplace
Will technology ruin or improve our careers? Machines are transforming a whole host of industries — from accountancy to the priesthood. Here are five innovations the world of work is facing …
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How ‘smart’ cities will change the world
Should we be excited about the future of cities? In 2050 the modern metropolis could be made of micro-homes, sensors, and cyber infrastructure. Here are five ways our cities may change…
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Outer space: ‘For everyone, for no-one’
Should anyone own space? Fifty years ago the Outer Space Treaty was signed, banning countries from owning parts of space. But as companies eye up the galaxy’s minerals, do we need a new law?
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Worldwide rocket travel is ‘another mad idea’
Would you want to travel from London to Sydney in 51 minutes? Elon Musk has revealed extraordinary plans to revolutionise travel with “big rockets”. The plan is a logistical nightmare.
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Threat of killer robots imminent, warns Musk
How can humanity control the terrifying prospect of autonomous weapons? Elon Musk has joined over 100 artificial intelligence experts in asking the UN to ban the use of “killer robots”.
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‘Build bicycle-only cities!’ says architect
Should we ban cars? It has been 200 years since the first ever bicycle was invented, changing human transportation forever. Now, one man is calling for a city called “Velotopia”…
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‘The ultimate mix tape of humanity’ turns 40
In 1977, NASA sent a groundbreaking object into space. The Golden Record was a compilation of sounds from Earth designed to teach aliens about us. Four decades on, it still fascinates us…