Society
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The secret social life of snakes
Do snakes have personalities? A recent study has found that snakes form tight social bonds. The discovery suggests that the creatures might be more similar to humans than we thought.
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Europe marks 75 years since World War II
Was it right to celebrate VE day? Despite the current lockdown, Britain marked 75 years since the end of World War II in Europe with 1940s’ tea parties, sing-alongs, and bunting.
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Meet Moxie the robot: your new best friend
Could a robot be a friend? A new machine designed to build social skills can listen to your stories, play games with you, and even understands when you are upset and need cheering up.
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Harry and Meghan fight for a private life
One hundred days after announcing their retirement as senior royals, Harry and Meghan are still battling with the newspapers over their privacy. Does the couple have the right to expect it?
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Diet of chips and crisps ruins eyesight
Have we forgotten how to eat? We know that many of our Stone Age ancestors enjoyed a great diet. In rich countries today, we live in luxury — but malnourishment is getting worse.
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Social media goes to war against the virus
At first, the official advice was to sing “Happy Birthday” while washing your hands. Now, people are getting creative on social media in attempts to help control the spread of the virus.
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Secrets of England’s greatest treasure trove
A new exhibition of 600 objects valued at £3.28m is to highlight the dazzling artistic creations of the Anglo-Saxons and the lessons we can learn from their way of life, 1,400 years on.
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Siblings matter more than parents, say experts
Are siblings more important than parents? Some scientists say that your friendship with your brothers and sisters teaches you how to act towards others and shapes you more than anything else.
- Society
- Reading Band 5
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Scientists plan oxygen factory on the Moon
The European Space Agency has announced that it is working on a scheme to support human settlements on the Moon. It aims to build an oxygen plant to make rocket fuel and breathable air.
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Toughest man in Japan bursts into tears
Last week, a top sumo wrestler burst into tears of joy and relief when he won the famous Emperor’s Cup. It sparked a debate about whether athletes should try harder to hide their feelings.
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JiffPom tops list of cutest social media stars
This cuddly creature is the most popular animal on Instagram in Britain. We human love our furry friends to bits. But some people say we should give more attention to humans in need.
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The cat who decided to move house
Ozzy the cat had a perfectly nice home. But a friendly neighbour offered him love, food and warmth, so he decide to move in with her. She was delighted – but his owners were furious.
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- Society
- Reading Band 5
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A new national anthem – for Mars!
Does Mars need a national anthem? An opera singer has just performed his latest musical piece, Rise to Mars! Will it inspire people to head to the Red Planet?
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Cave painting could be ‘oldest-recorded story’
Is this picture the world’s oldest recorded story? Dating of a painting on the wall of a cave in Indonesia has revealed it to be 44,000 years old. Does it tell the story of a buffalo hunt?
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Flat-Earth conspiracy spreads around the globe
Is it sinister to believe the Earth is flat? Thousands do. In fact, flat-Earthers have recently held huge meetings in Brazil and Italy. But experts fear this strange belief has a dark side.