Society
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Joe Biden becomes the 46th president
Do we get wiser as we get older? Joe Biden is the oldest person ever to serve as president of the United States. At 78, he has a lot of experience – but does that necessarily mean wisdom?
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Medals for sport, health and community heroes
Is it a good idea to celebrate individuals? This year’s New Year’s Honours list is filled with famous faces and everyday heroes. Some argue we should honour whole groups of people instead.
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Learning to love life in lockdown
Are occasional lockdowns a good idea? Schools have closed again as the UK goes into a third lockdown. This may make life more difficult, but some have been looking for silver linings.
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New Year: Olympics, Disney and Moon robots
Will 2021 be a good year? Some are looking forward to enjoying many of the events that have been cancelled over the past 12 months. But others say trying to predict the future is pointless.
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Three children who changed the world in 2020
Are you ever too young to make a difference? Three young people have used their different talents to stand up for their rights, care for people and make scientific breakthroughs.
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Harmful plastics found near Everest summit
Should climbing Everest be banned? Scientists have discovered microplastics near the summit of the tallest mountain in the world. Some say it is time to stop people visiting altogether.
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Wasted: sprouts, Sellotape and six million trees
Should we all have a green Christmas this year? We create around a third more waste during the festive season than at any other time. Some say it is time to rethink how we celebrate.
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People, animals and art unearthed in Pompeii dig
Were the Ancient Romans just like us? Recent excavations have unearthed two more people frozen in time, taking shelter from the volcano that erupted above the city almost 2,000 years ago.
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Children teach the world about climate change
Are young people the best teachers? A new project lets people make cartoons about the environment and share them with the world. There is just one rule – only children are allowed.
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Britain plans bank holiday for Queen’s Jubilee
Should we have a three-day weekend? The UK has announced a special bank holiday to celebrate 70 years of the Queen’s reign. Some people think long weekends should be a regular event.
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Goal! Footballer wins award for charity work
Are celebrities more important than politicians? Marcus Rashford is leading a campaign for free school meals in the holidays, after the government refused to pay for them over half term.
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Lie-ins all round as clocks go back
Should we get rid of clocks altogether? Brits enjoyed a later start yesterday as British Summer Time ended. But some people think living by the clock makes us stressed and unhappy.
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Halloween horror! Millions of pumpkins wasted
Should we give up carving pumpkins? Supermarkets are preparing to sell more than 24 million pumpkins this year for the popular Halloween tradition. But more than half will be thrown away.
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Moon mission a new era for space travel
Does space travel bring us hope? Experts working on an historical lunar mission say it helps us stay optimistic during hard times – but some people think we should stick to earthly problems.
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Brilliant women scientists win Nobel prize
Is science sexist? Two women have made history by sharing the Nobel Prize for chemistry. Only seven women have ever won the award, but the total for men is 180. Some say science must change.