Technology
-
The robot dolphins that could transform zoos
Are robot animals a good idea? A company in the USA has created electronic dolphins that can swim and move like the real thing. Some think they should replace wild creatures in zoos.
-
Cliffs, caves and monsters in Minecraft update
Is Minecraft good for us? Last week, fans tuned in to learn about its exciting new plans for next year. Now there is a fierce debate about how much time we should spend glued to our screens.
-
This is a Golden Age of dinosaur discovery!
Can we learn anything useful from studying dinosaurs? Using new technology, scientists have learnt about them in the last 50 years than ever before. But some say it’s pointless research.
-
Scientists find possible life on Venus
Is there life on our neighbouring planet? A gas floating through the clouds high above the surface of Venus could be a sign of life – but aliens might not look exactly the way we usually imagine...
-
The friendly robots fighting loneliness
Should we really trust robots? A growing number of people are turning to robots when they feel lonely – but critics warn against relying on mechanical friends.
-
All aboard! The hydrogen revolution is here
Could hydrogen be the fuel of the future? A growing number of trains, cars and buses are running on the element. Experts think it has the power to change our transport systems forever.
-
The seven-year-old YouTuber earning £17 million
Is YouTube a good career goal? Seven-year-old Ryan earns around £17 million a year by reviewing toys on camera. Around a third of young people want to be a YouTuber.
- Money
- Technology
- Reading Band 8
-
The sinister rise of ‘deepfake’ videos
Are “deepfakes” a threat to democracy? In an online video, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg lays out his plan for world domination. However, it is not really him. The video is a fake.
-
The smart speakers that know if you’re sick
Would you trust Alexa to diagnose you when you’re sick? Experts predict that, within 10 years, smart speakers will be able to detect illnesses by listening to our behaviour. But what about our...
-
Technology pushes animals out of films
In 1895, a dog wandered past a camera recording one of the first-ever films. Animals have been regular movie stars since then, but technology means they could soon be a thing of the past.
-
Why we need to teach robots to be good
Artificial intelligence is taking over more and more of the boring jobs in life. It is incredibly useful. But now that robots take so many decisions for us, they need to be moral as well.
-
Soapy bubbles pop pollen on to fruit trees
Are bees replaceable? As numbers of the insects drop worldwide, a team has been searching for alternative approaches to pollination. Now, they have succeeded with the help of a bubble gun.
-
Most likely number of alien worlds is 36
Will we ever meet aliens? According to a recent calculation, it is very probable that other life exists somewhere in the Universe – but it could be too far away for us to get in contact.
-
Sun wakes up from years of hibernation
Should we be worried about solar storms? Scientists have detected the largest solar flare in three years. The unusual space weather could mean our star is about to become much more active.
-
Robot staff keep restaurant diners safe
Should robots replace human jobs? A restaurant in the Netherlands has just employed mechanical waiters. The robots are reliable, polite, and never ill. In many ways, they are perfect workers.