Technology
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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...
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Historic mission paves way for space tourism
Should humans go and live in space? Inventor Elon Musk has just sent a manned, reusable rocket into space. It could make space travel a reality for all – but some would rather stay on Earth.
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Humans ‘could feel at home’ on new alien planet
Have we found another Earth? Astronomers have discovered a distant planet previously missed by telescopes. The exoplanet has many of the properties needed to make a second home in space.
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Epic inventions fight climate crisis
As Earth Day celebrates its 50th birthday, the climate crisis is a global environmental problem. But the new technology being developed to combat the emergency is something worth celebrating.
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Welcome to the planet where it rains iron
Scientists may have discovered the most extreme climate yet. This distant gas giant has exotic weather featuring heat of more than 2,000C, ultra-high winds, and iron rain!
- Science
- Technology
- Reading Band 8