Technology
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Google at 20: the site that rewired our brains
Has Google made the world a better place? The search engine is celebrating its 20th birthday. Google makes it easy to find out anything you want to know, but some say it is making us dumber.
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Cards versus cash: the future of money
Do we need cash? Britons now use it less than debit cards. We are not alone: countries around the world are ditching coins and banknotes for plastic. Some say that cash will soon disappear.
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Official! Gaming addiction is mental illness
Is “gaming addiction” really a disease? The World Health Organisation has declared that it is. Its decision could change the types of treatment offered to people who play too many games.
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The search for a life-saving earthquake emoji
Could a picture save your life? We have emoji for most disasters, but not earthquakes. Some scientists think that a new quake emoji would speed up reactions in a crisis, and even save lives.
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Parents get more control over kids’ phone use
Should your phone time be limited? A new iPhone app lets adults decide how and when their children can use their phones. Some experts are warning that too much smartphone usage can be bad.
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YouTube removes violent drill music videos
Can music inspire crime? London’s Metropolitan Police thinks so. The force has asked YouTube to delete music videos that it blames for murders in the capital, and the website is obeying.
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Star Wars and the quest for robot rights
Should robots be treated like humans? Solo: A Star Wars Story features a droid who feels emotions and demands “rights”. The concept of “robot rights” is becoming...
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Fortnite craze can be good AND bad for you
Are video games bad for you? Survival game Fortnite has been downloaded well over 45 million times. Some parents and politicians fear that it could be doing their...
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Thank you, Alexa: how to speak to robots
How should we talk to our machines? Voice-activated virtual assistants are increasingly common. Now, one of them — Amazon’s Alexa — is encouraging children to use words like “please”.
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Facebook accused of massive breach of trust
Should people delete Facebook? It has emerged that data about millions of users was wrongly passed on to another company. As the crisis grows, some are choosing to log off for good.
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Self-driving cars still a risk for real roads
Can you trust a car that drives itself? This week a self-driving car killed a pedestrian when it failed to spot the woman in the road, raising renewed concerns over self-driving safety.
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Google secretly tests electric flying taxis
Feeling good about flying cars, or hyped up about hyperloops? In the fight over the future of transport, flying cars have edged ahead, with Google revealing its first “flying taxi” this week.
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All change! Future of copper coins challenged
Do we need our small change? The government has raised the possibility of getting rid of 1p and 2p coins. In an age of rising prices and digital payments, some say there is no use for them…
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Video referee may be fair but fans hate it
Will video referees make top football matches fairer? Officials think so. Last week they ruled that the World Cup in Russia this summer will use computerised replays to help make decisions.
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Lego is struggling as computers take over
Are real toys better than screens? The makers of Lego are fighting to keep going as we all turn to digital entertainment. Would we mind if all the old-fashioned physical toys disappeared?