Latest Stories
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Should robots replace humans?
Robots learn to do more every year. They can write essays, build machines and play chess. As they get smarter, and better at doing hard work, should we hand them jobs humans usually do?
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Cynics ridicule Uber’s plan for flying cars
The human race has been trying to produce flying cars for a century. Now Uber says it will engineer them within three years. But will the future really be that different from the present?
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More skyscrapers than ever built in 2016
Tall buildings have divided opinion since the Tower of Babel. Last year, humans built more than ever before, despite economic problems around the world. Is this cause for celebration?
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Robots are ‘electronic persons’, says EU
Lawmakers should give robots rights and a legal status, according to a group of EU politicians. Is it immoral to harm a robot? Or should human needs always come before those of machines?
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Britain to ‘strike back’ against cyber attack
Imagine a world where your kettle, fridge and webcam can all be hacked into by strangers. No need, says the government: it’s already here. How much should we worry about cybercrime?
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Star Trek: how sci-fi predicted the future
It has been 50 years since Star Trek soared onto America’s TV screens. Over the years it has made some uncanny predictions about technology. Could science fiction...
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iPhone: ‘the greatest product in history’
Is the iPhone really the most influential gadget of all time? Many think so. But as the iPhone 7 was launched this month, others say that history is full of far more significant inventions.
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Pokémon Go set to change reality forever
All over the world, people are leaving their homes to explore their surroundings. Behind every tree, they could find a Charmander or a Jigglypuff. Could augmented reality change our lives?
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Solar-powered plane soars across the Atlantic
Bertrand Piccard has become the first man to fly a solar-powered plane over the Atlantic Ocean. He did not use a single drop of fuel. Could this be the start of a world without fossil fuels?
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Google car crash casts doubt on robot powers
One of Google’s self-driving cars crashed into a bus in the USA. But the company says that its experiments with robots will change the world. Are they right?
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Thousands cheer rebirth of famous steam train
The Flying Scotsman, which made its first journey in 1923, has been welcomed back to the railways after a multi-million pound restoration. Are we too obsessed with things from the past?
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Great x-pectations: TED teens show their inventions
Some of the world’s most inspired teens were at the TEDx conference on Saturday. Their ideas could allow everyone to have clean water, and increase the amount of food being harvested.
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Exploding hoverboards spoil Christmas for many
Humans are always drawn to the latest gadgets and inventions — especially at Christmas. But they often disappoint. Is it time to focus on simpler (and more reliable) pleasures?
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Robocops fuel fears of machines ‘eating jobs’
The Democratic Republic of Congo has introduced robotic police to direct traffic. But as we see more and more robots in our workforce, will they free us up or simply leave us jobless?
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The age of robot chefs
A London company has made a robot capable of cooking meals and plans to be selling it by 2017. Will humans soon be able to give all difficult jobs to machines?