Latest Stories
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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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Exposed: how toxic air reduces intelligence
How can we solve the air pollution crisis? A study has linked pollution to “huge” reductions in test scores. Worldwide, dirty air also leads to millions of early deaths every year.
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£40,000: how much a family needs to be happy
How much money do you need in life? For a family of four, the answer is apparently £40,000. That covers food, travel and swimming lessons, but not the latest phone or a holiday abroad…
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RIP Koko, the gorilla who became almost human
Was it right to experiment on Koko? The superstar gorilla shot to fame after learning sign language. She had a unique life, but some think that she should have been left alone.
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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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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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Scotland’s new strategy for tackling bullying
Can Scotland end bullying? Its schools will soon be forced to report bullying in more detail than before. At a time when some forms of bullying are on the rise, this could make a difference…
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The heroism of the ‘Spider-Man’ who saved a boy
Should you risk your life for someone else’s? A Malian immigrant living in Paris did just that when he dramatically rescued a young child hanging from a balcony. He is being called a hero.
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Scientists ‘transplant’ memories into snails
Would you want a memory transplant? This may sound like science fiction, but scientists claim to have carried it out on snails. They hope that their research will benefit humans, too.
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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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Happiness survey reveals our big mistake
Do you think things can only get better? Optimists will be disappointed by the results of a new study showing that people the world over are wrong to think they will be happier in future.
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‘Ban Crufts!’ say dog lovers as show opens
Should Crufts be banned? The UK’s biggest dog show opened its doors yesterday. The judges are under strict instructions to steer clear of giving top prizes to unhealthy hounds.
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Mutiny on a mountain as climber goes it alone
Is mutiny always wrong? Climber Denis Urubko was called “suicidal” when he abandoned his team and tried to scale the world’s second-tallest mountain solo. He returned after two days.
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The professor who wants to teach happiness
If you’re happy and you know it, are you sure? A professor at a top American university thinks too few students feel happy, so she’s going to give a course on how — and it’s proving popular.