Music streams reach record-breaking 4 trillion in 2023
On-demand streaming saw continual growth last year, despite a resurgence in physical media and a full return to live events. It follows similar trends in other industries, emphasising subscription models and digital licensing rather than outright ownership. In news that will be unsurprising to most, on-demand music streaming saw exceptional...
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World’s first IVF rhino pregnancy could save species
The critically endangered northern white rhinoceros could be brought back from the brink of extinction after scientists successfully transferred a lab-created embryo into a surrogate mother. At present, there exist only two infertile female northern white rhinoceros on Earth as a consequence of illegal poaching – fuelled by the demand...
Disrupted sleep linked to cognitive decline in later life
According to a new study, young people with poor sleep quality are more than twice as likely to have memory and thinking issues when they get older. Though sleep is known to play an important role in the health of our brains and numerous studies have associated the lack of...
AI discovers the first new antibiotic in over 60 years
A deep-learning algorithm has helped scientists identify new compounds that are effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria – a public health threat that causes thousands of deaths annually. With doctors concerned that antibiotics have become increasingly ineffective since Fleming first purified penicillin in 1928, the recent discovery of a compound which...
Search engines are amplifying misinformation
A study published in Nature last week has uncovered that using online search engines to vet conspiracies can actually compound the probability that someone will believe it. In November, UNESCO’s Director-General Audrey Azoulay sounded the alarm on the intensification of misinformation and hate speech online, which she said poses...
Omegle shuts down after 14 years over sexual abuse controversy
The once-hyped social site is shuttering after years of controversy. Its death is a sign of the times. Long before the advent of Instagram or TikTok, socialising online meant updating your Facebook status or booting up Omegle. Launched in 2009, the latter was unique in that it allowed users to engage...
UNESCO unveils action plan to regulate social media platforms
According to a new survey, more than 85 per cent of people are worried about the impact of online disinformation and 87 per cent believe it has already harmed their country’s politics. On Monday, UNESCO’s Director-General Audrey Azoulay sounded the alarm on the intensification of disinformation and hate speech online, which she said poses ‘major risks to social cohesion, peace, and stability.’ Her warning comes on the back of a UNESCO-commissioned...
UNESCO is planning a virtual museum of stolen artefacts
The project aims to highlight Britain’s colonial history, and its ongoing impact on global communities. The subject of imperialism has surrounded British museums since their inception, but the topic has gained particular momentum in recent years. Discussions of cultural heritage and restitution have started to drive tangible changes in the museum sector. From curatorial amendments to projects with indigenous communities, institutions are constantly working to grapple with their...
Tinder rolls out new ‘SELECT’ feature for $499 USD a month
The new premium tier will allow paying users to see the ‘most sought after profiles’, promises to boost their profile, and grants the ability to DM others even if they haven’t matched. Tinder is rolling out an exclusive and expensive new feature called ‘SELECT’. Operating as an invite-only subscription model, SELECT will allow users to be part of a VIP premium tier for the cool price of $499 USD a...
What is going on with Elon Musk’s Neuralink?
The entrepreneur Elon Musk’s latest venture Neuralink is raising ethical and moral concerns. Elon Musk may be one of the world’s richest people, proud front-man of some of the biggest brands on the planet. But he’s most recently made a name for himself as a brazen risk-taker - for better or worse. After taking over Twitter in late 2022, Musk has rebranded the platform ‘X’, overhauled its staff, and launched numerous...
