China unveils plan to find a habitable ‘second Earth’ outside the solar system
The nation just unveiled its five-year plan to find habitable exoplanets in nearby star systems. China has come up with its 15th five-year plan, extending from 2026 to 2030. The new plan aims to boost domestic demand, mainly by raising living standards, expanding social security, education, and health care...
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Cambridge brain study says adolescence may last into our 30s
There may just be a scientific reason behind feeling like a teenager in your 20s. In fact, a University of Cambridge brain study suggests that the ‘adult brain’ may not activate until our 30s. If you’re in your late 20s - or even early 30s (cough) - and still mentally...
Is menstrual blood the future of female healthcare?
How ‘femtech’ startups are using groundbreaking tests to overhaul a systemically misogynistic healthcare system. Despite around 800 million people experiencing a period on any given day, very little is known about menstrual blood. The history of menstruation is itself a fraught story – women and those who menstruate have been...
What the age of AI music says about the future of art
We’re living through transformative times. I’m not sure whether it’s a good thing. When Nick Arter first downloaded Suno and Udio – off-the-shelf AI music tools – he wasn’t thinking about a career comeback. He was a 35-year-old call-centre drone in Washington, D.C., who’d long since abandoned dreams of being a...
Sky Sports shuts down ‘sexist’ TikTok account ‘Halo’
‘Halo’ was intended to be a female-focused TikTok channel that was hit with immediate backlash, as audiences labelled it ‘sexist’ and ‘patronising.’ Sky Sports has shut it down after only three days. Sky Sports has shut down its new ‘Halo’ TikTok account after only three days following intense internet...
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s AI blunder is a scary industry moment
The latest entry to the franchise had already divided opinion, then players discovered the blatant use of generative AI. This is a pivotal moment for the industry. There are a few constants in life: death, taxes, and the rollout of a new Call of Duty game every 12 months. The franchise...
Why is Rockstar pushing back GTA VI another six months?
Rockstar has announced that GTA VI will now be released in November 2026, pushing it back by another six months and over a year later than its original, intended launch date. It’s the latest title that’s suffered heavy setbacks. GTA VI is being delayed until November 2026, Rockstar has announced. The sixth entry in the Grand Theft Auto series is the most anticipated video game of all time and was originally...
Orca observations continue to astound scientists
Still feared as ruthless predators, orcas have emerged as one of the most intelligent and socially complex species on the planet, continually challenging scientists’ understanding of marine life and cognition. Ancient mariners, especially those speaking Spanish, were often astounded by creatures that looked like dolphins, killing whales that were twice their size. They originally called them asesina ballenas, or whale killers. Nonetheless, in 1758, Carl Linnaeus, the infamous Father of Taxonomy,...
Coca-Cola misses the mark with AI-generated Christmas ad again
After last year’s debacle, Coca-Cola has doubled down on its use of generative AI for its annually anticipated Christmas ad. The public reaction is even worse this time around. ‘Tis the season, it’s always the real thing’… except for when it’s not. Halloween is officially over, and Guy Fawkes Night will have been and gone before you can sing a Katy Perry chorus. Next up for a lot of us comes...
Considering dating an AI partner?
AI promised us a better future. Yet here we are, one step away from asking our AI therapist how to cope with our AI partner’s latest update. OpenAI is getting ready to launch a new ChatGPT feature by the end of the year, letting verified adult users have romantic or sexual chats. They are not the first to go there, but they’ve definitely turned up the heat around the conversation...
