Tech companies are turning to ‘synthetic data’ to train AI models – but there’s a hidden cost
Artificial intelligence is so hungry for information, soon there will be no real data left. If done right, synthetic data can ...
Drug consumption facilities: they’ve been around since 1986 and now Scotland has one – but do they work?
The Thistle drug room in Glasgow could help fill some important gaps in knowledge about the benefits of these facilities.
Donald Trump’s sentencing in hush money trial is no win for the rule of law
Donald Trump has become America’s first convicted felon president after a New York state court formally sentenced him on ...
Burning waste is a dirty way to generate power – but it’s the least bad alternative to England’s broken recycling system
Microbial technology offers one useful recycling alternative. Anaerobic digestion, based on the human gut, can cut waste ...
We’re getting closer to having practical quantum computers – here’s what they will be used for
Google’s latest quantum chip, Willow, recently demonstrated remarkable progress in this area. The more qubits Google used in ...
Car dealers took secret fees for recommending finance – and consumers could be owed billions
In a row dubbed the new PPI scandal, lenders may be liable for billions of pounds of repayments to people who took out car ...
Justin Trudeau’s resignation creates a progressive void in Canada, part of a long-established cycle
Justin Trudeau’s resignation has opened up a vacuum in progressive leadership in Canada. It will likely be filled by ...
Could AI replace politicians? A philosopher maps out three possible futures
From impartial debate mediators to a full-blown ‘algocracy’, we have to think carefully about how AI will impact politics.
26 million Nigerians face acute hunger: 4 big ideas to tackle the food crisis in 2025
Four urgent things need to be done in 2025 for Nigeria to feed its citizens better and ensure their food security.
Giant freshwater aquifer in southern Africa is under threat from mining
Sulphuric acid is typically injected into the aquifer rock that contains the uranium to dissolve it. The mine then pumps out ...
Firefighting planes are dumping ocean water on the Los Angeles fires − why using saltwater is typically a last resort
In emergencies, dumping ocean water on fires may be the best option. But seawater can have long-term effects on equipment and ...