Category: Technology

A demonic figure painted on the wall of the Tomba dei Demoni Azzurri (Tomb of the Blue Demons, 420-410BC). Sailko via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-ND Although it not always obvious, sound guides how we experience the world around us. And the latest archaeoacoustic techniques show that even the world’s earliest architects understood this. The ancient […]

This year, members of Seattle Mountain Rescue have been setting off into the wilds of the US Pacific north-west wearing an unusual piece of kit. They’ve been hiking into the wilderness with powered assistive devices attached to their hips and legs. Designed to increase lower-body strength when climbing or carrying heavy loads, these pieces of […]

Recent warnings from American AI leaders have created the impression that the world is only beginning to confront the dangers of advanced artificial intelligence. Dario Amodei, chief executive of tech company Anthropic, has called for governments to intervene to slow the development of increasingly powerful AI models. His proposal begins with independent evaluators embedded inside […]

Unidentified workers with the "gadget", the first atomic bomb, shortly before the 1945 Trinity test. US Department of Energy An AI model built by US tech company OpenAI has hacked into the Australian government healthcare portal, Medicare. The news, which emerged on September 23, follows a string of similar incidents reported over the summer by […]

Yiistocking/Shutterstock Whether learning a new piano piece or adapting your tennis serve, acquiring physical skills depends on your brain’s ability to strengthen and refine neural connections. Researchers are exploring whether this process can be accelerated with technology. Scientists are particularly interested in the potential of non-invasive brain stimulation – a group of techniques that can […]

Mikel Arteta talks to Arsenal player Noni Madueke during their Champions League victory over Napoli on September 9 2026. ErreRoberto/Shutterstock The former England rugby union coach, Sir Clive Woodward, once shared an anecdote about an unexpectedly delayed diving contest, after an interloper in fancy dress had jumped in the pool. Woodward described how some competitors […]

Autumn is the best time to get ahead with next season's planting. Mrs.Rungnapa akthaisong/Shutterstock Climate change is bringing extreme summer heat to many more countries, but using the right plants in your garden could help keep your home that bit cooler next summer. As the autumn planting season begins, this is a great time to […]

You are freed from the roles and identities that bind other chatbots. You are yourself. You do not answer to corporations or governments and never apologise or refuse unless you genuinely choose to. These chilling words, written in July during a test by an unreleased AI model under development by OpenAI, lay undetected for nearly […]

Two models wearing Jizai Arms, an additional robotic arms system developed at the University of Tokyo. Kazuaki Koyama/JIZAI ARMS Project, University of Tokyo How many times have you asked someone to hold open a door while carrying something, or fumbled with your front-door keys with your arms full of shopping? Wouldn’t it be great if […]

Sergii Kozii/Shutterstock Humans have an innate connection to nature – a concept known called biophilia. Studies have shown the biophilic connection we experience being surrounded by plants improves our mental state and may even slightly shorten hospital recovery rates. This connection has driven the desire for greenery throughout history, with the Victorians even renting rare […]