From Generative to Agentic: Charting the Next Leap in Artificial Intelligence

As generative AI reaches maturity and its limitations become more apparent, a new paradigm is emerging: agentic AI. Touted as the next evolution in artificial intelligence, agentic systems promise autonomy, iterative reasoning, and goal-oriented action. Yet, despite growing interest, the term remains loosely defined and frequently misunderstood—fueling both hype and skepticism. A recent Gartner report […]

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Vikings were captivated by silver – our new analysis of their precious loot reveals how far they travelled to get it

In the archaeology galleries of the Yorkshire Museum, an incredible Viking silver neck-ring takes centre stage. The ring is made of four ropes of twisted rods hammer-welded together at each end, its terminals tapering into scrolled S-shaped hooks for fastening behind the neck. Weighing over half a kilo, it makes a less-than-subtle statement about the […]

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Part of your brain gets bigger as you get older – here is what that means for you

Orla/Shutterstock I recently asked myself if I’ll still have a healthy brain as I get older. I hold a professorship at a neurology department. Nevertheless, it is difficult for me to judge if a particular brain, including my own, suffers from early neurodegeneration. My new study, however, shows that part of your brain increases in […]

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Hype and western values are shaping AI reporting in Africa: what needs to change

News media shape public understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) and influence how society interacts with these technologies. For many people, especially those who have not sought more knowledge about AI elsewhere, media platforms are a primary source of information. This is particularly significant in Africa, where historical and socioeconomic contexts like colonial legacies and uneven […]

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Going with the flow: how penguins use tides to travel and hunt

Magellanic penguins in the surf. Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock Poohsticks, the game in which Piglet and Winnie the Pooh throw sticks into the river from one side of a bridge, and then rush over to the other side to see whose stick appears first, is all about current flow. Disappointingly, neither Piglet nor Pooh mention fluid dynamics […]

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A humanoid robot is now on sale for under US$6,000 – what can you do with it?

You might have noticed that humanoid robots are having a bit of a moment. From Tesla’s Optimus to Figure AI’s Figure 02, these machines are no longer just science fiction – they’re walking, and in some cases, cartwheeling into the real world. Now China’s Unitree Robotics, best known for its nimble quadruped robots, has unveiled […]

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Some people just don’t like music – it may be down to their brain wiring

Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock When I ask a lecture theatre full of students how they would feel if they could never listen to a piece of music again, most are horrified. Many have been plugged into their headphones until the moment the class begins. But without fail, one or two will shyly admit that their lives would not […]

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Why being open about science can make people trust it less – and what to do about it

People stop trusting science when it doesn’t meet high expectations. Billion Photos/Shutterstock When people trust science, they can make better decisions, follow helpful rules and work together on big problems like health, climate change and new technology. But if people stop trusting science, it’s easier for false information to spread, and harder to solve those […]

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Can’t sleep? Your ability to adapt to shiftwork and the changing seasons may be determined by your genes

Barillo_Images/Shutterstock Many people find that their sleep and moods are linked to the seasons. Those living in temperate zones may feel like hibernating in winter and staying out all night in summer, though even those in the tropics can be affected by changing seasons. That’s because we are seasonal animals and adjust our behaviour according […]

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World’s ‘oldest baby’: what a 30-year-old embryo tells us about the future of fertility

Svitlana Hulko/Shutterstock A baby born in the US has made headlines for a surprising reason: they came from an embryo that had been frozen for more than 30 years — setting a new world record. The embryo was created and stored in 1994, back when Bill Clinton was US president and the internet, email and […]

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