A car crashes into the sea. Then people try to recover it using a truck-mounted crane. Then… oh…
Continue reading “Recovering a car from the sea using a truck-mounted crane… What could go wrong?”How much data we’re producing and where it’s all stored
Ancient humans stored information in cave paintings, the oldest we know of are over 40,000 years old. As humans evolved, the emergence of languages and the invention of writing led to detailed information being stored in various written forms, culminating with the invention of paper in China around the first century AD.
Melvin M. Vopson, University of Portsmouth
Continue reading “How much data we’re producing and where it’s all stored”This quantum internet breakthrough could help make hacking a thing of the past
This article is originally published on The Conversation under the title of “Our quantum internet breakthrough could help make hacking a thing of the past”.
Siddarth Koduru Joshi, University of Bristol
Continue reading “This quantum internet breakthrough could help make hacking a thing of the past”Coding is not “fun”, it’s technically and ethically complex
By Walter Vannini
Programming computers is a piece of cake. Or so the world’s digital-skills gurus would have us believe. From the non-profit Code.org’s promise that ‘Anybody can learn!’ to Apple chief executive Tim Cook’s comment that writing code is ‘fun and interactive’, the art and science of making software is now as accessible as the alphabet.
Continue reading “Coding is not “fun”, it’s technically and ethically complex”Would your mobile phone be powerful enough to get you to the moon?
Graham Kendall, University of Nottingham
Many people who are old enough to have experienced the first moon landing will vividly remember what it was like watching Neil Armstrong uttered his famous quote: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.“. Half a century later, the event is still one of the top achievements of humankind. Despite the rapid technological advances since then, astronauts haven’t actually been back to the moon since 1972.
Continue reading “Would your mobile phone be powerful enough to get you to the moon?”Audio Illusions – can we trust our ears?
We all know how our eyes can easily be deceived, as there are a lot of visual illusions that trick our eyes. But, it turns out our ears can be deceived too. We can easily be fooled into hearing something that actually isn’t there. ASAPScience published an amazing video about audio illusions.
Continue reading “Audio Illusions – can we trust our ears?”Time alone (chosen or not) can be a chance to hit the reset button
Solitude has become a topic of fascination in modern Western societies because we believe it is a lost art – often craved, yet so seldom found. It might seem as if we ought to walk away from society completely to find peaceful moments for ourselves. Yet there is a quote I really like from the book Solitude: In Pursuit of a Singular Life in a Crowded World (2017) by the Canadian journalist Michael Harris:
Continue reading “Time alone (chosen or not) can be a chance to hit the reset button”I don’t want to run away from the world – I want to rediscover myself within it. I want to know what happens if we again take doses of solitude from inside our crowded days, along our crowded streets.
Michael Harris
Can a 4-day work week save the planet?
Anupam Nanda, University of Reading
The idea of a four-day working week is gaining traction. Recently, several high-profile companies have trialled reduced hours. And in the UK, the Labour Party has pledged a 32-hour four day work week within ten years should it come to power.
Continue reading “Can a 4-day work week save the planet?”5 ways to be productive while working from home
Fuschia Sirois, University of Sheffield
If you have been asked to work from home during the coronavirus pandemic to help slow the spread of the virus, you might be quite happy about it at first. Think of the benefits such as saving on commuting time and expenses, and being in a comfortable environment.
But the home environment has numerous distractions that can make it easy to procrastinate and not get your work done. Whether you are new to working from home or are a long-time remote worker who struggles with staying on task some days, these evidence-based strategies can help you reduce procrastination and stay productive.
Continue reading “5 ways to be productive while working from home”How to spot a conspiracy theory when you see one
Anyone who engages critically with the phenomenon of conspiracy theories soon encounters a conundrum. Actual conspiracies occur quite regularly. Political assassinations, scandals and cover-ups, terrorist attacks and a lot of everyday government activity involves the collusion of multiple people in the attempt to bring about a desired outcome.
Jovan Byford, The Open University
Continue reading “How to spot a conspiracy theory when you see one”