Cuts to research into inequality, disparities and other DEIA topics harm science
When I taught research methods to undergraduates, I would start by asking whether anyone in…
AI can be a powerful tool for scientists. But it can also fuel research misconduct
In February this year, Google announced it was launching “a new AI system for scientists”.…
Antarctic bases are hotbeds of stress and violence. Space stations could face the same challenges
Earlier this week, reports emerged that a scientist at South Africa’s SANAE IV Antarctic research…
Helper bots in online communities diminish human interaction
When bots – automated agents that perform tasks on behalf of humans – become more…
Is Google Maps brainwashing us? It might be if the theory of ‘extended cognition’ is correct
Over a billion people use Google Maps to help them navigate their world every month.…
The search for missing plane MH370 is back on. An underwater robotics expert explains what’s involved
More than 11 years after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, the Malaysian government…
what caused the fire and why did it bring down the whole airport? Expert panel
Heathrow Airport, the busiest airport in Europe, was shut down following a fire at a…
What are AI hallucinations? Why AIs sometimes make things up
When someone sees something that isn’t there, people often refer to the experience as a…
why they’re there and what they’ve found
A media storm blew up in mid-March 2025 when a researcher at South Africa’s isolated…
Peer review is meant to prevent scientific misconduct. But it has its own problems
In 2023, an academic journal, the Annals of Operations Research, retracted an entire special isssue…