Use + Remix

technology (general)

Self-driving on-demand shared cars, such as these, may one day help combat traffic congestion. : Zombieite, Flickr CC BY 2.0

It depends on whether we share them among the city’s commuters

Gridlock unlocked

Will self-driving cars solve traffic congestion?

It depends on whether we share them among the city’s commuters

Society
London’s congestion charge has significantly reduced the number of cars jammed in the city centre. : Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz CC 3.0

Introduced 20 years ago this week, London’s congestion charge got cars off the road and got traffic moving. Its lessons are being heeded around the world.

Gridlock unlocked

The results are in: congestion charging works

Introduced 20 years ago this week, London’s congestion charge got cars off the road and got traffic moving. Its lessons are being heeded around the world.

Society
Many advocates and activists have faced harassment and menace from netizens who are threatened by their call for better policies in addressing sexual harassment cases. : Michelle Ding (Unsplash) Unsplash License

Digital activism has helped women find their voices but, as in the real world, they are still subject to harassment online.

Standing up to violence against women

Online activism both a boon and a bane in fighting gender-based violence

Digital activism has helped women find their voices but, as in the real world, they are still subject to harassment online.

Human Interest
Meet Pepper, a semi-humanoid robot used in social robotics research. Pepper can interact with people through speech, gestures and an integrated tablet. Pepper is currently being used in projects such as robots in public space by Monash University. : Shanti Sumartojo, Monash University

New cities should not be built to cater for robots and technology; instead robots must adapt to live with humans in existing cities.

Robot cities

There’s only so much a robot can do

Science
Robots can help farmers optimise agricultural production and promote sustainable farming practices. : Photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash Unsplash License

The lines of ethical principles are often blurred when it comes to embracing ubiquitous machines.

Robot cities

Governing a world of 250 million robots

Human Interest
Students at a school in China were reportedly asked to wear American devices that monitored their concentration levels (file image). : Thomas Galvez CC 2.0

Tapping into someone’s thoughts may soon be technologically possible. Our institutions are ill-equipped to deal with the resulting human rights violations.

Brain–machine interfaces

The ethics of mind-reading

Human Interest
In South Asia, Bangladesh and India have the largest share of total premature deaths attributed to fossil-fuel combustion. : Sumita Roy Dutta CC-BY-SA-4.0

Together, satellite data, atmospheric-chemistry modelling and ground-based monitoring could help mitigate the South Asian air-pollution crisis.

International Day of Clean Air

Science can clear the air for pollution policymakers

Health
AI promises to revolutionise medical research, but a cautious approach is needed. : Michael Joiner, 360info CC BY 4.0

Backgrounder: 582 words

AI offers a lot for the world of medical research, but the challenges that it brings need to be considered.

9 perspectives

9 perspectives
Special Report

AI in medical research

Health
Human activity adds more than 50 gigatons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere each year. Large-scale solutions are urgently needed. : Francisco Anzola, Flickr CC BY 2.0

New Solid Carbon technology might be able to lock climate-warming carbon dioxide below ocean bedrock.

0 perspectives
Final Frontiers

Scientists strive for negative emissions

Conflict