US president Donald Trump announced this week that he wants $18 billion to pay for the first phase of a planned wall along the border…
People have spent centuries trying to prove caffeine is dangerous, but the science suggests otherwise
When Davis Cripe died in his South Carolina classroom last May, it was a shock to everyone who knew him. He just 16, and healthy.…
The secret lives of students who mine cryptocurrency in their dorm rooms
Mark was a sophomore at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, when he began mining cryptocurrencies more or less by accident. In November 2016, he stumbled on…
Twitter: We’re not going to ban Donald Trump
Twitter released a short statement on its blog today (Jan. 5), seemingly in response to calls for the social network to ban Donald Trump for…
Ford is giving its factory workers robot exo-suits to ease the burden of building cars
Ford’s cars are getting closer to driving themselves, but they still need humans to build them. And because people aren’t quite as durable as robots,…
Facebook won’t say why it’s selectively adhering to US sanctions
When the US banned Ramzan Kadyrov, the Instagram-loving Chechen strongman, from entering the country under a sanctions law in December 2017, Facebook also blocked him…
A Nollywood wedding rom-com is Nigeria’s first international box-office hit
A romantic comedy about the disasters and joys of a huge Nigerian wedding is breaking box-office records at home and abroad. The Wedding Party: Destination…
China’s social media giants want their users to help out with the crushing burden of censorship
China’s social media giants are ramping up efforts to get their users to turn in people circulating taboo content, as the Communist Party further tightens…
An Indian lingerie startup plans to save money by moving manufacturing out of China
One of India’s leading online lingerie retailers is all set to pivot its business with a round of fresh funding. Bengaluru-based Buttercups today (Jan. 05)…
SpaceX’s latest advantage? Blowing up its own rocket, automatically
SpaceX is known for its reusable rockets, but one under-appreciated technology it has pioneered is letting them self-destruct. Orbital rockets capable of lifting heavy satellites…
What new snack guidelines from England’s public health authority work out to in actual snacks
England’s main public health authority is urging parents to draw the line on kids’ snacks, and limit them to two a day of 100-calories each.…
The Dutch plan to build an artificial island to support the world’s largest wind farm
Wind farms need a lot of space—not something the world has much to spare. That’s why they’re being pushed out into the sea. TenneT, the…
South Korea’s play culture is a dark symptom of overwork
If there was a prize for the most stressed-out nation in the world, South Korea would make a good contender. In South Korea, work and…
The worst words of 2017, ranked from bad to worst
Usually, end-of-the-year lists say what was “best” from that year. Best albums. Best books. Best bloopers. These lists can be a little too optimistic for…
China’s ban on the sale of ivory is finally going into effect
A total ban on sales of ivory will go into effect this weekend in China, the world’s largest importer of ivory whose trade is responsible…
Data shows US inventors aren’t just good at science—they come from rich families
If you want to be an American inventor, you’ll need two things: to excel at math and science, and to have a rich family. Five…
The bet on using technology to get more Nigerians farming again is starting to pay off
The possibility that more middle-class Nigerians could get involved in farming is winning investor conviction. Farmcrowdy, a one-year old agribusiness startup, has received $1 million…
Indians are still hopelessly in love with Narendra Modi
Cow vigilantism, Doklam, Dalit agitation. Nothing seems to matter. Prime minister Narendra Modi’s popularity remains Teflon-coated. More than three years since he stormed to power,…
