Today’s announcement by Texas-based de-extinction company Colossal Biosciences about a successful hatching of chicks from an artificial egg would represent a major innovation, if the claims can be verified. The company says its artificial egg supports the full development of bird embryos outside a biological eggshell, without the requirement for supplemental oxygen. The work is part of […] … learn more→

Many of the most exciting discoveries in science involve highly specialised knowledge and making connections between far-flung facts. Scientists must combine deep analysis with broad reasoning strategies. As in many information-rich tasks, researchers are looking to artificial intelligence (AI) systems to speed up their work. AI tools may be able to support key steps such as generating ideas, reviewing […] … learn more→

The American academic research engine has long been the envy of the world. Generally well-funded, labs in the United States have been able to attract the best minds who generate breakthroughs and train the next generation workforce that powers the U.S. economy. But since the start of the second Trump administration in January 2025, new federal policies have destabilized the American […] … learn more→

When a student asks themselves, “What should I study?”, they often feel they must find a quick, definitive answer, as if their entire future hinges on a single decision. However, choosing a course of study can be experienced as a learning process: how to make an informed, realistic, and personally meaningful choice. A sound career […] … learn more→

For decades, science educators have been encouraged to “stick to the science” and leave politics at the classroom door. But as disinformation spreads online and public trust in science seems to erode in some contexts, this advice is no longer realistic. In Canada and elsewhere, science teachers face a challenge. Science is being questioned in varied ways, […] … learn more→

Graham Kendall studies academic publishing. He recently ran the numbers on what peer review costs the UK higher education sector. His calculations are worth quoting: “In the UK, there are about 46,500 higher education academics. The total wage bill is about 11.5 billion. If 50% of those academics are active peer reviewers and they review 5 papers each […] … learn more→

A student submits a brilliant paper. But it’s too well-written, too structured, too “perfect.” The suspicion immediately arises: perhaps it was done by artificial intelligence. The first impulse is to use an AI-generated text detector. We apply it to the paper, and the tool tells us that there’s an 87% probability it was generated by […] … learn more→

I teach writing and rhetoric, but my college students and I often overlook a surprisingly complicated question: What is writing? And can artificial intelligence really do it? Many people think of “writing” as putting words on a page. However, even from very early on, writers have seen their craft as something more. From Enheduanna, the first named […] … learn more→

From live speech translation in video calls to auto-dubbing on TikTok, the technology to dissolve language barriers has arrived. Real-time translation powered by artificial intelligence (AI) is now embedded in everyday life. Tools from OpenAI, Meta, Google and many others now offer near-instant translation across dozens of languages, and they keep improving. All this raises a vital question. If […] … learn more→

Scientific discoveries rarely happen alone. Modern research often involves teams spanning institutions and even countries. Yet when research is published in academic journals, credit is reduced to a list of names – a list that can shape careers. Authorship is a key signal of expertise. It influences hiring, promotion, and funding decisions. Despite this importance, the […] … learn more→