In the 2016 science fiction movie Arrival, a linguist is faced with the daunting task of deciphering an alien language consisting of palindromic phrases, which read the same backwards as they do forwards, written with circular symbols. As she discovers various clues, different nations around the world interpret the messages differently – with some assuming […] … learn more→

In recent years, there has been growing concern about Russian military activity around the undersea cables that form the backbone of the internet, a network of 500 submarine cables stretching hundreds of thousands of miles, transmitting terabits of data per second. They carry 97% of global communications and are essential for transmitting government, financial and personal data. The threat of a […] … learn more→

It’s nine o’clock in the morning; sleepy children enter their classroom and their eyes open a little wider when they see the furniture arranged in an unexpected way: tables stacked up, chairs at different heights or even turned upside down on the floor. At first, this scene will seem strange to them, but it will […] … learn more→

Math is not just about memorizing formulas for solving equations. It’s about developing a mindset for logical reasoning and critical thinking. Every student has unique challenges when it comes to math. Some might struggle with specific topics, while others may struggle to manage their time effectively. But by using the right tools and resources in math, they […] … learn more→

In the ambitious pursuit to tackle the harms from false content on social media and news websites, data scientists are getting creative. While still in their training wheels, the large language models (LLMs) used to create chatbots like ChatGPT are being recruited to spot fake news. With better detection, AI fake news checking systems may be able to warn of, and […] … learn more→

TikTok may be impacting teens’ mental health, with suicide risks. The company is being sued by the US courts over its TikTok Lite Rewards app. The lawsuits revealed that the company was aware of the negative effects on mental health, reinforced by the algorithm. European law has banned the app. TikTok Lite Rewards is a […] … learn more→

Title of course: Whodunit?: Detective Stories What prompted the idea for the course? I had just finished reading one of Dorothy Sayers’ novels – “Gaudy Night,” which in my opinion is one of the best of her detective novels featuring Harriet Vane and Lord Peter Wimsey. A colleague and I were discussing Harriet’s ability to […] … learn more→

UK education secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced that university tuition fees in England are set to rise next academic year, with the maximum fee increasing by £285 to £9,535. This will be the first increase in university education for domestic undergraduate students since 2017, when fees were raised to £9,250. The additional income is sorely needed. Data from […] … learn more→

The data used to train AIs reflects society’s stereotypes and biases, such as against underrepresented groups. Keeping sensitive data, such as health data, private while ensuring it is not biased requires adapting training methods. Several scandals have erupted in recent years involving decision-making systems based on artificial intelligence (AI) that produce racist or sexist results. […] … learn more→

Discovering that your child is a victim or perpetrator of bullying can place a parent in a situation of failure, reactivate childhood wounds and transform family relationships. How can trust be restored? With the law aimed at combating school bullying and the freedom of speech on these situations, the taboo that weighed on this violence between students […] … learn more→