How the travel industry uses your sense of smell to enhance your holiday
Shutterstock/Pheelings mediaFreshly baked bread. Newly cut grass. A salty sea breeze. Most people have a favourite smell that evokes fond memories or feelings of comfort.
UK
Is Google’s LaMDA conscious? A philosopher's view
ShutterstockLaMDA is Google’s latest artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot. Blake Lemoine, a Google AI engineer, has claimed it is sentient. He’s been put on leave after publishing his conversations with LaMDA.
If Lemoine’s claims are true, it would be a milestone in the history of humankind and technological development.
Inflation: how experts pick goods to track price changes and what it says about UK consumers
What goes into the shopping basket of goods used to track inflation? Tara Clark/Unsplash, CC BY-SAFor the first time in several generations, inflation is a concern for people in the UK.
The last two recessions hit young people hardest – here's how you can protect yourself for the next one
Prostock-Studio / ShutterstockAfter the pandemic and now a cost of living crisis, it seems unthinkable that the economic situation could get worse.
New USB-C charger rule shows how EU regulators make decisions for the world
New EU rules will establish a common charger for all devices. ShutterstockHave you ever borrowed a friend’s charger only to find it is not compatible with your phone? Or wondered what to do with the pile of cables you’ve accumulated from every device you’ve ever bought?
Russia's rouble is now stronger than before the war – western sanctions are partly to blame
In the days after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and the west imposed sanctions, the rouble collapsed. The number of roubles to one US dollar quickly fell from about 78 to 138 – a huge move in the world of forex (foreign exchange), and terrifying for those with their wealth in the Russian currency.
Cannabis tourism: how a new travel trend is taking off
Legal cannabis consumption rose in the US and Europe during the COVID pandemic, with some people turning to marijuana to help them cope with lockdowns and broken routines.
New right-to-buy scheme could trap people in poverty – here’s what could really make houses affordable
Shutterstock/Sam fosterThe UK government has announced plans to make mortgages available to people on benefits, allowing more of them to buy their own homes. Housing association tenants will also be offered the chance to buy their properties at a discount.
Plan to slash smoking in England is backed by the evidence – but it could go even further
Shutterstock/chayanupholIf smoking tobacco was invented today, there is little doubt it would be made illegal. The harm it does is simply too great.
Buy now pay later: how to protect consumers without regulating it out of existence
The BNPL market is booming but users need better protections through balanced financial regulation.
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