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Japan's speedy, spotless Shinkansen bullet trains turn 60
Her white-gloved, waistcoated uniform impeccable, 22-year-old Hazuki Okuno boards a bullet train replica to rehearse the strict protocols behind the smooth operation of a Japanese institution turning 60 Tuesday.
Europe en route for Moon with new simulator, says astronaut Pesquet
Europe has embarked on the mission to put humans back on the Moon with a new lunar simulator launched in Germany, French astronaut Thomas Pesquet told AFP.
Fireworks forecast if comet survives risky Sun flypast
A comet is expected to risk having its tail clipped on Friday by flying perilously close to the Sun, promising fireworks next month should it survive the fraught flypast.
Macron, Trudeau pledge to work for 'decarbonized' economies
French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday committed to work towards "open and decarbonized" economies and for international cooperation on artificial intelligence.
Macron meets Trudeau in Canada as both face political setbacks
French President Emmanuel Macron, fresh from his own political struggles back home, meets Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday in the wake of the Canadian leader's survival of a no-confidence vote.
Plane contrails: white fluffy contributors to global warming
The white, feathery lines behind airplanes that look like bits of harmless cloud are anything but, warn experts, who say they could have a greater environmental impact than the aviation sector's CO2 emissions.
Macron begins Canada visit focused on French connection and AI
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Canada Wednesday evening for a visit that will focus on the promotion of French language and artificial intelligence.
Nuking a huge asteroid could save Earth, lab experiment suggests
Humanity could use a nuclear bomb to deflect a massive, life-threatening asteroid hurtling towards Earth in the future, according to scientists who tested the theory in the labaratory by blasting X-rays at a marble-sized "mock asteroid".
Restarting nuclear power plants: the unprecedented gamble in the US
Two American energy companies are each preparing to bring a nuclear power station back into service, an unprecedented operation which should help meet the growing need for electricity in the United States.
Mysterious 18th century diamond necklace set for auction
A mysterious 18th century necklace made from around 500 diamonds, some of which are believed to have been taken from a piece that contributed to Marie Antoinette's demise, will go on sale in November, Sotheby's said on Monday.
Black Eyed Peas star harnesses AI for novel radio product
Unlike many artists, will.i.am, lead singer of the Black Eyed Peas, is not at war with artificial intelligence.
300-kilo WWI bomb removed in Belgrade
A century-old artillery round weighing nearly 300 kilogrammes (660 pounds), was safely removed on Sunday from a construction site near the Serbian Parliament in Belgrade, police said.
UN adopts pact promising to build 'brighter future' for humanity
The United Nations on Sunday adopted a "Pact for the Future" aimed at addressing sprawling 21st-century challenges ranging from conflict to climate change and human rights, despite last-minute objections from a group of countries led by Russia.
Can an ambitious Milei make Argentina an AI giant?
Argentina's President Javier Milei has plans to turn his country, which has one of the lowest rates of artificial intelligence (AI) use on the continent, into a world leader in the field.
How plastic pollution poses challenge for Canada marine conservation
One of the largest producers of plastic waste per capita, Canada is struggling to protect its designated marine protected areas from this pollution, experts warn.
AI development cannot be left to market whim, UN experts warn
The development of artificial intelligence should not be guided by market forces alone, UN experts cautioned on Thursday, calling for the creation of tools for global cooperation.
Zoom fatigue? Try some nature in your background: study
Feel drained after a long video call? Your tiredness could be partly linked to the background on your screen, according to a study published on Thursday which suggested trying an image depicting nature.
Snapchat pushes 'safer' platform image, but not everyone agrees
Snapchat, the popular teen-focused social network, is positioning itself as a healthier alternative to platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which have faced criticism for their impact on youth mental health. However, not everyone is convinced.
Spacewalk an 'emotional experience' for private astronauts
The commander of the daring space voyage that included the first-ever spacewalk by private astronauts described opening the hatch into the void as an "emotional experience" that left him in awe, yet deeply aware of the dangers.
Germany's Scholz disappointed by delay to Intel chip plant
Chancellor Olaf Scholz voiced disappointment Tuesday after US semiconductor giant Intel delayed plans to build a mega chip-making plant in Germany which had been championed by Berlin.
Where in the world is closest to becoming a '15-minute city'?
Paris and Milan are among the cities closest to reaching the urban planning goal of being a "15-minute city," while car-dependent metropolises in the United States and elsewhere lag behind, a worldwide analysis said Monday.
The stone-eaters that threaten Iran's ancient Persepolis
Conservationists at Persepolis, Iran's most iconic ancient site, are waging a delicate battle against an unlikely adversary: tiny but persistent lichens eroding the millennia-old monuments.
Historic private astronaut mission ends with splashdown off Florida
The SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission, which made history when its crew conducted the first spacewalk by non-government astronauts, concluded early Sunday with a splashdown off the coast of Florida.
Historic private astronaut mission splashes down off Florida
The SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission, which made history when its crew conducted the first spacewalk by non-government astronauts, splashed down off the coast of Florida early Sunday.
Historic private astronaut mission prepares for splashdown
The SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission, which made history when its crew conducted the first ever spacewalk by non-government astronauts, is returning to Earth on Sunday.
OpenAI releases reasoning AI with eye on safety, accuracy
ChatGPT creator OpenAI on Thursday released a new series of artificial intelligence models designed to spend more time thinking -- in hopes that generative AI chatbots provide more accurate and beneficial responses.
SpaceX makes history with first spacewalks by private citizens
A pioneering private crew made history Thursday by becoming the first civilians to perform spacewalks, marking a giant leap forward for the commercial space industry.
SpaceX Polaris Dawn crew begins historic private spacewalk
A pioneering private crew made history Thursday with the first-ever spacewalk by non-professional astronauts, marking a giant leap forward for the commercial space industry.
SpaceX Polaris Dawn crew set for historic private spacewalk
After trekking deeper into space than any humans in the last half-century, a pioneering private crew is set to make history Thursday with the first-ever spacewalk by non-professional astronauts.
Was a lack of get-up-and-go the death of the Neanderthals?
A new study posits a very surprising answer to one of history's great mysteries -- what killed off the Neanderthals?
Hong Kong diary shows China's little-known naval D-Day role
The night before June 6, 1944, fleets of warships moved in darkness towards the beaches of Normandy, France, for a massive strike, with Chinese naval officer Lam Ping-yu on one of the vessels.
Private astronauts on daring trek ahead of historic spacewalk
A private crew set out on an audacious orbital expedition Tuesday, journeying deeper into the cosmos than any humans in half a century as they prepare for the first ever spacewalk by non-professional astronauts.