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I brought my husband back for his funeral as a hologram

BBC News

When Pam Cronrath's husband Bill died last year, after nearly 60 years of marriage, she knew what she wanted to do, but not exactly how. I promised him a super wake, she told the BBC. What she didn't expect was that keeping the promise would lead her into the world of holograms, technology more commonly associated with celebrities than memorial services in rural America. A self-confessed tech enthusiast, she says her outlook was shaped by a career that stretched back to the early days of the internet. Several years ago, while speaking at a medical conference, she watched a doctor appear as a full-body hologram broadcast live across the United States.


'Animals are traumatised too': Pet rescuers under fire in Ukraine

BBC News

'Animals are traumatised too': Pet rescuers under fire in Ukraine On a morning in February, animal shelter staff were getting changed for their shift when a Russian drone slammed into the centre of their compound in the frontline Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia. The steel door at the entrance probably saved their lives. More than a dozen animals sheltering at Give a Paw, Friend were not so lucky. It was terrifying, to put it mildly, says the group's head Iryna Didur. Residents rushed to help clean up the rubble and catch the animals that had escaped in terror.


Revealed: The LEAST scenic places in the UK, according to science - including a spot in the usually picturesque Cornwall

Daily Mail - Science & tech

Trump administration'unlocks' 140MILLION barrels of precious Iranian oil with major policy change to fight back against'hoarding' China... here's what it means for your wallet Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Nicholas Brendon dead at 54 as'heartbroken' family reveal cause of death Joseph Duggar's wife Kendra is arrested for allegedly endangering welfare of a minor as he faces new charges Behind closed doors, the Duggar family's next nightmare began long before Joseph's arrest: Insiders reveal what they knew and how they plan to recover America is about to be torn apart by a financial tsunami - and it's not just an oil crisis to fear. However, it seems not every corner of Britain is quite so beautiful - as a survey has revealed the least scenic locations. Voters on the Scenic Or Not survey awarded the top spot to Basingstoke's Newbury Road. This unappealing location received the lowest possible score, with just one out of 10 for'scenicness'. And while Cornwall might be renowned for its beautiful scenery, a rather less attractive part of the county - the Electricity Station in Landulph - joins Basingstoke at the bottom of the pile.


The neuroscientist who wants us to be nicer to psychopaths

New Scientist

Abigail Marsh has found that many psychopaths don't want to be cruel and uncaring, and argues that they deserve support to help them get there Think of a psychopath and you probably picture someone dangerous, someone whose ruthless self-interest leads to great harm for others and considerable success for themselves. Perhaps unsurprisingly, while only around 1 per cent of people in the general population have psychopathy, roughly 1 in 5 men in prison show signs of it, and research has also found a link between corporate leadership and psychopathic traits . But just as it is painful to know a psychopath, it isn't necessarily fun to be one either. Abigail Marsh, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Georgetown University in Washington DC, studies those with psychopathic traits who largely lead ordinary lives among us. She has uncovered something surprising: many don't want to be psychopathic at all. Researchers are still honing the precise definition, but psychopathy is characterised by callousness, a lack of empathy, glib social charm and impulsivity.


The robots who predict the future

MIT Technology Review

Three books unpack our infatuation with prediction, and what we lose when we outsource this task to machines. To be human is, fundamentally, to be a forecaster. Trying to see the future, whether through the lens of past experience or the logic of cause and effect, has helped us hunt, avoid hunted, plant crops, forge social bonds, and in general survive in a world that does not prioritize our survival. Indeed, as the tools of divination have changed over the centuries, from tea leaves to data sets, our conviction that the future can be known (and therefore controlled) has only grown stronger. Today, we are awash in a sea of predictions so vast and unrelenting that most of us barely even register them. As I write this sentence, algorithms on some remote server are busy trying to guess my next word based on those I have already typed.


How to Meditate (Without an Om in Sight) (2026)

WIRED

There's no need for an expensive retreat to practice meditation. Try it on your lunch break to recharge your mind and body. Launching straight back into work in the New Year can be challenging, but learning how to meditate can help you stay focused. Feel free to roll your eyes right about now, but numerous studies have shown that meditation can boost creativity, improve sleep quality, and manage stress . "Meditation is a practice to calm the brain by recentering our attention, most often on our breath," says Mel Mah, an instructor at the meditation app Calm .


Write a card, read a poem, take fewer photos: how to feel more human in 2026

The Guardian

Modern social life often begins on screen. Digital profiles invite us to inspect the lives - and social circles - of friends, colleagues and strangers. Before meeting someone new, chances are we may have scanned their Instagram, LinkedIn or dating profile, forming assumptions from a carefully curated snapshot of their life. Somewhere along the way, we've forgotten the value of a considered, human introduction as the foundation for genuine connection. Bridget Jones's Shazza had it right when she said that making introductions with thoughtful details can go a long way: mentioning an unexpected talent or hobby, highlighting a mutual interest or sharing a funny anecdote.


World Economic Forum at Davos 2026: Dates, location and what to expect

Al Jazeera

The World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting kicked off in the Swiss resort city of Davos on Monday, with global figures from politics, business, academia and civil society attending the five-day event. The annual forum that attempts to shape global agendas comes at a time of massive global upheaval. United States President Donald Trump will attend the annual event along with other global leaders. His attendance comes amid strained US ties with its European allies over his threat to take over Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. Here is more about the WEF and what to expect at the meeting.


Why Everyone Is Suddenly in a 'Very Chinese Time' in Their Lives

WIRED

Why Everyone Is Suddenly in a'Very Chinese Time' in Their Lives It's a symbol of what Americans believe their own country has lost. In case you didn't get the memo, everyone is feeling very Chinese these days. Across social media, people are proclaiming that "You met me at a very Chinese time of my life," while performing stereotypically Chinese-coded activities like eating dim sum or wearing the viral Adidas Chinese jacket . The trend blew up so much in recent weeks that celebrities like comedian Jimmy O Yang and influencer Hasan Piker even got in on it. It has now evolved into variations like " Chinamaxxing " (acting increasingly more Chinese) and " u will turn Chinese tomorrow " (a kind of affirmation or blessing).


Iron Age teeth reveal the hidden lives of ancient Italians

Popular Science

Their teeth hold tales of childhood nutritional stress. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Archaeologists often focus on what skeletal remains can tell about how and when ancient peoples died. But an individual's final moments are far from their complete life story. By analyzing features like their teeth, researchers can better understand not only the person as an adult, but how they developed over the course of their life.