Internet piracy might not be the worst type of crime, but is it different when it’s done by an internet giant?

Also: A video game that lets you run a house and go to work. Boring for some, but a success that celebrates its 25th anniversary.

And: The hidden ways that companies spend less and get more money. What happens when your favourite products continue to get smaller and smaller?

The video this week is an idea that the origins of English are not quite what we assume. Find out more in this article.

Also: Caitlin Clarke — Whether you know her name or not, you will learn why she is so important right now. Can one person change the face of women’s sports around the world?

And: Speed reading is a skill that even some universities teach. But one study claims that this desirable skill is less legitimate than we might think. Is it fake?

From “too big to fail” to “barely breaking even”, it seems like X (formerly Twitter) has its days numbered. Though a clear replacement is not yet obvious, it seems many users are leaving as quick as they can.

Also: A story of death, grief, and technology — How tech companies want to change the way we mourn our loved ones.

And: One country lost access to the internet for over a month. What would happen if it was your country instead?

One king, lost to time, and rediscovered in an unlikely tale of events — Find out more in the video linked!

Also: Would you have dinner with someone with completely different political views to you?

And: Ghost jobs are the new threat in the job market — what are they and what does it mean?

Read about the story of a man who claims that a drive with around 8000 bitcoin was lost, and his battle to try and find it. It might sound like a tech-focused story, but the reality is far less serious.

Also in this post: a trip in a self-driving car ends with the passenger stuck driving in circles. Lastly, a video about digital parenting and the rise of location trackers.

Does your accent sound professional? Do some accents sound more friendly to you? Are some accents scarier than others?

In the other stories, we have a shifting trend in brand identities, that can make some companies feel a lot more familiar or nostalgic than others; and a video about a crazy esport — Microsoft Excel. Trust me, it’s much more exciting than it sounds!

Please share your opinion on the format of a new book club. Your opinion is very valuable here!

Articles for conversation return for 2025! Rejoice!

1) A 1995 tv programme that made predictions about 2025. Did they get any right?

2) A climate activism group and the failure of net-zero in the UK. What went wrong and what happens next?

3) Do we really need 10000 steps a day? What really happens when you walk this much

You don’t trust everything you read on the internet… unless it’s on this website!

In here is the story of an internet hoax that grew so big, even schools were including it in their teaching!

Also included, the story of AI in video games — is it a blessing or a curse? — and the story of how an advertisement for Google Gemini made the internet change their tune on the popular AI tool.

“Free coffee” subscription comes to an end in the UK | Worldwide internet outage: Is cash still king? | The Olympic Esports Games are set for 2025 — Is this the future of the Olympics?

The scientist chasing deadly storms, in order to stop more damage | The black-market of faces: How your image could be stolen and used online | The sewage issue that could ruin the Paris Olympics

“Health-hacks” might be a popular form of content on Instagram and TikTok, but can they be trusted? | In a digital age, how do we survive outdoors without a phone signal | Forget the 4-day work week, this country has just introduced a 6-day work week. Is this the start of a new trend?

The problem with carbon offsets | How AI exam papers are doing better than humans, while going undetected | Forensic Linguistics: The words that solve crimes

The dangerous race to win a wheel of cheese | A London cinema, bullied into cancelling a film showing | A video helping to ease some health anxiety

A top news app caught sharing fake news | Why TV is worse now, and better than ever | How the business of Temu might not be so legit

Once extinct, a native language in the UK sees a strong revival effort that was actually helped by COVID | The “athlete” who was banned for a rather strange reson | How multi-level marketing makes millions for the owners, but causes the members to lose everything

A very wide range of stories this week, so something interesting for everyone!

A place for your next “digital detox” | Can you taste design? | How one company hopes to change the face of the chocolate industry

A bad business idea or an elaborate scam? | The marketing campaign to get you eating more fruit and dairy | How national service could decide the next UK elections

The mystery of the 4-hour YouTube video in the age of TikTok attention spans | How AI answers are preferred to human ones, even when they’re wrong | The problem of food waste and how it can be solved

Did ChatGPT steal the voice of a famous celebrity wihout their permission? How much information can a stranger find out about you from a photo? Are food delivery apps ruining food delivery?