Science & Technology

Scientists are exploring innovative ways to extract rare earth elements without traditional mining, turning attention to fungi mining and the untapped potential of giant industrial waste piles. Rare earths, critical for modern technologies like smartphones, electric vehicles, and wind turbines, are typically sourced through environmentally destructive mining processes. New methods could reduce ecological impact while meeting growing global demand. Researchers have discovered that certain fungi species can absorb rare earth...

Published: 09 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. A growing controversy around Childnet censorship has triggered a fresh debate about youth voices and online safety policy. The dispute centres on claims that a major UK internet safety charity edited teenagers’ speeches to soften criticism of social media platforms. The incident has drawn attention across Britain because the organisation receives funding from large technology companies. Campaigners, parents,...

Published: 06 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. European regulators have moved closer to forcing major changes to TikTok design after a preliminary finding found breaches of digital safety rules. The European Commission signalled that the platform’s structure may encourage compulsive behaviour, especially among children and vulnerable users across member states. This early ruling has intensified debate around how TikTok design shapes user habits, attention spans,...

Published: 06 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. A landmark study confirms that most statin side-effects are not caused by the drugs, providing reassurance for patients. Researchers examined 19 randomised trials including 124,000 participants and found that, apart from muscle pain and diabetes, very few of the 66 listed side-effects have strong evidence of occurring due to statins. Changes in liver tests, minor liver abnormalities, urine...

Published: 06 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. A new scientific study has placed bonobo pretend behaviour at the centre of debate about imagination and evolution. Researchers say controlled experiments now show that bonobo pretend understanding is not just anecdotal observation. The findings suggest that structured bonobo pretend responses can mirror early childhood make-believe patterns seen in humans. This research moves beyond scattered reports and introduces...

Published: 06 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. New scientific evidence suggests that baby rhythm perception begins from the very first days of life. Researchers have found that newborn infants can detect and anticipate rhythmic patterns in music while asleep. The discovery adds strong support to the idea that baby rhythm ability is deeply rooted in human biology rather than learned later. The study, conducted by...

Published: 05 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. A new study highlights that autistic girls are much less likely to be diagnosed than boys during childhood, raising serious concerns. Autism diagnosis rates have historically skewed heavily toward males, yet researchers now suggest this may reflect underdiagnosis of females rather than actual prevalence differences. Experts emphasize that gender should not affect access to timely autism assessments or...

Published: 03 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Barnsley tech town has become a new national talking point after the government named the South Yorkshire community as Britain’s first technology-focused town built around artificial intelligence services and digital innovation. The decision follows months of planning, industry consultation, and pilot projects already running across local services. Officials say the Barnsley tech town model will test how artificial...

Published: 02 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. A major Meta trial has begun in New Mexico, placing the technology giant under intense legal scrutiny. The Meta trial centers on serious allegations that the company allowed its platforms to become unsafe spaces for children. State prosecutors argue that design choices and moderation failures created conditions where exploitation could grow unchecked. Court proceedings are expected to last...

Published: 31 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online UK new car buyers are finding unprecedented opportunities to secure significant savings, as manufacturers and dealers cut prices sharply across petrol, diesel, and electric models. Fresh industry data indicates that average discounts have climbed above ten percent, creating conditions many experts describe as the most favourable for buyers since before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted supply chains. According to...