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Since the Soviet and American space programmes began blasting off in the 1950s, humans have made major strides into the unknown – and left behind vast amounts of junk. This visualisation was created by the UK aerospace engineer Stuart Grey and depicts the 40,000 or so objects that we’ve left in space since Sputnik’s launch in 1957, including more than 17,000 objects still in Earth’s orbit, which pose a considerable danger not just to our satellites but to any spacecraft with humans aboard.
Director: Stuart Grey
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Engineering
A close-up look at electronic paper reveals its exquisite patterns – and limitations
9 minutes
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Architecture
West Africa was once an architectural laboratory. Is it time for a revival?
12 minutes
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Work
A Swedish expat in the Philippines wonders: what’s up with people sleeping at work?
14 minutes
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Cognition and intelligence
What’s this buzz about bees having culture? Inside a groundbreaking experiment
8 minutes
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Earth science and climate
The only man permitted in Bhutan’s sacred mountains chronicles humanity’s impact
22 minutes
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Cosmology
The Indian astronomer whose innovative work on black holes was mocked at Cambridge
13 minutes
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Art
‘If you’re creative, why can’t you create a solution?’ One artist’s imaginative activism
17 minutes
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The ancient world
An ancient Roman’s hilarious (and perhaps relatable) response to a social snub
2 minutes
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Death
A hunter’s lyrical reflection on the humbling business of being mortal
6 minutes