Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters.
In this week’s episode, we discuss:
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Martian mining
The uninspiringly named Mars Sample Return project is in fact a highly complex - and controversial - endeavour that involves firing several rockets containing Martian rock samples from the surface of the Red Planet to Earth. It will require the first rocket launch from anywhere other than Earth, and that’s the easy bit. The hard part comes when the samples hurtle back towards the surface of our own planet.
Cookie reform
One consequence of a European data-privacy law known as GDPR is the legally required “cookie warnings” that pop up on every website you visit. The intention was that these would encourage companies to be more transparent about how they track your behaviour on the web - and web users to be more selective about the permissions they grant. But in fact they have led to more confusion and irritation. That could soon be at an end.
Dachshund dilemma
This week, the Kennel Club - the organisation which oversees dog shows like Crufts - published new guidelines for dachshund breeders. The advice said the sausage dogs should no longer be bred with exaggerated features, like extra-long bodies and super-stubby legs, and instead should have "suitable ground clearance" to prevent them from experiencing back pain and other medical issues later in life. But how will these new guidelines help protect the wildly popular dog breed - and are dachshunds really as cute as they look?
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Stunning beaches in ScotlandThe Week Recommends Scenic spots that wouldn't look out of place in the Caribbean
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Dash: the UK's 'flawed' domestic violence toolThe Explainer Risk-assessment checklist relied on by police and social services deemed unfit for frontline use
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China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
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Experts discover why dogs wag their tailsTall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
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Investigation into 'oldest ever dog' awardTall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
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'Dirty work' to retrieve cash eaten by a dogTall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
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Penile fracture risk higher over ChristmasTall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
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Cats have 249 more facial expressions than dogsTall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
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Row over pole-dancing skeletonTall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
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Kent locals thought it was 'the end of the world'Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
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Spaniels sniff for bedbugsTall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
