Critical Themes
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just about smarter chatbots or powerful models. In 2026, computing power (compute) has become one of the world’s most valuable resources—often called “Silicon Oil.” Like crude oil fueled the industrial economy, AI compute is now powering the digital economy. What Is “Silicon Oil”? “Silicon Oil” refers to the high-performance … Read more
If you’ve ever searched “when was Gen Z born?”, “Gen Z start year”, or “what generation am I?”, you’re not alone. Generational labels help researchers, businesses, and policymakers understand how different age groups experience major events, technology, and culture. Here’s a simple guide to all major generations and their birth years. Generational Timeline Generation Birth … Read more
Gen-Z Socialism is a growing political trend in which many young people support higher taxes on the wealthy, stricter price controls on essential goods, and greater government intervention in the economy. The movement has gained attention as rising housing costs, expensive groceries, student debt, and stagnant wages make it harder for young adults to achieve … Read more
Meta’s newest AI tool lasted only a few days before the company was forced into a dramatic U-turn. On July 10, 2026, Meta announced it was discontinuing one of the headline features of its newly launched Muse Image AI model, after facing intense criticism over privacy, consent, and the use of public Instagram photos. The … Read more
In an era where global influence is measured not only by military strength and economic power but also by culture, ideas and values, India’s soft power has emerged as one of its strongest diplomatic assets. Rooted in over 5,000 years of civilisation, India’s cultural legacy continues to shape its relations with countries across Asia, particularly … Read more
One place. Five clues. Invisible gold. A volcanic crater beneath the Pacific. A discovery that could reshape the future of deep-sea mining. For decades, humanity searched for the next great gold rush on land. This month, scientists announced that the highest concentration of gold ever measured isn’t inside a mountain—it lies thousands of metres beneath … Read more
“Growth is meaningful only when it improves the lives of all sections of society, not just the privileged few.” Economic growth alone does not guarantee equitable development. Many countries have achieved high GDP growth while witnessing rising inequality, unemployment, regional disparities, and social exclusion. Inclusive growth aims to ensure that the benefits of economic expansion … Read more
One synthetic cell. Five clues. Built from non-living chemicals. Unveiled July 2026. It may redefine what it means to be alive. For centuries, scientists believed only nature could create something capable of growing and reproducing. This month, researchers assembled a microscopic structure entirely from chemicals that can feed, grow, copy its genetic material, divide, and … Read more
In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, a significant shift is occurring in how the world’s most powerful models are distributed. While dominant Western firms like OpenAI and Anthropic keep their latest breakthroughs “under wraps,” a new wave of open-weight models—led by Chinese labs—is disrupting the status quo. These models, such as DeepSeek and … Read more
One paradox. Five clues. First observed in the 19th century. Now reshaping the AI revolution. Logic says that making something more efficient should reduce how much of it we use. But economists discovered the opposite can happen. As AI models become smaller, faster and cheaper, the world’s total demand for computing is exploding instead of … Read more