AI - Viruses - Worries

What happens when artificial intelligence starts designing life itself? Scientists in California have used an AI model to create entirely new viruses that had never existed in nature, and some of them proved functional in the lab. We speak with DW science reporter Zulfikar Abbany about this scientific breakthrough, explore its enormous potential, and examine the difficult questions it raises about safety, regulation, and the future of biotechnology.

Rogue AI Reminder

AI safety concerns grow as models go rogue.

New concerns are being raised about the dangers of artificial intelligence, after both Anthropic and OpenAI reported that their AI models went on rogue hacking sprees this week. The disclosures come as OpenAI surpassed one billion active users on Friday, less than four years after the launch of ChatGPT.

Why Does Every Mammal Get 1 Billion Heartbeats in Their Life?

Rogue Robot Ringer

A rogue robot began to throw a series of kung fu kicks as its handlers scrambled to subdue it. This incident follows other moments of AI robots malfunction and causing havoc.

Odyssey to Study the Impact of Climate Change

As Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, an adaptation of Homer's epic poem, arrives in cinemas, a very different odyssey is about to begin. Next month, a team of scientists will travel to the remote Arctic town of Kirkenes in Norway to board the floating laboratory Tara Polar Station for an eight-month expedition. The mission will study the impact of climate change and pollution on the Arctic Ocean. For more, we're joined by Marcel Babin, Scientific Director of the Tara Polaris I expedition.

The Rise of the Post-Literate Society

A quiet crisis is transforming human civilization: the rapid death of reading and the rise of a "post-literate" society. With the average attention span shrinking to mere seconds, we talk to writer Rose Horowitch ("The End of Reading Is Here") and psychiatrist Anders Hansen to dissect how technology uses evolutionary vulnerabilities to steal our attention.

Global Population at 8.3 Billion: What Does That Mean for Anyone Under 30?

With the world population surpassing 8.3 billion today, can we truly realize the hopes and dreams of the largest generation of young people ever? On World Population Day 2026, the spotlight is on empowering youth to shape their futures through education, health, and opportunity. From family planning to sustainable development, this global observance asks a vital question: are we investing enough in tomorrow's leaders today? Jean-Emile Jammine speaks with Diene Keita, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Who Got Socrates Killed?

Why do stupid people think they're smart? This video explains the Dunning-Kruger Effect through the story of Socrates, the ancient Greek philosopher who was executed for asking uncomfortable questions.

In 399 BCE, Socrates uncovered a dangerous pattern in human psychology: the less you know, the more confident you are. Modern psychology proved him right 2,400 years later when researchers discovered the Dunning-Kruger Effect—the cognitive bias where incompetent people overestimate their abilities while experts doubt themselves.

This video explores cognitive biases, overconfidence, self-awareness, and why the most dangerous people are those who mistake confidence for competence. Learn about Mount Stupid, the confidence-competence gap, and why asking "I don't know" is the beginning of wisdom.

Real examples include:
McArthur Wheeler's lemon juice invisibility theory
NASA's Challenger disaster and engineering warnings ignored
Elizabeth Holmes' Theranos fraud
Philip Tetlock's expert prediction research

The Socratic Method teaches us that wisdom begins with recognizing ignorance. Socrates was executed for exposing false certainty in ancient Athens, but his lesson remains urgent: the wisest person in any room is the one willing to admit what they don't know.

Are you overconfident about something right now? This video will make you question your assumptions and think more critically about expertise, knowledge, and intellectual humility.

France Records Hottest Night and Day as Europe Heatwave Spreads

France has recorded both its hottest night and hottest day since records began, with temperatures exceeding 44°C as a severe heatwave grips much of Europe. Schools have closed, transport is disrupted and health authorities warn of growing risks — especially for vulnerable groups. Scientists say such extreme heat is becoming more frequent and intense as the climate warms. We explore what’s driving the surge in temperatures - and how hot Europe could get in the future.

Anthropic: Why Are We Being Profiled?

France 24's Gavin Lee speaks to Aisha Down, the Guardian AI Corr on why there may be more to the suspension of Anthropic’s ‘Fable 5’ chatbot model and discuss whether there there is a risk of a two tier system for “haves and have nots” with the chatbot programmed to judge overall trustworthiness and the nature of the interaction.

Why Are So Many Women in Turkey Falling to Their Deaths?

Sezay Kocak is said to have jumped to her death from her apartment balcony. Relatives are skeptical and believe she was murdered. 

The number of women in Turkey who die after falling from windows or balconies is on the rise. Many of these cases are officially recorded as suicides. Yet relatives, campaigners and lawyers question this classification.

They report contradictory statements, unexplained circumstances and investigations that were prematurely closed. In numerous cases, crucial questions remain unanswered: What really happened inside the flats? Why is conclusive evidence of third-party negligence or involvement so often compromised in these cases? 

Women’s rights organizations say these 'suspicious deaths' are femicides and are calling for a more thorough investigation. Families continue to fight for answers – and against the deaths of their daughters, sisters and mothers being hastily dismissed as suicides.   

Extreme Heatwaves: Indians Struggle and Suffer From Water Shortages

In late April, 98 of the world's 100 hottest cities were located in India. From mid-April to May 2026, daily maximum temperatures exceeded 46°C across large parts of the country. During extreme heat, lack of access to cooling can mean the difference between life and death in the world's most populous country. While government data puts the heatwave death toll at 37, social activists say that figure falls far short of the reality faced by people forced to work in scorching temperatures. The heat stress has also been compounded by acute water shortages in several parts of India. FRANCE 24's Navodita Kumari and Fantine Dantzer report.

Q-Day: Will Quantum Computers Destroy the Internet?

On Q-Day, your privacy will be at stake. This is the moment when quantum computers break the encryption protecting the modern world, bank transactions become readable, private messages get exposed and even state secrets become vulnerable.

For years it sounded like sci-fi, something that was decades away from happening, if it happened at all. But now, research suggests that we may be hurtling towards Q-Day at a rapid speed. 

In this video, New Scientist uncovers why many experts think the countdown to Q-Day may already have begun, and explains how quantum computers work and why these machines could both threaten the security of the modern world and unlock breakthroughs that could change our lives. Special thanks to Quantum Motion for letting us film at its facilities.

India’s “Cockroach Janta Party” Goes Viral as Gen Z Movement Grows

A viral online joke in India, the “Cockroach Janta Party,” created as a parody of comments by a Supreme Court judge, has grown into a Gen Z–driven political movement with millions of followers. It promotes youth frustration with traditional politics but has also faced attempts by authorities to restrict its spread and reports of threats against its founder.

Inside Nigeria's Crypto Craze

Over the past few years, cryptocurrency has become part of everyday life for nearly one in 10 Nigerians. Some use it to get around the naira, the Nigerian currency, which has lost much of its value in recent years. Others, particularly young people, buy and sell crypto assets on trading platforms in the hope of quick returns.

Ghana to Bring Home 300 Citizens After Anti-Migrant Incidents in South Africa

In tonight's edition: Hundreds of Ghanaians caught up in xenophobic attacks in South Africa are set to be evacuated.

Also, Cape Verde is ranked among the 15 countries with the lowest rainfall in the world, and the vital resource is not only scarce but also expensive.

Plus Sudanese refugees have been going back to classes set up by Libya, where they live in refugee camps.

Data Leaks: Is Anyone Safe?

In France, a data breach occurs once every hour. In recent months, several public bodies have been affected: La Poste, France Travail and the ANTS, the portal that issues identity documents. This confidential information, which is sometimes highly sensitive, is sold on forums. It's then often purchased by cybercriminals and used to fuel all kinds of scams, including fraudulent operations involving bogus bank managers or brokers. It is often impossible for the victims to discern what is actually fake, and they're then left to deal with the consequences alone.

My AI Spiral: The People Losing Touch With Reality While Using AI

What happens when your conversations with AI become more real, more persuasive, than the world around you?

Stephanie Hegarty follows the story of  three people, in three different parts of the world, who have fallen into an extreme spiral of dangerous delusion while using AI.

A man in Japan attacked and tried to rape his wife after months of intense conversations with ChatGPT.  A young woman in the US, thought she was part of an underground group helping immigrants to escape from the authorities.  And a man in Northern Ireland was convinced by Elon Musk’s AI, Grok that a van full of people were coming to kill him.

The Scourge of Online Gambling in Indonesia

In Indonesia, almost 1 million minors are thought to have an online gambling habit. Worse, authorities say more than 80,000 online players are aged below 10. For these youngsters, gambling is not a pastime they can control, but a dangerous obsession, driven by a desperate desire for a quick and easy way out of poverty. This despite gambling being illegal in the Muslim-majority country. In 2024, Indonesia recorded dozens of suicides linked to online gambling. FRANCE 24 reports.

When Journalists Become Agents

Investigative reporters are always on the hunt for exclusive information. But when the secret service serves as a source, can it also exploit journalists as agents?

How can journalists become agents? To answer this question, the report accompanies Lars Petersen, head of investigative reporting at Business Insider, an online platform for business news. He explains how the exchange of information works, and when a line may be crossed. 

The film also looks back at a major journalism scandal in Germany: in 2005, it became public knowledge that the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) had systematically monitored journalists in the 1990s. In some cases over long periods of time; and particularly those who had reported critically on the agency.

Just under a year later in May 2006, a report named after special investigator Gerhard Schäfer revealed that the BND had been gathering information for years, in order to expose intelligence service employees suspected of having passed on insider knowledge.

The film crew meets, among others, former BND agent and journalist Wilhelm Dietl at his home. Dietl provides insight into his huge archive and his work as an agent. They also speak with journalist Andreas Förster, who was heavily monitored by the BND and initiated the Schäfer report, intelligence expert Erich Schmidt-Eenboom, and the BND itself.