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4th March 2015
2019 – The City Circle Line opens in Copenhagen
The City Circle Line is a major upgrade of the Danish capital's metro system, increasing its total number of stations from 22 to 39. Originally planned for completion in 2018, the line is delayed by a year, opening in 2019.
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3rd March 2015
200GB microSD card announced by SanDisk
SanDisk has announced the first 200GB capacity microSD card, a 56% increase on its previous record of 128GB just one year earlier.
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2nd March 2015
"The Vive" – new VR headset being developed by HTC and Valve
HTC, in partnership with Valve, has announced plans to bring mass-market virtual reality a step closer.
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22nd February 2015
2035 – London's population exceeds 10 million
London's population has continued to expand, placing ever greater pressure on infrastructure and social services.
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22nd February 2015
Care-O-bot 4: a universal helper for everyday situations
The latest generation of "Care-O-bot" is both cheaper and more versatile than its predecessors, offering a wide range of applications.
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17th February 2015
Mars One selects final 100 astronaut candidates
Mars One, an ambitious project to colonise Mars, has announced its latest stage of development.
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15th February 2015
2017 – 10 nanometre chips enter mass production
Originally planned for 2015, the 10nm generation of computer chips is finally released in 2017, bringing major advances in CPU and GPU power, along with reduced energy consumption.
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14th February 2015
Megatons of plastic waste are entering the oceans each year
Around eight million metric tons of plastic entered the oceans in 2010 from people living within 50 km of the coast – according to the results of a new study. Unless action is taken to improve recycling and waste disposal, the world faces an environmental crisis in the decades ahead.
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12th February 2015
UK will begin testing driverless car technology
The UK has joined a growing number of countries planning to allow driverless cars on roads. Yesterday the government announced a review into highway regulations and maintenance checks in preparation for testing the new technology.
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10th February 2015
New robot from Boston Dynamics
Spot is a four-legged robot designed for indoor and outdoor operation. It is electrically powered and hydraulically actuated. Spot has a sensor head that helps it navigate and negotiate rough terrain. Spot weighs about 160 lbs.
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8th February 2015
China will have the most robots in the world by 2017
China is driving explosive growth in the robotics industry that is likely to continue for many years to come – according to a new report.
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7th February 2015
What if you could live for 10,000 years?
Q&A with Zoltan Istvan – American futurist, philosopher, and transhumanist – founder of the Transhumanist Party and its 2016 US Presidential candidate.
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6th February 2015
Scientists reprogram plants for drought tolerance
Plant biologists report that drought tolerance in plants can be improved by engineering them to activate water-conserving processes in response to an agrochemical already in use – an approach that could be broadly applied to other parts of the same drought-response pathway and a range of other agrochemicals.
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4th February 2015
One in two people in the UK will get cancer, experts forecast
New research has predicted that one in two people in the UK will develop cancer at some point in their lives – according to the most accurate forecast to date, released on World Cancer Day. At the same time, more and more people are surviving the disease.
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3rd February 2015
Mining the Moon is becoming a serious prospect
Once confined to the realm of science fiction, the idea of mining the Moon for resources could soon become a reality, according to a new analysis.
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1st February 2015
EX_MACHINA
EX_MACHINA is a sci-fi thriller that presents a chilling vision of the not-too-distant future of artificial intelligence.
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1st February 2015
U.S. Navy announces progress with railgun technology
The Electromagnetic Railgun – a weapon that will play a major role in the future of the U.S. Navy – will be shown to the public for the first time on 4th-5th February at a technology expo in Washington DC.
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31st January 2015
Bill Gates is worried about the rise of AI
In a Reddit AMA this week, Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates expressed his concerns over the rise of superintelligent machines.
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31st January 2015
Helicopter drone could assist Mars rovers
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has proposed a Mars helicopter drone that could scout ahead of rovers and provide operators with a much better view of the surrounding Martian terrain.
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30th January 2015
A robot to help improve agriculture and wine production
A new robot with advanced, non-invasive sensors and mobility could provide fast, accurate and objective data on the state of farms and vineyards.
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29th January 2015
Astronomers find exoplanet with gigantic ring system
An exoplanet has been found with a gigantic ring system, 200 times larger than that around Saturn.
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26th January 2015
2029 – Phase 1 of the California High-Speed Rail line is complete
The west coast of America is now benefiting from a major upgrade of its rail infrastructure.
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25th January 2015
Telomere extension in cultured human cells could lead to anti-aging therapies
Researchers have demonstrated a fast and reliable method of extending the length of telomeres – the protective caps at the end of chromosomes that play a key role in aging.
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23rd January 2015
Long-term sequestration of carbon may be harder to achieve than previously thought
Long-term carbon sequestration is viewed as a way of mitigating climate change. It may be harder to achieve than previously thought, however, due to problems converting the gas to a solid state after injection underground.
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23rd January 2015
ATLAS humanoid robot gets an upgrade
This week, DARPA revealed upgrades to ATLAS, one of the most advanced humanoid robots in the world.
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22nd January 2015
Tesco becomes first UK retailer to launch a Google Glass-enabled service
Tesco has become the first UK retailer to launch a customer Glass-enabled service with a basic version of its shopping app now available for users of the wearable device.
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22nd January 2015
Laying the foundations for 5G mobile
The next generation of wireless communications will offer data speeds of up to 50 Gbit/s – enabling real-time holographic projections and 3D medical imaging.
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21st January 2015
Richest 1% will own more than all the rest by 2016
The combined wealth of the richest 1 per cent will overtake that of the other 99 per cent of people next year – unless the current trend of rising inequality is checked, Oxfam has warned.
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20th January 2015
Dawn probe delivers new image of dwarf planet Ceres
NASA has released an animated view of the dwarf planet Ceres, taken by the approaching Dawn spacecraft.
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15th January 2015
Fruit fly lifespan extended by up to 60%
Scientists have managed to considerably prolong the lifespan of flies by activating a gene which destroys unhealthy cells. The results could also open new possibilities in human anti-aging research.
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12th January 2015
"When we reject science, we become the laughing stocks of the world"
If global warming is to be kept below 2°C this century, then over 80% of coal, 50% of gas and 30% of oil reserves are "unburnable", according to a recent study. In this video, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders makes an impassioned speech about the Keystone Pipeline and the impacts of climate change in future decades.
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11th January 2015
Neutron star hidden by warp in space-time
Astronomers have observed and measured a neutron star slipping out of view because of the warp in space-time its orbit creates. The star is expected to reappear in about 160 years.
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10th January 2015
Kepler telescope confirms 1000th exoplanet
NASA has announced the 1000th confirmed exoplanet discovered by the Kepler Space Telescope. Three of the newly confirmed exoplanets were found to orbit within habitable zones of their parent stars.
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8th January 2015
Progress towards an obesity pill
A new compound has been shown to prevent obesity in mice, with few side effects. Human trials are expected to start in the next few years.
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6th January 2015
2014 was hottest year on record globally
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has confirmed 2014 as the hottest year on record globally, surpassing the previous record of 1998.
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5th January 2015
Whale genome may provide clues to 200-year lifespan
Scientists have mapped the bowhead whale genome and identified genes responsible for its 200-year lifespan – the longest of any mammal.
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4th January 2015
2046 – Japan's population falls below 100 million
A demographic crisis has unfolded in Japan.
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1st January 2015
2034 – Coastal erosion has destroyed hundreds of UK homes
By the mid-2030s, the UK coastline is being seriously affected by rising sea levels and increased storm intensity.
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1st January 2015
2014 highlights
Our most viewed blogs of last year.
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1st January 2015
Welcome to 2015
Welcome to the future ;-)
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30th December 2014
Police body cameras can prevent excessive force
The first full scientific study into police body cameras has shown the technology can substantially reduce both excessive use-of-force by officers and complaints against officers by the public.
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30th December 2014
Bird and insect-like drones being planned by DARPA
The next few years are likely to see micro aerial vehicles based on insects and birds entering military use.
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29th December 2014
The Last Days of Ivory
Released this month, The Last Days of Ivory is a short but powerful film about the ivory trade and its connections to funding terrorism. On current trends, African elephants will go extinct in the wild by the middle of the next decade.
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29th December 2014
Russia to create "Noah's Ark" of DNA
Moscow State University has announced the creation of a DNA bank to store genetic samples from every living plant and animal species on Earth. This gigantic new facility, funded by the country's largest ever scientific grant, will open in 2018.
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28th December 2014
Feeling younger than actual age can extend lifespan
People who feel younger than their real age are more likely to live longer, according to research by University College London. Positive outlooks on life and aging, a sense of empowerment and will to live may explain the difference in life expectancy.
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26th December 2014
2018 – Completion of the 100,000 Genomes Project
From 2015 to 2018, the National Health Service in England conducts large-scale gene sequencing in an effort to identify common genetic traits of cancers and rare diseases. This paves the way for a new generation of personalised genomics.
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25th December 2014
Message from FutureTimeline.net |
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23rd December 2014
2024 – Bio-electronics for treating arthritis are in common use
Implants the size of rice grains are now routinely used to treat the symptoms of arthritis.
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20th December 2014
Ibuprofen may extend lifespan
Regular doses of ibuprofen can extend the lifespan of yeast, worms and flies by 15 percent, it is reported.
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20th December 2014
RFID-blocking jeans and blazer
Digital pickpocketing has become a serious problem, with over 10 million identities stolen each year. Two companies have partnered to create RFID-blocking materials in clothes.
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19th December 2014
First man with two mind-controlled prosthetic limbs
A Colorado man has become the first bilateral shoulder-level amputee to wear – and simultaneously control – two modular prosthetic limbs using his thoughts alone.
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19th December 2014
Scientists to begin 100-year study on artificial intelligence
Stanford University will lead a 100-year effort to study the long-term implications of AI in all aspects of life.
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17th December 2014
Possible hints of organic life on Mars
NASA reports detecting an unusual increase, then decrease, in the amounts of methane in the atmosphere of the planet Mars, as well as Martian organic chemicals in powder drilled from a rock by the Curiosity rover.
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16th December 2014
2015 – Lithuania joins the Eurozone
On 1st January 2015, Lithuania becomes the 19th Eurozone country.
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14th December 2014
Laser gun is deployed and operational on U.S. Navy warship
After several years of research and testing, the U.S. Navy has introduced a new laser gun designed to protect ships without using ammunition.
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13th December 2014
2016 – The world's largest single-aperture telescope is completed in China
A telescope half a kilometre wide is completed in China this year.
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13th December 2014
Fracking wells to increase eightfold by 2040
The U.S. government predicts an eightfold increase in the number of fracking wells around the country by 2040.
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12th December 2014
The world has 60 years of topsoil left
If present rates of degradation continue, all of the world's topsoil could be gone by 2075.
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10th December 2014
Clothes that can monitor and transmit biomedical info
Researchers at Université Laval in Canada have developed "smart textiles" able to monitor and transmit wearers' biomedical information via wireless or cellular networks.
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7th December 2014
How common is alien life in our galaxy?
Using new data from Kepler, an astrobiologist has attempted to update the famous Drake equation. It is estimated that a biotic planet may be expected within 10-100 light years from Earth, while the nearest intelligent life is probably a few thousand light years away.
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6th December 2014
10,000 members!
Today we registered our 10,000th member on Facebook. You can follow us here.
We're also on Twitter and YouTube. |
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5th December 2014
NASA conducts first unmanned test flight of Orion
A spacecraft that will take humans to Mars in the 2030s had its first unmanned test flight today.
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5th December 2014
Asteroid sample return mission is successfully launched by Japan
JAXA has successfully launched its Hayabusa 2 mission, intended to study an asteroid in 2018.
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4th December 2014
3-D haptic shapes can be seen and felt in mid-air
New research, using ultrasound, has developed a 3-D haptic shape that can be seen and felt in mid-air.
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4th December 2014
New solar cell efficiency record
A new solar cell efficiency record of 46% has been achieved by a French-German collaboration.
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3rd December 2014
Mediterranean diet linked to longer life
A new study provides evidence that a Mediterranean diet can increase longevity by preserving telomere lengths.
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2nd December 2014
Horizontal, cable-free elevators arriving in 2016
In the future, elevators could handle much higher volumes of passengers, thanks to a new system being developed by a German company.
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30th November 2014
Wanderers – a vision of humanity's expansion into the Solar System
Featuring the voice of Carl Sagan, these amazing visuals offer a glimpse of humanity's potential future in space.
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29th November 2014
Breakthrough in treating advanced bladder cancer
Researchers at Queen Mary, University of London, have announced "a hugely exciting step forward" in treating advanced bladder cancer.
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27th November 2014
Ebola vaccine shows promise
An experimental vaccine to prevent Ebola has shown promising results in a Phase 1 human clinical trial.
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25th November 2014
2079 – SQL Server databases are hit by a major glitch
A glitch similar to the Year 2038 problem is affecting old databases in 2079.
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24th November 2014
Ocean Spiral – an underwater city
A Japanese engineering company has unveiled its futuristic concept for an undersea habitat that could become a reality in the 2030s.
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23rd November 2014
2075 – The distribution of birds in the United States has been altered substantially
Rising temperatures and land use changes have disrupted the habitats of bird species across the United States. While some have benefited, most have not, and a number of iconic birds are vanishing.
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22nd November 2014
2064 – Leadbeater's possum is going extinct in the wild
Leadbeater's possum, a faunal symbol of Australia, is the latest of many well-known species to lose their habitat.
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21st November 2014
AI software can identify objects in photos and videos at near-human levels
A new AI software program developed by researchers at Google and Stanford University can recognise objects in photos and videos at near-human levels of understanding.
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19th November 2014
2024 – Lunar Mission One drills into the Moon's south pole
In 2024, an unmanned spacecraft attempts to land on the Moon's south pole and drill deep below the surface.
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19th November 2014
Lightning strikes will increase due to global warming
Global warming will cause lightning strikes in the U.S. to increase 50 percent by 2100, according to a new study by the University of California.
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18th November 2014
2034-2044 – Ectogenesis is transforming reproductive rights
Artificial wombs are becoming available, with much controversy and ethical debate surrounding the process.
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16th November 2014
Net neutrality explained in simple terms
Net neutrality is hugely important to the future of the Internet, as explained by Senator Al Franken.
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15th November 2014
Hottest October on record
A new global temperature record for October has been set.
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13th November 2014
Genomes of the world's oldest people are published
The genomes from 17 of the world's oldest people have been published. Researchers were unable to find genes significantly associated with extreme longevity.
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12th November 2014
2021 – Greenland moves towards full independence
Greenland is diversifying and expanding its economy, paving the way for independence from Denmark.
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10th November 2014
Synthetic platelets could accelerate healing of injuries
Basic wound healing has been advanced with a synthetic platelet that accumulates at sites of injury, clots and stops bleeding three times faster. The synthetic platelets have realistic size, disk-shape, flexibility, and the same surface proteins as real platelets.
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8th November 2014
2016 – Completion of the Panama Canal expansion project
Following a series of delays, the Panama Canal receives a major upgrade in early 2016, doubling its capacity.
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8th November 2014
Amazon launches "Echo" speaker with interactive AI
Online retail giant Amazon has unveiled a new hi-tech speaker system with a wide range of interactive features.
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7th November 2014
The world's first solar-powered road
The first solar-powered bicycle path will be officially opened in the Netherlands next week. If successful, it could be applied to 20% of the country's roads in the future.
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7th November 2014
The clearest ever image of planets forming around a young star
The birth of planets has been revealed in astonishing detail by a telescope with 10 times the resolution of Hubble.
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5th November 2014
Scientists uncover potential drug to tackle 'undruggable' fault in third of cancers
Scientists have found a possible way to halt one of the most common faults in many types of cancer.
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4th November 2014
DARPA circuit achieves speed of 1 terahertz (THz)
The fastest ever integrated circuit has been announced by DARPA – achieving one terahertz (1012 Hz), or a trillion cycles per second.
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3rd November 2014
3D printer is 10 times faster than current models
Hewlett-Packard (HP) has unveiled a 3D printer that it claims will be 10 times faster than current models.
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2nd November 2014
2015 – The first solar aircraft to circumnavigate the globe
The first solar-powered aircraft to fly around the world is achieved in 2015.
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2nd November 2014
2014 – The global average Internet connection is broadband
The Internet reached a milestone in 2014 as the average connection speed passed the 4 Mbit/s threshold considered to be fast enough for "broadband".
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