Dancing robots mesmerise visitors

At CES (Consumer Electronics Show), humanoid robots wowed visitors by dancing, playing ping-pong and dealing blackjack.

But experts say the focus should shift from performance to usefulness. True autonomy requires AI that can translate sights and sounds into real-world actions, something today’s large language models cannot provide.

Researchers stress that robots need hands-on experience in real environments. Many current humanoid robots are teleoperated, copying human movements rather than acting independently. Start-ups are experimenting with cameras and haptic gloves to train robots at home.

Industry insiders caution that fully autonomous, practical robots are still years away.

Oldest wooden tools ever found in Greece

Researchers have uncov­ered two woo­den tools in Gree­ce’s Megalopolis basin, dating back around 430,000 years, the oldest ever found. One is a long stick, roughly 80 cm in length, possibly used for digging, while the other is a smaller piece of willow or poplar wood that may have been used to shape stone tools.

Wooden tools rarely survive due to decay, so these were likely preserved by wet sediment. The site has also yielded stone tools and elephant bones with cut marks. While human remains have not been found, the tools may have been used by Neanderthals or early human ancestors.

The discovery sheds light on early humans’ varied toolkit, offering a rare glimpse into how they survived and adapted.

Dubai-style cookies craze in South Korea

Chewy, chocolatey “Dubai-style” cookies, filled with pistachio cream and kadaif, have become a viral hit in South Korea.

Online searches for the dessert surged 20-fold in three months, while food delivery app orders jumped 1,500 times. Fans queue outside shops even in winter, and the Korean Red Cross has started offering the cookies to boost blood donations, doubling turnout at some centres.

Cafés sell the 50-gram treats for around $4.40 each, often limiting purchases to two per person due to their high calorie content. K-pop endorsements, including posts from Jang Won-young of IVE, have fuelled the trend, which is spreading to China.

China’s bookstores become hotspots for selfies

In Tianjin, the massive Zhongshuge bookstore has become a social media sensation, with its towering accordion steps and spiral staircase drawing more selfie-snappers than readers.

Opened in September 2024, the store’s striking interior has earned comparisons to Hogwarts.

Architects say designing bookstores for photo appeal is becoming mainstream, though it can disrupt traditional reading spaces. Some stores, like Nanjing’s Librairie Avant-Garde, have even banned flash photography and staged photoshoots due to the crowds. Owners, however, have embraced the trend, using displays and cultural set-ups to attract visitors.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 21st, 2026