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Vaccines versus Mars - 6th March 2023

Bill Gates recently made headlines for stating that he’d rather put money into vaccines than space trips to Mars. However, many billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson and Elon Musk are more focused on exploring space and reaching for the stars.

Gates believes that vaccines have concrete benefits. Lives can be saved for just $1000 per person, while going to Mars costs billions. So, Gates has chosen to use his wealth for good. This includes supporting projects that address global health needs and climate issues.

Gates and ex-wife Melinda together set up the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000. Since then, it’s been working to solve global issues and spent billions of dollars during the pandemic to fight Covid-19.

Despite Gates's charity work, there are some groups who believe fake news about him. During the pandemic, some people even claimed that he put microchips into Covid-19 vaccines. They think that these vaccines can control people.

However, other groups, such as environmentalists, also criticise Gates. They think he shouldn't be flying a private jet if he cares about climate change. Gates responded that he’s spent over two billion dollars on climate change projects and travels frequently for charity work.

In an interview with the BBC, Gates also discussed his divorce. He was asked if he'd ever fall in love again. The tech giant’s response was direct: "Sure, I'm not a robot."