The Download: storing nuclear waste and orchestrating agents

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.

It’s time to make a plan for nuclear waste

Today, nuclear energy enjoys rare support across the political spectrum. Public approval has spiked, and Big Tech is throwing money around to meet rising electricity demand. That newfound interest is exactly why it’s time to talk about an old problem: nuclear waste.

In the US, nuclear reactors produce about 2,000 metric tons of high-level waste each year—and there’s nowhere to put it. Now, the need for a permanent storage solution is becoming urgent. Here’s what’s at stake.

—Casey Crownhart

This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Review’s weekly climate newsletter. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday.

Orchestrated agents are coming for white-collar work

When people say AI will transform industries, what they have in mind—whether they know it or not—are AI agents. ChatGPT showed AI can talk. But to change the world, it needs to do stuff.

The real power comes when agents work as teams, coordinating multiple roles to tackle complex tasks. Apps like Codex and Claude Cowork offer a glimpse of this shift, bringing multi-agent general-purpose productivity tools.

In theory, networks of AI agents could do to white-collar knowledge work what assembly lines did to manufacturing. That’s the vision. But as agents move into real-world systems, the risks grow too. Read the full story.

—Will Douglas Heaven

Agent Orchestration is one of the 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now, MIT Technology Review’s guide to what’s really worth your attention in the busy, buzzy world of AI. We’re unpacking one item from the list each day here in The Download, so stay tuned.

MIT Technology Review Narrated: no one’s sure if synthetic mirror life will kill us all

In February 2019, a group of scientists proposed a high-risk, cutting-edge, irresistibly exciting idea that the National Science Foundation should fund: making “mirror” bacteria.

These lab-created microbes would be organized like ordinary bacteria, but their proteins and sugars would be mirror images of those found in nature. Researchers believed they could reveal new insights into building cells, designing drugs, and even the origins of life.

But now, many of them have reversed course. They’ve become convinced that mirror organisms could trigger a catastrophic event threatening every form of life on Earth. Find out why.

—Stephen Ornes

This is our latest story to be turned into an MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast, which we publish each week on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Just navigate to MIT Technology Review Narrated on either platform, and follow us to get all our new content as it’s released.

The must-reads

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 Elon Musk says Sam Altman “stole a charity” at the OpenAI trial
Musk testified for the first time yesterday in the landmark legal showdown. (FT $)
+ He said OpenAI was founded as a non-profit to avoid a “Terminator outcome.” (Wired $)
+ And claimed he came up with the idea for the company. (Reuters $)
+ The trial could upend the global AI race. (MIT Technology Review)

2 The White House has plans to bypass Anthropic’s blacklisting
It’s drafting guidance to sidestep the supply-chain risk designation. (Axios)
+ The White House is also meeting other tech firms to discuss AI risks. (Politico)
+ The Pentagon’s culture war against Anthropic has backfired. (MIT Technology Review)

3 OpenAI is tightening ties with Amazon after retreating from Microsoft
AWS customers are getting extra access to OpenAI systems. (NBC News)
+ While OpenAI gets new users and cloud-computing capabilities. (CNBC)

4 AI bots told scientists how to create biological weapons
And unleash them in public spaces. (NYT $)
+ AI will change war forever. (MIT Technology Review)

5 China has suspended robotaxi licenses after a scary outage
Dozens of Baidu vehicles suddenly stopped last month. (The Verge)
+ Chinese robotaxi firms are planning global expansions. (Guardian)

6 Meta has been found in breach of EU rules on protecting children
After failing to block access to Facebook and Instagram. (Guardian)
+ Parents are forcing schools to roll back classroom tech use. (NYT $)

7 AI is spotting pancreatic cancer years before symptoms appear
 A study found it could catch the tumor early enough to treat. (Bloomberg)

8 The Iran war is disrupting data center rollouts
Oaktree-owned Pure DC is the latest firm to pause investments. (CNBC)

9 SpaceX is tying Elon Musk’s pay to Mars colonization goals
It’s set lofty goals for his jaw-dropping compensation. (Reuters $)

10 AI has reconstructed the face of an ancient Pompeii victim
 Technology is reshaping our understanding of the distant past (NPR)

Quote of the day

“Overnight, without you even knowing it, your own life chances, the life chances of your children, will be dependent on people continuing to prop up Musk’s visions of how the world should look.”

—Elon Musk biographer Michel Martin tells NPR how the Tesla tycoon is shaping our lives.

One More Thing

NEIL WEBB

Inside Clear’s ambitions to manage your identity beyond the airport

If you’ve ever been through a large US airport, you’re probably aware of Clear, the identity verification service that uses biometric scans to whisk travelers past standard security checks.

Now Clear wants to expand that “face-first” experience from airports to just about everywhere, from retailers and banks to even your doctor’s office. Its CEO has designs on making Clear the “identity layer of the internet” and the “universal identity platform” of the physical world.

All you have to do is show up—and show your face. But as biometric identity systems go mainstream, concerns about privacy, security, and control are becoming harder to ignore. And the cost of convenience may not be shared equally. Discover what’s at stake. 

—Eileen Guo

We can still have nice things

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line.)

+ Discover why the eight-hour night is a modern invention.
+ This artist creates masterpieces using only a vintage typewriter and a lot of patience.
+ Test your local knowledge with this game that drops you in a random Street View location.
+ Watch this incredible feat of precision piloting as a race aircraft touches down on a 120km/h cargo train.

The Download: Musk and Altman’s legal showdown, and AI’s profit problem

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.

Elon Musk and Sam Altman are going to court over OpenAI’s future

Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman head to trial this week in a case with sweeping consequences. Ahead of OpenAI’s IPO, the court could rule on whether the company can exist as a for-profit enterprise. It could even oust its leadership.

Musk, an OpenAI co-founder, claims he was deceived into bankrolling the firm under false pretenses. He’s seeking $134 billion in damages, the removal of Altman and president Greg Brockman, and the company’s restoration to a non-profit.

Find out how the trial could upend the global AI race.

—Michelle Kim

The missing step between hype and profit

In a celebrated South Park episode, a community of gnomes sneak out at night to steal underpants. Why? The gnomes present their pitch deck. “Phase 1: Collect underpants. Phase 2: ? Phase 3: Profit.” It’s a business plan that captures the current state of AI. 

Companies have built the tech (Step 1) and promised transformation (Step 3). But how they get there is still a big question mark. Read about the potential paths forward.

—Will Douglas Heaven

This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter giving you the inside track on all things AI. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Monday.

Welcome to the era of weaponized deepfakes

For years, experts have warned that deepfakes could be deployed in malicious ways. These dangers are now here.

Cheap, accessible models now produce weaponized deepfakes—from sexually explicit images to political propaganda—that look startlingly real. They’re already inciting violence, changing minds, and sowing mistrust, with women and marginalized groups disproportionately affected.

Experts fear that they’re cratering trust and critical thinking. Here’s why they’re alarmed.

—Eileen Guo

Weaponized deepfakes are on our list of the 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now, MIT Technology Review’s guide to what’s really worth your attention in the busy, buzzy world of AI. 

The must-reads

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 OpenAI has ended its exclusive partnership with Microsoft
The new deal allows OpenAI to court rivals such as Amazon. (Reuters $)
+ Microsoft will still license OpenAI’s tech, but no longer exclusively. (NYT $)
+ OpenAI is missing key growth targets ahead of its IPO. (WSJ $)

2 Google has signed a classified AI deal with the Pentagon
It permits AI use for “any lawful government purpose.” (The Information $)
+ Over 600 Google workers had called for a block on the deal. (QZ)
+ AI firms are set to train military versions of their models on classified data. (MIT Technology Review)

3 The EU has told Google to open Android to AI rivals
It wants to end Gemini’s built-in advantage. (Ars Technica)
+ Google calls the move an “unwarranted intervention.” (WSJ $)
+ A final decision is expected by the end of July. (Reuters $)

4 OpenAI is reportedly developing an AI-first smartphone
It would replace apps with agents. (TechCrunch)
+ Qualcomm and MediaTek may be developing its processors. (Gizmodo)

5 A brain implant for depression is moving into human testing
The FDA has approved a human study of the device. (Wired $)
+ BCIs have thus far struggled to reach the market. (MIT Technology Review)

6 A populist backlash against AI is gaining momentum in rural America
From Indiana to Idaho, voters are pushing back against the technology. (NYT $)
+ Anti-AI protests are expanding worldwide. (MIT Technology Review)

7 DeepSeek has priced its new model 97% below OpenAI’s GPT-5.5
It aims to attract more enterprises, developers, and agent-based users. (SCMP)
+ Here are three reasons why DeepSeek V4 matters. (MIT Technology Review)

8 AI now generates a third of new websites
A study found it’s making the web more cheery and less verbose. (404 Media)

9 Top talent is leaving Big Tech to launch their own AI startups
Meta, Google, and OpenAI are facing a brain drain. (CNBC)

10 Taylor Swift is trademarking her voice and image
The Grammy winner has been the target of numerous deepfakes. (NBC News)
+ A growing number of celebrities are fighting AI with trademarks. (BBC)

Quote of the day

“The reality is people don’t like him.”

—Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers reacts to prospective jurors confessing their negative views of Elon Musk ahead of his legal battle with Sam Altman, The Verge reports.

One More Thing

How covid conspiracy theories led to an alarming resurgence in AIDS denialism

When Joe Rogan falsely declared that “party drugs” were an “important factor in AIDS,” several million people were listening. He also asserted that AZT, the earliest drug used to treat AIDS, killed people “quicker” than the disease itself—another claim that has been disproven.

Such comments illustrate an unmistakable resurgence in AIDS denialism: a false collection of theories arguing either that HIV does not cause AIDS or that there is no such thing as HIV at all. By the dawn of the millennium, these claims had largely fallen out of favour. That changed when the coronavirus arrived.

Follow the digital path from Covid skepticism to the return of a deadly conspiracy theory.

—Anna Merlan

We can still have nice things

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line.)

+ Explore the planets from your laptop with this live sky map.
+ This marathon DJ set from Daphni is an incredible journey through electronic music.
+ NASA’s stunning Artemis II wallpapers bring a high-res piece of deep space to your phone.
+ This fascinating GPS explainer breaks down how your phone figures out exactly where you are.

The Download: DeepSeek’s latest AI breakthrough, and the race to build world models

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.

Three reasons why DeepSeek’s new model matters

On Friday, Chinese AI firm DeepSeek released a preview of V4, its long-awaited new flagship model. Notably, the model can process much longer prompts than its last generation, thanks to a new design that handles large amounts of text more efficiently.

While the model remains open source, its performance matches leading closed-source rivals from Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google. It is also DeepSeek’s first release optimized Huawei’s Ascend chips—a key test of China’s dependence on Nvidia.

Here are three ways V4 could shake up AI.

—Caiwei Chen

The rise of world models

AI systems have already gained impressive mastery over the digital world, but the physical world remains humanity’s domain. As it turns out, building an AI that composes novels or code apps is far easier than developing one to fold laundry or navigate city streets. To bridge this gap, many researchers believe you need something called a world model.

Proponents like Stanford professor Fei-Fei Li and AMI Labs founder Yann LeCun argue these models can overcome the well-known limitations of LLMs—and realize AI’s promise for robotics. Find out why they’ve brought world models to the forefront of the field.

—Grace Huckins

World models are on our list of the 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now, our essential guide to what’s really worth your attention in the field.

Subscribers can watch an exclusive roundtable unveiling the technologies and trends on the list, with analysis from MIT Technology Review’s AI reporter Grace Huckins and executive editors Amy Nordrum and Niall Firth.

The must-reads

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 China has blocked Meta’s $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus
Regulators cited national security grounds. (WSJ $)
+ Beijing called the deal a “conspiratorial” attempt to hollow out its tech base. (FT $)
+ The country is tightening its grip on AI firms that try to leave. (TechCrunch)
+ The decision escalates China’s AI rivalry with the US. (Bloomberg $)
+ But there will be no winners in their competition. (MIT Technology Review)

2 Google is investing up to $40 billion in Anthropic
In a deal valuing the AI firm at $350 billion. (CNBC)
+ The funding will support the firm’s growing computing needs. (TechCrunch)
+ Anthropic and OpenAI are fighting for compute capacity. (Axios)

3 President Trump just fired the entire National Science Board
The NSF has played a crucial role in developing technology. (The Verge)
+ The move heightens fears over political interference in US science. (Nature)

4 Conspiracy theories about the Washington shooting are proliferating online
Over 300,000 posts appeared on X using the keyword “staged.” (NYT $)
+ The theories are also swirling on Bluesky and Instagram. (Wired)

5 The AI compute crunch is starting to hit the broader economy.
It’s affecting jobs, gadgets, and electricity prices. (404 Media)
+ The AI compute explosion is the tech story of our time. (MIT Technology Review)

6 Elon Musk says a new banking tool brings X close to a “super app”
He’s pledged to launch the tool this month. (Bloomberg)

7 AI optimism is surging across Asia while US sentiment cools
The divide could shape where adoption happens fastest. (Rest of World)

8 Apple is tying its new CEO’s ascent to its first foldable iPhone
It wants to build the buzz around John Ternus. (Gizmodo) 

9 Twelve firms are developing the Golden Dome’s space-based interceptors
They’ve won contracts worth up to $3.2 billion. (Ars Technica)

10 NASA has shared promising results from Artemis II
The spacecraft and rocket fared well. (Engadget)

Quote of the day

“Getting out the truth and establishing facts and reliable information takes time. But our audiences really don’t have that kind of patience.”

—Amanda Crawford, associate professor at the University of Connecticut, tells the NYT why conspiracy theories are gaining traction online.

One More Thing

MIRIAM MARTINCIC

Welcome to Kenya’s Great Carbon Valley: a bold new gamble to fight climate change

Kenya’s Great Rift Valley is home to five geothermal power stations, which harness clouds of steam to generate about a quarter of the country’s electricity. But some of the energy escapes into the atmosphere, while even more remains underground for lack of demand. That’s what brought Octavia Carbon here.

Last year, the startup began harnessing some of that excess energy to remove CO2 from the air. The company says the method is efficient, affordable, and—crucially—scalable. But the project also faces fierce opposition. 

Read the full story on the future of Kenya’s “Great Carbon Valley.”

—Diana Kruzman

We can still have nice things

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line.)

+ Fred Again’s Tiny Desk Concert is a masterclass in intimate performance.
+ Here’s a delightful look at how we’re all linked through geography and shared heritage.
+ Take a short, peaceful break to watch Tokyo’s cherry blossoms from a bird’s eye view.
+ There’s something oddly satisfying about watching an industrial shredder turn everyday items into confetti.

The Download: supercharged scams and studying AI healthcare

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.

We’re in a new era of AI-driven scams

When ChatGPT was released in late 2022, it showed how easily generative AI could create human-like text. This quickly caught the eye of cybercriminals, who began using LLMs to compose malicious emails. Since then, they’ve adopted AI for everything from turbocharged phishing and hyperrealistic deepfakes to automated vulnerability scans.

Many organizations are now struggling to cope with the sheer volume of cyberattacks. AI is making them faster, cheaper, and easier to carry out, a problem set to worsen as more cybercriminals adopt these tools—and their capabilities improve. Read the full story on how AI is reshaping cybercrime.

—Rhiannon Williams

“Supercharged scams” is one of the 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now, our essential guide to what’s really worth your attention in the field.

Subscribers can watch an exclusive roundtable unveiling the technologies and trends on the list, with analysis from MIT Technology Review’s AI reporter Grace Huckins and executive editors Amy Nordrum and Niall Firth.

Healthcare AI is here. We don’t know if it actually helps patients.

Doctors are using AI to help them with notetaking. AI-based tools are trawling through patient records, flagging people who may require certain support or treatments. They are also used to interpret medical exam results and X-rays.

A growing number of studies suggest that many of these tools can deliver accurate results. But there’s a bigger question here: Does using them actually translate into better health outcomes for patients? We don’t yet have a good answer—here’s why.

—Jessica Hamzelou

The story is from The Checkup, our weekly newsletter that gives you the latest from the worlds of health and biotech. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Thursday.

The must-reads

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 DeepSeek has unveiled its long-awaited new AI model
The Chinese company has just launched preview versions of DeepSeek-V4. (CNN)
+It says V4 is the most powerful open-source platform. (Bloomberg $)
+ And rivals top closed-source models from OpenAI and DeepMind. (SCMP)
+ The model is adapted for Huawei chip technology. (Reuters $)

2 More countries are curbing children’s social media access
Norway is set to enforce the latest ban. (Reuters $)
+ The Philippines could follow soon. (Bloomberg $)
+ Americans are pushing to get AI out of schools. (The New Yorker)

3 The US has accused China of mass AI theft as tensions rise
A White House memo claims Chinese firms are exploiting American models. (BBC)
+ Beijing calls the accusations “slander.” (Ars Technica)

4 OpenAI set itself apart from Anthropic by widely releasing its new model
It’s releasing GPT-5.5 to all ChatGPT users, despite cybersecurity concerns. (NYT $)
+ OpenAI says the new model is better at coding and more efficient. (The Verge)

5 Meta is cutting 10% of jobs to offset AI spending
Roughly 8,000 layoffs are set to be announced on May 20. (QZ)
+ Anti-AI protests are growing. (MIT Technology Review)

6 Palantir is facing a backlash from employees
Thanks to its work with ICE and the Trump administration. (Wired $)
+ Surveillance tech is reshaping the fight for privacy. (MIT Technology Review)

7 The era of free access to advanced AI is coming to an end
AI labs are under mounting pressure to start turning profits. (The Verge)

8 Elon Musk’s feud with Sam Altman is heading to court 
The case has already revealed several unflattering secrets. (WP $)

9 A new movement is encouraging people to ditch their smartphones for a month
“Month Offline” is like a Dry January for smartphones. (The Atlantic)

10 Spotify has revealed its most-streamed music of the last 20 years
Featuring Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, and The Weeknd. (Gizmodo) 

Quote of the day

“We want a childhood where children get to be children. Play, friendships, and everyday life must not be taken over by algorithms and screens.” 

—Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store announces age restrictions for social media.

One More Thing

NASA/JPL-CALTECH VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS; CRAFT NASA/JPL-CALTECH/SWRI/MSSS; IMAGE PROCESSING: KEVIN M. GILL

The search for extraterrestrial life is targeting Jupiter’s icy moon Europa

As astronomers have discovered more about Europa over the past few decades, Jupiter’s fourth-largest moon has excited planetary scientists interested in the geophysics of alien worlds.

 All that water and energy—and hints of elements essential for building organic molecules —point to an extraordinary possibility. In the depths of its ocean, or perhaps crowded in subsurface lakes or below icy surface vents, Jupiter’s big, bright moon could host life. 

To find further evidence, NASA is now searching for signs of alien existence on Europa. Read the full story on the mission.

—Stephen Ornes

We can still have nice things

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line.)

+ Here’s a fun look at the secret collaborations of pop history.
+ Meet the mannequins showing how the “ideal” body has evolved.
+ A photographer has cataloged all 12,795 objects in her home into an archive of a life.
+ Slime molds are unexpectedly beautiful when viewed through these high-detail macro shots.

The Download: introducing the Nature issue

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.

Introducing: the Nature issue

When we talk about “nature,” we usually mean something untouched by humans. But little of that world exists today. 

From microplastics in rainforest wildlife to artificial light in the Arctic Ocean, human influence now reaches every corner of Earth. In this context, what even is nature? And should we employ technology to try to make the world more “natural”?  

In our new Nature issue, MIT Technology Review grapples with these questions. We investigate birds that can’t sing, wolves that aren’t wolves, and grass that isn’t grass. We look for the meaning of life under Arctic ice, within ourselves, and in the far future on a distant world, courtesy of new fiction by the renowned author Jeff VanderMeer. 

Together, these stories examine how technology has altered our planet—and how it might be used to repair it. Subscribe now to read the full print issue.

What’s next for large language models?

After ChatGPT launched in late 2022, the OpenAI chatbot became an everyday everything app for hundreds of millions of people. It led to LLMs being heralded as the new future. The entire tech industry was consumed by the inferno, with companies racing to spin up rival products.

But what’s the next big thing after LLMs? More LLMs—but better. Let’s call them LLMs+. Find out how they’re set to become cheaper, more efficient, and more powerful.

—Will Douglas Heaven

LLMs+ is on our list of the 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now, MIT Technology Review’s guide to what’s really worth your attention in the busy, buzzy world of AI. We’ll be unpacking one item from the list each day here in The Download, so stay tuned.

Will fusion power get cheap? Don’t count on it.

Fusion power could provide a steady, zero-emissions source of electricity in the future—if companies can get plants built and running. But a new study published in Nature Energy suggests that even if that future arrives, it might not come cheap.

The research team aimed to improve predictions of fusion’s future price by estimating the technology’s experience rate—the percentage by which its cost declines every time capacity doubles. Their findings offer new clues on the technology’s path to deployment. Read the full story.

—Casey Crownhart

This story is from The Spark, our weekly climate newsletter. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday.

The must-reads

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 Trump signaled he’s open to reversing the Anthropic ban
What that really means in practice remains to be seen. (Reuters $)
+ Anthropic says there’s no “kill switch” for its AI. (Axios)
+ “Humans in the loop” in AI warfare is an illusion. (MIT Technology Review)

2 SpaceX plans to manufacture its own GPUs
To support the company’s growing AI ambitions. (Reuters $)
+ Musk is shifting SpaceX’s focus from Mars to AI ahead of its IPO. (NYT $)
+ SpaceX and Tesla may be on a collision course. (FT $)

3 Chinese tech giant Tencent has unveiled its first flagship AI model
A former OpenAI researcher is at the helm. (SCMP)
+ Chinese open models are spreading fast. (MIT Technology Review)

4 High earners are racing ahead on AI, deepening workplace divides
The division in adoption risks widening inequality. (FT $)
+ Startups are bragging they spend more on AI than staff. (404 Media)

5 Thousands of Samsung workers are demanding a new share of AI profits
Chip-division employees want 15% of the operating profit. (Bloomberg $)
+ Here’s why opinion on AI is so divided. (MIT Technology Review)

6 AI is helping mediocre Korean hackers steal millions
They’re vibe coding their malware. (Wired $)
+ AI is making online crimes easier. (MIT Technology Review)

7 Kalshi suspended three political candidates for betting on their own races
Including a Democrat and a Republican running for Congress. (CNN)
+ And an independent candidate who said he did it to make a point. (Gizmodo)
+ Lawmakers argue that prediction markets are a loophole for gambling. (NPR)

8 A ping-pong robot is beating elite human players for the first time
The Sony AI system was trained with reinforcement learning. (New Scientist)
+ Just days earlier, a humanoid smashed the human half-marathon record. (AP)

9 Crypto scammers are luring ships into the Strait of Hormuz
By falsely promising safe passage. (Ars Technica)

10 ‘Age tech’ could help us grow old comfortably at home
Apps, wearables, and remote monitoring could fill caregiving gaps. (NYT $)

Quote of the day

“It’s a hallucinogenic business plan.”

—Ross Gerber, the chief executive of Gerber Kawasaki, an investment firm that owns SpaceX shares, tells the New York Times that he’s unimpressed by Musk’s changing goals for the aerospace company. 

One More Thing

AP PHOTO/LINDSEY WASSON

This grim but revolutionary DNA technology is changing how we respond to mass disasters

After hundreds went missing in Maui’s deadly fires, victims were identified with rapid DNA analysis—an increasingly vital tool for putting names to the dead in mass-casualty events.

The technology helped identify victims within just a few hours and bring families some closure more quickly than ever before. But it also previews a dark future marked by the rising frequency of catastrophic events.

Find out how this forensic breakthrough is preparing us for a more volatile world.

—Erika Hayasaki

We can still have nice things

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line.)

+ This fascinating dive into botanical history reveals the origins of the first true plants.
+ Here’s how to use Google’s reference desk to find what ordinary search engines miss.
+ Watch duct tape get deconstructed to reveal the physics behind its legendary stickiness.
+ When Radiohead covers Joy Division, the result is a beautiful intersection of two legendary musical eras.

The Download: introducing the 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.

Introducing: 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now

What actually matters in AI right now? It’s getting harder to tell amid the constant launches, hype, and warnings. To cut through the noise, MIT Technology Review’s reporters and editors have distilled years of analysis into a new essential guide: the 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now.

The list builds on our annual 10 Breakthrough Technologies, but takes a wider view of the ideas, topics, and research shaping AI, spotlighting the trends and breakthroughs shaping the world.

We’ll be unpacking one item from the list each day here in The Download, explaining what it means and why it matters. Read the full rundown now—and stay tuned for the days ahead.

MIT Technology Review Narrated: desalination plants in the Middle East are increasingly vulnerable

As the conflict in Iran has escalated, a crucial resource is under fire: the desalinization technology that supplies water in the region.

President Donald Trump recently threatened to destroy “possibly all desalinization plants” in Iran if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened. The impact on farming, industry, and—crucially—drinking in the Middle East could be severe. Find out why.

—Casey Crownhart

This is our latest story to be turned into an MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast, which we publish each week on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Just navigate to MIT Technology Review Narrated on either platform, and follow us to get all our new content as it’s released.

The must-reads

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 An unauthorized group has reportedly accessed Anthropic’s Mythos
Users in a private online forum may have gained access. (Bloomberg $)
+ Anthropic said the model was too dangerous for a full release. (Axios)
+ Mozilla used it to find 271 security vulnerabilities in Firefox. (Wired $)

2 Meta will track workers’ clicks and keystrokes for AI training
Tracking software is being installed on workers’ computers.(Reuters $)
+ Employees are up in arms about the program. (Business Insider)
+ LLMs could supercharge mass surveillance in the US. (MIT Technology Review)

3 ChatGPT allegedly advised the Florida State shooter
About when and where to strike, and which ammunition to use. (Washington Post $)
+ Florida’s attorney general is probing ChatGPT’s role in the shooting. (Ars Technica)
+ Does AI cause delusions or just amplify them? (MIT Technology Review)

4 SpaceX has secured the option to buy AI startup Cursor for $60 billion
Or pay $10 billion for the work they’re doing together. (The Verge)
+ SpaceX made the deal as it prepares to go public. (NYT $)
+ Musk’s endgame for the company may be a land grab in space. (The Atlantic $)

5 The Pentagon wants $54 billion for drones
That would rank among the top 10 military budgets for entire nations. (Ars Technica)
+ Shoplifters could soon be chased down by drones. (MIT Technology Review)

6 Apple’s new chief hardware officer signals a sprint to build in-house chips
Apple silicon lead Johny Srouji has been promoted to the role. (CNBC)

7 China’s government is tightening its grip on AI firms that try to leave
It’s doing all it can to stop firms like Manus sending talent and research overseas. (Washington Post $)

8 The FBI is probing the deaths of scientists tied to sensitive research
Including a nuclear physicist and MIT professor shot outside his home. (CNN)

9 The US is accelerating research into psychedelic medical treatment
Including the mysterious ibogaine. (Nature)
+ But psychedelics are (still) falling short in clinical trials. (MIT Technology Review)

10 The first retail boutique run by an AI agent has opened—and it’s chaos
The San Francisco shop is reassuringly mismanaged. (NYT $)

Quote of the day

“I was very impressed with myself to have the head of Apple calling to ‘kiss my ass’.” 

—Donald Trump pays a classy tribute to Tim Cook on Truth Social.

One More Thing

JOHN F. MALTA

This researcher wants to replace your brain, little by little

A US agency pursuing moonshot health breakthroughs has hired a researcher advocating an extremely radical plan for defeating death. His idea? Replace your body parts. All of them. Even your brain. 

Jean Hébert, a program manager at the US Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), believes we can beat aging by adding youthful tissue to people’s brains. Read the full story on his futuristic plan to extend human life. 

—Antonio Regalado

We can still have nice things

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line.)

+ A Lego set was sent to the edge of space—and survived.
+ Go behind the scenes with Werner Herzog as he guides a new generation of filmmakers.
+ This video about enshittification perfectly captures the frustration of the degrading internet.
+ NASA’s latest deep-space capture offers a rare view of planetary systems in their absolute infancy.

The Download: murderous ‘mirror’ bacteria, and Chinese workers fighting AI doubles

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.

No one’s sure if synthetic mirror life will kill us all

In February 2019, a group of scientists proposed a high-risk, cutting-edge, irresistibly exciting idea that the National Science Foundation should fund: making “mirror” bacteria.

These lab-created microbes would be organized like ordinary bacteria, but their proteins and sugars would be mirror images of those found in nature. Researchers believed they could reveal new insights into building cells, designing drugs, and even the origins of life.

But now, many of them have reversed course. They’ve become convinced that mirror organisms could trigger a catastrophic event threatening every form of life on Earth. Find out why they’re ringing alarm bells.

—Stephen Ornes

This story is from the next issue of our print magazine, which is all about nature. Subscribe now to read it when it lands this Wednesday.

Chinese tech workers are starting to train their AI doubles—and pushing back

Earlier this month, a GitHub project called Colleague Skill struck a nerve by claiming to “distill” a worker’s skills and personality—and replicate them with an AI agent. Though the project was a spoof, it prompted a wave of soul-searching among otherwise enthusiastic early adopters.

A number of tech workers told MIT Technology Review that their bosses are already encouraging them to document their workflows for automation via tools like OpenClaw. Many now fear that they are being flattened into code and losing their professional identity.

In response, some are fighting back with tools designed to sabotage the automation process.

Read the full story.

—Caiwei Chen

The must-reads

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 The White House and Anthropic are working toward a compromise
The Trump administration says they had a “productive meeting.” (Reuters $)
+ Trump had ordered US agencies to phase out Anthropic’s tech. (Guardian)
+ Despite the blacklist, the NSA is using Anthropic’s new Mythos model. (Axios)

2 Palantir has unveiled a manifesto calling for universal national service
While denouncing inclusivity and “regressive” cultures. (TechCrunch)
+ It’s a summary of CEO Alex Karp’s book “The Technological Republic.” (Engadget)
+ One critic called the book “a piece of corporate sales material.“ (Bloomberg $)

3 Germany’s chancellor and largest company want looser AI rules
Chancellor Merz said industrial AI needs ‌more regulatory freedom. (Reuters $)
+ Siemens says it plans to shift investments to the US if EU rules don’t change. (Bloomberg $)
+ Fractures over AI regulation are also emerging in the US. (MIT Technology Review)  

4 Nvidia’s once-tight bond with gamers is cracking over AI  
Consumer graphics cards are no longer the priority. (CNBC)
+ But generative AI could reinvent what it means to play. (MIT Technology Review)

5 Insurers are trying to exclude AI-related harms from their coverage
And escape legal liability for AI’s mistakes. (FT $)
+ AI images are being used in insurance scams. (BBC)

6 AI is about to make the global e-waste crisis much worse
And most of the trash will end up in non-Western countries. (Rest of World)
+ Here’s what we can do about it. (MIT Technology Review)

7 Tinder and Zoom have partnered with Sam Altman’s eye-scanning firm
To offer a “proof of humanity” badge to users. (BBC)

8 Islamist insurgents in West Africa are driving surging demand for drones
A Nigerian UAV startup is opening its first factory abroad in Ghana. (Bloomberg $)

9 Hundreds of fake pro-Trump AI influencers are flooding social media
In an apparent bid to hook conservative voters. (NYT)

10 A Chinese humanoid has smashed the human half-marathon record
Despite crashing into a railing near the end of the race. (NBC News)
+ Chinese tech firm Honor swept the podium spots. (Engadget)
+ Last year, humans won the race by a mile. (CNN)

Quote of the day

“This is the only issue where you’ve got Steve Bannon and Ralph Nader, Glenn Beck and Bernie Sanders fighting for the same thing.”

—Ben Cumming, head of communications at the AI safety nonprofit Future of Life Institute, tells the Washington Post that diverse public figures are endorsing a declaration of AI policy priorities.

One More Thing

NASA

The great commercial takeover of low Earth orbit

The International Space Station will be decommissioned as soon as 2030, but the story of America in low Earth orbit (LEO) will continue. 

Using lessons from the ISS, NASA has partnered with private companies to develop new commercial space stations for research, manufacturing, and tourism. If they are successful, these businesses will bring about a new era of space exploration: private rockets flying to private destinations.

They will also demonstrate a new model in which NASA builds infrastructure and the private sector takes it from there—freeing the agency to explore deeper and deeper into space. Read the full story.

—David W. Brown

We can still have nice things

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line.)

+ Bask in thisadorable test of a dog’s devotion.
+ This vocal pitch trainer improves your singing straight from your browser.
+ Master international etiquette with this interactive guide to the world’s cultures.
+ Explore the networks of public figures with this intriguing interactive graph. 

The Download: bad news for inner Neanderthals, and AI warfare’s human illusion

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.

The problem with thinking you’re part Neanderthal

There’s a theory that many of us have an “inner Neanderthal.” The idea is that Homo sapiens and a cousin species once bred, leaving some people today with a trace of Neanderthal DNA. 

This DNA is arguably the 21st century’s most celebrated discovery in human evolution. But in 2024, a pair of French geneticists called into question the theory’s very foundations. 

They proposed that what scientists interpret as interbreeding could instead be explained by population structure—the way genes concentrate in smaller, isolated groups.

Find out what it all means for human evolution.

—Ben Crair

This story is from the next issue of our print magazine, which is all about nature. Subscribe now to read it when it lands on Wednesday, April 22.

Why having “humans in the loop” in an AI war is an illusion

—Uri Maoz

AI is starting to shape real wars. It’s at the center of a legal battle between Anthropic and the Pentagon, playing a growing role in the conflict with Iran, and raising questions about how much humans should remain “in the loop.”

Under Pentagon guidelines, human oversight is meant to provide accountability, context, and security. But the idea of “humans in the loop” is a comforting distraction.

The real danger isn’t that machines will act without oversight; it’s that human overseers have no idea what the machines are actually “thinking.” Thankfully, science may offer a way forward.

Read the full op-ed on the urgent need for new safeguards around AI warfare.

The must-reads

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 Despite blacklisting Anthropic, the White House wants its new model
Trump officials are negotiating access to Mythos. (Axios)
+ Anthropic said it was too dangerous for a public release. (Bloomberg $)
+ Finance ministers are alarmed about the security risks. (BBC)
+ Anthropic just rolled out a model that’s less risky than Mythos. (CNBC)
+ The Pentagon has pursued a culture war against the company. (MIT Technology Review)

2 Sam Altman’s side hustles have raised conflict-of-interest concerns
His opaque investments could influence decisions at OpenAI. (WSJ $)
+ A jury will soon decide if OpenAI abandoned its founding mission. (Wired $)
+ The company is making a big play for science. (MIT Technology Review)

3 A Starlink outage during drone tests exposed the Pentagon’s SpaceX reliance
It was one of several Navy test disruptions linked to Starlink. (Reuters $)
+ The DoD is also tapping Ford and GM for military innovations.(NYT $)

4 Data center delays threaten to choke AI expansion
40% of this year’s projects are at risk of falling behind schedule. (FT $)
+ Partly because no one wants a data center in their backyard. (MIT Technology Review)

5 Alibaba just released its own version of a world model
Happy Oyster is the latest attempt to extend AI’s ability to comprehend physical reality. (SCMP)
+ But they still need to understand cause and effect. (FT $)

6 Google’s Gemini is now generating AI images tailored to personal data
By analyzing users’ Google services and data. (Quartz)
+ Google says it will cut the need for detailed prompts. (TechCrunch)

7 OpenAI is beefing up its agentic coding and development system
Its Codex update is a direct shot at Claude Code. (The Verge)
+ But not everyone is convinced about AI coding. (MIT Technology Review)

8 Europe’s online age verification app is here
It’s available for free to any company that wants it. (Wired $) 

9 Smartglasses are giving Korean theaters hope of a K-Pop moment
Their AI-powered translations are taking the shows to the world. (NYT $)

10 Global voice actors are fighting Hollywood’s AI push
Their voices are training the models that are replacing them. (Rest of World)

Quote of the day

“There’s this dark period between now and some time in the future where the advantage is very much offensive AI.” 

—Rob Joyce, former director of cybersecurity at the National Security Agency, tells Bloomberg how AI is creating new hacking threats.

One More Thing

COURTESY OF NOVEON MAGNETICS

The race to produce rare earth elements

Access to rare earth elements will determine which countries meet their goals for lowering emissions or generating energy from non-fossil-fuel sources. But some nations, including the US, are worried about the supply of these elements. 

China dominates the market, while extraction in the US is limited. As a result, scientists and companies are exploring unconventional sources. Read the full story on their search for critical minerals.

—Mureji Fatunde

We can still have nice things

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line.)

+ This ska cover of Rage Against the Machine is an upbeat way to start a revolution.
+ We finally know how far Stretch Armstrong can really stretch.
+ Customize these ambient sounds to wash away disruptive thoughts.
+ Here’s proof childhood dreams can come true: a girl guiding a seal to perform tricks. 

The Download: cyberscammers’ banking bypasses, and carbon removal troubles

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.

Cyberscammers are bypassing banks’ security with illicit tools sold on Telegram 

Inside a money-laundering center in Cambodia, an employee opens a banking app on his phone. It asks for a photo linked to the account, so he uploads a picture of a 30-something Asian man. 

The app then requests a video “liveness” check. The scammer holds up a static image of a woman who doesn’t match the account. After 90 seconds, he’s in. 

The exploit relies on illicit hacking services sold on Telegram that break “Know Your Customer” (KYC) facial scans. MIT Technology Review found 22 channels and groups advertising these services. This is what we discovered. 

—Fiona Kelliher 

Is carbon removal in trouble? 

—Casey Crownhart 

Last week, news emerged that Microsoft was pausing carbon removal purchases. It was a bombshell—Microsoft effectively is the carbon removal market, single-handedly purchasing around 80% of all contracted carbon removal. 

The report sparked fear across the industry, raising questions about the future of carbon removal and the role of Big Tech. Read the full story. 

This story is from The Spark, our weekly newsletter exploring the technology that could combat the climate crisis. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday. 

The quest to measure our relationship with nature 

—Emma Marris 

Humans have done some destructive things to the ecosystems around us. But conservationists are learning that we can also be a force for good. 

To understand how we work best with nature, a group of scientists, authors, and philosophers have developed new measurements of human-nonhuman relationships. Now, a team in the United Nations is continuing the work. Find out why—and what they hope to achieve. 

This story is from the next issue of our print magazine, which is all about nature. Subscribe now to read it when it lands on Wednesday, April 22.  

The must-reads 

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 

1 Ukraine says Russian troops have surrendered to robots  
They claim a fully automated attack captured army positions for the first time in history. (404 Media) 
+ Europe’s vision for future wars is full of drones. (MIT Technology Review) 
 
2 Monkeys with BCIs are navigating virtual worlds using only their thoughts 
The research could help people with paralysis. (New Scientist)  
+ But these implants still face a critical test. (MIT Technology Review) 
 
3 NASA wants to put nuclear reactors on the Moon 
They could power lunar bases and extend spaceflight. (Wired $) 
+ NASA is also building a nuclear-powered spacecraft. (MIT Technology Review) 

4 Plans for online age verification in the US are raising red flags 
Experts warn of compliance issues and potential data breaches. (NBC News) 
+ In the EU, an age verification app is about to launch. (Reuters $) 

5 An AI chip boom just pushed Taiwan’s stock market past the UK’s 
It’s risen past $4 trillion to become the world’s seventh largest. (FT $) 
+ Future AI chips could be built on glass. (MIT Technology Review) 

6 The public backlash against data centers is intensifying in the US 
Protests and litigation are blocking projects. (CNBC) 
+ One potential solution? Putting them in space. (MIT Technology Review) 

7 Five-minute EV charging is becoming a reality 
China’s BYD has started rolling it out. (Gizmodo)  
+ “Extended-range electric vehicles” are about to hit US streets. (Atlantic $) 

8 Stealth signals are bypassing Iran’s internet blackout  
Files hidden in satellite TV broadcasts keep information flowing. (IEEE) 
 
9 Shoe brand Allbirds made a shock pivot to AI, sending stock up 700%  
No bubble to see here, folks. (CNBC)  
+ What even is the AI bubble? (MIT Technology Review) 

10 The largest ever map of the universe is complete  
It captures 47 million galaxies and quasars. (Space.com) 

Quote of the day 

“I like the internet as much as anybody, but we’ve got to go on an internet diet. We don’t need to pay for corporations to do their internet stuff.” 

 —Sylvia Whitt, a 78-year-old retiree based in Virginia, tells the Washington Post why they’re protesting against data centers.  

One More Thing 

ISRAEL VARGAS

AI and the future of sex 

Some Republican lawmakers want to criminalize porn and arrest its creators. But what if porn is wholly created by an algorithm? In that case, whether it’s obscene, ethical, or safe becomes a secondary issue. The primary concern will be what it means for porn to be “real”—and what the answer demands from all of us. 

Technological advances could even remove the “messy humanity” from sex itself. The rise of AI-generated porn may be a symptom of a new synthetic sexuality, not the cause. Read the full story. 

—Leo Herrera 

We can still have nice things 

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line.) 

+ An animator turned his son’s drawings into epic anime characters. 
+ Hundreds of baby green sea turtles made a spectacular first journey to the ocean. 
+ You can now track rocket launches from take-off to orbit in real time. 
+ These musical mistakes prove that even the classics aren’t perfect. 

The Download: NASA’s nuclear spacecraft and unveiling our AI 10

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.

NASA is building the first nuclear reactor-powered interplanetary spacecraft. How will it work? 

Just before Artemis II began its historic slingshot around the moon, NASA revealed an even grander space travel plan. By the end of 2028, the agency aims to fly a nuclear reactor-powered interplanetary spacecraft to Mars. 

A successful mission would herald a new era in spaceflight—and might just give the US the edge in the race against China. But the project remains shrouded in mystery. 

MIT Technology Review picked the brains of nuclear power and propulsion experts to find out how the nuclear-powered spacecraft might work. Here’s what we discovered. 

—Robin George Andrews 

This story is part of MIT Technology Review Explains, our series untangling the complex, messy world of technology to help you understand what’s coming next. You can read more from the series here. 

Coming soon: our 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now 

Each year, we compile our 10 Breakthrough Technologies list, featuring our educated predictions for which technologies will change the world. Our 2026 list, however, was harder to wrangle than normal. Why? We had so many worthy AI candidates we couldn’t fit them all in!  

That got us thinking: what if we made an entirely new list all about AI? Before we knew it, we had the beginnings of what we’re calling 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now.  

On April 21, we’ll unveil the list on stage at our signature AI conference, EmTech AI, and then publish it online later that day. If you want to be among the first to see it, join us at EmTech AI or become a subscriber to livestream the announcement.  

Find out more about the list’s methodology and aims here. 

—Niall Firth & Amy Nordrum 

MIT Technology Review Narrated: this company is developing gene therapies for muscle growth, erectile dysfunction, and “radical longevity” 

In January, a handful of volunteers were injected with two experimental gene therapies as part of an unusual clinical trial. Its long-term goal? To achieve radical human life extension.  

The therapies are designed to support muscle growth. The company behind them, Unlimited Bio, also plans to trial similar therapies in the scalp (for baldness) and penis (for erectile dysfunction). But some experts are concerned about the plans.  

Find out why the trial has divided opinion. 

—Jessica Hamzelou 

This is our latest story to be turned into an MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast, which we publish each week on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Just navigate to MIT Technology Review Narrated on either platform, and follow us to get all our new content as it’s released. 

The must-reads 

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 

1 Google, Microsoft, and Meta track users even when they opt out 
According to an independent audit, they may be racking up billions in fines. (404 Media)  
+ How our digital devices put our privacy at risk. (Ars Technica) 
+ Privacy’s next frontier is AI “memories.” (MIT Technology Review) 
 
2 OpenAI has a new cybersecurity model—and strategy 
GPT-5.4-Cyber is designed specifically for defensive cybersecurity work. (Reuters $) 
+ OpenAI has joined Anthropic in focusing on cybersecurity recently. (Wired $) 
+ Like Anthopic, its latest model is only available to verified testers. (NYT $) 
+ AI is already making online crimes easier. It could get much worse. (MIT Technology Review) 

3 Amazon is buying satellite firm Globalstar in a bid to rival Starlink   
The $11.6 billion deal targets the lucrative satellite internet market. (WSJ $)  
+ Apple has chosen Amazon satellites for iPhone. (Ars Technica) 
 
4 What it’s like to live with an experimental brain implant 
Early BCI users explain what the technology gives—and takes. (IEEE) 
+ A patient with Neuralink got a boost from generative AI. (MIT Technology Review) 
 
5 Dozens of AI disease-prediction models were trained on dubious data  
A few might already have been used on patients. (Nature) 

6 Uber is breaking from its gig economy model to avoid robotaxi disruption  
It’s spending $10 billion to buy thousands of autonomous vehicles. (FT $) 
 
7 xAI is being sued over data center pollution  
Musk’s AI venture stands accused by the NAACP of violating the Clean Air Act. (Engadget) 
+ No one wants a data center in their backyard. (MIT Technology Review) 
 
8 Apple could win the AI race without running  
It may reap the rewards of everyone else’s spending. (Axios) 
 
9 How 4chan set a precedent for AI’s reasoning abilities  
The notorious forum tested a feature called “chain of thought.” (The Atlantic $) 
 
10 The surprising emotional toll of wearing Meta’s AI sunglasses 
Their shortcomings are making users sad. (NYT $) 
 
 

Quote of the day 

“Everything got a whole lot worse once they rolled out AI.” 

—A copywriter tells the Guardian that they’re drowning in “workslop” — AI-generated work that seems polished but has major flaws 

One More Thing 

GETTY IMAGES

How refrigeration ruined fresh food 

Bananas may not be chilled in the grocery store, but they’re the ultimate refrigerated fruit. It’s only thanks to a network of thermal control that they’ve become a global commodity. And that salad bag on the shelf? It’s not just a bag but a highly engineered respiratory apparatus. 

According to Nicola Twilley—a contributor to the New Yorker and cohost of the podcast Gastropod—refrigeration has wrecked our food system. Thankfully, there are promising alternative preservation methods.  

Read the full story on her research. 

—Allison Arieff 

We can still have nice things 

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line.) 

+ Spotify only shows 10 popular songs per artist. This tool lists them all. 
+ These GIF animations are mesmerizing loops of nostalgia. 
+ This site beautifully visualizes Curiosity’s 13 years on Mars. 
+ A retro-futurist designer has turned a NES console into a working synthesizer.