Your daily dose of what's up in emerging technology
By Rhiannon Williams • 11.28.23
Hello! Today: why fossil fuel companies have a pivotal role to play in the COP28 climate summit in the United Arab Emirates, which kicks off this week. Plus, make sure you register for our subscriber-only Roundtable discussion on the future of families (at least where lab innovations are concerned). It's at 11am ET today!
Why the UN climate talks are a moment of reckoning for oil and gas companies
The United Arab Emirates is one of the world's largest oil producers. It's also the site of this year's UN COP28 climate summit, which kicks off later this week in Dubai.
It's a controversial host, but the truth is that there's massive potential for oil and gas companies to help address climate change, both by cleaning up their operations and by investing their considerable wealth and expertise into new technologies.
The problem is that these companies also have a vested interest in preserving the status quo. If they want to be part of a net-zero future, something will need to change—and soon. Read the full story.
—Casey Crownhart
How reproductive technology can reverse population decline
Birth rates have been plummeting in wealthy countries, well below the "replacement" rate. Even in China, a dramatic downturn in the number of babies has officials scrambling, as its population growth turns negative.
So, what's behind the baby bust and can new reproductive technology reverse the trend? MIT Technology Review is hosting a subscriber-only Roundtables discussion on how innovations from the lab could affect the future of families at 11am ET this morning, featuring Antonio Regalado, our biotechnology editor, and entrepreneur Martín Varsavsky, founder of fertility clinic Prelude Fertility. Don't miss out—make sure you register now.
Different workers need different devices. Join us on November 29th and discover how ChromeOS laptops, available from Insight, support front-line workers in multiple environments.
I've combed the internet to find you today's most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
1 Instagram recommends sexual content to adults that follow kids Test accounts were served risqué posts and disturbing videos. (WSJ $) + Meta knew it had millions of underage users, a complaint claims. (NYT $)
2 The first transatlantic flight powered by alternative fuels has taken off Waste fats are fueling the flight between London and New York. (BBC) + Here are the phrases you need to know to understand climate change. (Vox) + Everything you need to know about the wild world of alternative jet fuels. (MIT Technology Review)
3 The United Arab Emirates planned to strike oil deals during COP28 Which doesn't seem terribly climate-friendly. (BBC) + AUAE AI firm is believed to have covertly worked with China. (NYT $) + China's own carbon emissions are on course to peak soon. (Economist $)
4 Starlink can only operate in Gaza with Israel's approval That's according to Elon Musk, who is visiting Israel currently. (FT $)
5 Foxconn is struggling to build iPhones in India So the manufacturer started shipping over skilled workers from China. (Rest of World)
6 The world's banana supply is in serious trouble 🍌 A deadly fungus is sweeping through crops—and there's no known cure. (Bloomberg $)
7 Digital car keys don't always work the way they're supposed to Which is a major problem if you can't guarantee your vehicle is secure. (The Verge)
8 It's not just you—dating is tough But these tips can help to make it a less harrowing experience. (WP $) + Here's how the net's newest matchmakers help you find love. (MIT Technology Review)
9 Big dogs don't live that long 🐶 But biotech company Loyal is hoping to change that with an experimental drug. (Wired $) + These scientists are working to extend the life span of pet dogs—and their owners. (MIT Technology Review)
10 The quiet bliss of living in an internet-free home And how you can achieve it, too. (The Atlantic $) + How to log off. (MIT Technology Review)
Quote of the day
"He ignored me royally, which is his privilege. And he lost almost all the money that he had invested."
—Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank, explains to students in Frankfurt how one of her sons lost his money on crypto, despite her repeated warnings, Reuters reports.
The big story
Are you ready to be a techno-optimist again?
February 2021
Back in 2001, MIT Technology Review picked 10 emerging areas of innovation that we promised would "change the world." It was a time of peak techno-optimism.
We eschewed robotic exoskeletons and human cloning, as well as molecular nanomanufacturing and the dreaded gray goo of the nano doomsayers. Instead we focused on fundamental advances in information technology, materials, and biotech. Most of the technologies are still familiar: data mining, natural-language processing, microfluidics, brain-machine interfaces, biometrics, and robot design.
So how well did these technologies fulfill the dreams we had for them two decades ago? Here are a few lessons from the 2001 list. Read the full story.
—David Rotman
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 or tweet 'em at me.)
+ Sign me up for the cosy life, please. + Push yourself out of your comfort zone with a pair of statement specs, a la Elton John. + How to improve your attention span over time—it's not as tough as it seems. + There's a delicate balance to be struck between too much and not enough protein. + What can sand drawings teach us about maths? Quite a lot, actually.
🔥 CYBER WEEK DEAL: SAVE 50% Our biggest sale of the year is happening now! For a limited time, save 50% on an annual subscription to MIT Technology Review and gain access to trusted reporting, analysis and insight that you can't get anywhere else. Don't miss out, claim this offer now.
Comments
Post a Comment