That is in the present day’s version of The Download, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a each day dose of what’s happening on the planet of know-how.
How CRISPR might assist save crops from devastation brought on by pests
For many years, the grape-growers of California have battled Pierce’s Illness, a nasty an infection which causes vines to wither. The arrival of an invasive insect across the late ‘80s supercharged the unfold of the illness, turning it from a nuisance to a nightmare.
The illness nonetheless has no treatment, and it’s susceptible to getting worse as a result of local weather change. However an unlikely resolution has arrived within the type of CRISPR gene-editing know-how, which permits researchers to alter the pest’s genome in order that it could actually now not unfold the bacterium. Read the full story.
—Emma Foehringer Service provider
Busting three myths about supplies and renewable vitality
In terms of renewable vitality, there are specific myths which can be tough to shake. The uncooked supplies we have to battle local weather change are sometimes discovered on the heart of a few of the most pervasive untruths or misunderstandings.
Our local weather reporter Casey Crownhart dove into three of the largest myths linked to local weather change-combatting supplies and renewable energy—demonstrating simply how essential it’s to disregard the hype, and observe the science. Read the full story.
Casey’s story is from The Spark, her weekly vitality and local weather e-newsletter. Sign up to obtain it in your inbox each Wednesday.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you in the present day’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 Keep in mind Amazon’s drone supply program?
It’s nonetheless struggling to take off. (The Information $)
2 These movies present how Iran violently suppresses protests
Safety forces are beating and opening fireplace on civilians. (WP $)
+ Hundreds of demonstrators proceed to rail towards authorities, although. (WSJ $)
3 Whisper is ChatGPT’s quieter cousin
The accuracy of the transcription mannequin, additionally made by OpenAI, is near-perfect. (New Yorker $)
+ ChatGPT is launching a subscription tier for $20 a month. (Gizmodo)
+ Microsoft’s wasted no time integrating ChatGPT into Groups. (Reuters)
+ OpenAI is an actual breeding floor for AI expertise. (The Information $)
+ Individuals are already utilizing ChatGPT to create exercise plans. (MIT Technology Review)
4 The essential position satellites will play in area warfare
They acquire information to disclose rivals’ places and weapons techniques. (Wired $)
+ The way to battle a battle in area (and get away with it) (MIT Technology Review)
5 Instagram’s founders have launched a AI-aggregated information app
They consider Artifact can bust the information echo chambers popularized by Twitter. (FT $)
6 We don’t totally know the way psychedelics can alter our brains
All of the extra purpose to train warning earlier than you increase your thoughts. (The Atlantic $)
+ Thoughts-altering substances are being overhyped as marvel medication. (MIT Technology Review)
7 Are you able to really feel the metaverse?
Haptic tech is the following step to creating immersive experiences extra life-like. (Economist $)
+ In the meantime, Meta’s metaverse labs are nonetheless hemorrhaging cash. (Insider $)
8 Overlook 3D-printers, it is a 3D-printing manufacturing facility
It’s all about scale, child. (Bloomberg $)
+ Meet the designers printing homes out of salt and clay. (MIT Technology Review)
9 Voice-dictated textual content messages are riddled with errors
Goof duck deciphering them! (WSJ $)
10 TikTok’s ‘fortunate woman syndrome’ is simply one other time period for manifesting 
Gen Z has found the ability of optimistic considering. (Vox)
+ Tiktok’s ‘darkish psychology’ pattern sounds loads like gaslighting to me. (Vice)
Quote of the day
“Privateness has been extinguished. It’s now a zombie.”
—Shoshana Zuboff, professor emerita at Harvard Enterprise Faculty, highlights a similarity between western tech giants and China’s surveillance state in an interview with the Financial Times.
The massive story
How megacities could lead on the battle towards local weather change
April 2021
In 2050, 2.5 billion extra individuals will dwell in cities than do in the present day. Because the world grows extra urbanized, many cities have gotten extra populous whereas additionally making an attempt to scale back carbon emissions and blunt the impacts of local weather change.
Within the coming a long time, cities shall be engines of financial progress. However they have to additionally play a key position in confronting local weather change. Learn the way a few of the world’s largest cities—known as megacities—are rising to this problem. Read the full story.
—Gabrielle Merite & Andre Vitorio
We will nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction in these bizarre instances. (Obtained any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ Atlas has fallen—and I’m cackling on the blooper reel (thanks Will!)
+ Don’t fear if your property’s wanting a bit untidy as of late, even the queen of fresh Marie Kondo is easing off on the dusting.
+ These exhibitions are properly value trotting the globe for.
+ I’m determined to go to this breathtaking sea serpent sculpture on a French seaside.
+ This cat is a few type of well-hydrated genius.
