This is today's episode Loading, Our weekday newsletter, breaking down what's happening in tech, every day.
How the aging clock can help us understand why we age and whether we can reverse it
Wrinkles and gray hairs aside, it can be difficult to determine how well or poorly someone's body is truly aging. A person who develops age-related diseases or other biological changes associated with aging at an earlier age may be considered “biologically older” than a person of the same age who does not have such changes. Some 80-year-olds will be weak and frail, while others will be healthy and active.
Over the past decade, scientists have discovered new ways to study the hidden processes of aging in our bodies. And what they discovered changes our understanding of aging itself. Read the full story.
— Jessica Hamzelu
Can We Fix the Internet?
From addictive algorithms to malicious apps, to data mining and misinformation, the Internet today can be a dangerous place. New books by three influential figures – the man behind “net neutrality”, a former Meta executive and the inventor of the Internet – offer radical approaches to solving this problem. But are these luminaries up to the job? Read the full story.
— Nathan Smith
Both of these stories are from our upcoming print issue dedicated to the body. If you haven't already done so, subscribe now to receive future episodes as soon as they become available. In addition, you will also receive a free digital report on Nuclear Power.
Climate tech companies to watch in 2025: Cyclic Materials and rare earth recycling technology
Rare earth magnets are essential for generating clean energy, but only a small portion of the metals inside them are recycled. Cyclic Materials is aiming to change that by opening one of the largest rare earth magnet recycling facilities outside of China next year.
By assembling a wide range of devices and recycling a variety of metals, the company aims to overcome the economic challenges that have long held such efforts back. Read the full story.
—Maddie Stone
Cyclic Materials is one of our 10 Climate Tech Companies to Watch, our annual list of the most promising climate tech companies on the planet. See the rest of the list here.
A must read
I've scoured the internet to find you the funniest/important/scary/fascinating technology stories of today.
1 California AI Safety Bill Signed into Law
It holds artificial intelligence companies legally liable if their chatbots fail to protect users. (TechCrunch)
+ Chatbots also need to remind young users that they are not human. (Edge)
+ Gavin Newsom also gave the green light to action on social media warning labels. (Hill)
2 satellites transmit unencrypted data
Includes civilian text messages as well as military and law enforcement messages. (Wired $)
+ It gets very crowded there too. (Space)
3 Defense Startups Are Reviving Manufacturing in Quiet US Cities
The weapons of the future are being created in Delaware, Michigan and Ohio. (NOW $)
+ The second stage of military AI has arrived. (MIT Technology Review)
4. Europe is afraid of becoming an AI “colony”
Experts fear that the bloc is too dependent on American technology. (F.T. $)
+ The US is locked in a tie with China. (Rest of the world)
5. Vast amounts of human knowledge are missing from the Internet.
And AI is poised to make the problem even worse. (Eon)
+ How AI and Wikipedia sent vulnerable languages into a spiral of death. (MIT Technology Review)
6. How megabatteries are ushering in an energy revolution
Huge battery storage systems are helping to strengthen grids and expand the use of clean energy. (F.T. $)
+ This startup wants to use the Earth as a massive battery. (MIT Technology Review)
7. A New Chemical Detection Technique Reveals What Makes Wildlife Sick
This is a small step towards a healthier future for all animals, including humans. (Famous magazine)
+ We inhale, eat and drink toxic chemicals. Now we need to find out how they affect us. (MIT Technology Review)
8. The world is growing more food crops than ever before.
But hunger has not yet been eradicated. (Vox)
+ Africa is fighting rising hunger by turning to the foods of the past. (MIT Technology Review)
9. Google is starting to hide sponsored search results.
Only after you have seen them for the first time. (Edge)
+ Is Google catching up with OpenAI in search? (MIT Technology Review)
10. Indonesia's film industry embraces AI
To the detriment of artists and storyboarders. (Rest of the world)
Quote of the day
“It’s trying to solve a problem that wasn’t a problem before AI or before big tech.”
— Greg Loudon, Certified Beer Judge and Brewery Sales Manager, reports. 404 Media why is he so unimpressed by a well-known competitor using artificial intelligence to evaluate the quality of beer.
One more thing
Successful case of the first CRISPR treatment
The world's first commercial gene editing technique is set to begin to change the lives of people with sickle cell disease. It's called Casgevy and is approved in the UK in November 2022.
The drug, which will be sold in the US by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, uses CRISPR technology, which scientists can easily program to cut DNA at specific locations of their choosing.
But where to target CRISPR, and how did researchers know which DNA to change? This is the lesser known story of the discovery of the sickle cell system. More about this.
—Antonio Regalado
We can still have good things
A place for comfort, fun and entertainment that will brighten your day. (Any ideas? Write to me or shoot skeet at me.)
+ Why you should consider adoptingname of coffee“
+ Where is your favorite star wars character place on this final list? (Correct number one.)
+ Steve McQueen, you will always be cool.
+ A compelling argument for adoption ethical diet.
