This is the latest issue of The Download, our weekday newsletter delivering a daily insight into the technology landscape.
Presenting: 10 innovative climate tech businesses to monitor
Annually, the MIT Technology Review editorial team compiles a list showcasing some of the most innovative climate tech companies across the globe. This effort aims to shed light on companies striving to decarbonize significant economic sectors, either by developing cleaner energy sources or reimagining food production and goods distribution.
Despite significant changes in the political and funding climate in the US over the past year, the urgency of the climate crises remains unchanged—we must swiftly reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avert the most dire consequences of climate change. This initiative emphasizes the companies making strides toward that goal.
Take a look at the third annual iteration of the list, and discover more about our selection process for these enterprises.
Creativity is our strongest weapon against climate change
—Bill Gates, technologist, business leader, and philanthropist.
The world is unlikely to achieve the emission and temperature reduction targets set in the 2015 Paris Agreement. Many attribute this failure to politics and corporate actions, but a more fundamental issue exists: we lack sufficient technological means, and many existing solutions are prohibitively expensive.
Nevertheless, I view this not as a reason for despair but as a source of hope—humans excel at innovation. Indeed, we have already developed several tools that are helping to decrease emissions, and I am optimistic about the emergence of further positive advancements. Read the complete article.
Another initiative to monitor ICE raids has recently gone offline
People over Papers, a crowdsourced project charting sightings of immigration agents, was removed from the Padlet platform, where it was hosted, as of yesterday.
This is merely the latest ICE-monitoring project to be taken down by technology platforms within the past week, following the removal of the ICEBlock app from app stores last week and the Stop ICE Raids Alert Network. Read the entire article.
—Eileen Guo
The essential reads
I’ve scoured the web to bring you today’s most engaging/critical/alarming/intriguing stories about technology.
1 ICE plans to create a social media surveillance unit
Contractors will analyze social media content looking for information to assist in arrests and deportations. (Wired $)
+ A US citizen suffering from stage four cancer has been deported. (The Guardian)
2 xAI is constructing massive data centers in Memphis
Which is disappointing news for local residents. (WSJ $)
+ Data centers are thriving in Europe currently. (Bloomberg $)
+ The data center surge in the desert. (MIT Technology Review)
3 Ukraine’s front lines are battling lethal infections
Multi-drug resistant bacteria are spreading throughout the country. (Knowable Magazine)
+ Exploring why tiny viruses might be our best defense against antimicrobial resistance. (MIT Technology Review)
4 A Silicon Valley institution asked students to create an AI policy
Mountain View High School believes engaging students is the optimal approach. (WP $)
+ In another location, a Texas school is allowing AI to steer its entire curriculum. (CBS News)
+ AI’s titans are eager to dominate the educational landscape. (MIT Technology Review)
5 These nations expect to gain from the US visa restrictions
Talented engineers from abroad are exploring opportunities outside America. (FT $)
+ India is optimistic that its skilled expatriates will return. (BBC)
6 How a vacant Chinese city became a self-driving vehicle testing ground
Ordos possesses everything required for autonomous vehicles—except for people. (Rest of World)
+ Reasoning behind why China’s self-driving sector is expanding into Europe. (Reuters)
7 Communicating with cows 🐄
A series of advanced AI-based collars is our closest method yet. (NYT $)
+ Researchers are attempting to induce pregnancies in cows using synthetic embryos. (MIT Technology Review)
8 Tech is filled with intriguing records 🏆
Who wants the title of the strongest robotic arm? (IEEE Spectrum)
9 Simply posting a photo on Instagram is no longer sufficient
The app is driving us to ‘contentify’ everything. (The Verge)
10 The Japanese beer brand Asahi has restarted production
Following a significant cyber attack that disrupted its breweries. (BBC)
+ However, the timeline for full operational capacity remains uncertain. (Reuters)
Quote of the day
“You’ll never possess a human-trafficked AI female.”
—Steve Jones, operator of an AI adult site, shares his perspective on the ethics surrounding his venture as discussed in the Guardian.
One additional note
The effort to enhance space-weather forecasting prior to the next major solar storm
As the satellite population in space increases and as we depend on them for an ever-growing number of essential functions on Earth, the demand for improved predictions of hazardous space weather is becoming increasingly critical.
Scientists have recognized for some time that solar activities can alter the density of the upper atmosphere. However, accurately forecasting the density variations resulting from specific solar activity is exceptionally challenging.
Currently, specialists are developing a model of the upper atmosphere to assist scientists in refining their understanding of how solar events impact the environment in low Earth orbit. Should they succeed, they will be able to safeguard satellites even during unstable space weather events, lowering the risk of potentially disastrous orbital collisions. Explore the complete article.
—Tereza Pultarova
We can still enjoy delightful things
A space for comfort, pleasure, and diversion to uplift your day. (Have ideas? Let me know or send them my way.)
+ I adore this site featuring quirky music genres (thanks Rachel!)
+ It’s not just you—breaking world records is indeed becoming more challenging.
+ If you’ve ever wished to play Snake in a URL bar, here’s your opportunity (warning, it’s tough!)
+ Autumn is upon us, and the images are already stunning ($)
