The Digital Frontier

A data center with rows of servers and neatly organized cables in red and blue on both sides of a central aisle.

The Digital Frontier

Advancements in 20th century medicine reshaped society and made good health an expectation, not an exception. Now, 21st century breakthroughs may end disease, reverse aging, and restore sight and hearing — perhaps sooner than we think.
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How Boom is resurrecting supersonic flight
If Boom gets its way, the future of supersonic passenger travel will be quieter, cleaner, and more affordable than its past.
The West needs more water. This Nobel winner may have the answer.
Paul Migrom has an Emmy, a Nobel, and a successful company. There’s one more big problem on the to-do list.
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Immune cells in the brain may reduce damage during seizures and promote recovery
Microglia perform many functions in the brain, and their role in seizures is unclear — a new study in mice aims to find out more.
Gliding, not searching: Here’s how to reset your view of ChatGPT to steer it to better results
To have a productive session with ChatGPT, think of it as a glider that takes you on journeys through knowledge and possibilities.
Series| Hard Reset
“Metamaterials” will put sci-fi tech into your phone
This company is building a new kind of “metamaterial” that can change the way we see reality.
Scientists rush to recreate room-temperature superconductor
Claims that a material called “LK-99” is a room-temperature superconductor are being put to the test by the scientific community.
Scientists monitored the brains of 4 dying patients. Here’s what they found
Researchers found a surge of neurophysiological activity in the dying human brain, including in regions associated with conscious processing.
This non-profit is helping 1st gen college students out-earn their parents
75% of their students out-earn their parents. How Braven is restoring the American dream.
These giant viruses are unlike any we’ve ever seen before
Scientists have discovered a variety of “giant viruses” unlike any ever seen before in Massachusetts’ Harvard Forest
Viral room-temperature superconductor claims spark excitement
South Korean researchers claim they’ve created a material capable of room-temperature superconductivity, a holy grail of science.
Brain-computer interfaces could let soldiers control weapons with their thoughts
Brain-computer interfaces raise many ethical questions about how and whether they should be used for certain applications — including war.
Why death matters
Reframing life in terms of death reveals some of the biggest philosophical problems with how we think about living systems.
New study shows how electricity can turn on genes
A prototype wearable demonstrates a novel way to trigger gene expression: by zapping cells with electricity.
PhD student solves a mysterious ancient Sanskrit text algorithm after 2,500 years
For centuries, a grammatical problem surrounding a meta-rule in Pāṇini’s Aṣṭādhyāyī has risked readers misinterpreting the text.
These Zimbabwean grandmothers are bringing mental health support to their community
Therapy from grandmothers is 86% effective in improving mental health. Here’s the organization looking to bring that model to the rest of the world.
A $790,000 flying car is now cleared for takeoff
Air mobility startup Aska has begun flight testing the Aska A5, an SUV-sized flying car that costs an eye-watering $789,000.
What lies beneath our irrational decisions
In new book, an MIT scholar examines how game-theory logic underpins many of our seemingly odd and irrational decisions.
AI will soon tell doctors how to predict your future health
A new AI can can analyze X-rays for a important predictor of heart disease with a high degree of accuracy.
Two CRISPR treatments for Alzheimer’s ace early studies
Two teams of researchers have used CRISPR to alter the genes of mice to alleviate signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
Almost everyone fears death — but not in the same ways
Fear of death may be the most primal, normal human fear, but it’s one we all experience differently.
Google-backed startup sets two world records in geothermal power
Google-backed startup Fervo Energy has successfully tested a record-breaking enhanced geothermal system in Nevada.
Where next for crypto and the evolution of blockchains?
The new book “Data Money: Inside Cryptocurrencies, Their Communities, Markets, and Blockchains” explores how crypto is made and traded.
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