The Download: US climate studies are being shut down, and building cities from lava
Plus: the US is failing to narrow the technological gap between it and China
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.
The Trump administration has shut down more than 100 climate studies
The Trump administration has terminated National Science Foundation grants for more than 100 research projects related to climate change, according to an MIT Technology Review analysis of a database that tracks such cuts.
The move will cut off what’s likely to amount to tens of millions of dollars for studies that were previously approved and, in most cases, already in the works. Many believe the administration’s broader motivation is to undermine the power of the university system and prevent research findings that cut against its politics. Read the full story.
—James Temple
This architect wants to build cities out of lava
Arnhildur Pálmadóttir is an architect with an extraordinary mission: to harness molten lava and build cities out of it.
Pálmadóttir believes the lava that flows from a single eruption could yield enough building material to lay the foundations of an entire city. She has been researching this possibility for more than five years as part of a project she calls Lavaforming. Together with her son and colleague Arnar Skarphéðinsson, she has identified three potential techniques that could change how future homes are designed and built from repurposed lava. Read the full story.
—Elissaveta M. Brandon
This story is from the most recent edition of our print magazine, which is all about how technology is changing creativity. Subscribe now to read it and to receive future print copies once they land.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
1 America is failing to win the tech race against China
In fields as diverse as drones and energy. (WSJ $)
+ Humanoid robots is an area of particular interest. (Bloomberg $)
+ China has accused the US of violating the pair’s trade truce. (FT $)
2 Who is really in charge of DOGE?
According to a fired staffer, it wasn’t Elon Musk. (Wired $)
+ DOGE’s tech takeover threatens the safety and stability of our critical data. (MIT Technology Review)
3 Brazilians will soon be able to sell their digital data
It’s the first time citizens will be able to monetize their digital footprint. (Rest of World)
4 The Trump administration’s anti-vaccine stance is stoking fear among scientists
It’s slashing funding for mRNA trials, and experts are afraid to speak out. (The Atlantic $)
+ This annual shot might protect against HIV infections. (MIT Technology Review)
5 Tech companies want us to spend longer talking to chatbots
Those conversations can easily veer into dangerous territory. (WP $)
+ How we use AI in the future is up to us. (New Yorker $)
+ This benchmark used Reddit’s AITA to test how much AI models suck up to us. (MIT Technology Review)
6 Tiktok’s mental health videos are rife with misinformation
A lot of the advice is useless at best, and harmful at worst. (The Guardian)
7 Lawyers are hooked on ChatGPT
Even though it’s inherently unreliable. (The Verge)
+ Yet another lawyer has been found referencing nonexistent citations. (The Guardian)
+ How AI is introducing errors into courtrooms. (MIT Technology Review)
8 How chefs are using generative AI 👩🍳
They’re starting to experiment with using it to create innovative new dishes. (NYT $)
+ Watch this robot cook shrimp and clean autonomously. (MIT Technology Review)
9 The influencer suing her rival has dropped her lawsuit
The legal fight over ownership of a basic aesthetic has come to an end. (NBC News)
10 Roblox’s new game has sparked a digital fruit underground market
And players are already spending millions of dollars every week. (Bloomberg $)
Quote of the day
“We can’t substitute complex thinking with machines. AI can’t replace our curiosity, creativity or emotional intelligence.”
—Mateusz Demski, a journalist in Poland, tells the Guardian about how his radio station employer laid him off, only to later launch shows fronted by AI-generated presenters.
One more thing
Adventures in the genetic time machineAn ancient-DNA revolution is turning the high-speed equipment used to study the DNA of living things on to specimens from the past.
The technology is being used to create genetic maps of saber-toothed cats, cave bears, and thousands of ancient humans, including Vikings, Polynesian navigators, and numerous Neanderthals. The total number of ancient humans studied is more than 10,000 and rising fast.
The old genes have already revealed remarkable stories of human migrations around the globe.
But researchers are hoping ancient DNA will be more than a telescope on the past—they hope it will have concrete practical use in the present. Read the full story.
—Antonio Regalado
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 skeet ’em at me.)
+ The ancient Persians managed to keep cool using an innovative breeze-catching technique that could still be useful today.
+ Knowledge is power—here’s a helpful list of hoaxes to be aware of.
+ How said it: Homer Simpson or Pete Hegseth?
+ I had no idea London has so many cat statues.
