Mathematicians are deploying algorithms to stop gerrymandering

How will the coronavirus evolve? 

Sponsored by Dell Technologies The Download Your daily dose of what's up in emerging technology Math to the rescue 08.12.21 Good morning! Today we have a fascinating story about how mathematicians are creating algorithms that detect and counter gerrymandering. And check out the article on the big question of the pandemic: how will the coronavirus evolve? Get your friends to sign up here to get The Download every day. Mathematicians are deploying algorithms to stop gerrymandering The maps for US legislative races often resemble monsters, with bizarrely shaped districts emerging from wonky hybrids of counties, precincts, and census blocks. But it’s the drawing of these maps, more than anything, that determines how votes translate into who gets elected. The question is, if the choice of maps is so important, which map should we choose, and how should we decide if someone has done a good job in choosing that map? Over recent months, mathematicians have been busy in anticipation of a data release expected today from the US Census Bureau. Every decade, new census data launches the decennial redistricting cycle—state legislators (or sometimes appointed commissions) draw new maps, moving district lines to account for demographic shifts. In preparation, mathematicians are sharpening new algorithms that detect and counter gerrymandering, whereby politicians rig the maps and skew the results to favor one political party over another. Republicans have openly declared that they intend to gerrymander a path to retaking the US House of Representatives in 2022. Tools like these algorithms will play a critical role in the looming political battles. Read the full story. —Siobhan Roberts We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction in these weird times. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or tweet 'em at me.)   + A Jamaican hurdler went to the wrong Olympic venue for his race. A woman gave him the money he needed to get a taxi to the right place. He then won gold, and tracked her down to say thanks. SOB.   + I very much question the claim that "you can only eat so much pesto pasta", but these basil recipes look delicious regardless.   + Accidental Radiohead lyrics.     + This dog has the best method for going downstairs.   + The most "New England" sign you will ever see.   + I'd swipe right on ALL these pets.   + I love the idea of nature-friendly design, like this non-slip roof for bats.   + Any exercise is better than none… even if it only lasts for four seconds(!) (NYT $) Sponsor Message Revealing the data paradox We're living in an always-on, hyper-connected world—data is all around. Businesses need to turn it into insights to stay ahead of the competition. But many suffer from data overload and lack the right technology and mindset. Do you? Explore how to become a data champion. The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 How will the coronavirus evolve? This is the trillion dollar question. Thankfully, there are reasons to be optimistic. (New Yorker $)   + Five reasons why you don’t need to panic about coronavirus variants. (TR)   + The FDA is about to approve a third vaccine dose for immunocompromised people. (NBC)   + The WHO is testing three more drugs in a broad search for covid treatments. (NYT $)   + The CDC is urging pregnant people to get vaccinated. (Axios)   + As vaccine mandates spread, so do protests. (NBC)  2 NASA's $1 billion spacesuit program may delay its 2024 moon goal 🧑‍🚀 It's starting to look inevitable that the timetable will slip, potentially quite significantly. (WP $)   + The world must cooperate to avoid a catastrophic space collision. (Nature)  3 An addiction risk algorithm may be worsening the US opioid crisis If you're an American, you probably have one of these overdose risk scores without even realizing. (Wired $)   + A new tool to tackle the opioid epidemic is... a video game? (WP $)  4 It seems Sicily just hit the hottest-ever temperature recorded in Europe The measurement of 119.85°F is awaiting verification. (Axios)   + Californians are facing huge bills to protect their homes from wildfires. (The Atlantic $)   + Nearly 200 million Americans are under heat advisories or excessive heat warnings. (Axios)   + The Northwest heat wave is causing hundreds of deaths. (NYT $)  5 Facebook is failing England's Black soccer players It's doing very little to stop racist abuse, and trying to shift the responsibility onto individuals. (NYT $)   + Facebook's Oversight Board has instructed it to restore a post criticizing the Myanmar coup. (Engadget)  6 The hackers who stole cryptocurrency have given back $260 million of it "Soz, didn't really mean to steal that $600 million! Lol! Kthnxbi!" (BBC)   + Crypto hackers are nice now. (Bloomberg $)  7 A woman got an AI to write about her sister's death It's a deeply emotional experiment, but if anything, it only shows how limited this technology still is. (Believer)   + Meet the AIs that can write—and code. (Axios)  8 Instagram's creatives are unhappy about its move to video 🤳 We don't need another TikTok. (The Guardian)   9 "Hybrid" office arrangements encourage cliques The Monday-Wednesday tribe may never even need to interact with the Thursday-Friday folks. (Wired UK)   10 Why are CAPTCHA pictures just… so deeply depressing? They are by AI, for AI. (OneZero) Immerse yourself in bold thinking and innovation at EmTech MIT.  Join us to get critical, ahead-of-the-curve knowledge and actionable insights on the breakthrough technologies fundamentally changing how business is done. Purchase your ticket today. Quote of the day “My experiences in the ICU these past weeks have left me surprised, disheartened, but most of all, angry.” —Thanh Neville, an intensive care doctor in Los Angeles, writes a piece for the Huffington Post in which she says she is sick and tired of patients who have chosen not to get vaccinated. Top image credit: ALEXANDER GLANDIEN Please send accidental Radiohead lyrics to hi@technologyreview.com. Follow me on Twitter at @charlottejee. Thanks for reading! —Charlotte Was this newsletter forwarded to you, and you'd like to see more? Sign up today Understand the promise of technology. Make MIT Technology Review your go-to resource for thought-provoking insights, analysis, and news about the world of technology. 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