This is the real story of the Afghan biometric databases abandoned to the Taliban

How to navigate covid news without spiraling 

The Download Your daily dose of what's up in emerging technology Abandoned databases 08.31.21 Hello! Charlotte here, fully recharged from my break. Let's get straight to it. Today we look at the threat Afghan government databases could pose to citizens post-Taliban takeover, offer some advice on how to navigate the relentless covid news cycle, and delve into a story from the latest edition of the magazine, all about how scientists are unwrapping the mysteries of the human brain. Get your friends to sign up here to get The Download every day. This is the real story of the biometric databases abandoned to the Taliban As the Taliban swept through Afghanistan in mid-August, reports circulated that they had also captured US military biometric devices used to collect data such as iris scans, fingerprints, and facial images. Some feared that the machines could be used to help identify Afghans who had supported coalition forces. But according to experts who spoke to MIT Technology Review, the greater threat is from Afghan government databases. These contain sensitive personal information that could be used to identify millions of people around the country. These were created in 2016 to reduce paycheck fraud involving fake identities, or “ghost soldiers,” and now contain records about every member of the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police. There was no deletion policy—not even in contingency situations, such as a Taliban takeover. The Taliban have stated publicly that they will not carry out targeted retribution against Afghans who had worked with the previous government or coalition forces. But their actions—historically and since their takeover—have not been reassuring. Read the full story. —Eileen Guo and Hikmat Noori How to navigate covid news without spiraling Even (perhaps especially) journalists have to admit it: navigating the covid-19 news cycle is exhausting—even impossible. So how do you get the information you need? Our reporter Mia Sato offers some advice… Beware the “scariant”-industrial complex. “Double mutant” and “doomsday variant" are just a couple of the terms that have been thrown around to describe emerging covid-19 variants. But experts say premature media attention on every new variant can distract from the most important messages, like the effectiveness of vaccines. Information changes, and that’s okay. The scientific discovery process doesn’t move at the same pace as the news cycle. Because this is a novel disease, scientists are learning in real time. This can create a vacuum where misleading or unverified information can fester and spread. Focus on what’s most useful. Local coverage can often be more useful than national coverage, as it can provide you with data for your specific area, which is ultimately what matters most for your day-to-day life.  Read the full story.  Eight ways scientists are unwrapping the mysteries of the human brain There is no greater scientific mystery than the brain. It’s made mostly of water; much of the rest is fat. Yet this roughly three-pound blob of material produces our thoughts, memories, and emotions. It governs how we interact with the world, and it runs our body. Increasingly, scientists are beginning to unravel the complexities of how it works and understand how the 86 billion neurons in the human brain form the connections that produce ideas and feelings, as well as the ability to communicate and react.  Here’s our whistle-stop tour of some of the most cutting-edge research, from neurogenetics to connectomics to computational neuroscience—and why it’s important. Read the full list of breakthroughs and discover the scientists behind them. —Hannah Thomasy This story is from the latest edition of our print magazine, all about the mind. You'll need to subscribe to get access, but you can do that for just $50 a year. 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.)   + This fascinating article discusses what happens to a national cuisine when that nation no longer technically exists (in this case, Yugoslavia.)   + This post made me feel hopeful (yes, hopeful!) for the future of humanity.   + Kiwis are keeping themselves fit and entertained in lockdown with this bingo card for the daily official press conferences. Thanks Jenn!   + How Gorbachev became a 90s retro gaming legend.    + This video will make you want to visit the Ore Mountains in Germany.   + Life lessons from a food critic.    + Slime is amazing. The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 The US reached a daily average of 100,000 hospitalizations That's higher than in any previous surge except last winter, before the vaccines. (NYT $)   + The WHO backed booster vaccines for vulnerable people. (The Guardian)   + The EU recommended its members restrict travel from the US to Europe. (Axios)   + The risks kids face from covid. (Wired $)   + Cases are falling again in New Zealand. (The Guardian)  2 Calls to 911 in New Orleans went unanswered after Hurricane Ida That's down to antiquated technology. (WP $)   + The hurricane slammed into Louisiana then didn't really weaken. Why? (Ars Technica)   + More than one million people are now without power. (BBC)   + The flood defenses installed post-Katrina are holding, for now. (WSJ $)   3 A $150 million machine is keeping Moore's Law alive It's made by ASML, a Dutch company that has mastered the process of etching tiny nanoscopic features into microchips with light. (Wired $)   4 Chinese kids are now banned from gaming on school nights 🎮🚫 Three hours a week is all they'll be allowed under new regulations. (WSJ $)   + The news sent Chinese video game company stocks tumbling. (Bloomberg $)   + China's new data rules, explained. (Quartz)  5 How one woman helped build a worker movement at Apple No mean feat, given its notoriously secretive culture. (Protocol)    + Apple cares about privacy... unless you work there. (The Verge)  6 Why we end up burning out Left to our own devices, we tend to overwork by about 20%. (New Yorker $)   7 How not to talk to a science denier A productive conversation becomes impossible if you assume someone's an evil idiot. (UnHerd)   + How to talk to vaccine-hesitant people. (TR)  8 There are new cracks in the International Space Station It's beginning to show its age. (Reuters $)   9 Online trolls are jerks in person, too  These sorts of people have always existed—but the internet connects them and gives them a giant megaphone. (Gizmodo)   10 A build-your-own-mattress community has emerged online 🛏️ This won't save you time. Or money. But it might be fun?! (Vice) Advancing the promise of technology. Make MIT Technology Review your go-to resource for thought-provoking insights, analysis, and news about the world of technology. Get unlimited access when you subscribe today. Quote of the day “The shift from euphoria to scepticism has been very fast.” —Ricardo Castañeda, an economist based in El Salvador, tells The Guardian that the country's decision to accept bitcoin as legal tender is backfiring. Top image credit: ANDREA DAQUINO Please send slime 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 Leading with Innovation. Join us virtually September 28-30. Register now Want to change how you receive these emails? You can *update your preferences or *unsubscribe from this list.  Subscription Information This message was sent to  Webmaster220 Bible Study Blog *the blog owner has deleted the hyperlink intentionally . Follow us: MIT Technology Review One Main Street Cambridge, MA 02142