Inside the weird, amazing world of computing

Facebook has renamed itself Meta 

Sponsored by Palo Alto Networks The Download Your daily dose of what's up in emerging technology Going Meta 10.29.21 Good morning! Today I'm showcasing the latest issue of MIT Technology Review, all about computing. To access all our fantastic stories, subscribe! I'm also bringing you up to speed on the latest news about Facebook's rebrand. I hope you have a lovely weekend, and don't forget to get your friends to sign up here to get The Download every day. Inside the weird, amazing world of computing We use computers every day for work, education, play, and leisure. In fact, it's a pretty safe bet that you're using one right now to read this. But despite the ubiquity of machines, and the fact they modulate virtually all aspects of everyday life, much of their inner workings remain mysterious. The aim of the latest issue of MIT Technology Review is to help clarify things. It's full of fascinating stories that unpack computing's origins, the cutting-edge research that's underway right now, and what's coming down the line. We'll be delving into a different story from the magazine every day in The Download over the next few weeks, but for now, we hope one or some of the following might appeal… + Brain implants could be the next computer mouse What the world’s fastest brain-typist is telling us about the future of computer interfaces. + The metaverse could actually help people It sounds like—and often is—a dumb catchphrase used by the tech elite. But the metaverse has real potential to change how we think about pain management, grieving, and systemic prejudice. + How to fight hate online Data scientist Jennifer Chayes thinks we can use computational tools to root out bad behavior online. + An uber-optimistic view of the future Azeem Azhar’s new book “Exponential Age” predicts stupendous technology growth will lead to an age of abundance. The reality is more complicated. + The 50-year-old problem that eludes theoretical computer science A solution to P vs NP could unlock countless computational problems—or keep them forever out of reach. + What’s missing from the push to diversify tech Focusing on hiring pipelines or career pathways alone won’t solve tech’s diversity and inclusion problems. Here’s what will. + Inside the machine that saved Moore’s Law The Dutch firm ASML spent $9 billion and 17 years developing a way to keep making denser computer chips. + Laptops alone can’t bridge the digital divide The failures of One Laptop per Child have much to teach us about fixing educational inequities. + These impossible instruments could change the future of music A research project to make digital instruments sound more realistic takes a hard left turn. + Where computing might go next The future of computing depends in part on how we reckon with its past. 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.)   + Happy Halloween, for Sunday! The New Yorker has a fun cartoon to celebrate it, naturally.   + This choose-your-own-adventure Twitter thread is great.   + Thanks Stefan for this simply joyous video of dogs chasing a remote-controlled car.   + What an amazing way to appreciate New York: make like King Kong and climb a skyscraper!    + The last home of Russia's Tsar Nicholas II has been restored and opened to the public.   + Even spiders are scared of spiders.   + Lockdown made Brits become more adventurous drinkers. In less than 3 weeks, hone your cyber-resiliency strategy at CyberSecure.  Every day, cyberthreat actors are exploiting new vulerabilities. Join our premier cybersecurity conference for insight into the evolving threat landscape and the emerging technologies that can help prevent an attack. Don't wait to get actionable strategies to help protect your organization from an attack. Register now. Sponsor Message How many unknown assets are putting your attack surface at risk? In 2021, MIT Technology Review Insights, in association with Cortex® Xpanse™ by Palo Alto Networks, surveyed senior executives across the globe. Of those executives, 68% expected their boards to request an Attack Surface Management plan this year. This ask by boards appears to be in response to experienced risk, because about half of organizations have seen attacks on unknown or unmanaged assets.  Having a comprehensive and up-to-date inventory of assets is step one to discovering, monitoring, and evaluating risks on your attack surface. How many unknown assets does your organization have? Download the full report The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Facebook has renamed itself Meta To reflect the growing obsession with the metaverse. (NY Mag)   + Here's everything else announced at its conference yesterday. (The Verge)   + Zuckerberg is hoping it might be a way to address the company's many problems in one fell swoop. (NYT $)   + The backlash was as immediate as it was intense. (The Guardian)   + The announcement was met with much mockery. (NBC)   + And of course… shares in the wrong "Meta" rose. (CNBC)  2 China is the last country clinging to "zero covid" With just 5,000 covid deaths, it's an approach that's served China well so far. But it may be unsustainable. (NYT $)   + The hunt is on for people who never get covid. (Nature)  3 Countries that can't reach COP26 may disappear Very few leaders from tiny island nations will be able to attend. (Wired UK)   + What we can expect from Russia at COP26. (Open Democracy)   + China is likely to disappoint. (NYT $)   + It's currently racing to burn more coal to address an energy shortage. (NYT $)   + The Glasgow climate talks will fall short. Here are other ways to accelerate progress. (TR)  4 How corporations use neuroscience to make you buy stuff 🧠💸 The technology behind neuromarketing is getting better and cheaper—and is mostly unregulated. (NEO.LIFE)   5 Supply chain issues cost Apple $6 billion in the last quarter It had to grapple with chip shortages, and covid-related manufacturing disruptions in Southeast Asia. (CNBC)   + Supply chain problems are eating into Amazon's profits too. (CNBC)   + If anything, the chip shortage is getting even worse. (WSJ $)  6 People in their 30s are scared of their 20-something employees They're just so… cool and confident. (NYT $)   + Why coworking spaces are betting on the suburbs. (NYT $)  7 Why are people so obsessed with Peter Thiel? There's something of the cartoon villain about him. (New Yorker $)   8 Men are increasingly worrying about their biological clocks, too Unsurprising when you consider that sperm counts have more than halved in the past 40 years. (The Guardian)   9 Crypto investors are paying thousands of dollars to touch a cube Please don't ask me to make sense of this. (Vice)   + Some of them are even buying cubes of their own! (WSJ $)   + Naturally, someone has made a Squid Game cryptocurrency. (BBC)  10 We might be on the cusp of chatting to whales 🐋 Thanks to cutting edge AI language models. (Hakai Magazine) Quote of the day "Bangladeshis probably know more about American politics than the average American does. People know about Joe Manchin." —Saleemul Haq, director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development, based in Bangladesh, which faces looming devastation from flooding, tells The Guardian the world's eyes are on the US as Biden tries to pass sweeping climate legislation. Top image credit: UNHCR | KEANE SHUM Please send your best dance moves 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 Build your strategic defense again cybercriminals Join us virtually | November 16-17, 2021 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