Surgeons have successfully tested a pig’s kidney in a human patient

Why the UK has one of the highest covid infection rates in the world 

Sponsored by Hewlett Packard Enterprise The Download Your daily dose of what's up in emerging technology A transplant breakthrough 10.20.21 Good morning! Today: surgeons managed to successfully test a pig's kidney in a human patient—a potentially major breakthrough for transplants. Also: why covid infections have been rising so sharply in the UK recently. Get your friends to sign up here to get The Download every day. Surgeons have successfully tested a pig’s kidney in a human patient   The news: Surgeons have successfully attached a pig's kidney to a human patient and watched it start to work, the AP reported today. The pig had been genetically-engineered so that its organ was less likely to be rejected. The feat is a potentially huge milestone in the quest to one day use animal organs for human transplants—and shorten waiting lists. How it worked: The surgical team, from NYU Langone Health, attached the pig kidney to blood vessels outside the body of a brain-dead recipient, then observed it for two days. The kidney functioned normally—filtering waste and producing urine—and didn't show signs of rejection during the short observation period.  The reception: The research was conducted last month and is yet to be published in a journal or peer-reviewed, but external experts say it represents a major advance. "There is no doubt that this is a highly significant breakthrough," says Darren K Griffin, professor of genetics at the University of Kent, UK.  The big prize: There is a dire need for more kidneys for transplants. More than 100,000 people in the US are currently waiting for a kidney transplant, and 13 die of them every day, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Genetically engineered pigs could offer a crucial lifeline for these people. Read the full story. 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.)   + Some seasonally appropriate aardvark ASMR? Yes please!   + These people who threw a surprise birthday party for their dog are my kind of people.   + If you're near one of these US national parks, you should plan a visit this fall.   + Bees are good at math.   + A Tolkien-themed joke about NFTs? Don't mind if I do.   + This magazine covers South Asian food with a lovely lightness of touch.    + Want better meetings at work? Run them like a jury.   + Your regular reminder that MC Hammer's Twitter account is amazing.   + A diver found a 900-year-old crusader's sword on the Mediterranean seabed. Protect your organization from the latest cyber-threats.  Join us at CyberSecure, our premier cybersecurity conference, to explore the emerging technologies involved in attack and defense. Register now. Sponsor Message Getting the most from your data-driven transformation: 10 key principles The importance of data to today's businesses can't be overstated. Studies show data-driven companies are 58% more likely to beat revenue goals than non-data-driven companies and 162% more likely to significantly outperform laggards. Best practices like determining what makes data valuable and creating company cultures that promote data sharing will enable businesses to embrace data in the modern enterprise. Learn more. The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Why the UK has one of the highest covid infection rates in the world Lax mask-wearing, a slow vaccine rollout among teenagers, and indoor gatherings are likely part of the problem. (CNBC)   + The pressure is on to close the global vaccination gap. (Axios)   + Covid reinfections are likely within two or three years, models suggest. (Nature)  2 Facebook is reportedly considering a rebrand Fiddling while Rome burns. (The Verge)   + Its interest in the "metaverse" looks like a classic case of misdirection. (FT $)   + Facebook has agreed to pay over $14 million to settle a lawsuit claiming it discriminated against US workers. (WP $)   + Facebook's digital wallet has finally launched… without its long-trailed cryptocurrency. (The Verge)  3 Coal is experiencing a resurgence in the US By the end of this year, coal production will ramp up by 22%, the first year-on-year uptick since 2014. (Earther)   + About a quarter of US infrastructure is at risk of serious flooding. (FT $)  4 How to build more sustainable robots 🤖 We need to think about this now, before they become ubiquitous. (WSJ $)   5 At least 1,000 workers at Netflix are set to go on strike today It's facing a growing backlash over comedian Dave Chappelle’s most recent standup special. (Quartz)   + Netflix's co-CEO says he "screwed up." (NBC)   + Squid Game has pushed up its subscriber numbers. (BBC)  6 Could AI help to prevent wildfires? 🔥 It's started to be deployed to detect faults and breakages in power lines. (IEEE Spectrum)   + Meet the scientists trying to understand the world’s worst wildfires. (TR)  7 Governments are finding new ways to suppress free expression online The trend is firmly pointing towards more, not less, censorship. (The Economist $)   8 The WhatsApp outage had a terrible impact on Brazilian workers It's more than just a messaging app—for lots of people, it's a crucial part of how they make a living. (The Verge)   + How the Facebook outage left people stranded. (TR)   9 Archaeologists are rethinking humanity's origins Evidence suggests early societies were more sophisticated than previously believed. (The Guardian)   10 Teen girls are developing tics. Some doctors blame TikTok. The truth is probably far more complex, as teens' mental health has taken a terrible hit during the pandemic. (WSJ $) Quote of the day “I am personally convinced that he is responsible for escalating the slaughter.” —Mr Calheiros, one of the longest-serving lawmakers in the Brazilian Senate, tells the New York Times he's backing a push to charge President Bolsonaro with crimes against humanity, as more than 300,000 Brazilians have died of covid. Top image credit: PASCAL DEBRUNNER | UNSPLASH Please send snuffling aardvarks 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 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. Subscribe now Want to change how you receive these emails? 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