Brain implants could be the next computer mouse

Hackers are stealing data today so quantum computers can crack it in a decade

Sponsored by Morgan Stanley The Download Your daily dose of what's up in emerging technology The future of your brain 11.03.21 Good morning! Today we have a jaw-dropping piece about the promise of brain implant tech, and we take a look at the hackers who are planning ahead. Get your friends to sign up here to get The Download every day. Brain implants could be the next computer mouse In a 12-by-20-foot room at a skilled-nursing facility in Menlo Park, California, researchers are testing the next evolution of the computer interface inside the soft matter of Dennis DeGray’s motor cortex. DeGray is paralyzed from the neck down. He was hurt in a freak fall in his yard while taking out the trash. He steers his wheelchair by puffing into a tube.  But DeGray is a virtuoso at using his brain to control a computer mouse. For the last five years, he has been a participant in BrainGate, a series of clinical trials in which surgeons have inserted silicon probes the size of a baby aspirin into the brains of more than 20 paralyzed people.  Using these brain-computer interfaces, researchers can measure the firing of dozens of neurons as people think of moving their arms and hands. And by sending these signals to a computer, the scientists have enabled those with the implants to grasp objects with robot arms and steer planes around in flight simulators.  The researchers behind the technology say it’s for people with “the worst afflictions and the most need.” Those include patients who are utterly locked in and unable to speak, like those in the end stage of ALS.  But if the technology allows people like DeGray to link their brain directly to a computer, why not extend it to others? Read the full story. —Antonio Regalado This story is from the latest issue of MIT Technology Review, which is all about computing. If you're not a subscriber already, sign up to read the full magazine. Hackers are stealing data today so quantum computers can crack it in a decade Future threats: Hackers might pose an immediate threat, but US government officials are preparing for another, longer-term problem: attackers who are collecting sensitive, encrypted data now in the hope that they’ll be able to unlock it at some point in the future.  A new danger: This future threat comes from quantum computers, which work very differently from the classical computers we use today. Their complexity could allow them to break many of the encryption algorithms currently used to protect sensitive data such as personal, trade, and state secrets.  How to defend: Officials are trying to develop and deploy new encryption algorithms to protect secrets against this emerging threat. That includes the Department of Homeland Security, which recently released a road map for the transition towards what is known as post-quantum cryptography. Read the full story. —Patrick Howell O’Neill Come and join me at CyberSecure! In just about two weeks we're running our annual cybersecurity event. This year we're doing a few things a bit differently, including having a session entirely focussed on Europe and its cybercrime issues and threats. And... it's hosted by me! On Wednesday November 17, I'm going to be sitting down with three great speakers. I'll chat to Raj Samani, McAfee's chief scientist, about the new threats on the horizon (expect fireworks, he's a lot of fun!). Then I'll be talking to Apostolos Malatras, who will give us a look at the EU's cyber policies and the particular issues the bloc faces. And one more speaker still to be revealed! Register here.  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 selection of October’s best nature and wildlife images. + Are you an adult? Do you like animation? Ta-da! Here you go. + This cute little game lets you unpack things from boxes and put them where you like. And that's it.  + Condors seem to be able to breed without males. + 30 of the best movie-musicals ever.  + An old poem for November.   Lead a cyber-resilient organization.  In just 2 weeks, join CyberSecure, our premier cybersecurity conference, to get the essentials you need to defend yourself against the global threat of cyber attacks. Register now. Sponsor Message From the Sea to the Cloud: Pro Bono Tech Support Helps a Nonprofit The Billion Oyster Project, a nonprofit committed to reintroducing a billion oysters to New York Harbor by 2035, is getting a hand from Morgan Stanley technologists in setting up a cloud-based data system to better track this species critical to protecting shoreline environments and helping prevent climate-related flood damage. Learn more. The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 90 countries have now joined a pact to slash methane emissions by 30% It’s one of the most potent greenhouse gases. (New Scientist)   + A global pollution price could cut greenhouse gases by 12%. (Guardian)   + Not all net zero targets are created equal. (BBC Future) 2 Facebook has shut down its face recognition feature It will also delete the data it’s gathered so far. (CNN)    + The firm’s statement about the change. (Facebook)   + Why is it doing this? (Guardian)   + Clearview AI has been ordered to delete all face data of Australians. (Verge)   + Just ten Facebook publishers pushed 70% of its climate denialism. (Gizmodo) 3 The CDC has signed off on covid shots for kids aged 5-11 The rollout could start as soon as this week. (NYT)   + Why are we microdosing vaccines for kids? (Atlantic)   + The pandemic is still making us feel terrible. (Atlantic) 4 NASA’s new rovers will be a fleet of mobile robots that work together Mini-rovers could help us explore places where conventional ones can’t go. (TR) 5 What AI writing tools can tell us about artificial intelligence Large language models are already in the mainstream. (Verge) 6 A map of the worst industrial air pollution across the US Depressing. (ProPublica) 7 Microsoft is launching its own version of the metaverse on Teams A curséd collection of words right there. (FT)   + But why, oh why, does Microsoft not want us to have legs? (TNW)   + The companies that are already living in Zuckerberg’s metaverse. (Wired)   + The metaverse will mostly be for work. (Quartz) 8 The “Great Resignation” misses the point We are totally re-thinking our relationship with work. (Wired) 9 GitHub is China’s last land of free speech—but for how long? Developers who rely on it there are feeling uneasy. (Rest of World)   + Why is Big Tech giving up on China? (Protocol) 10 Will supply chain issues ruin Britain’s Christmas? Presents, turkeys and puddings are already running low. Help. (New Yorker)   + How AI could help solve the supply chain problem—and save Christmas. (TR) Quote of the day “You can shove your climate crisis up your arse.” —Greta Thunberg joined activists outside the COP26 conference to mock the politicians and business leaders inside with a chant. Top image credit: PBS NewsHour original still courtesy of NewsHour Productions LLC Please send your animation recommendations to hi@technologyreview.com. Follow me on Twitter at @niallfirth. Thanks for reading! —Niall 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? 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