This is in the present day’s version of The Download, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a day by day dose of what’s occurring on the planet of know-how.
We’re witnessing the mind demise of Twitter
The state of Twitter since Elon Musk’s takeover seems like a mind demise: the processes that hold it on-line are one way or the other nonetheless beating, however what Twitter was earlier than Musk isn’t coming again.
In latest weeks Twitter has dissolved its Trust and Safety Council, and welcomed again previously-banned high-profile extremists, far-right personalities, covid deniers, and different figures. Those who don’t purchase into Musk’s imaginative and prescient for the platform are leaving, and Musk’s enthusiasm for eliminating jobs, reducing prices, and undoing Twitter’s security infrastructure has additionally induced advertisers to depart in droves.
MIT Technology Review ran an evaluation in Hoaxy, a software created by Indiana University to point out how data spreads on Twitter by taking a look at each key phrase frequency and interactions between particular person accounts. The outcomes trace at Musk’s new position on this community: as successfully a corridor monitor for the far proper, putting himself on the middle of problematic conversations beforehand pushed to the fringes. Read the total story.
—Abby Ohlheiser
What you really want to find out about that fusion information
There’s been a fusion breakthrough. No, for actual this time. While researchers have been speaking about utilizing it to construct limitless clear power for many years, their declarations have by no means amounted to a lot—till now.
A nationwide lab reached a significant analysis milestone, it was confirmed earlier this week, lastly operating a response that gave off extra power than contained within the highly effective lasers used to begin it. Here’s why the announcement issues, what it means, and what it is best to take away from it. Read the total story.
—Casey Crownhart
Casey’s story is from The Spark, her weekly e-newsletter protecting local weather and power. Sign up to obtain it in your inbox each Wednesday.
Podcast: Optimizing for comfort
We’re in the midst of one other main disruption in retail—one which’s been accelerated by the pandemic, and appears to take the comfort of e-commerce and apply it to bodily environments. In this episode, we study how AI is on the middle of this transition. Listen to it on Apple Podcasts, or wherever else you often hear.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you in the present day’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 FTX’s attorneys say they ‘don’t belief’ the Bahamian authorities
They declare the authorities might attempt to siphon digital belongings from the collapsed crypto trade. (Reuters)
+ Bahamian regulators have been tipped off by an FTX affiliate. (FT $)
+ Sam Bankman-Fried at all times stated he was pro-regulation. He might get his want. (The Atlantic $)
2 Twitter has suspended accounts devoted to monitoring non-public jets
Including one which tracks Elon Musk’s personal aircraft. (Bloomberg $)
+ Twitter’s modified its coverage to bar customers sharing an individual’s “live” location. (The Intercept)
+ Musk is promoting off billions of Tesla shares—once more. (The Verge)
3 Russia is quickly operating out of ammunition in Ukraine
Its army will quickly be decreased to utilizing Cold War provides, in response to the Pentagon. (Motherboard)
+ Iran-made drones have been shot down over Kiev. (The Guardian)
+ The struggle will solely worsen for Russia. (FT $)
+ GPS indicators are being disrupted within the nation’s cities, too. (Wired $)
4 A gaggle of influencers have been charged with securities fraud
US authorities declare they manipulated inventory costs by means of Twitter and Discord. (NBC News)
+ The seven males earned round $100 million by means of the “pump and dump” scheme. (Motherboard)
5 The golden age of cell gaming is over
Revenues are set to fall for the primary time ever. (FT $)
+ It’s been a troublesome yr for tech, general. (Economist $)
6 Lab-grown seafood is on the horizon 
But not like the vast majority of cultivated meat, lab-grown seafood will replicate dear cuts. (Vox)
+ Microplastics are filtering into plankton. (Slate $)
+ Will lab-grown meat attain our plates? (MIT Technology Review)
7 Quantum computing is locked in a two-horse race
Both China and the US seem to assume the opposite is within the lead, truly. (New Yorker $)
+ Quantum computing has a hype downside. (MIT Technology Review)
8 We’re getting nearer to discovering extra darkish matter
We nonetheless don’t know what it’s product of, although. (Wired $)
9 How Pokémon upped its style sport
Designer threads are a should for wannabe trainers. (NPR)
10 Take a visit world wide’s tech markets 
From smartphone repairs to karaoke mics, there’s one thing for everybody. (Rest of World)
Quote of the day
“He has change into this pied piper for in any other case critical individuals…it feels in Silicon Valley like after Trump was elected and households acquired somewhat riven.”
—Alex Stamos, Facebook’s former chief data safety officer, describes how Elon Musk has divided friendships amongst California’s tech staff throughout an look on the Dead Cat podcast, Insider stories.
The massive story
The metaverse is a brand new phrase for an outdated thought
February 2022
In lower than a yr, the metaverse graduated from a distinct segment time period to a family identify. Its metamorphosis started in July 2021, when Facebook introduced that it will dedicate the following decade to bringing the metaverse to life: an immersive, wealthy digital world combining elements of social media, on-line gaming, and augmented and digital actuality.
But we’d be remiss if we didn’t take a step again to ask, not what the metaverse is or who will make it, however the place it comes from. Knowing the historical past of a know-how, or the concepts it embodies, can reveal potential pitfalls and classes already realized, and open a window onto the lives of those that realized them. The metaverse—which isn’t almost as new because it seems to be—is not any exception. Read the total story.
—Genevieve Bell
We can nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction in these bizarre occasions. (Got any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ The Dutch method to “total football” appears to be an effective way to nurture a curious thoughts.
+ Radiooooo is an incredible web site that dips into music from any nation, any decade.
+ Beer is massive enterprise lately. Here’s all of the slang you might want to know to be sure you know what you’re speaking about subsequent time you’re at a bar.
+ Creating a structurally-sound gingerbread home is surprisingly powerful. Here’s some suggestions to get you began.
+ Why some video video games simply get higher with age.