This is right this moment’s version of The Download, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a every day dose of what’s occurring on the planet of know-how.
Heat pumps: 10 Breakthrough Technologies 2024
We’ve entered the period of the warmth pump. Heat pumps are home equipment that may cool and warmth areas utilizing electrical energy. Many buildings right this moment are nonetheless heated with fossil fuels, particularly pure fuel. Switching to electrical warmth pumps that run on renewable power may assist them to chop their emissions dramatically.
While warmth pumps have been utilized in buildings for the reason that mid-Twentieth century, the know-how is breaking by way of in a brand new method. New approaches are enabling them to succeed in larger temperatures, which may permit the know-how to assist clear up industrial manufacturing. However, there are nonetheless massive challenges forward. Read the complete story.
—Casey Crownhart
Heat pumps are considered one of MIT Technology Review’s 10 Breakthrough Technologies for 2024. Check out the remainder of the checklist and vote for the ultimate eleventh breakthrough—we’ll reveal the winner in April.
If you’re fascinated about warmth pumps, why not try these different items by Casey:
+ Everything you want to know concerning the wild world of warmth pumps. They’re the most popular dwelling equipment, shoved into the highlight by the potential for price financial savings and local weather advantages, in addition to by latest coverage incentives. Read the complete story.
+ The shocking reality about which houses have warmth pumps. The home equipment buck a standard local weather know-how development within the US—for now. Read the complete story.
The innovation that will get an Alzheimer’s drug by way of the blood-brain barrier
Therapies to deal with mind illnesses share a standard downside: they wrestle to succeed in their goal. The blood vessels that permeate the mind have a particular lining so tightly filled with cells that solely very tiny molecules can cross by way of. This blood-brain barrier acts like a seal, defending the mind from toxins or different dangerous substances. But it additionally retains most medicines out.
Researchers have been engaged on strategies to sneak medication previous the blood-brain barrier for many years. And their laborious work is lastly starting to repay. Read the complete story.
—Cassandra Willyard
This story is from The Checkup, our weekly biotech e-newsletter. Sign up to obtain it in your inbox each Thursday.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you right this moment’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 Microsoft briefly usurped Apple because the world’s most beneficial firm
The AI increase has buyers laughing all the best way to the financial institution. (FT $)
+ Microsoft is rising extra rapidly than its outdated rival. (Reuters)+ But Apple rapidly regained its place—for now. (WSJ $)
2 The unfortunate Peregrine moon lander remains to be accumulating knowledge
It didn’t make it to the moon, however that doesn’t imply it isn’t making itself helpful. (The Verge)
3 US faculty shooter plans have been leaked on-line
The extremely delicate emergency paperwork had been uncovered in a database leak. (Wired $)
4 China’s low cost electrical vehicles has the West rattled
They’re quick, they appear good—and most significantly, they’re low cost. (Economist $)
+ Rental agency Hertz is promoting off 20,000 EVs as a consequence of low demand. (Bloomberg $)
+ Europe’s best-selling Chinese EV maker has a shocking identify. (MIT Technology Review)
5 Duolingo is firing human translators in favor of AI
A former employee says errors are creeping into language programs in consequence. (WP $)
+ Chatbots, chatbots, all over the place. (Vox)
+ This firm is constructing AI for African languages. (MIT Technology Review)
6 eBay has been fined for harassing a Massachusetts couple
The pair ran a e-newsletter for on-line retailers that rubbed eBay executives up the fallacious method.(The Guardian)
7 Even the blockchain is pivoting to AI
But whether or not the 2 applied sciences can actually clear up one another’s issues stays to be seen. (WSJ $)
8 Smart locks are a technical nightmare 
I simply wish to get into my condo! (NY Mag $)
9 The first textual content messages despatched by way of Starlink satellite tv for pc have been delivered
Referencing a decade-old meme, naturally. (Ars Technica)
10 The barcode is slowly dying
But its most possible alternative is already wanting outdated. (The Atlantic $)
Quote of the day
“I’ve seen better acting by hostages in direct to DVD movies.”
—An nameless WebMD worker reacts to a cringe-inducing video the corporate’s mother or father agency made demanding workers return to the workplace, Motherboard reviews.
The massive story
The Atlantic’s important currents may collapse. Scientists are racing to grasp the hazards.
December 2021
Scientists are trying to find clues about one of the crucial necessary forces within the planet’s local weather system: a community of ocean currents often called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. They wish to higher perceive how world warming is altering it, and the way far more it may shift, and even collapse.
The downside is the Atlantic circulation appears to be weakening, transporting much less water and warmth. Because of local weather change, melting ice sheets are pouring contemporary water into the ocean on the larger latitudes, and the floor waters are retaining extra of their warmth. Warmer and more energizing waters are much less dense and thus not as vulnerable to sink, which can be undermining one of many currents’ core driving forces. Read the complete story.
—James Temple
We can nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction in these bizarre instances. (Got any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ There’s nothing Italians love greater than imposing a meals rule.
+ Maybe we should always all transfer to Vienna.
+ These simple sheet pan recipes look each scrumptious and nutritious.
+ To seize birds in flight, you actually must put within the hours.
+ Is Amaro the drink of 2024 (already?)