The Digital Frontier

A data center with rows of servers and neatly organized cables in red and blue on both sides of a central aisle.

The Digital Frontier

Advancements in 20th century medicine reshaped society and made good health an expectation, not an exception. Now, 21st century breakthroughs may end disease, reverse aging, and restore sight and hearing — perhaps sooner than we think.
Featured
Why are traditional climate solutions falling short in the American South?
Decades of disinvestment left Black communities in the South fighting for clean air and water. Now they’re showing the nation what justice looks like.
What AI can teach us about copyright and fair use
A copyright lawyer and fair use expert weighs in on the legal implications of these new AI technologies.
The West needs more water. This Nobel winner may have the answer.
Paul Migrom has an Emmy, a Nobel, and a successful company. There’s one more big problem on the to-do list.
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The marketing of suburbia was a lie. Here’s how we can fix it.
The suburbs are unaffordable. Parking lots are sitting empty. There’s a housing crisis. What if we turned empty buildings into affordable housing?
The rise of the semi-autonomous car
A look back at the history of driving automation and the kinds of tech we can expect to see hitting the road in the coming years.
How solving energy storage would solve one of Earth’s biggest problems
Fossil fuels supply about 80% of the world’s energy. This renewable energy could be a “silver bullet” solution for climate change.
The future of fertility, from artificial wombs to AI-assisted IVF
A look back at the history of infertility treatments and ahead to the tech that could change everything we thought we knew about reproduction.
Series| Hard Reset
How the DIY engineering boom will change the world
$20,000, 100 days, no job, 1 garage. This family built a self-driving car during the pandemic. Now, they’re starting a company.
Beyond screen time: Rethinking kids’ tech use with the “Goldilocks hypothesis”
The “Goldilocks hypothesis” asks parents to think beyond screen time and consider the habits that teens build around technology use.
How food and pharma are destroying American competitiveness, one human at a time
Processed foods are wreaking metabolic havoc in your body. To diffuse today’s food confusion, Dr. Casey Means unravels nutritional myths.
Indigenous Peoples standing up to corporate greed
Indigenous Peoples’ lands are key to combating climate change, but corporate greed puts them at risk. Meet the land and environmental defenders fighting to hold them accountable.
“Model collapse” threatens to kill progress on generative AIs
Generative AIs start churning out nonsense when trained on synthetic data — a problem that could put a ceiling on their ability to improve.
T-Minus: 10 space stations of the future
The International Space Station may be nearing retirement, but 10 new space stations are just preparing for launch.
The solar revolution turning sunlight into synthetic fuel
“10 years ago, my colleagues and I looked at the prognosis for Climate Change, and it looked pretty hopeless. There really was no way out.” But something happened – something good.
Are psychedelics as effective as SSRIs in treating depression?
For the first time in history, US life expectancy is declining. These experts believe that psychedelic medicine could offer a solution.
Meet the guardians of Earth’s last untouched lands
This group makes up just 6% of the global population, but protects up to 80% of our remaining biodiversity. Meet the most committed keepers of planet Earth.
The AI chip startup that could take down Nvidia
A new kind of AI chip developed by a team of Harvard dropouts could shift the ground beneath our massive AI economy.
The overlooked virtues of a crowded world
In a world of rising cynicism, a celebration of our capacity to create, adapt, and thrive.
America’s plan to resurrect nuclear power
To increase its supply of clean nuclear power, the US government is cutting licensing fees, rewarding reactor innovation, and more.
The future of data centers — on land, at sea, and in space
As our digital world grows, demand for data centers is also increasing. To meet that demand sustainably, developers are getting creative.
The hidden crisis of environmental racism – and the fight against it
Those on the frontlines of environmental degradation have the best solutions. This is their fight.
Series| Hard Reset
Disrupting one of the world’s dirtiest industries: Meet the 3D loom
Fast-fashion is over. “Automated Apparel” is here to reduce waste, fit everyone better, and save human time and labor.
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