The Download: simulating solar geoengineering, and AI-enabled accessibility

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.

Andrew Ng’s new model lets you play around with solar geoengineering to see what would happen

AI pioneer Andrew Ng has released a simple online tool that allows anyone to tinker with the dials of a solar geoengineering model, exploring what might happen if nations attempt to counteract climate change by spraying reflective particles into the atmosphere.

The concept of solar geoengineering was born from the realization that the planet has cooled after massive volcanic eruptions. But critics fear that deliberately releasing such materials could harm certain regions of the world, discourage efforts to cut greenhouse-gas emissions, or spark conflicts between nations, among other bad outcomes.

The goal of Ng’s emulator, called Planet Parasol, is to invite more people to think about solar geoengineering, explore the potential trade-offs involved in such interventions, and use the results to discuss and debate our options for climate action. Read the full story.

—James Temple

AI could be a game changer for people with disabilities 

It’s normal, and maybe even wise, to view emerging technologies with skepticism. That’s especially true as most new things are built for the majority of people—which is to say people without disabilities. 

However, there are exceptions to the rule. A prime example is the iPhone, which had a relatively large screen and a touch-based UI. And now, it seems AI could make these kinds of jumps in accessibility even more common across a wider range of technologies. Read the full story. 

—Steven Aquino

This piece is from the next print issue of MIT Technology Review, which lands on Wednesday August 28. It’s dedicated to celebrating 125 years of the magazine and promises to be a great read. If you don’t already, subscribe now to get your copy.

Tech that measures our brainwaves is 100 years old. How will we be using it 100 years from now?

It’s 100 years this week since EEG (electroencephalography) was first used to measure electrical activity in a person’s brain. The finding was revolutionary. It helped people understand that epilepsy was a neurological disorder as opposed to a personality trait, for one thing (yes, really).

The fundamentals of EEG have not changed much over the last century—scientists and doctors still put electrodes on people’s heads to try to work out what’s going on inside their brains. But we’ve been able to do a lot more with the information that’s collected, from learning how we think to diagnosing brain and hearing disorders. So what more might we be able to do 100 years from now? Read our story to find out.

—Jessica Hamzelou 

This story is from The Checkup, our weekly newsletter all about the latest in health and biotech. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Thursday.

The must-reads

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 We aren’t ready for the creep of AI into our cameras
Capabilities embedded in the latest Google Pixel handset will further destroy our ability to believe what we see. (The Verge)
+ Is this really the direction we want to go in? (MIT Technology Review)

Quote of the day

“We chase the approval of strangers on our phones. We build all manner of walls and fences around ourselves and then wonder why we feel so alone.” 

 —Former US President Barack Obama offers his diagnosis of society’s ills to the Democratic National Convention, Politico reports.

The big story

This startup wants to find out if humans can have babies in space

MARIA JESUS CONTRERAS

October 2023

Despite the burgeoning interest in deep space exploration and settlement, we still know very little about what happens to our reproductive biology when we’re in orbit. Scientists have started to speculate on whether in vitro fertilization technology is possible beyond Earth. That’s something SpaceBorn United, a biotech startup, is seeking to pioneer. 

It plans to send a mini lab on a rocket into low Earth orbit, where in vitro fertilization, or IVF, will take place. If it succeeds, the company’s research could pave the way for future space settlements. Read the full story.

—Scott Solomon

We can still have nice things

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)

+ Metallica’s gig in Moscow in 1991 was one for the ages. You can watch the whole thing online too!
+ If you’ve been gripped by the need to do some summertime clearing out, here’s how minimalists do it.
+ Please resist taking a photo of your airport tray—you’re holding everyone up.
+ One of the most intense zombie video games has been given a makeover.