That is as we speak’s version of The Obtain, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a each day dose of what’s occurring on the planet of know-how.
These are the very best methods to measure your physique fats
—Jessica Hamzelou
Everyone knows that being obese shouldn’t be nice to your well being—it’s linked to metabolic illnesses like diabetes and cardiovascular issues. However weighing your self received’t let you know all it is advisable learn about your illness danger.
A good friend of mine is a super-fit marathon runner. She’s all lean muscle. And but in keeping with her physique mass index (BMI), which is a measure of weight relative to peak, she’s obese. Which is frankly ridiculous.
I, however, have by no means been all that muscular. I wish to assume I’m a wholesome weight—however nurses prior to now have suggested me to eat extra butter and doughnuts primarily based on my BMI. That is recommendation I by no means anticipated to obtain from a well being skilled. (I ought to add right here that my good friend and I are roughly the identical peak and put on the identical measurement in garments.)
The BMI is flawed. Fortunately, there are a number of high-tech alternate options, however a easy measure that entails mendacity in your again might additionally let you know about how your physique measurement would possibly affect your well being. Learn the total story.
This story is from The Checkup, our weekly e-newsletter providing you with the within observe on all issues biotech and well being. Join to obtain it in your inbox each Thursday.
The US should do extra to spice up demand for carbon removing, observers warn
In 2022, the US made an enormous wager on the carbon removing trade, committing $3.5 billion to construct 4 main regional hubs in an effort to scale up the sector. However trade observers worry that market demand isn’t constructing quick sufficient to help it.
Some at the moment are calling for the Division of Vitality to redirect a portion of the cash earmarked to construct direct-air-capture (DAC) crops towards purchases of greenhouse-gas removing as a substitute.
Breakthrough Vitality, the Invoice Gates–backed local weather and clear vitality group, has launched a commentary calling for extra authorities help for demand to make sure that the trade doesn’t stall out in its infancy. Learn extra about what they must say.
—James Temple
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you as we speak’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 Tesla has unveiled its Cybercab robotaxi
Elon Musk optimistically anticipates they’ll be accessible “earlier than 2027.” (Tech Crunch)
+ He has an extended historical past of overpromising and undelivering. (WP $)
+ Musk was imprecise on particulars, however claimed it might price lower than $30,000. (FT $)
2 Hurricane Milton has left tens of millions of Florida residents with out energy
Hundreds of individuals have been rescued from flooded areas. (WSJ $)
+ Fortunately, satellite-connected smartphones can maintain them linked. (WP $)
+ Meteorologists are receiving demise threats amid storm misinformation. (Rolling Stone $)
3 The US and UK will work collectively to guard kids on-line
The 2 nations are forming a working group to sort out sexual abuse and harassment. (BBC)
+ Well-liked gaming platform Roblox is failing to guard younger customers, a report claims. (FT $)
+ How one can defend your youngster’s images on-line. (The Guardian)
+ Little one on-line security legal guidelines will really harm children, critics say. (MIT Expertise Evaluate)
4 China is spreading antisemitic claims forward of the US election
Pretend accounts are spreading harmful conspiracy theories about politicians. (WP $)
+ US authorities worry Russia, China, Iran and Cuba will sow doubts in regards to the outcomes. (Reuters)
5 Huge Pharma is combating again in opposition to compounded weight reduction medication
Unbranded variations proliferated throughout a scarcity of big-name medication. Now, the most important firms need them gone. (Wired $)
6 Uber and Lyft exploited a authorized loophole to keep away from paying NY drivers
Drivers have reported being locked out of the app nearly each hour. (Bloomberg $)
+ Uber’s facial recognition is locking Indian drivers out of their accounts. (MIT Expertise Evaluate)
7 Viral debate movies are inescapable on-line
The extra aggressive, theatrical, and unbalanced, the higher. (Vox)
8 How Wikipedia editors are tackling the inflow of AI trash content material
They’re attempting to defend the location from deceptive, garbled AI articles. (404 Media)
+ AI skilled on AI rubbish spits out AI rubbish. (MIT Expertise Evaluate)
9 How one can make the ocean quieter
Because of versatile propellers and noise-dampening metamaterials. (Economist $)
10 This social app permits Gen Z to filter out tell-tale crimson Solo cups
To keep up a squeaky clear on-line picture. (TechCrunch)
Quote of the day
“As typical, Elon Musk is attempting to compete within the Tour de France on a tricycle.”
—Dan O’Dowd, billionaire co-founder of Inexperienced Hills Software program and founding father of the software program security Daybreak Mission group, was left unimpressed by Tesla’s cybercab occasion, he tells Rolling Stone.
The massive story
Individuals are apprehensive that AI will take everybody’s jobs. We’ve been right here earlier than.
January 2024
It was 1938, and the ache of the Nice Melancholy was nonetheless very actual. Unemployment within the US was round 20%. New equipment was remodeling factories and farms, and everybody was apprehensive about jobs.
Had been the spectacular technological achievements that have been making life simpler for a lot of additionally destroying jobs and wreaking havoc on the economic system? To make sense of all of it, Karl T. Compton, the president of MIT from 1930 to 1948 and one of many main scientists of the day, wrote within the December 1938 situation of this publication in regards to the “Bogey of Technological Unemployment.”
His essay concisely framed the talk over jobs and technical progress in a approach that is still related, particularly given as we speak’s fears over the impression of synthetic intelligence. It’s a worthwhile reminder that worries over the way forward for jobs are usually not new and are greatest addressed by making use of an understanding of economics, quite than conjuring up genies and monsters. Learn the total story.
—David Rotman
We are able to nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Obtained any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ Marty the robotic is a Boston icon, rolling up and down Cease & Store’s aisles with out complaining.
+ Punctuation actually issues—a easy comma price these firms tens of millions!
+ Cool: these pumpkins are thriving in Bangladesh sandbars.
+ For all our Warhammer heads on the market: there’s just one shade of inexperienced that issues.
