{"id":21180,"date":"2026-04-15T12:24:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T12:24:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/15\/the-download-nasa-nuclear-powered-spacecraft-10-things-that-matter-in-ai-right-now\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T12:24:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T12:24:20","slug":"the-download-nasa-nuclear-powered-spacecraft-10-things-that-matter-in-ai-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/15\/the-download-nasa-nuclear-powered-spacecraft-10-things-that-matter-in-ai-right-now\/","title":{"rendered":"The Download: NASA\u2019s nuclear spacecraft and unveiling our AI 10"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

This is today\u2019s edition of <\/em>The Download<\/em><\/a>, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what\u2019s going on in the world of technology.<\/em><\/p>\n

NASA is building the first nuclear reactor-powered interplanetary spacecraft. How will it work?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Just before Artemis II began its historic slingshot around the moon, NASA revealed an even grander space travel plan. By the end of 2028, the agency aims to fly a nuclear reactor-powered interplanetary spacecraft to Mars.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A successful mission would herald a new era in spaceflight\u2014and might just give the US the edge in the race against China. But the project\u00a0remains\u00a0shrouded in mystery.\u00a0<\/p>\n

MIT Technology Review<\/em>\u00a0picked the brains of nuclear power and propulsion experts to find out how the nuclear-powered spacecraft might work.\u00a0Here\u2019s what we discovered<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014Robin George Andrews<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

This\u00a0<\/strong>story<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is part of MIT Technology Review Explains, our series untangling the complex, messy world of technology to help you understand\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0coming next.\u00a0<\/strong>You can read more from the series here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Coming soon: our 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Each year, we compile our 10 Breakthrough Technologies list, featuring our educated predictions for which technologies will change the world.\u00a0Our 2026 list<\/a>, however, was harder to wrangle than normal. Why? We had\u00a0so many<\/em>\u00a0worthy AI candidates we\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0fit them all in!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

That got us thinking: what if we made an entirely new list all about AI? Before we knew it, we had the beginnings of what\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0calling 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

On April 21,\u00a0we\u2019ll\u00a0unveil the list on stage at our signature AI conference,\u00a0EmTech\u00a0AI, and then publish it online later that day. If you want to be among the first to see it,\u00a0join us at EmTech AI<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0become a subscriber<\/a>\u00a0to livestream the announcement.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Find out more about the list\u2019s methodology and aims here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014Niall Firth & Amy Nordrum<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

MIT Technology Review Narrated: this company is developing gene therapies for muscle growth, erectile dysfunction, and \u201cradical longevity\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n

In January, a handful of volunteers were injected with two experimental gene therapies as part of an unusual clinical trial. Its long-term goal? To achieve radical human life extension.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The therapies are designed to support muscle growth. The company behind them, Unlimited Bio, also plans to trial similar therapies in the scalp (for baldness) and penis (for erectile dysfunction). But some experts are concerned about the plans.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Find out why the trial has divided opinion<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014Jessica\u00a0Hamzelou<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is our latest\u00a0<\/strong>story<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0to be turned into an MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast, which we publish each week on\u00a0<\/strong>Spotify<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/strong>Apple Podcasts<\/strong><\/a>. Just navigate to MIT Technology Review Narrated on either platform,\u00a0and\u00a0follow us to get all our\u00a0new content\u00a0as\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0released.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

The must-reads\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve\u00a0combed the internet to find you today\u2019s most fun\/important\/scary\/fascinating stories about technology.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

1 Google, Microsoft, and Meta track users even when they opt out<\/strong>\u00a0
According to an independent audit, they may be racking up billions in fines. (404 Media<\/a>)\u00a0\u00a0
+ How our digital devices put our privacy at risk.\u00a0<\/em>(Ars Technica<\/a>)\u00a0
+ Privacy\u2019s next frontier is AI \u201cmemories.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0(MIT Technology Review<\/a>)\u00a0
\u00a0
2 OpenAI has a new cybersecurity model\u2014and strategy<\/strong>\u00a0
GPT-5.4-Cyber is designed specifically for defensive cybersecurity work. (Reuters<\/a>\u00a0$)\u00a0
+ OpenAI has joined Anthropic in focusing on cybersecurity recently.<\/em>\u00a0(Wired<\/a>\u00a0$)\u00a0
+ Like\u00a0Anthopic, its latest model is only available to verified testers.\u00a0<\/em>(NYT<\/a>\u00a0$)\u00a0
+ AI is already making online crimes easier. It could get much worse.<\/em>\u00a0(MIT Technology Review<\/a>)\u00a0<\/p>\n

3 Amazon is buying satellite firm Globalstar in a bid to rival Starlink\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0
The $11.6 billion deal targets the lucrative\u00a0satellite internet market.\u00a0(WSJ<\/a>\u00a0$)\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0
+ Apple has chosen Amazon satellites for iPhone.<\/em>\u00a0(Ars Technica<\/a>)\u00a0
\u00a0
4 What\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0like\u00a0to\u00a0live with an experimental brain implant<\/strong>\u00a0
Early BCI users explain what the technology gives\u2014and takes. (IEEE<\/a>)\u00a0
+ A patient with Neuralink got a boost from generative AI.<\/em>\u00a0(MIT Technology Review<\/a>)\u00a0
\u00a0
5\u00a0Dozens\u00a0of\u00a0AI disease-prediction models were trained on dubious data\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0
A few might already have been used on patients. (Nature<\/a>)\u00a0<\/p>\n

6 Uber is breaking from its gig economy model to avoid robotaxi disruption\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0
It\u2019s spending $10 billion to buy thousands of autonomous vehicles.\u00a0<\/strong>(FT<\/a>\u00a0$)\u00a0
\u00a0
7\u00a0xAI\u00a0is being sued over data\u00a0center\u00a0pollution\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0
Musk\u2019s AI venture stands accused by the NAACP of violating the Clean Air Act. (Engadget<\/a>)\u00a0
+ No one wants a data\u00a0center\u00a0in their backyard.\u00a0<\/em>(MIT Technology Review<\/a>)\u00a0
\u00a0
8 Apple could win the AI race without running\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0
It may reap the rewards of everyone else\u2019s spending. (Axios<\/a>)\u00a0
\u00a0
9 How 4chan set a precedent for AI\u2019s reasoning abilities\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0
The notorious forum tested a feature called \u201cchain of thought.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>(The Atlantic<\/a>\u00a0$)\u00a0
\u00a0
10 The surprising emotional toll of wearing Meta\u2019s AI sunglasses<\/strong>\u00a0
Their shortcomings are making users sad. (NYT<\/a>\u00a0$)\u00a0
\u00a0
\u00a0<\/p>\n

Quote of the day\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cEverything got a whole lot worse once they rolled out AI.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0
<\/h2>\n

\u2014A copywriter\u00a0tells\u00a0the Guardian<\/a>\u00a0that\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0drowning in \u201cworkslop\u201d \u2014 AI-generated work that seems polished but\u00a0has\u00a0major\u00a0flaws\u00a0<\/p>\n

One More Thing\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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GETTY IMAGES<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

How refrigeration ruined fresh foo<\/strong>d<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h4>\n

Bananas may not be chilled in the grocery store, but\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0the ultimate refrigerated fruit.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0only thanks to a network of thermal control that\u00a0they\u2019ve\u00a0become a global commodity. And that salad bag on the shelf?\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0not just a bag but a highly engineered respiratory apparatus.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to Nicola Twilley\u2014a contributor to the New Yorker and cohost of the podcast Gastropod\u2014refrigeration has wrecked our food system. Thankfully, there are promising alternative preservation methods.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Read the full story on her research<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2014Allison\u00a0Arieff<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

We can still have\u00a0nice things\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas?\u00a0<\/em>Drop me a line<\/em><\/a>.)<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n

+ Spotify only shows 10 popular songs per artist.\u00a0This tool<\/a>\u00a0lists them all.\u00a0
+ These GIF animations<\/a>\u00a0are mesmerizing loops of nostalgia.\u00a0
+ This site beautifully visualizes Curiosity\u2019s 13 years<\/a>\u00a0on Mars.\u00a0
+ A retro-futurist designer has turned\u00a0a NES console<\/a>\u00a0into a working\u00a0synthesizer.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is today\u2019s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[226],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-technology"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21180"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21180\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}