{"id":21658,"date":"2026-04-23T12:23:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T12:23:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/23\/the-download-introducing-nature-issue\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T12:23:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T12:23:15","slug":"the-download-introducing-nature-issue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/23\/the-download-introducing-nature-issue\/","title":{"rendered":"The Download: introducing the Nature issue"},"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

Introducing: the Nature issue<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When we talk about \u201cnature,\u201d we usually mean something untouched by humans. But little of that world exists today.\u00a0<\/p>\n

From microplastics in rainforest wildlife to artificial light in the Arctic Ocean, human influence now reaches every corner of Earth. In this context, what even is nature? And should we employ technology to try to make the world more \u201cnatural\u201d?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In our new Nature issue,<\/a> MIT Technology Review<\/em> grapples with these questions. We investigate birds that can\u2019t sing,<\/a> wolves that aren\u2019t wolves<\/a>, and grass that isn\u2019t grass<\/a>. We look for the meaning of life under Arctic ice<\/a>, within ourselves, and in the far future on a distant world, courtesy of new fiction<\/a> by the renowned author Jeff VanderMeer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Together, these stories examine how technology has altered our planet\u2014and how it might be used to repair it. Subscribe now to read the full print issue<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s next for large language models?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After ChatGPT launched in late 2022, the OpenAI chatbot became an everyday everything app for hundreds of millions of people. It led to LLMs being heralded as the new future. The entire tech industry was consumed by the inferno, with companies racing to spin up rival products.<\/p>\n

But what\u2019s the next big thing after LLMs? More LLMs\u2014but better. Let\u2019s call them LLMs+. Find out how they\u2019re set to become cheaper, more efficient, and more powerful<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2014Will Douglas Heaven<\/em><\/p>\n

LLMs+ is on our list of the <\/strong>10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now<\/strong><\/a>, MIT Technology Review\u2019s guide to what\u2019s really worth your attention in the busy, buzzy world of AI. We\u2019ll be unpacking one item from the list each day here in The Download, so stay tuned.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Will fusion power get cheap? Don\u2019t count on it.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Fusion power could provide a steady, zero-emissions source of electricity in the future\u2014if companies can get plants built and running. But a new study published in Nature Energy<\/em> suggests that even if that future arrives, it might not come cheap.<\/p>\n

The research team aimed to improve predictions of fusion\u2019s future price by estimating the technology\u2019s experience rate\u2014the percentage by which its cost declines every time capacity doubles. Their findings offer new clues on the technology\u2019s path to deployment. Read the full story<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2014Casey Crownhart<\/em><\/p>\n

This <\/strong>story<\/strong><\/a> is from The Spark, our weekly climate newsletter. <\/strong>Sign up<\/strong><\/a> to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

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

1 Trump signaled he\u2019s open to reversing the Anthropic ban<\/strong>
What that really means in practice remains to be seen. (Reuters<\/a> $)
+ Anthropic says there\u2019s no \u201ckill switch\u201d for its AI. <\/em>(Axios<\/a>)
+ \u201cHumans in the loop\u201d in AI warfare is an illusion.<\/em> (MIT Technology Review<\/a>)<\/p>\n

2 SpaceX plans to manufacture its own GPUs
<\/strong>To support the company\u2019s growing AI ambitions. (Reuters<\/a> $)
+ Musk is shifting SpaceX\u2019s focus from Mars to AI ahead of its IPO.<\/em> (NYT<\/a> $)
+ SpaceX and Tesla may be on a collision course. <\/em>(FT<\/a> $)<\/p>\n

3 Chinese tech giant Tencent has unveiled its first flagship AI model
<\/strong>A former OpenAI researcher is at the helm. (SCMP<\/a>)
+ Chinese open models are spreading fast.<\/em> (MIT Technology Review<\/a>)<\/p>\n

4 High earners are racing ahead on AI, deepening workplace divides<\/strong>
The division in adoption risks widening inequality. (FT<\/a> $)
+ Startups are bragging they spend more on AI than staff<\/em>. (404 Media<\/a>)<\/p>\n

5 Thousands of Samsung workers are demanding a new share of AI profits<\/strong>
Chip-division employees want 15% of the operating profit. (Bloomberg<\/a> $)
+ Here\u2019s why opinion on AI is so divided.<\/em> (MIT Technology Review<\/a>)<\/p>\n

6 AI is helping mediocre Korean hackers steal millions<\/strong>
They\u2019re vibe coding their malware. (Wired<\/a> $)
+ AI is making online crimes easier.<\/em> (MIT Technology Review<\/a>)<\/p>\n

7 Kalshi suspended three political candidates for betting on their own races<\/strong>
Including a Democrat and a Republican running for Congress. (CNN<\/a>)
+ And an independent candidate who said he did it to make a point.<\/em> (Gizmodo<\/a>)
+ Lawmakers argue that prediction markets are a loophole for gambling.<\/em> (NPR<\/a>)<\/p>\n

8 A ping-pong robot is beating elite human players for the first time<\/strong>
The Sony AI system was trained with reinforcement learning. (New Scientist<\/a>)
+ Just days earlier, a humanoid smashed the human half-marathon record.<\/em> (AP<\/a>)<\/p>\n

9 Crypto scammers are luring ships into the Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>
By falsely promising safe passage. (Ars Technica<\/a>)<\/p>\n

10 \u2018Age tech\u2019 could help us grow old comfortably at home
<\/strong>Apps, wearables, and remote monitoring could fill caregiving gaps. (NYT<\/a> $)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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

\u201cIt\u2019s a hallucinogenic business plan.\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/strong>\u2014Ross Gerber, the chief executive of Gerber Kawasaki, an investment firm that owns SpaceX shares, tells the New York Times<\/a> that he\u2019s unimpressed by Musk\u2019s changing goals for the aerospace company.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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

\n
\"Photos<\/p>\n
AP PHOTO\/LINDSEY WASSON<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n


<\/strong>This grim but revolutionary DNA technology is changing how we respond to mass disasters<\/strong><\/h4>\n

After hundreds went missing in Maui\u2019s deadly fires, victims were identified with rapid DNA analysis\u2014an increasingly vital tool for putting names to the dead in mass-casualty events.<\/p>\n

The technology helped identify victims within just a few hours and bring families some closure more quickly than ever before. But it also previews a dark future marked by the rising frequency of catastrophic events.<\/p>\n

Find out how this forensic breakthrough is preparing us for a more volatile world<\/a>.<\/p>\n


<\/strong>\u2014Erika Hayasaki<\/em><\/p>\n

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

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

+ This fascinating dive into botanical history<\/a> reveals the origins of the first true plants.
+ Here\u2019s how to use Google\u2019s reference desk<\/a> to find what ordinary search engines miss.
+ Watch duct tape get deconstructed<\/a> to reveal the physics behind its legendary stickiness.
+ When Radiohead covers Joy Division<\/a>, the result is a beautiful intersection of two legendary musical eras.<\/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-21658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-technology"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21658","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=21658"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21658\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21658"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ideainthebox.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}