That is right this moment’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a every day dose of what’s happening on the earth of know-how.
These are one of the best methods to measure your physique fats
—Jessica Hamzelou
Everyone knows that being chubby just isn’t nice to your well being—it’s linked to metabolic ailments like diabetes and cardiovascular issues. However weighing your self received’t let you know all it is advisable learn about your illness danger.
A pal of mine is a super-fit marathon runner. She’s all lean muscle. And but in response to her physique mass index (BMI), which is a measure of weight relative to peak, she’s chubby. Which is frankly ridiculous.
I, however, have by no means been all that muscular. I prefer to assume I’m a wholesome weight—however nurses previously 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 pal 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 options, however a easy measure that includes mendacity in your again might additionally let you know about how your physique measurement may affect your well being. Learn the complete story.
This story is from The Checkup, our weekly publication providing you with the within monitor on all issues biotech and well being. Signal as much as 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 Power to redirect a portion of the cash earmarked to construct direct-air-capture (DAC) vegetation towards purchases of greenhouse-gas removing as an alternative.
Breakthrough Power, 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 seek out you right this moment’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 Tesla has unveiled its Cybercab robotaxiElon Musk optimistically anticipates they’ll be out there “earlier than 2027.” (Tech Crunch) + He has a protracted historical past of overpromising and undelivering. (WP $)+ Musk was obscure on particulars, however claimed it could price lower than $30,000. (FT $)
2 Hurricane Milton has left hundreds of thousands of Florida residents with out powerThousands of individuals have been rescued from flooded areas. (WSJ $)+ Fortunately, satellite-connected smartphones can hold them linked. (WP $)+ Meteorologists are receiving demise threats amid storm misinformation. (Rolling Stone $)
3 The US and UK will work collectively to guard kids onlineThe two nations are forming a working group to deal with sexual abuse and harassment. (BBC)+ Fashionable gaming platform Roblox is failing to guard younger customers, a report claims. (FT $)+ How one can defend your baby’s photographs on-line. (The Guardian)+ Youngster on-line security legal guidelines will truly harm children, critics say. (MIT Know-how Assessment)
4 China is spreading antisemitic claims forward of the US electionFake 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 towards compounded weight reduction drugsUnbranded variations proliferated throughout a scarcity of big-name medication. Now, the biggest corporations need them gone. (Wired $)
6 Uber and Lyft exploited a authorized loophole to keep away from paying NY driversDrivers have reported being locked out of the app virtually each hour. (Bloomberg $)+ Uber’s facial recognition is locking Indian drivers out of their accounts. (MIT Know-how Assessment)
7 Viral debate movies are inescapable onlineThe extra aggressive, theatrical, and unbalanced, the higher. (Vox)
8 How Wikipedia editors are tackling the inflow of AI trash contentThey’re attempting to defend the positioning from deceptive, garbled AI articles. (404 Media)+ AI skilled on AI rubbish spits out AI rubbish. (MIT Know-how Assessment)
9 How one can make the ocean quieterThanks to versatile propellers and noise-dampening metamaterials. (Economist $)10 This social app permits Gen Z to filter out tell-tale pink Solo cupsTo keep a squeaky clear on-line picture. (TechCrunch)
Quote of the day
“As standard, 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 Undertaking group, was left unimpressed by Tesla’s cybercab occasion, he tells Rolling Stone.
The massive story
Individuals are fearful 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 Despair was nonetheless very actual. Unemployment within the US was round 20%. New equipment was remodeling factories and farms, and everybody was fearful about jobs.
Had been the spectacular technological achievements that had 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 subject of this publication in regards to the “Bogey of Technological Unemployment.”
His essay concisely framed the talk over jobs and technical progress in a method that is still related, particularly given right this moment’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 finest addressed by making use of an understanding of economics, fairly than conjuring up genies and monsters. Learn the complete story.
—David Rotman
We will nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Received 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 corporations hundreds of thousands!+ 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.