The Superconductor Sensation Has Fizzled, and That's Fine

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August 15, 2023

New findings about LK-99, a material that seemed to exhibit superconductive behavior under real-world conditions, suggest it is not, in fact, a breakthrough substance that could revolutionize technology, from the power grid to personal electronics. However, the fact that the Internet spent weeks discussing condensed matter physics demonstrates a hunger for high-tech solutions to climate change. Read more in this week's top story!

Sophie Bushwick, Associate Editor, Technology

Energy The Superconductor Sensation Has Fizzled, and That's Fine The rise and fall of LK-99 offers a lesson on how to consider technology's role in urgently needed energy transitions By Lauren Leffer

Artificial Intelligence AI Causes Real Harm. Let's Focus on That over the End-of-Humanity Hype Effective regulation of AI needs grounded science that investigates real harms, not glorified press releases about existential risks By Emily M. Bender,Alex Hanna

Biotech New Soft Electrode Unfolds inside the Skull An electrode inspired by soft robotics could provide less invasive brain-machine interfaces By Simon Makin

Artificial Intelligence Tech Companies' New Favorite Solution for the AI Content Crisis Isn't Enough From college plagiarism to cybercrime scams, generative AI is eroding trust in online content. Digital watermarking is no quick fix for the problem By Lauren Leffer

Biotech Hearing Aids May Lower Risk of Cognitive Decline and Dementia As few as 15 percent of people who would benefit from hearing aids use them By Lydia Denworth

Archaeology Ruins of Emperor Nero's Theater Discovered near Vatican Archaeologists say the ornate ruins of Nero's theater were found near the Vatican at a site earmarked for a luxury hotel By Tom Metcalfe

Artificial Intelligence Safeguarding AI Is Up to Everyone The use of artificial intelligence is so varied and industry-specific, no one federal agency can manage it alone By The Editors

Space Exploration Russia Launches First Moon Mission after Half-Century Hiatus The Luna 25 spacecraft will attempt to land at the lunar south pole for the first time in a hunt for valuable water ice By Jonathan O'Callaghan,Nature magazine

QUOTE OF THE DAY "Against a nationwide backdrop of book bans and censorship campaigns, Iowa educators are turning to ChatGPT to help decide which titles should be removed from their school library shelves in order to legally comply with recent Republican-backed state legislation." Andrew Paul, Popular Science

FROM THE ARCHIVE Viral New Superconductivity Claims Leave Many Scientists Skeptical Researchers say they have discovered a new room-temperature ambient-pressure superconductor, but many scientists are unconvinced By Daniel Garisto | July 2023

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