Skip to Content

Seven Must-Read Stories (Week Ending November 1, 2013)

Another chance to catch the most interesting, and important, articles from the previous week on MIT Technology Review.
  1. AI Startup Says It Has Defeated Captchas
    Brain-mimicking software can reliably solve a test meant to separate humans from machines.
  2. Data Shows Google’s Robot Cars Are Smoother, Safer Drivers Than You or I
    Tests of Google’s autonomous vehicles in California and Nevada suggests they already outperform human drivers.
  3. The Clever Circuit That Doubles Bandwidth
    A Stanford startup’s new radio can send and receive information on the same frequency—an advance that could double the speed of wireless networks.
  4. Building Cars Out of Batteries Isn’t as Crazy as It Sounds
    Volvo, Tesla, and dozens of researchers are using creative battery designs to make electric vehicles lighter.
  5. Now Facebook Can See Inside Your Heart, Too
    Facebook scientists figure out how to identify your romantic partner or best friend from among your connections.
  6. With Firefox OS, an $80 Smartphone Tries to Prove Its Worth
    Despite limitations, the Firefox OS-running ZTE Open shows promise for low-cost smartphones.
  7. Automated Manufacturing for 3-D Printers
    Drawing on artificial-intelligence capabilities, PARC researchers are developing software meant to help make manufacturing accessible to people without manufacturing expertise.
  8. <

Keep Reading

Most Popular

Large language models can do jaw-dropping things. But nobody knows exactly why.

And that's a problem. Figuring it out is one of the biggest scientific puzzles of our time and a crucial step towards controlling more powerful future models.

How scientists traced a mysterious covid case back to six toilets

When wastewater surveillance turns into a hunt for a single infected individual, the ethics get tricky.

The problem with plug-in hybrids? Their drivers.

Plug-in hybrids are often sold as a transition to EVs, but new data from Europe shows we’re still underestimating the emissions they produce.

It’s time to retire the term “user”

The proliferation of AI means we need a new word.

Stay connected

Illustration by Rose Wong

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review

Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.

Thank you for submitting your email!

Explore more newsletters

It looks like something went wrong.

We’re having trouble saving your preferences. Try refreshing this page and updating them one more time. If you continue to get this message, reach out to us at customer-service@technologyreview.com with a list of newsletters you’d like to receive.