Seven Must-Read Stories (Week Ending April 5, 2014)

Another chance to catch the most interesting, and important, articles from the previous week on MIT Technology Review.

April 4, 2014

U.N. Climate Report Warns of Increased Risk to Crops
Crop yields are expected to decline due to climate change faster than scientists thought.
Why We Can’t Just Adapt to Climate Change
The difficulty of predicting local effects of climate change makes a compelling case for preventing it.
The Latest Chat App for iPhone Needs No Internet Connection
A startup’s software will let iPhone apps connect phones without the Internet.
Pay with Your Fingerprint
Samsung’s Galaxy S5 is the first smartphone that can use a fingerprint to authorize payments in stores and online.
A Bandage That Senses Tremors, Delivers Drugs, and Keeps a Record
A flexible electronic skin patch has strain gauges to measure tremors, and heating elements to release drugs held inside nanoparticles.
Say Hello to Microsoft’s Answer to Siri
Microsoft’s new personal assistant includes features found in Apple and Google’s own virtual helpers.
The Anatomy of a Forgotten Social Network
While network scientists have been poring over data from Twitter and Facebook, they’ve forgotten about Tumblr. Now they’ve begun to ask how this network differs from the rest.

One insider says the company’s current staffing isn’t able to sustain the platform.

Digital clones of the people we love could forever change how we grieve.

I watched a bunch of crows on TikTok and now I'm trying to connect with some local birds.

Elon said no thanks to using his mega-constellation for navigation. Researchers went ahead anyway.

Illustration by Rose Wong

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