Seven Must-Read Stories (Week Ending September 13, 2014)

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

MIT Technology Reviewarchive page

September 12, 2014

No More Cracked Smartphone Glass
Ultrathin sapphire laminates could lead to durable but affordable next-generation screen covers.
The Apple Watch May Solve the Usual Smart Watch Annoyances
Apple’s first smart watch seems like the best of its kind so far, but the user experience is still a little unclear.
Sapphire Screens Would Test Apple’s Manufacturing and Design Skills
To make sapphire screens, Apple would need to source high-quality raw material and be clever about incorporating it into devices.
Can a Website Help You Decide to Have a Kid?
A startup called Cloverpop wants to help you make life’s pivotal decisions.
A Nimble-Wheeled Farm Robot Goes to Work in Minnesota
The latest in autonomous farming is a robot that weaves between corn stalks, applying fertilizer as it goes.
Datacoup Wants to Buy Your Credit Card and Facebook Data
Datacoup will pay for your online data, then use it to provide insights on consumer behavior.
The Revolutionary Technique That Quietly Changed Machine Vision Forever
Machines are now almost as good as humans at object recognition, and the turning point occurred in 2012, say computer scientists.

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Conceptual illustration showing a file folder with the China flag and various papers flying out of it

The US crackdown on Chinese economic espionage is a mess. We have the data to show it.

The US government’s China Initiative sought to protect national security. In the most comprehensive analysis of cases to date, MIT Technology Review reveals how far it has strayed from its goals.

Image of workers inspecting solar panels at a renewable energy plant

Renewables are set to soar

The world will likely witness a wind and solar boom over the next five years, as costs decline and nations raise their climate ambitions.

James Templearchive page

How Facebook and Google fund global misinformation

The tech giants are paying millions of dollars to the operators of clickbait pages, bankrolling the deterioration of information ecosystems around the world.