Seven Must-Read Stories (Week Ending November 22, 2014)

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

November 21, 2014

Cities Find Rewards in Cheap Technologies
Mobile apps, sensors, and other technologies help cities handle growing challenges.
The Search for Exceptional Genomes
They walk among us. Natural experiments, living ordinary lives, unaware that their genes may hold the clue to the next superdrug.
Laser-Radio Links Upgrade the Internet
Wireless links formed partly by lasers may offer a faster, cheaper way to improve mobile Internet.
Google’s Brain-Inspired Software Describes What It Sees in Complex Images
Experimental Google software that can describe a complex scene could lead to better image search or apps to help the visually impaired.
Nanoparticle Detects the Deadliest Cancer Cells in Blood
A novel kind of nanoparticle could lead to more effective cancer treatments.
An Artificial Adhesive Outgrips the Gecko
Gecko-inspired adhesives can help humans climb and may provide a better grip for robotic arms in factories and in space.
Apple Issues Strict Rules for the First Watch Apps
The release of Apple’s WatchKit yields more insight into how the company is tackling smart-watch issues.