Seven Must-Read Stories (Week Ending December 20, 2014)

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

MIT Technology Reviewarchive page

December 19, 2014

The Troll Hunters
A group of journalists and researchers wade into ugly corners of the Internet to expose racists, creeps, and hypocrites. Have they gone too far?
Chemical-Sensing Displays and Other Surprising Uses of Glass
An inside look at Corning’s labs suggests what’s next for the inventor of Gorilla Glass.
What Are MOOCs Good For?
Online courses may not be changing colleges as their boosters claimed they would, but they can prove valuable in surprising ways.
On Creativity
How do people get new ideas?
Desalination out of Desperation
Severe droughts are forcing researchers to rethink how technology can increase the supply of fresh water.
Chip-Making Tools Produce Ultra-Efficient Solar Cells
Equipment for making microchips has led to solar cells that are twice as efficient as conventional ones.
Geneticists Begin Tests of an Internet for DNA
Scientists are starting to open their DNA databases online, creating a network that could pave the way for gene analysis at a new scale.

Keep Reading

Most Popular

These materials were meant to revolutionize the solar industry. Why hasn’t it happened?

Perovskites are promising, but real-world conditions have held them back.

Casey Crownhartarchive page

Workers disinfect the street outside Shijiazhuang Railway Station

Why China is still obsessed with disinfecting everything

Most public health bodies dealing with covid have long since moved on from the idea of surface transmission. China’s didn’t—and that helps it control the narrative about the disease’s origins and danger.