Seven Must-Read Stories (Week Ending July 18, 2015)

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

MIT Technology Reviewarchive page

July 17, 2015

The Exoskeletons Are Coming
Some workers could soon strap on a power-assist suit before maneuvering heavy objects.
A Biodegradable Computer Chip That Performs Surprisingly Well
Researchers show that devices based on a material derived from wood work as well as the communications chip in your smartphone.
Minecraft Shows Robots How to Stop Dithering
A new approach to robot learning was tested in Minecraft, the popular open-ended computer game.
Self-Charging Phones Are on the Way, Finally
A handful of companies are coming up with ways to extend your phone’s battery life when you’re far from a power outlet.
Ancestry Moves Further into Consumer Genetics
The company that began as a source of genealogical data now hopes to marry that information with DNA data—and sell it for research.
New Chips Provide a Spark for Wireless Charging
Efficient Power Conversion has launched gallium nitride chips that promise higher efficiency and lower cost than silicon.
Tiny Brain Clumps Offer New Clues into the Cause of Autism
Brain “organoids” made from the stem cells of autism patients could help researchers determine the factors that lead to the disorder.

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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.