Seven Must-Read Stories (Week Ending April 23, 2016)

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

TR Staffarchive page

April 22, 2016

Airplanes Are Getting Lighter Thanks to 3-D-Printed Parts
A rapid increase in sales of 3-D printers that make metal parts may just be the beginning of a surge in additive manufacturing in the aerospace industry.
How to Prevent a Plague of Dumb Chatbots
The best (and least annoying) chatbots will be those that recognize their limitations and occasionally turn to humans for help.
How First Solar Is Avoiding the Industry’s Turmoil
The Arizona company is betting that cadmium telluride solar cells could leave silicon in the dust.
Who Approved the Genetically Engineered Foods Coming to Your Plate? No One.
Uncertainty about future regulations clouds the future of agricultural biotechnology in the U.S.
Magic Leap Has a Headset, but Its Technology Is Still Mysterious
The augmented-reality startup has raised over a billion dollars from investors, but it still isn’t saying how its technology really works.
New 3-D Printing Technique Makes Ceramic Parts
A new way of making these tough materials could be a key step in producing better airplane engines and long-lasting machine parts.
Why Intel’s Job Cuts May Be Just the Beginning
The once-dominant chipmaker is cutting 12,000 workers, and several emerging technological trends may cause even more difficulty.

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