Seven Must-Read Stories (Week Ending July 9, 2016)
Another chance to catch the most interesting, and important, articles from the previous week on MIT Technology Review.
- Hacking a Desktop Printer to Make Batteries and Circuits
Want to make a smart coffee mug that signals “hot”? A customized printer can make the flexible circuits and supercapacitors you’ll need. - Are Face Recognition Systems Accurate? Depends on Your Race.
The available evidence suggests that face matching systems don’t work equally well for different races. - Robotic Stingrays Made with Rat Heart, Algae, and Plastic Fins
Scientists control the bionic fish with light. - Merck Invests in RNA Startup to Target Cancer
If it works, mRNA therapy could provide a simple way to create customized cancer vaccines. - Tesla’s Dubious Claims About Autopilot’s Safety Record
Figures from Elon Musk and Tesla Motors probably overstate the safety record of the company’s self-driving Autopilot feature compared to humans. - Blood Tests That Spot Cancer DNA Offer “Quantitative Peace of Mind” for Survivors
A study shows that liquid biopsies can predict whether someone has been cured of colon cancer. - The Internet of Things Could Keep Dirty Coal Plants in Business
Digitization promises lower annual emissions but could increase them over plants’ lifetimes.