The Digital Frontier

A data center with rows of servers and neatly organized cables in red and blue on both sides of a central aisle.

The Digital Frontier

Advancements in 20th century medicine reshaped society and made good health an expectation, not an exception. Now, 21st century breakthroughs may end disease, reverse aging, and restore sight and hearing — perhaps sooner than we think.
Featured
Are microplastics really destroying our health?
Scientists still don’t know how microplastics impact human health, but they do have ideas for stopping their spread.
Silicon chips are no longer sustainable. Here’s what’s next.
To take our tech to the next level, we need a more energy-efficient semiconductor. Gallium nitride could be it.
Is this the biggest industrial espionage campaign in history?
The cat-and-mouse game between China and the world’s semiconductor companies is already having enormous consequences.
More
Are microplastics really destroying our health?
Scientists still don’t know how microplastics impact human health, but they do have ideas for stopping their spread.
Silicon chips are no longer sustainable. Here’s what’s next.
To take our tech to the next level, we need a more energy-efficient semiconductor. Gallium nitride could be it.
Is this the biggest industrial espionage campaign in history?
The cat-and-mouse game between China and the world’s semiconductor companies is already having enormous consequences.
Rethinking global supply chains for a post-pandemic world
The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted the global supply chain, disrupting consumer access to basic essentials.
AI is now designing chips for AI
AI-designed microchips have more power, lower cost, and are changing the tech landscape.
The war over microchips is coming, says Chris Miller | The Freethink Interview
“When we think about technology, we think of social media, search engines, apps on our phone; but undergirding all of this are chips.”
Series| Hard Reset
3x faster air travel at a fraction of the price: this jet engine could change everything
“This is a system that will enable the sub-thousand dollar ticket from San Francisco to Tokyo in 3.5 hours.”
How new tech is shaping warfare
Defense technology is rapidly evolving. These innovative satellite systems are transforming national security and challenging the status quo.
Why futurist Amy Webb sees a “technology supercycle” headed our way
Amy Webb’s data suggests we are on the cusp of a new tech revolution that will reshape the world in much the same way the steam engine and internet did in the past.
Port workers are at war with automation. Can they win?
A timeline of events leading to the ILA’s recent strike, what each side wants, and what could happen if they do — or don’t — get it.
Charting the race for energy in the Age of AI
As AI’s demand for computing power skyrockets, data centers are under immense pressure to boost efficiency and increase sustainability.
T-Minus: 10 milestones in commercial spaceflight
T-Minus looks back at 10 major milestones in the commercial space industry — including several SpaceX triumphs.
The cure for cancer is early detection. AI makes this easier.
Integrating AI technology with medical imaging could help provide early diagnosis and reduce the chance of patient death.
The robotaxis have arrived
Alphabet-backed Waymo is leading the robotaxi revolution, but Tesla’s new Cybercab could change everything.
No boss, no problem. How employees thrive without managers.
No boss? No problem. Employee autonomy is helping workers dedicate themselves to their goals without management, and it’s making entire companies more productive.
The exciting research that may cure Parkinson’s 
GeneCode is developing a drug it hopes won’t just alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms but also protect and restore patient’s neural health.
This $400 genetic test could save your life
Nucleus Genomics’ new whole genome sequencing and analysis service promises to reveal the secrets hidden in your DNA.
This expert wants the US to lean more heavily into nuclear power. Here’s why.
Several high profile accidents have led to negative perceptions of nuclear power. But is nuclear power safer and cleaner than we’ve been led to believe?
Charting the evolution of nuclear energy
Nuclear fission’s stalled growth might give way to fusion’s clean energy potential
Series| Hard Reset
The most secure wireless connection ever: Your body
What if your body could become a USB cable? Ixana, a cutting-edge wearable hardware company, is revolutionizing how we connect our devices by using our bodies as conductors.
Subscribe to the newsletter