That is right this moment’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a each day dose of what’s happening on this planet of know-how.
These are the very best methods to measure your physique fats
—Jessica Hamzelou
Everyone knows that being obese is just not nice to your well being—it’s linked to metabolic illnesses like diabetes and cardiovascular issues. However weighing your self gained’t inform you all you want to learn about your illness threat.
A buddy of mine is a super-fit marathon runner. She’s all lean muscle. And but in accordance with her physique mass index (BMI), which is a measure of weight relative to top, she’s obese. Which is frankly ridiculous.
I, then again, have by no means been all that muscular. I prefer to assume I’m a wholesome weight—however nurses up to now have suggested me to eat extra butter and doughnuts based mostly on my BMI. That is recommendation I by no means anticipated to obtain from a well being skilled. (I ought to add right here that my buddy and I are roughly the identical top and put on the identical measurement in garments.)
The BMI is flawed. Fortunately, there are a number of high-tech options, however a easy measure that entails mendacity in your again might additionally inform you about how your physique measurement would possibly affect your well being. Learn the complete story.
This story is from The Checkup, our weekly publication supplying you with the within observe on all issues biotech and well being. Enroll to obtain it in your inbox each Thursday.
The US should do extra to spice up demand for carbon removing, observers warn
In 2022, the US made an enormous guess on the carbon removing business, committing $3.5 billion to construct 4 main regional hubs in an effort to scale up the sector. However business observers worry that market demand isn’t constructing quick sufficient to assist it.
Some are actually calling for the Division of Power to redirect a portion of the cash earmarked to construct direct-air-capture (DAC) crops towards purchases of greenhouse-gas removing as a substitute.
Breakthrough Power, the Invoice Gates–backed local weather and clear power group, has launched a commentary calling for extra authorities assist for demand to make sure that the business doesn’t stall out in its infancy. Learn extra about what they must say.
—James Temple
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you right this moment’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 Tesla has unveiled its Cybercab robotaxi
Elon Musk optimistically anticipates they’ll be out there “earlier than 2027.” (Tech Crunch)
+ He has a protracted historical past of overpromising and undelivering. (WP $)
+ Musk was imprecise on particulars, however claimed it will value lower than $30,000. (FT $)
2 Hurricane Milton has left thousands and thousands of Florida residents with out energy
Hundreds of individuals have been rescued from flooded areas. (WSJ $)
+ Fortunately, satellite-connected smartphones can preserve them related. (WP $)
+ Meteorologists are receiving dying threats amid storm misinformation. (Rolling Stone $)
3 The US and UK will work collectively to guard kids on-line
The 2 nations are forming a working group to deal with sexual abuse and harassment. (BBC)
+ Standard gaming platform Roblox is failing to guard younger customers, a report claims. (FT $)
+ Tips on how to defend your baby’s pictures on-line. (The Guardian)
+ Youngster on-line security legal guidelines will really harm youngsters, critics say. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)
4 China is spreading antisemitic claims forward of the US election
Faux accounts are spreading harmful conspiracy theories about politicians. (WP $)
+ US authorities worry Russia, China, Iran and Cuba will sow doubts in regards to the outcomes. (Reuters)
5 Large Pharma is combating again in opposition to compounded weight reduction medicine
Unbranded variations proliferated throughout a scarcity of big-name medicine. Now, the biggest firms need them gone. (Wired $)
6 Uber and Lyft exploited a authorized loophole to keep away from paying NY drivers
Drivers have reported being locked out of the app nearly each hour. (Bloomberg $)
+ Uber’s facial recognition is locking Indian drivers out of their accounts. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)
7 Viral debate movies are inescapable on-line
The extra aggressive, theatrical, and unbalanced, the higher. (Vox)
8 How Wikipedia editors are tackling the inflow of AI trash content material
They’re making an attempt to defend the location from deceptive, garbled AI articles. (404 Media)
+ AI educated on AI rubbish spits out AI rubbish. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)
9 Tips on how to make the ocean quieter
Due to versatile propellers and noise-dampening metamaterials. (Economist $)
10 This social app permits Gen Z to filter out tell-tale crimson Solo cups
To keep up a squeaky clear on-line picture. (TechCrunch)
Quote of the day
“As traditional, Elon Musk is making an attempt to compete within the Tour de France on a tricycle.”
—Dan O’Dowd, billionaire co-founder of Inexperienced Hills Software program and founding father of the software program security Daybreak Undertaking group, was left unimpressed by Tesla’s cybercab occasion, he tells Rolling Stone.
The large story
Persons are fearful that AI will take everybody’s jobs. We’ve been right here earlier than.
January 2024
It was 1938, and the ache of the Nice Despair was nonetheless very actual. Unemployment within the US was round 20%. New equipment was remodeling factories and farms, and everybody was fearful about jobs.
Have been the spectacular technological achievements that had been making life simpler for a lot of additionally destroying jobs and wreaking havoc on the financial system? To make sense of all of it, Karl T. Compton, the president of MIT from 1930 to 1948 and one of many main scientists of the day, wrote within the December 1938 concern of this publication in regards to the “Bogey of Technological Unemployment.”
His essay concisely framed the talk over jobs and technical progress in a method that is still related, particularly given right this moment’s fears over the impression of synthetic intelligence. It’s a worthwhile reminder that worries over the way forward for jobs should not new and are greatest addressed by making use of an understanding of economics, relatively than conjuring up genies and monsters. Learn the complete story.
—David Rotman
We are able to nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Obtained any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ Marty the robotic is a Boston icon, rolling up and down Cease & Store’s aisles with out complaining.
+ Punctuation actually issues—a easy comma value these firms thousands and thousands!
+ Cool: these pumpkins are thriving in Bangladesh sandbars.
+ For all our Warhammer heads on the market: there’s just one shade of inexperienced that issues.