WSJ’s The Future of Everything The Wall Street Journal

It may seem like science fiction, but over the past decade scientists have been using stem cells to grow so-called “mini brains.” Researchers prefer the term brain organoids, a collection of human cells in a petri dish that mimic the structure and cell types of our own brains. They’ve been used to study diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s, and evaluate potential treatments, but now the research is becoming more sophisticated, and that’s raising big concerns. Could they become conscious? Should we even be experimenting on our own cells? WSJ’s Alex Ossola explores the advantages, and potential issues, as scientists look to use brain organoids to test new medicines or even replace the chips in our computers. 



Further reading: 

Scientists Grow Human Cells in Rat Brains to Study Autism, Schizophrenia 

Engineered Mini Brain Models Show Patterns of Activity That Resemble Babies’ 

Startup Uses ‘Mini Brains’ and Software to Power Drug Research 

Thomas Hartung’s laboratory at Johns Hopkins University 

Paola Arlotta’s laboratory at Harvard University 

The Brainstorm Project 



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High-speed internet is something many of us take for granted. But the FCC says millions of Americans lack access to broadband service. That includes many people who live in the northernmost parts of Alaska, where satellite internet has long been the only option. That’s changing, though, as melting sea ice is leading a rush of companies to step in and start laying new undersea cables. WSJ Pro reporter Isabelle Bousquette visited parts of the Arctic where high-speed internet has made it easier to learn and even saved lives. She speaks with WSJ’s Danny Lewis about the huge educational, medical and research implications for people in the Arctic and beyond. 



Further reading: 

A Warming Arctic Emerges as a Route for Subsea Cables - WSJ 

Climate Change in Arctic Is Changing How People There Live and Work - WSJ 

Google, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft Weave a Fiber-Optic Web of Power - WSJ 

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Microchips are in pretty much all of our electronic devices—if it’s got a plug or a battery, it’s probably got a chip. For the past 60 years, most of these have been made of silicon. But new devices demand faster, better, and more efficient processors, and engineers are hitting silicon’s physical limits. In this encore episode of the Future of Everything, WSJ’s Alex Ossola digs into the future of chips—how scientists are boosting silicon’s capabilities and looking for other materials that could take its place.



Further reading: 

Graphene and Beyond: The Wonder Materials That Could Replace Silicon in Future Tech 

The Microchip Era Is Giving Way to the Megachip Age 

Chips Act Will Create More Than One Million Jobs, Biden Says 

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A growing body of research suggests that the gut microbiome, the bacteria and other organisms that live in the gut, is linked to our mental health. But what if doctors could act on that information to treat mental illness by changing the gut microbiome? WSJ’s Alex Ossola talks to some of the top researchers in the emerging field of psychobiotics to explore how changing what’s in the gut could lead to future psychiatric treatments. 



Help is available: Reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) by dialing or texting 988.



Further reading: 

Gut Bacteria Are Linked to Depression 

What Is Your Microbiome? A Wellness Trend Taking On Post-Covid Urgency 

Modern Life Is Messing With Our Microbiomes, but Science Is Fighting Back 

Diets Engineered to Work With Your Microbiome Are Latest Startup Craze 

Those Probiotics May Actually Be Hurting Your ‘Gut Health’ 

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When the game clock starts, football players aren’t just heading out with their pads and a game plan. Technology like helmet sensors that track the hits players take are becoming more common, especially for young players. They’re being used to figure out when a player might be at risk for a concussion or another brain injury. The data collected is helping researchers and doctors learn more about what happens to the brain over time. But could these innovations and research shape how we play football?



Further reading: 

Tua Tagovailoa Is in the NFL’s Concussion Protocols Again - WSJ 

Severity, Not Frequency, Sets Football Injuries Apart - WSJ 

NFL and Nike Court a New Football Market: Girls - WSJ 

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Computer algorithms and artificial intelligence increasingly affect more and more of our lives, from the content we’re shown online, to the music we enjoy, to how our household appliances work. But the results these algorithms produce may be changing our world in ways users may not fully understand. WSJ’s Danny Lewis speaks with psychologist Gerd Gigerenzer, director of the Harding Center for Risk Literacy at the University of Potsdam. He’s spent decades studying how people make choices and find patterns when faced with uncertainty, and has some ideas about how to navigate and improve the relationship between AI and our society.

Further reading:

The Backstory of ChatGPT Creator OpenAI 
New York City Delays Enforcement of AI Bias Law 
How AI That Powers Chatbots and Search Queries Could Discover New Drugs 
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