WSJ’s The Future of Everything The Wall Street Journal

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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Our clothes are in need of a refresh, but not in the way you might think. With each wash, everything from sweaters to socks are releasing tiny, microscopic fibers into our water. Almost 35% of the primary microplastics in oceans right now come from laundry, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. 



From filters in our washing machines to new materials for our clothes, alternatives are in the works to stop microplastics from coming off our clothes. But will it be enough? WSJ’s Alex Ossola and Ariana Aspuru speak about the steps researchers and companies are taking to solve the problem of microplastics in our wash.



Further reading: 

The Tiny Plastics in Your Clothes Are Becoming a Big Problem - WSJ  

Ocean Garbage Patches Have a Microscopic Problem - WSJ 

Fashion Firms Look to Single-Fiber Clothes as EU Recycling Regulations Loom - WSJ 

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From paper maps to smartphone apps, the way people navigate the world has changed tremendously due to the rise of the internet. Google Maps is the fourth most popular mobile app in the U.S. by unique visitors, according to Comscore. That makes it more popular than Instagram, Tiktok and Spotify or its closest competitor, Apple Maps. Christopher Phillips, who runs Google’s Geo team and oversees Google Maps, speaks with WSJ’s Danny Lewis about how his company is thinking about the role maps play in bringing more information to our fingertips.



Further reading:

WSJ: The Future of Transportation 

Google Combines Maps and Waze Teams Amid Pressure to Cut Costs 

Google Reaches $391.5 Million Settlement With States Over Location Tracking Practices 

Slow Self-Driving Car Progress Tests Investors’ Patience 



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This past summer, many parts of the world suffered from some of the worst drought conditions in decades. In an effort to create more rain, the government of China turned once again to cloud seeding, a controversial technique that aims to target precipitation in key areas. WSJ’s Alex Ossola talks to Dr. Katja Friedrich, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder, about the advantages and disadvantages of using cloud seeding to get more water where it is needed. 



Further reading: 

China Extends Power Curbs Amid Heat Wave, Drought 

China, Thirsty and Craving Rain, Lines Clouds With Silver Bullets 

When the U.S. Tried to Control Hurricanes 

Indonesian Snapshot: The Rainmakers of Riau 

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Thanksgiving often centers around a meal: turkey, sides and a lot of desserts. This year, many Thanksgiving staples are more expensive due to inflation; in the future, many of those staples will cost even more due to the effects of climate change. WSJ’s Alex Ossola looks into how environmental conditions, alongside technological advances, will change what makes its way to our Thanksgiving tables, and how our individual choices may spark new traditions. 



Further reading: 

The Trouble With Butter: Tight Dairy Supplies Send Prices Surging Ahead of Baking Season 

Record Turkey Prices Are Coming for Thanksgiving 

Lab-Grown Poultry Clears First Hurdle at FDA 

Sean Sherman’s 2018 op-ed in Time 

The Essential Thanksgiving Playbook 

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