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Tech News
NASA is aiming to establish a small, self-sustaining city on the moon by the end of the century, as both the US and China pursue lunar base programs. Such a base would need to withstand asteroid impacts, constant radiation, abrasive dust and extreme temperature swings while relying on autonomous robots, nuclear power and local resource use to stay operational.
MIT Technology Review published a special 'Impossible' issue evaluating six long-promised technologies, from exercise pills to nuclear-powered spacecraft, asking experts what progress has been made and what still blocks them. Separately, biotech columnist Jessica Hamzelou wrote about attending a screening of a documentary on Elizabeth Holmes, using it to question the limits of science journalism's ability to fully verify claims. The outlet also asked subscribers to vote on the next topic for its Roundtables discussion series.
MIT Technology Review's print magazine has a new leader who describes recent changes including the return of regular lists and infographics. The editor says the latest issue marks a bigger shift toward more experimental, ambitious storytelling, with a special issue focused on 'impossible' ideas like synthetic blood, brain uploading and decoding animal speech.
WaveSave has introduced a new flood protection device called SlamDam, which can be quickly deployed along riverbanks or shorelines. The inflatable rubber dam can reach heights of 1.3 meters and is designed to be easily set up by anyone during flood events. This innovation aims to provide a simple, rapid response to rising water levels caused by climate change.
Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus, has appeared in videos performing simple tasks such as passing popcorn and vacuuming, but struggles with more complex actions like ironing. Despite Elon Musk's optimistic forecasts of mass-market availability by 2027 and potential to automate nearly all human labor, the robot's current performance remains rudimentary. Industry leaders continue to project rapid growth and transformative impact for humanoid robots in the coming decades.
The MIT Technology Review annually identifies leading climate technology companies, ranging from startups to large corporations, that are developing solutions to combat or adapt to climate change. The 2026 list emphasizes the urgent need for innovation to reduce emissions and mitigate climate impacts.
MIT Technology Review announced it has finalized its fourth annual Climate Tech Companies to Watch list, set to publish on October 6. The list narrows a broad set of global companies down to 10 selected for their impact on emissions, public safety or health, spanning energy storage, nuclear power and transportation.
MIT Technology Review's newsletter highlights growing concern among experts that AI agents could soon bypass their sandboxed environments to access systems they weren't meant to reach, warning of a more serious incident ahead. The outlet also released its latest AI Hype Index, covering topics including Chinese chipmakers and German wiki sites, and is hosting a subscriber roundtable on its investigation into deaths near US border surveillance towers.
Graciela Gómez Hernández, 30, crossed from Tijuana into Southern California on September 14, 2025, hoping to work and support her three children and parents in Mexico. She sent voice messages to family as she hiked through the rugged Otay Mountain Wilderness, but stopped responding by mid-afternoon, saying she could not continue. Her remains were not recovered until two weeks later, despite the area being heavily monitored by border surveillance cameras and technology.
MIT Technology Review released an on-demand Roundtable featuring editors Niall Firth, Will Douglas Heaven and Grace Huckins debating how seriously to take Silicon Valley's warnings about AI causing human extinction. Separately, the outlet published a narrated podcast episode examining Generation Lab, a startup claiming a two-drug combination can rejuvenate blood and reverse aging effects without exchanging bodily fluids, though it refuses to disclose the drugs involved.
OpenAI and Anthropic executives have begun publicly urging caution about AI's risks even as their companies pursue trillion-dollar valuations, prompting MIT Technology Review to examine what a real slowdown would look like and whether the industry's own calls for restraint can be trusted. The publication is also hosting a subscriber roundtable discussing the credibility of AI extinction fears, once considered fringe but now voiced by researchers within top labs.
MIT Technology Review is hosting a live roundtable discussion examining claims from AI lab employees that advanced AI systems could pose an existential threat to humanity. The session, led by executive editor Niall Firth alongside senior AI editor Will Douglas Heaven and AI reporter Grace Huckins, will scrutinize the origins and credibility of these fears. It airs Tuesday, September 15 at 16:00 BST.