The Obtain: future supplies shortages, and Google on trial

That is in the present day’s version of The Obtain, our weekday e-newsletter that gives a day by day dose of what is going on on on the earth of know-how.

This uncommon earth metallic reveals us the way forward for our planet’s assets

For almost so long as we’ve extracted supplies from our planet, we’ve been attempting to foretell how lengthy they are going to be capable of meet our demand. How a lot can we pump from a effectively, or wrest from a mine, earlier than we have to rethink what we’re constructing and the way? 

We’re in the midst of a doubtlessly transformative second. Metals found barely a century in the past now underpin the applied sciences we’re counting on for cleaner vitality, and never having sufficient of them may gradual progress. 

Take neodymium, one of many uncommon earth metals. It’s utilized in cryogenic coolers to achieve ultra-low temperatures wanted for gadgets like superconductors and in high-powered magnets that energy the whole lot from smartphones to wind generators. And really quickly, demand for it may outstrip provide. What occurs then? And what does it reveal about points throughout wider provide chains? Learn our story to seek out out.

—Casey Crownhart

This piece is from the forthcoming print difficulty of MIT Know-how Evaluate, which is celebrating 125 years of the journal! It’s set to go dwell on Wednesday August 28, so if you happen to don’t already, subscribe now to get a duplicate when it lands.

The must-reads

I’ve combed the web to seek out you in the present day’s most enjoyable/essential/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.

1 Google will face a trial claiming that it misled Chrome customers 
The lawsuit alleges that the browser collected person knowledge with out their permission. (WP $)
+ The case was initially dismissed in 2022, however was reversed on enchantment. (The Verge)

2 OpenAI will let firms customise its strongest mannequin
Companies can fine-tune GPT-4o to incorporate their very own knowledge for the primary time. (Bloomberg $)
+ OpenAI has additionally hashed out a take care of media large Condé Nast. (Wired $)
+ Find out how to fine-tune AI for prosperity. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)

3 CrowdStrike has had a tough month
The cyber safety agency has accused its rivals of creating ‘misguided’ assaults within the wake of its colossal international IT outage. (FT $)
+ The outage was brought on by a botched replace. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)

4 Waymo is making 100,000 robotaxi journeys per week
That’s double the quantity of journeys it was making in Could. (NBC Information)
+ What’s subsequent for robotaxis. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)

5 A regulation that protects tech giants is getting used in opposition to them
Part 230 shields tech corporations from authorized legal responsibility. A Massachusetts professor is testing its limits. (NYT $)

6 The hype round hydrogen continues to construct
Significantly concerning ‘gold’ hydrogen, which doesn’t require vitality to supply. (Wired $)
+ However producing inexperienced hydrogen is simpler mentioned than achieved. (FT $)
+ Hydrogen could possibly be used for almost the whole lot. It most likely shouldn’t be. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)

7 Taiwan is placing its fish farms to work
They’re doubling up as photo voltaic vegetation, creating a brand new aquavoltaics facility. (IEEE Spectrum) 

8 China’s quick vogue giants are feuding once more
Shein has accused Temu of ripping off its designs, an accusation that main manufacturers have lengthy leveled in opposition to Shein itself. (404 Media)
+ Shein’s lawsuit comes as Temu is making an attempt to infiltrate the US. (The Register)
+ The pair have a protracted, litigious historical past of suing one another. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)

9 Find out how to make meals from plastic
No, actually. (Undark Journal)
+ Suppose that your plastic is being recycled? Suppose once more. (MIT Know-how Evaluate)

10 China goes wild for a Ming dynasty epic online game
Gamers want information of Journey to the West to progress. (Reuters)
+ Its creators are hoping it’ll show a success with Western audiences too. (NYT $)

Quote of the day

“If we take our garments off when in our communities, then it needs to be proven in the identical means on the web.”

—Chirley Pankara, a physician in anthropology on the College of São Paulo and an Indigenous activist, says social media’s anti-nudity insurance policies censor Indigenous practices, Remainder of World experiences.

The massive story

The messy quest to exchange medicine with electrical energy

And that had opened the door to the potential of hacking into the physique’s circuitry and thereby controlling a bunch of power ailments, as if the immune system had been as reprogrammable as a pc.

To try this you’d want a brand new class of implant: an “electroceutical.” These gadgets would exchange medicine. No extra messy uncomfortable side effects. And no extra guessing whether or not a drug would work in another way for you and another person. Within the 10 years or so since, round a billion {dollars} has accreted across the effort. Regardless of that, electroceuticals have nonetheless not taken off as hoped. However may that be about to vary? Learn our story.

—Sally Adee

We will nonetheless have good issues

A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Acquired any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)

+ Ditch the calorie counting and apply solar cream round your eyes: right here’s learn how to dwell effectively as of late.
+ Emily in Paris is again, and its capturing areas are as dreamy as ever.
+ You possibly can’t tickle your self, regardless of how onerous you attempt.
+ This tasty-looking meals has been upcycled.