News: A new system called OrganEx prevented the decline of cells in pig organs an hour after the animals died, a finding that cells did not die as quickly as previously understood. This technology has successfully restored blood circulation and repaired damaged cells in pigs.
Why is it important: Experts have called the study “really remarkable,” adding that if scientists can intervene and prevent permanent cell failure, it raises serious questions about how we do it. We define a biological death. This research could pave the way to making human organs more viable for transplantation by making them last longer and in better condition after resection, and also could help develop treatments for strokes and heart attacks.
What’s next?: The team is planning future studies in animals and the obvious next step is to try to study whether OrganEx-treated organs are viable for transplantation. While they want to emphasize that the technology is not yet ready for use in humans, they are cautiously optimistic that the system could save organs that would otherwise be unusable. Read full story.
—Rhiannon Williams
Things to read
I scoured the internet to find you today’s most interesting/important/scary/fascinating stories about tech.
1 Chinese social media user is mocking their government
They are angry that officials failed to prevent Nancy Pelosi’s plane from landing in Taiwan. (NYT $)
+ Now that she has left, China has begun a series of military exercises near Taiwan. (BBC)
2 Laws Coming Soon for Cryptocurrency Scammers
But whether they will really be punished remains to be seen. (Recode)
+ However, more massive hacks have shaken the industry. (WP $)
+ Elizabeth Warren heads to banks’ legal cryptocurrency guidelines. (Bloomberg $)
+ Framed NFT art isn’t a fun party icebreaker after all. (Wired $)
3 The Right Is Trying To Recruit Children Online
Radical ideology is thriving in online games and chat rooms. (Guardians)
+ This is the experience of a schoolboy when captivated by extremely true content. (Guardians)
4 Black creators feel bribed by an app that promises their wealth
Triller has lured them away from arch-rival TikTok, but rarely lives up to his promises. (WP $)
+ The issue of white supremacy on social media is being exposed in the January 6 hearings. (Fast company $)
5 The price of virtual land in the metaverse has dropped
Who could have seen this coming?! (Information $)
+ Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until the day in the metaverse. (Insiders)
+ Metaverse is a new word for an old idea. (MIT Technology Review)
6 High-tech surveillance doesn’t stop people from crossing the Mexican border
However, it makes the hike much more dangerous. (The Verge)
7 Apple’s HR department is failing women
Employees say the company is promoting a toxic, male-centric work environment. (FT $)
8 Gig class riders are suffering from the intense heat
But for many, working long hours is the only way to secure a steady paycheck. (Screening)
9 An AI trained on 4chan learned how to utter inappropriate hate speech
To the surprise of exactly nobody. (Slate)
+ AI is still bad at censoring hate speech. (MIT Technology Review)
10 We don’t know why some bats live so long
Learning can also help us live longer. (IEEE spectrum)
+ The brains of bats predict their next actions in flight. (MIT Technology Review)
Quote of the day
“I tried three courses and an expert on the side, and the only thing I got away with was an empty wallet.”
—Scott Mitchell, 33 years old, told New York Times how he made $15,000 on shows that promise YouTube wealth tips, but accomplish nothing in the process.
Big story
