The must reads
I’ve scoured the internet to find you the funniest/most important/scariest/fascinating stories about technology today.
1 Sam Bankman-Fried’s top employees have pleaded guilty to fraud
They have agreed to cooperate in his prosecution. (NYT $)
+ Here are some of the charges brought against the couple by US authorities. (Bloomberg $)
+ “Ethical crusader” Vikram Akula engaged in a number of similar unreliable practices over a decade ago. (Wired $)
2 Elon Musk claims his cost cutting saved Twitter from bankruptcy
Others might argue that it only hastened the company’s demise. (FT $)
+ The obvious choice for Twitter’s new CEO is one of the people he fired. (New Yorker $)
3 It has been a record year for the climate
But key US legislation could pave the way to a brighter future. (New Yorker $)
+ Why biodiversity is an important measure of the effects of climate change. (Economist $)
+ 2023 is the year when we will see if corporate climate commitments are real or greenwashing. (Wired $)
+ These three charts show who is most to blame for climate change. (MIT Technology Review)
4 Gene therapy has restored the immune system of 10 children
The patients, who were born without a functioning immune system, may now be able to lead normal lives. (New scientist $)
+ This family raised millions to get experimental gene therapy for their children. (MIT Technology Review)
5 The race to share the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope
NASA scientists had to meet a strict deadline and there was no room for error. (Other way around)
6 Sextortion Scammers In India Are Ruining Victims’ Lives
This is a glimpse into a growing, gruesome industry. (Rest of the world)
7 Your days of sharing Netflix passwords are numbered
Netflix’s crackdown on account sharing is unlikely to be popular. (WSJ $)
+ Sharing passwords is against the law in the UK, government says. (BBC)
8 How meme shares are no longer funny
Turns out investing based on vibes and jokes doesn’t always pay off. (Vox)
9 Grandmas on TikTok are charming younger generations
It strikes a special chord among those seeking homely, elder wisdom in the run-up to Christmas. (The Atlantic Ocean $)
+ Why those ‘day in my life’ videos are so addictive. (Vox)
10 We’re obsessed with trying to age healthier
But promising drugs risk being overhyped. (Known magazine)
+ How scientists want to make you young again. (MIT Technology Review)
Quote of the day
“He banished the revenue by being a dick.”