Our sense of smell is deeply linked to our emotions, due to the connections between the tissue structures that identify odors and the parts of the brain that govern our memories and feelings. But what if those smells are linked to traumatic memories? Researchers are finding success using a combination of artificial scents and virtual reality to treat people with severe cases of trauma. WSJ’s Danny Lewis examines how new innovations could make this therapy more accessible.



Further reading: 

High-Tech Smell Sensors Aim to Sniff Out Disease, Explosives—and Even Moods - WSJ 

The Metaverse’s Effects on Mental Health: Trivial or Troubling? - WSJ 

The New Halloween Scare: ‘Oh, My God, That Smell Was Gross.’ - WSJ 

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How Smell is Helping Treat the Toughest Cases of Trauma

It may seem like science fiction, but over the past decade scientists have been using stem cells to grow so-called “mini brains.” Researchers prefer the term brain organoids, a collection of human cells in a petri dish that mimic the structure and cell types of our own brains. They’ve been used to study diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s, and evaluate potential treatments, but now the research is becoming more sophisticated, and that’s raising big concerns. Could they become conscious? Should we even be experimenting on our own cells? WSJ’s Alex Ossola explores the advantages, and potential issues, as scientists look to use brain organoids to test new medicines or even replace the chips in our computers. 



Further reading: 

Scientists Grow Human Cells in Rat Brains to Study Autism, Schizophrenia 

Engineered Mini Brain Models Show Patterns of Activity That Resemble Babies’ 

Startup Uses ‘Mini Brains’ and Software to Power Drug Research 

Thomas Hartung’s laboratory at Johns Hopkins University 

Paola Arlotta’s laboratory at Harvard University 

The Brainstorm Project 



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The ‘Mini Brains’ solving medical mysteries and raising concerns

High-speed internet is something many of us take for granted. But the FCC says millions of Americans lack access to broadband service. That includes many people who live in the northernmost parts of Alaska, where satellite internet has long been the only option. That’s changing, though, as melting sea ice is leading a rush of companies to step in and start laying new undersea cables. WSJ Pro reporter Isabelle Bousquette visited parts of the Arctic where high-speed internet has made it easier to learn and even saved lives. She speaks with WSJ’s Danny Lewis about the huge educational, medical and research implications for people in the Arctic and beyond. 



Further reading: 

A Warming Arctic Emerges as a Route for Subsea Cables - WSJ 

Climate Change in Arctic Is Changing How People There Live and Work - WSJ 

Google, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft Weave a Fiber-Optic Web of Power - WSJ 

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Melting Ice & Undersea Cables: How the Arctic Is Getting Fast Internet

Microchips are in pretty much all of our electronic devices—if it’s got a plug or a battery, it’s probably got a chip. For the past 60 years, most of these have been made of silicon. But new devices demand faster, better, and more efficient processors, and engineers are hitting silicon’s physical limits. In this encore episode of the Future of Everything, WSJ’s Alex Ossola digs into the future of chips—how scientists are boosting silicon’s capabilities and looking for other materials that could take its place.



Further reading: 

Graphene and Beyond: The Wonder Materials That Could Replace Silicon in Future Tech 

The Microchip Era Is Giving Way to the Megachip Age 

Chips Act Will Create More Than One Million Jobs, Biden Says 

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Encore: Beyond Silicon? The New Materials Charting the Future of Microchips

A growing body of research suggests that the gut microbiome, the bacteria and other organisms that live in the gut, is linked to our mental health. But what if doctors could act on that information to treat mental illness by changing the gut microbiome? WSJ’s Alex Ossola talks to some of the top researchers in the emerging field of psychobiotics to explore how changing what’s in the gut could lead to future psychiatric treatments. 



Help is available: Reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) by dialing or texting 988.



Further reading: 

Gut Bacteria Are Linked to Depression 

What Is Your Microbiome? A Wellness Trend Taking On Post-Covid Urgency 

Modern Life Is Messing With Our Microbiomes, but Science Is Fighting Back 

Diets Engineered to Work With Your Microbiome Are Latest Startup Craze 

Those Probiotics May Actually Be Hurting Your ‘Gut Health’ 

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Why the Future of Mental Health Care Could Be in Your Gut

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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How Football Tech May Change the Game for Head Injuries

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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Algorithms Are Everywhere. How You Can Take Back Control

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 Laundry to the Ocean: Fixing the Microplastics Problem in Clothes

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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Navigating The Future of Maps

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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Making It Rain: How Cloud Seeding Could Help Combat Future Droughts

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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Thanksgiving of the Future: What Climate Change Means for Your Plate

World leaders are still trying to figure out how to handle the hundreds of millions of tons of plastic waste generated every year. Back in the 1990s, it was tough to switch on the TV and not see ads or shows offering viewers a simple solution: to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics. Nice words, but it turns out that wasn’t enough to solve the problem. New high tech methods have shown promise in breaking down plastics or creating new ones that are easier to recycle. But they’re expensive alternatives. Will the economics work out? WSJ’s Danny Lewis sorts through the future of plastics recycling.



Would you pay more for plastic products designed to be easily recycled? Email us at foepodcast@wsj.com 



Further reading: 

U.S. Recycles 5% of Plastic Waste, Studies Show 

The 100% Recyclable Running Shoe That’s Only Available by Subscription 

‘Widely Recyclable’ Label Introduced to Plastic Packaging 

Soda Brands Are About to Get Possessive of Their Trash 

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The Problem With Plastics: Could New Recycling Tech Help the Planet?

Cells are the basic unit of life, but you could be forgiven if you stopped thinking about them after high school biology. In his newest book, “The Song of the Cell,” physician and author Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee explores the myriad ways the humble cell is key to our world and our biology. He speaks to WSJ’s Alex Ossola about how our understanding of the cell is opening up a new frontier in medicine, how it is helping create new treatments for difficult diseases like cancer, and how it could one day help fix or even enhance our bodies. 



What’s something you’re curious about that could shape the future? Email us at foepodcast@wsj.com   



Further reading: 

Book Review: The Emperor of All Maladies 

Peeking Into Pandora’s Box 

Publisher Tweaks ‘Gene’ Book After New Yorker Article Uproar 

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Siddhartha Mukherjee on the Future of Cellular Medicine

In the future, you might leave your doctor’s office with a prescription for a pig whose DNA has been modified to match your own. Scientists are already working on genetically engineering pigs to help predict the progression of a disease, or serve as an organ donor for those who need a transplant. But could pigs one day become keys to truly personalized medicine? WSJ’s Danny Lewis explores the promise and potential pitfalls of using animals to help human health.



What’s something you’re curious about that could shape the future? Email us at foepodcast@wsj.com 



Further reading:

Growing a New Type of Organ Donor 

Scientists to Study Pig-Organ Transplants in Brain-Dead People for Longer Periods  

Scientists Transplant Human Tissue into Rat Brains, Opening Door to New Research 

The Human Genome “Rosetta Stone” and The Future of Health 

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Are Personal Pigs The Future of Human Medicine?

Microchips are in pretty much all of our electronic devices—if it’s got a plug or a battery, it’s probably got a chip. For the past 60 years, most of these have been made of silicon. But new devices demand faster, better, and more efficient processors, and engineers are hitting silicon’s physical limits. In this episode of the Future of Everything, WSJ’s Alex Ossola digs into the future of chips—how scientists are boosting silicon’s capabilities and looking for other materials that could take its place.



Further reading: 

Graphene and Beyond: The Wonder Materials That Could Replace Silicon in Future Tech 

The Microchip Era Is Giving Way to the Megachip Age 

Chips Act Will Create More Than One Million Jobs, Biden Says Timeline of silicon’s development (Computer History Museum) 

Christopher Mims’ tech column for the Wall Street Journal 

Deji Akinwande's research page at the University of Texas at Austin 

Stephen Forrest's profile page at the University of Michigan 

Deep Jariwala's lab page the the University of Pennsylvania Wolfspeed's website 

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Beyond Silicon? The New Materials Charting the Future of Microchips

From “save the whales” to “protect the bumblebee,” animal conservationists rally advocates and officials to put resources toward ensuring the survival of a threatened species. But can we really save them all? Or are we overlooking the trade-offs as we decide which animals are protected to the detriment of others? WSJ’s Danny Lewis speaks to Dr. Rebecca Nesbit, ecologist and author of the book “Tickets for The Ark: From Wasps to Whales – How Do We Choose What to Save?”  about the tricky ethical questions behind conservation.

 

Further Reading:



A Belgian City Opens a Hotel for an Unusual Clientele: Insects | WSJ 

Are Shark Attacks a Sign of Conservation Success? | WSJ 

Bird Populations Plummet in North America | WSJ 

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The Conservation Conundrum: How Do We Decide Which Species to Save?

With climate change warming the oceans, coral reefs remain some of the most vulnerable ecosystems. Keeping an eye on them can be time-consuming and expensive, since it requires divers to do spot-checks to see if the reefs are bustling, lively environments or if they are degrading into abandoned neighborhoods.  But some researchers are increasingly tuning in to how reefs sound to monitor the corals’ health and maybe even make them more resilient. In this episode of The Future of Everything, WSJ’s Danny Lewis explores how listening to reefs may be the next frontier in trying to save them.

 

Further reading:



Financing a Healthy Future for Coral Reefs 

Listen: Scientists Are Recording Ocean Sounds to Spot New Species 

Divers Discover Coral Reef in Pristine Condition 

Google AI Tries to Save the Whales 

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Why Sound Could be Key to the Future of Coral Reefs

Three controversial paintings by Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt were lost to a fire in WWII. All that remained were black and white photos - and art historians have discussed what the paintings’ motifs and colors actually looked like for decades. Recently, the Google Arts and Culture Lab gave it a try ... by tapping into artificial intelligence. In this episode of the Future of Everything, WSJ's Ariana Aspuru explores how researchers are using AI to better understand art, artists and the creative process.

 

Further reading:

The Klimt Color Enigma — Google Arts & Culture 

‘Klimt vs. Klimt: The Man of Contradictions’ Review: Exploring an Art-Nouveau Master Online - WSJ  

Using AI to recreate how artists painted their masterpieces | MIT CSAIL 



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AI, Art and the Future of Looking at a Painting

In the decade since CRISPR gene-editing technology was first developed, it has been used to address a host of issues, such as developing new cancer treatments, designing faster rapid COVID-19 tests and to make biofuel-producing algae. Proponents say CRISPR could also help solve some of the world’s biggest food-related problems: salad greens could be more nutritious, fruits could taste better, and crops of all kinds could be altered to grow using fewer resources. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently gave the go-ahead to bring gene-edited beef to market, and CRISPR-modified purple tomatoes could be coming later this year. But agricultural technology companies still have to figure out how to overcome consumer skepticism. In this session from the WSJ Global Food Forum, leaders from two firms working to scale-up gene-edited foods discuss what it takes to get the new technology out of the lab and into supermarkets.



Further reading:

 

Get Ready for Gene-Edited Food 

GMO Tomatoes Could Be Returning After 25 Years. Will People Eat Them? 

Crispr’s Next Frontier: Treating Common Conditions 



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How Gene-Edited Crops Could be the Future of Feeding the World

Neri Oxman spends her time thinking about the future of materials science and how it should influence architecture and design. In this session from the Future of Everything Festival, the architect and former tenured professor at MIT’s Media Lab speaks with WSJ Health and Science coverage chief Stefanie Ilgenfritz about her vision of a future where science, technology and organic design work together to create products and buildings that may counteract climate change in urban areas. 



Further reading:

A Science of Buildings That Can Grow—and Melt Away | WSJ 

JPMorgan’s New Manhattan Headquarters to Be All Electric Powered | WSJ 

Biophilic Design Is Helping Big-City Apartment Towers Get Back to Nature | WSJ 

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WSJ’s The Future of Everything

WSJ’s The Future of Everything

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