Curated from MIT Technology Review — Here’s what matters right now:
This is today’s edition of The Download , our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. How do our bodies remember? “Like riding a bike” is shorthand for the remarkable way that our bodies remember how to move. Most of the time when we talk about muscle memory, we’re not talking about the muscles themselves but about the memory of a coordinated movement pattern that lives in the motor neurons, which control our muscles. Yet in recent years, scientists have discovered that our muscles themselves have a memory for movement and exercise. And the more we move, as with riding a bike or other kinds of exercise, the more those cells begin to make a memory of that exercise. Read the full story . —Bonnie Tsui This piece is part of MIT Technology Review Explains: our series untangling the complex, messy world of technology to help you understand what’s coming next. You can read more from the series here . This story is also from our forthcoming print issue, which is all about the body. If you haven’t already, subscribe now to receive future issues once they land. Plus, you’ll also receive a free digital report on nuclear power. 2025 climate tech companies to watch: Traton and its electric trucks Every day, trucks carry many millions of tons of cargo down roads and highways around the world. Nearly all run on diesel and make up one of the largest commercial sources of carbon emissions. Traton, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, is producing zero-emission trucks that could help clean up this sector, while also investing in a Europe-wide advanced charging network so other manufacturers can more easily follow suit. Read the full story . —Amy Nordrum Traton is one of our 10 climate tech companies to watch—our annual list of some of the most promising climate tech firms on the planet. Check out the rest of the list here . This test could reveal the health of your immune system We know surprisingly little about our immune health. The vast array of cells, proteins, and biomolecules that works to defend us from disease is mind-bogglingly complicated. Immunologists are still getting to grips with how it all works. Now, a new test is being developed to measure immune health, one that even gives you a score. But that’s a difficult thing to do, for several reasons. Read the full story . —Jessica Hamzelou This article first appeared in The Checkup, MIT Technology Review’s weekly biotech newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Thursday, sign up here . The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 China is cracking down on imports of Nvidia’s AI chips Customs officers are combing shipments looking for the company’s China-specific chips. ( FT $) + US officials are investigating a firm that’s suspected of helping China sidestep export restrictions. ( NYT $) 2 Tesla’s ‘full self-driving’ feature is under investigation After multip
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Original reporting: MIT Technology Review