Technology

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory plans to lay off 500 employees and dozens of contractors. How will that affect space exploration?

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

UV light is a revolutionary tech that could crush viruses before they strike. So why aren't we embracing it?

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Senators berated Mark Zuckerberg and four other social media CEOs on child safety and their platforms. But there’s no consensus on legislation to address it.

Emotions run high at Senate hearing on social media and child exploitation

Senators berated Mark Zuckerberg and four other social media CEOs on child safety and their platforms. But there’s no consensus on legislation to address it.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Apple's new Vision Pro headset debuts this week with a retail price of $3,500. What does it do, who is it for, and is it worth it?

Is Apple’s Vision Pro headset worth the hype?

Apple's new Vision Pro headset debuts this week with a retail price of $3,500. What does it do, who is it for, and is it worth it?

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Neuralink’s co-founder Elon Musk says the first human has received one of their brain implants. It has some promise, but also carries risk.

Brain implants: Next big tech or too dangerous?

Neuralink’s co-founder Elon Musk says the first human has received one of their brain implants. It has some promise, but also carries risk.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

After gaining a sizeable following on TikTok, can an influencer become a showrunner? And does he even need to?

Can an influencer make it in Hollywood — and why bother?

After gaining a sizeable following on TikTok, can an influencer become a showrunner? And does he even need to?

from KCRW Features

The stock market is booming, driven primarily by tech stocks. And yet these same companies are looking to continue mass layoffs in the next few months.

Do thousands of tech layoffs signal broader economic woes?

The stock market is booming, driven primarily by tech stocks. And yet these same companies are looking to continue mass layoffs in the next few months.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

On Tuesday, SAG-AFTRA announced a deal with a tech company that allows actors to license their voices to be replicated by artificial intelligence for video games.

What’s in the SAG-AFTRA, Replica AI deal?

On Tuesday, SAG-AFTRA announced a deal with a tech company that allows actors to license their voices to be replicated by artificial intelligence for video games.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Last year, many Spanish songs made the Billboard Hot 100 and Top 10 charts. Reasons: Gen Z’s inclusive listening habits, social media, meteoric rise of Regional Mexican music.

Spanish songs flooded Billboad charts in 2023. Thank Gen Z, TikTok

Last year, many Spanish songs made the Billboard Hot 100 and Top 10 charts. Reasons: Gen Z’s inclusive listening habits, social media, meteoric rise of Regional Mexican music.

from KCRW Features

Asteroids, vaccines, and a star eating a planet were some of the biggest scientific discoveries in 2023. Scientific American’s Laura Helmuth breaks them down.

From astronomy to health, what were 2023’s big science discoveries?

Asteroids, vaccines, and a star eating a planet were some of the biggest scientific discoveries in 2023. Scientific American’s Laura Helmuth breaks them down.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Hollywood’s messy year: Strikes disrupted show biz, the box office surprised, studios and execs struggled, and streamers started licensing.

A look back at Hollywood’s rollercoaster year

Hollywood’s messy year: Strikes disrupted show biz, the box office surprised, studios and execs struggled, and streamers started licensing.

from The Business

This week, Harvard divinity scholar Casper ter Kuile talks about the power of ancient ritual and how incorporating a tech sabbath and switching off our phones, can help us refocus and…

Midweek Reset: Tech Sabbath

This week, Harvard divinity scholar Casper ter Kuile talks about the power of ancient ritual and how incorporating a tech sabbath and switching off our phones, can help us refocus and…

from Life Examined

A series of high-profile accidents involving autonomous vehicles has some Angelenos nervous about their future in the city.

Self-driving cars are rolling out in LA. Are they safe?

A series of high-profile accidents involving autonomous vehicles has some Angelenos nervous about their future in the city.

from Greater LA

Since October, the robotaxi company Waymo has been offering driverless rides in Los Angeles. Greater LA’s Steve Chotakis tried one out for himself.

What it’s like to ride in a car with no one in the driver’s seat

Since October, the robotaxi company Waymo has been offering driverless rides in Los Angeles. Greater LA’s Steve Chotakis tried one out for himself.

from Greater LA

Waymo has big plans for the future of autonomous vehicles in Los Angeles and beyond.

What does the future hold for self-driving cars in LA?

Waymo has big plans for the future of autonomous vehicles in Los Angeles and beyond.

from Greater LA

Robotaxi companies say their technology will fix the problems with human driving. But critics are pushing back about safety and efficacy.

Waymo: Are driverless cars safe, will they transform commutes?

Robotaxi companies say their technology will fix the problems with human driving. But critics are pushing back about safety and efficacy.

from Greater LA

A groundbreaking approval from the FDA allows the gene-editing tool CRISPR to treat sickle cell disease. But many unknowns exist in using CRISPR to treat illnesses.

First FDA-approved CRISPR treatment: What are ethical concerns?

A groundbreaking approval from the FDA allows the gene-editing tool CRISPR to treat sickle cell disease. But many unknowns exist in using CRISPR to treat illnesses.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Apple will make changes early next year to improve texting. It may be time for iPhone users to stop shaming green-bubble texters (aka Android owners).

Green ‘bubble-shaming’ can lead to school alienation, missed romances

Apple will make changes early next year to improve texting. It may be time for iPhone users to stop shaming green-bubble texters (aka Android owners).

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

CEO Linda Yaccarino was brought on board at X ostensibly to temper Elon Musk's antics and soothe advertiser fears. It hasn’t gone well.

Following Linda Yaccarino’s rocky tenure leading social media giant X

CEO Linda Yaccarino was brought on board at X ostensibly to temper Elon Musk's antics and soothe advertiser fears. It hasn’t gone well.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Curator Anuradha Vikram talks about AI’s integration into labor and art, what the tech means for creativity, and the implications of widespread data scraping.

When AI enters the scene, how do artists respond? It’s messy

Curator Anuradha Vikram talks about AI’s integration into labor and art, what the tech means for creativity, and the implications of widespread data scraping.

from Greater LA