Digest for 2/10/2026

What happens when technology knows more about us than we do? Poppy Crum shows how we can use second-generation 'empathics' — tech that reads physical signals of our feelings and states of mind — to better understand ourselves and each other, and build a more empathetic society.

Thomas Insel discusses how advancements in brain science and technology are transforming our approach to mental illnesses, paving the way for innovative treatments.

Jeremy Howard shares some surprising new developments in the fast-moving field of deep learning, a technique that enables computers to recognize objects and translate speech in real time, and discusses its potential impact on everyday life.

Cambridge researcher Aubrey de Grey argues that aging is merely a disease — and a curable one at that, outlining strategies to extend healthy human life.

Dan Buettner shares insights from Blue Zones, regions where people live the longest, revealing nine common habits that promote longevity.

What controls aging? Biochemist Cynthia Kenyon has found a simple genetic mutation that can double the lifespan of a simple worm, C. elegans. The lessons from that discovery, and others, are pointing to how we might one day significantly extend youthful human life.

Rob Knight is a pioneer in studying human microbes, the community of tiny single-cell organisms living inside our bodies that have a huge — and largely unexplored — role in our health.

Neuroscientist Elaine Hsiao explores the connection between gut microbes and brain health, revealing how the microbiome influences behavior and disease.

Our bodies are covered in a sea of microbes -- both the pathogens that make us sick and the mutualists that keep us healthy. Jonathan Eisen explores the ecology of the human microbiome, and how its evolution can be studied to reveal insights into health and disease.