The Download: computing’s next leap and permafrost’s climate threat
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 far can we push computing? On a December evening in 1959, the physicist Richard Feynman gave a lecture called “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom.” There is no physical…
The Download: Computing's Next Leap and Permafrost's Climate Threat
This edition of The Download, MIT Technology Review's weekday newsletter, delves into advancements in computing technology and the impact of thawing permafrost on climate change. Richard Feynman's 1959 lecture, "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom," predicted the incredible miniaturization of computing over time. However, the industry has now moved away from this trend, turning to larger data centers for increased performance.
Despite this, researchers continue to explore ways to unlock further improvements in computing despite the limitations imposed by physical laws. Meanwhile, permafrost - permanently frozen soil - is experiencing significant thawing, raising concerns about its implications in global climate change. James Temple, a correspondent, visited Alaska to report on the fires threatening permafrost and the potential climate effects they might have.
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