The Economist – Science & Technology

The Economist – Science & Technology

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Business-relevant technology trends for executives.

Crypto-Miners Are Quietly Colonising Computers
NewsApr 22, 2026

Crypto-Miners Are Quietly Colonising Computers

Crypto criminals are covertly installing mining software on unsuspecting organizations’ computers to siphon processing power and electricity. By placing hidden miners in crawlspaces, storage rooms or through compromised VPNs, they turn idle hardware into low‑cost hash power. The practice inflates...

By The Economist – Science & Technology
Is Bone Broth Good for You?
NewsApr 17, 2026

Is Bone Broth Good for You?

Bone broth has surged into mainstream wellness, buoyed by celebrity endorsements and social‑media buzz. Proponents tout it as a natural remedy for appetite control, skin health, bone strength, and gut function. However, scientific reviews find modest nutrient content and limited...

By The Economist – Science & Technology
Tumour Cells Use a Genetic Trick to Become Drug-Resistant
NewsApr 16, 2026

Tumour Cells Use a Genetic Trick to Become Drug-Resistant

Researchers have identified that many tumor cells evade traditional Mendelian inheritance, enabling them to acquire drug‑resistance traits far faster than previously understood. The genetic maneuver involves non‑standard chromosome segregation and gene amplification, which let cancer cells adapt to chemotherapy pressures....

By The Economist – Science & Technology
How Natural Selection Really Shaped Humanity
NewsApr 15, 2026

How Natural Selection Really Shaped Humanity

A new study published in Nature on April 15, 2026 argues that strong directional selection—rapid spread of advantageous mutations—has been far more common in human evolution than previously believed. Researchers analyzed genomic data across diverse populations and identified multiple recent sweeps linked...

By The Economist – Science & Technology
How AI Hackers Will Shake up Cyber-Security
NewsApr 15, 2026

How AI Hackers Will Shake up Cyber-Security

Anthropic announced its newest AI model, Mythos, will not be publicly released. Instead, access is limited to the 12 founding members of Project Glasswing, a consortium that includes Apple, Google and Nvidia. The move reflects growing concerns that advanced generative...

By The Economist – Science & Technology
Buffet Breakfasts Could Be Less Wasteful
NewsApr 14, 2026

Buffet Breakfasts Could Be Less Wasteful

A new computer model reveals that hotel buffet breakfasts generate up to twice the food waste of à la carte service. The study quantifies the excess waste and identifies counterintuitive strategies—such as smaller plate sizes and dynamic replenishment—to cut losses....

By The Economist – Science & Technology
The Climate Issue: The Blue Marble, Then and Now
NewsApr 11, 2026

The Climate Issue: The Blue Marble, Then and Now

Artemis II astronauts captured new “blue marble” images this week, adding to a half‑century legacy of Earth‑from‑space photos that have shaped public consciousness. The article recalls Stewart Brand’s 1966 vision that a full‑Earth view would alter perception and spark environmental action....

By The Economist – Science & Technology
Are Sugar Substitutes Healthier than the Real Thing?
NewsApr 10, 2026

Are Sugar Substitutes Healthier than the Real Thing?

Recent research challenges the perception that sugar substitutes are a harmless alternative to sugar. While they are marketed to reduce calories and protect dental health, multiple studies now link artificial sweeteners to gut microbiome disruption, increased appetite, and potential metabolic...

By The Economist – Science & Technology
Earth and Moon, Then and Now
NewsApr 9, 2026

Earth and Moon, Then and Now

In December 1968, Apollo 8 astronauts reoriented their spacecraft and witnessed the first colour view of Earth rising above the Moon’s far‑side horizon, a moment captured by Bill Anders and instantly became an iconic image. The photograph, known as “Earthrise,” symbolized...

By The Economist – Science & Technology
Sir Demis Hassabis Wants to Automate Drug Design
NewsApr 9, 2026

Sir Demis Hassabis Wants to Automate Drug Design

DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis reiterates his ambition to automate drug design using artificial intelligence. After AlphaFold earned the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for protein‑folding predictions, DeepMind is now channeling its expertise into generative models that can design therapeutic molecules...

By The Economist – Science & Technology
Mummified Reptiles Are Revealing How Breathing Evolved
NewsApr 8, 2026

Mummified Reptiles Are Revealing How Breathing Evolved

Scientists have examined exceptionally preserved, mummified reptiles to reconstruct the anatomy of early lung systems. The fossils reveal that rib‑muscle driven breathing—common to modern reptiles and mammals—appeared earlier than previously thought. This pushes back the evolutionary shift from buccal (mouth‑based)...

By The Economist – Science & Technology
AI Models Could Offer Mathematicians a Common Language
NewsApr 8, 2026

AI Models Could Offer Mathematicians a Common Language

Researchers are exploring AI models as a universal language for mathematicians, aiming to streamline the translation of formal proofs into more intuitive formats. The concept gained traction after historic challenges like the sphere‑packing problem, famously resolved by Thomas Hales in...

By The Economist – Science & Technology
Should You Take Multivitamins?
NewsApr 2, 2026

Should You Take Multivitamins?

Recent analyses indicate that multivitamins can offer modest health benefits for specific groups, such as older adults and those with nutrient deficiencies, challenging the 2013 Annals of Internal Medicine editorial that urged consumers to stop spending on them. Large-scale randomized...

By The Economist – Science & Technology
Scientists Are Working on “Everything Vaccines”
NewsApr 1, 2026

Scientists Are Working on “Everything Vaccines”

Vaccines prove their worth when they fail, as recent flu and COVID‑19 seasons have shown. The COVID‑19 pandemic exposed how quickly a novel virus can outpace vaccine development, while the 2025 flu season suffered a mismatch when the H 3 N 2 strain...

By The Economist – Science & Technology