Story Archive
81 Years Ago
The fear that our devices are somehow altering our brains might seem exclusively modern. But in 1931, Technology Review published "Machine-Made Minds: The Psychological Effects of Modern Technology," in which John Bakeless explored how machines had transformed the very nature of human thought. Here's what he had to say:
Reshaping the Human Species
A bioethicist wondered whether fertility technologies might lead to a new and "improved" Homo sapiens.
Is Facebook Worth It?
Estimates of the historical value of a user put the IPO hype in perspective.
Bases to Bytes
Cheap sequencing technology is flooding the world with genomic data. Can we handle the deluge?
Books on Tape
A group led by Harvard academics hopes to compile a library of everything. One forward thinker from 1961 might have asked: What took you so long?
Small Gains
Wind and solar power are ramping up quickly, but the world's demand for electricity is growing much faster.
Putting Death Out to Pasture
One writer wondered if cows' milk was the key to human longevity.
Keeping Up with the Despots
One columnist wondered whether democracy was nimble enough to compete with tyranny.
Going Offline
Google reveals how often governments ask it to banish things from its services and how often it complies.
