Technology

A $5 million prize awaits proof that quantum computers can solve health care problems

March 19, 2026
I’m standing in front of a quantum computer built out of atoms and light at the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre on the outskirts of Oxford. On a laboratory table, a complex matrix of mirrors and lenses surrounds a Rubik’s Cube–size cell where 100 cesium atoms are suspended in grid formation by a carefully manipulated…

Why the world doesn’t recycle more nuclear waste

March 19, 2026
The prospect of making trash useful is always fascinating to me. Whether it’s used batteries, solar panels, or spent nuclear fuel, getting use out of something destined for disposal sounds like a win all around. In nuclear energy, figuring out what to do with waste has always been a challenge, since the material needs to…

The Download: The Pentagon’s new AI plans, and next-gen nuclear reactors

March 18, 2026
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. The Pentagon is planning for AI companies to train on classified data, defense official says  The Pentagon plans to set up secure environments for generative AI companies to train military-specific versions of their…

What do new nuclear reactors mean for waste?

March 18, 2026
MIT Technology Review Explains: Let our writers untangle the complex, messy world of technology to help you understand what’s coming next. You can read more from the series here. The way the world currently deals with nuclear waste is as creative as it is varied: Drown it in water pools, encase it in steel, bury…

The Pentagon is planning for AI companies to train on classified data, defense official says

March 17, 2026
The Pentagon is discussing plans to set up secure environments for generative AI companies to train military-specific versions of their models on classified data, MIT Technology Review has learned.  AI models like Anthropic’s Claude are already used to answer questions in classified settings, including for analyzing targets in Iran. But allowing models to train on…

The Download: OpenAI’s US military deal, and Grok’s CSAM lawsuit

March 17, 2026
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. Where OpenAI’s technology could show up in Iran  OpenAI has controversially agreed to give the Pentagon access to its AI. But where exactly could its tech show up, and which applications…