That is at present’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a each day dose of what’s happening on this planet of know-how.
Droughts are slicing into California’s hydropower. Right here’s what which means for clear vitality.
The droughts that swept throughout the western US in 2021 sparked wildfires and broken crops. However the historic lack of water additionally had an affect on one in every of California’s key sources of renewable vitality: hydropower.
Hydropower is the world’s main supply of renewable vitality, making up about 17% of electrical energy technology in 2020, however droughts are making it tougher to depend on. As a low-carbon supply of energy, it’s important in limiting emissions of carbon dioxide.Nevertheless, droughts over the past two years have precipitated Californian reservoirs to dry up, resulting in the closure of the state’s second-largest hydropower plant final yr. This misplaced energy can’t simply get replaced with renewable sources that fluctuate through the day like wind and photo voltaic, which doubtless means extra electrical energy technology from different sources, and extra emissions. Learn the complete story.
—Casey Crownhart
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to seek out you at present’s most enjoyable/vital/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 Biden’s administration may sanction Kaspersky
It’s weighing up the choice rigorously, as a result of punishing a cybersecurity big is a dangerous enterprise. (WSJ $)
+ Oligarchs are exploiting UK information privateness legal guidelines to sue holders of “undesirable information”. (WP $)
+ Troops reportedly affected by radiation illness have pulled out of Chernobyl. (The Guardian)
+ What’s the threat of a nuclear accident in Ukraine? (TR)
+ Russia’s displaced tech professionals are in no rush to return residence. (AP)
2 Fb is struggling to curb baby sexual abuse content material
Its coverage of “erring on the facet of grownup” means abuse imagery could also be going unreported. (NYT $)
+ A serious Fb bug led to a surge of misinformation on customers’ Information Feeds. (The Verge)
+ On prime of all the pieces else, Meta’s coping with an AI mind drain. (CNBC)
three Scientists have lastly sequenced your complete human genome 
It’s a undertaking nearly 20 years within the making. (WSJ $)
four Social media platforms may very well be deleting battle crimes proof from Ukraine
Essential proof for future prosecution may violate platform insurance policies. (BBC)
+ Abroad volunteers are sifting by means of content material to gather battle crime information. (TR)
5 The pandemic has shattered youngsters’ psychological well being
Colleges have a major function to play in serving to them to recuperate. (WP $)
+ How People can put together for the approaching wave of covid. (NYT $)
+ Nations with poor sick pay are on the highest threat of future illness. (Wired $)
+ Even a light covid an infection places you at larger threat of creating diabetes. (Nature)
+ It seems to be like new circumstances within the US are leveling off. (Axios)
6 We take hundreds of smartphone pictures—however few are any good
The trick is to neglect why you took them within the first place. (New Yorker $)
+ Pictures within the metaverse may very well be extra colourful than you possibly can ever think about. (Quick Firm $)
+ Watch out, oligarchs, your households’ yacht selfies can result in sanctions. (Vice)
7 TikTok’s fixation on witch hunts is an moral quagmire
Its chaotic algorithm makes topics into important characters—and villains. (The Atlantic $)
+ A 22-year previous TikToker’s mother fanbase is rising more and more poisonous. (Enter Magazine)
eight In reward of boring tech 
Enterprise tech could also be a snoozefest, but it surely makes the world go spherical. (NYT $)
9 The tech bros nonetheless love their Patagonia vests
Some wearers most likely don’t even understand how mercilessly they’re being mocked. (NPR)
10 Find out how to train a robotic to hug like a human
Aww, go on then. (IEEE Spectrum)
+ A tasty-looking silicone raspberry is instructing robots to be gentler. (EPFL)
+ Robots additionally take pleasure in making pizza! (TechCrunch)
Quote of the day
“We are going to inform her all the pieces because it was. She ought to know the reality.”
—Khrystyna Pavluchenko, a Ukrainian girl, tells CNN she intends to inform her new child daughter Adelina about being pressured to flee to Poland to flee the battle, as soon as she’s sufficiently old to know.
We will nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction in these bizarre occasions. (Bought any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ Grasp this masterpiece within the Louvre.
+ These candy little penguin robots are going for gold—in leap rope.
+ This Twitter bot decides if a take is nice or dangerous, appears scientific sufficient.
+ Who’s up for happening a treasure hunt?
+ Yves Klein liked a little bit of invisible artwork—an NFT pioneer?
+ Boston Dynamics’ Spot is prowling round Pompeii ruins in a bid to discourage tomb raiders.
+ Okay, that’s sufficient web for in the future, I’m outta right here.
