Today’s picks
1. Google’s quantum Willow chip may be able to grow ‘magic states’
Google’s quantum Willow chip may be able to grow so-called magic states. These states are a key resource for fault-tolerant quantum computing and could help improve accuracy in complex calculations. The development is worth reading as a sign of progress toward more reliable, practical quantum machines.
2. What to watch this week
This guide highlights the week’s most captivating new documentaries, spanning a range of subjects and perspectives. It offers a curated entry point for viewers seeking worthwhile nonfiction storytelling without sorting through everything. Read it to quickly find documentaries that combine strong craft with timely, human-scale stories.
3. A Nobel-winning economics lesson
This week’s podcast on markets, the economy and business features an interview with Michael Woodford. It uses Nobel-winning economic research to draw lessons for policy and markets. Woodford’s insights help explain central-bank decisions, inflation and expectations, making the episode worth hearing.
4. Scientists discover an ancient shipwreck dating to when the Great Pyramid was built
Scientists have discovered an ancient shipwreck off the coast of Türkiye with relatively intact cargo on the seabed. It is believed to be between 4,700 and 4,400 years old, roughly contemporary with the building of the Great Pyramid. The find offers a rare window into early maritime trade and seafaring, making it worth reading.
5. A perfect storm: how the super El Niño is devastating the fishing industry
Peru’s anchoveta has accounted for roughly a tenth of the global commercial catch since 1970, more than any other fish. In June 2026, Peru suspended the anchoveta season, then turned it into a total closure in August. Warming seas and decades of overfishing created a perfect storm. The article explains the economic and supply-chain consequences, and why this case matters for global fisheries governance.
6. AI will make it possible to design and build organisms from scratch
Synthetic biology has finally arrived. This article examines how AI could make it possible to design and build organisms from scratch, with implications for medicine, materials, agriculture and energy. It is worth reading for a clear view of the scientific promise, practical limits and ethical questions ahead.
7. AI companies want to become frontier scientific researchers
AI companies are increasingly moving beyond selling tools to conducting frontier scientific research themselves, treating real experiments as both a proving ground and a source of training signal. The bet is a self-reinforcing loop: doing science yields better data and feedback, which in turn produces stronger models. The reward may be better models themselves, plus the capabilities and commercial edge that follow. Worth reading for how the AI race is shifting from raw compute toward scientific output.
By publication
The Economist
- What to watch this week
- A Nobel-winning economics lesson
- AI will make it possible to design and build organisms from scratch
- AI companies want to become frontier scientific researchers
Scientific American
- Google’s quantum Willow chip may be able to grow ‘magic states’
- Scientists discover an ancient shipwreck dating to when the Great Pyramid was built