Today’s picks
1. Here’s what Moderna’s latest mRNA cancer vaccine data actually show
New results indicate that Moderna and Merck’s mRNA cancer vaccine helps prevent cancer recurrence and death. The finding sharpens attention on individualized cancer vaccines, while key questions remain about effect size, eligible patients, and follow-up. Worth reading to understand what the data actually show—and what they do not.
2. This implant burns up excess blood sugar with electricity
A new USB-sized implant, tested in mice, uses electrical stimulation to burn up excess blood sugar and may one day help people with type 2 diabetes manage glucose levels. The work is still preclinical, so clinical benefit remains unproven. Its combination of electrical stimulation and glucose control makes it worth following.
3. Sam Bankman-Fried on effective altruism
This week’s podcast covers markets, the economy and business. Sam Bankman-Fried speaks exclusively to Money Talks from a prison phone about effective altruism. The conversation offers a rare direct account of his views, making it worth reading for those interested in the intersection of philanthropy, ideology and the FTX collapse.
4. Sam Bankman-Fried says he has paid his debts
This piece draws on The Economist’s interview with crypto tycoon Sam Bankman-Fried from a California prison, centering on his claim that he has paid his debts. It touches on accountability, debt, and the legal aftermath of FTX’s collapse, and on the wider crisis of trust in crypto. Worth reading for assessing the credibility of his claims and their industry implications.
5. Is the internet still safe?
A string of cyber-security incidents has knocked websites offline, prompting a fresh look at how resilient the internet really is. The piece traces the incidents, the methods behind them, and the fragile infrastructure they expose. Worth reading for anyone weighing the risks facing digital services and everyday users.
6. Everyone hates Oxford Street. Will pedestrianisation save it?
London’s mayor has announced that Oxford Street, Europe’s busiest shopping street, will close to traffic on 26 October, starting with half of its length. The question is whether pedestrianisation can turn a polluted, widely disliked thoroughfare into somewhere people actually want to spend time. The piece reports the plan’s surprisingly real progress and examines the urban-governance logic behind it. Worth reading for what it reveals about how big cities remake their flagship shopping streets.
By publication
The Economist
- Sam Bankman-Fried on effective altruism
- Sam Bankman-Fried says he has paid his debts
- Is the internet still safe?
Scientific American
- Here’s what Moderna’s latest mRNA cancer vaccine data actually show
- This implant burns up excess blood sugar with electricity