Today’s picks
1. Markets realise they hate America’s blue wave
Investors are waking up to a risk they had overlooked: a Democratic sweep — the “blue wave” — could dampen the AI boom through tighter regulation and shifting fiscal priorities. The piece explains why market sentiment has turned against one-party dominance, and what that implies for tech valuations and capital spending. Worth reading for anyone tracking how politics now shapes the AI trade.
2. Transcript: An interview with Andy Burnham
This transcript records Andy Burnham, Britain’s prime minister, discussing foreign policy and the economy with The Economist. It sets out his positions and reasoning on key issues, offering a compact guide to his policy priorities and the challenges Britain faces. Worth reading for those seeking to understand the direction of the government.
3. Ancient humans used cannabis in burial rituals 2,800 years ago
New findings from a Siberian tomb offer the earliest direct evidence of human cannabis use, pointing to ritual use around 2,800 years ago. The study shifts attention from indirect traces such as pollen to what people actually consumed or burned. It is worth reading because it links drug history with burial ritual and raises key questions about how archaeologists infer ancient behavior.
4. These are the doctors and scientists elected in the 2026 midterms
This article profiles the doctors and scientists elected in the 2026 midterms who will take office in January. It examines their professional backgrounds and new political roles. It is worth reading for understanding the scientific community’s growing direct involvement in U.S. politics and what that may mean for science policy and public governance.
5. Lab-grown meat was supposed to save the world. What happened?
In 2013, Mark Post unveiled a lab-grown beef burger costing €250,000, funded by Sergey Brin. Cultured meat was promoted as a fix for the climate crisis and a way to remake the food system. Yet large-scale production has not arrived, and the promised chicken vats remain idle. This article asks what went wrong, examining the cost, technical, and commercial barriers—worth reading for anyone interested in the future of food.
6. AI models can tinker with one another’s brains
The article reports that AI models can make small-scale changes to one another’s internal workings. For now, the modifications are limited, but they raise questions about autonomy, safety boundaries, and oversight. It is worth reading because it hints at a future in which AI systems influence one another rather than operate in isolation.
7. Drones don’t just blow up the enemy
This piece notes that drones do more than strike enemy forces: they can intercept radio transmissions and use them to identify future targets. It highlights how surveillance and attack functions are converging in modern warfare. For readers interested in military technology, electronic warfare, and battlefield intelligence, it is worth a closer look.
By publication
The Economist
- Markets realise they hate America’s blue wave
- Transcript: An interview with Andy Burnham
- AI models can tinker with one another’s brains
- Drones don’t just blow up the enemy
Scientific American
- Ancient humans used cannabis in burial rituals 2,800 years ago
- These are the doctors and scientists elected in the 2026 midterms