Alexis C. Madrigal
staff writer @TheAtlantic | book for @mcdbooks | VP @NAHJBayArea | Mexican, American, Earthseed | into curb cuts, intercommunalism
Last synced from Twitter 829d ago
What Jeff Bezos’s Reported Phone Hack Says About Billionaires
Stunning new allegations about the relationship between the Amazon CEO and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia hint at just how connected the world's most powerful people are.
The Smartphone Has Changed How History Is Written
A deep dive into an archive will never be the same.
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Alexis C. Madrigal
God, I love archives! The way historians use them is changing, though, and that probably will make for a different kind of history. theatlantic.com/technology/arc… pic.twitter.com/NIxqBfCIPM
14h
The Perfect Milk Machine: How Big Data Transformed the Dairy Industry
New methods for understanding the link between genes and living things have helped quadruple the average cow's milk production since your parents were born.
Silicon Valley Abandons the Culture That Made It the Envy of the World
Once upon a time, in the notorious start-up cradle, small was beautiful.
What Is Even Going on Out There?
A cell-phone video. A disputed airplane crash. The world is more confusing—and more visible—than ever.
Facebook’s Id Is Showing
An executive’s leaked memo suggests that the company wants to return to the pre-Trump world.
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Alexis C. Madrigal
Parsing the Boz memo: Facebook would really like to return to the pre-Trump world, but can’t admit something went wrong on the platform during the election because that challenges the core belief that Facebook accurately reflects the world.
14d
Chart: When Will We Eat Hamburgers Grown in Test Tubes?
The long-road to yesterday's test-tube burger debut in London, and beyond
The Code by Margaret O'Mara: 9780399562181 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
The true, behind-the-scenes history of the people who built Silicon Valley and shaped Big Tech in America Long before Margaret O'Mara became one of our most consequential historians of the American-led...
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Alexis C. Madrigal
If you’d like to read a great book about this (and many other things), I recommend @margaretomara’s The Code. Go buy it!
62d
Ghost ships, crop circles, and soft gold: A GPS mystery in Shanghai
A sophisticated new electronic warfare system is being used at the world’s busiest port. But is it sand thieves or the Chinese state behind it?
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Alexis C. Madrigal
This story is singlehandedly going to make me bring back my newsletter. This is incredible. technologyreview.com/s/614689/ghost… pic.twitter.com/gRpmFxvO0m
66d
The Toxic Bubble of Technical Debt Threatening America
Climate change will soon expose a crippling problem embedded in the nation’s infrastructure. In fire-ravaged California, it already has.
Your Smart Toaster Can’t Hold a Candle to the Apollo Computer
Despite what everyone says about the power of modern devices, they’re nowhere near as capable as the landmark early NASA system.
Mark Zuckerberg Is Rethinking Deepfakes
In an interview, the Facebook CEO hinted that the company is trying a new approach to misleading videos created through artificial intelligence.
Oral Culture, Literate Culture, Twitter Culture
The study of oral culture helps us understand the dynamics at play in social media, but no one knows what the move to skywriting means
The Huge Trend That Realigned the Media Industry Is Over
The legendary internet analyst Mary Meeker’s latest report has some bad news.
The ‘Platform’ Excuse Is Dying
For years, tech companies have relied on a rhetorical sleight of hand. It’s not working anymore.
The Coalition Out to Kill Tech as We Know It
With enemies like these, the industry is going to need some friends.
The Collapsing Crime Rates of the ’90s Might Have Been Driven by Cellphones
Did technology disrupt the drug game, too?
When You’re Not Just the Product on Facebook, but the Manager
Facebook wants more of its users to join "meaningful groups," but there can be questionable incentives for the people running them.
Why Silicon Valley Loved Uber More Than Everyone Else
Uber was the most valuable private company in history, but the public market has not been as enthusiastic. The reason explains a lot about how the tech industry works.