av Mikael Winterkvist | aug 14, 2025 | Bluesky, Mastodon, TED, Threads |
Before algorithms ruled our feeds, the internet was a mess — glitchy, chaotic and full of unexpected magic.
Internet culture writer Michael Sun reflects on the wild digital world of the 2000s — and makes a funny, wry case for why we need to reclaim its spontaneity, weirdness and genuine connection. From niche Facebook groups to loading music onto your iPod, it might be time to borrow from the past.
av Mikael Winterkvist | aug 6, 2025 | Bluesky, Mastodon, TED, Threads
Artificial intelligence could cost many of us our careers — but that doesn’t mean we should stop its development, says journalist Megan J. McArdle.
As she watches AI encroach on her own craft, she shares a fresh take on the 19th-century Luddites, who tried to destroy machines that would upend their trade. Looking back, McArdle reframes today’s fears with a poignant question: If we halt progress to protect the present, what might we be stealing from the future?
av Mikael Winterkvist | jul 17, 2025 | Bluesky, TED, Threads
The Middle East is a climate hotspot, with many parts of the region set to experience an increase in temperature by five to eight degrees Celsius by the end of the century.
Palestinian peace activist Nada Majdalani discusses how the climate crisis could actually instigate a movement towards peace, unveiling the ”Peace Triangle” initiative — a visionary plan to transform conflicts in the Middle East through shared water and energy projects. Drawing on her experience in cross-border environmental collaboration, she offers a glimpse of how economic interdependence between Israelis, Palestinians and Jordanians could lead to peace.
av Mikael Winterkvist | jul 14, 2025 | Bluesky, Mastodon, TED, Threads
How do you know if that shocking photo in your feed is real, or just another AI fake? Digital forensics expert Hany Farid explains how he helps journalists, courts and governments find structural errors in AI-generated images, offering four practical tips everyday individuals can use when facing the internet’s war on reality.
av Mikael Winterkvist | jun 16, 2025 | Bluesky, Mastodon, TED, Threads
Scott Loarie has a challenge for you: go outside and take a picture of a living thing. He introduces the global community of people building a living atlas of the natural world by sharing their nature photos with scientists — and shows how you can join in on the fun.
av Mikael Winterkvist | jun 5, 2025 | Bluesky, Mastodon, TED
Why do wolves howl? With the help of AI, we’re getting closer to an answer. Linguist and software engineer Jeffrey T. Reed shares his research on wolf sounds in the wild, revealing the surprisingly complex range of vocalizations — barks, yelps, whimpers, even teeth clacking — these creatures make for different social functions.
