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"Inside a longshot bid to buy Tik Tok."

 Views expressed in this science and technology summary are those of the reporters and correspondents.  Accessed on 18 January 2025, 1457 UTC.

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Russ Roberts (https://hawaiisciencejournal.blogspot.com).

View in browser | Update your preferences Friday, January 17, 2025 In today’s newsletter, reconsidering social media, and then: • The new combustible age • “Silo” and the modern dystopia • How do you know when a system has failed?  Annals of Communications Is the TikTok Ban a Chance to Rethink the Whole Internet? The billionaire Frank McCourt is launching a “people’s bid” to buy the app, replace its addictive algorithm, and give users greater control of their data. Is it a publicity stunt or a sincere attempt to reform the digital age? By Clare Malone Editor’s Picks  Books Does One Emotion Rule All Our Ethical Judgments? When prehistoric predators abounded, the ability to perceive harm helped our ancestors survive. Some researchers wonder whether it fuels our greatest fights today. By Elizabeth Kolbert On Television Are We Living in a Dystopia? The sci-fi series “Silo” is the latest in a string of popular post-apocalyptic dramas with an increasingly uncanny resonance. By Daniel A. Gross Our Columnists  Open Questions How Do You Know When a System Has Failed? We see broken systems all around us. At least, we think we do. By Joshua Rothman  Infinite Scroll What Happened When an Extremely Offline Person Tried TikTok In 2016, I went viral for telling people to quit social media. In 2024, I ignored my own advice. By Cal Newport If you know someone who would enjoy Science & Technology, please share it. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up. The Los Angeles Fires  Fault Lines The Victims of the L.A. Fires Have Nowhere to Turn In the age of social media, every politician who has to stand in front of a camera after a tragedy turns into just another battle site in an endless culture war. By Jay Caspian Kang The Lede The New Combustible Age The Los Angeles fires hark to the nineteenth-century blazes that ravaged our cities—and point toward an even more flammable future. By Daniel Immerwahr Cartoon by Zoe Si P.S. The F.D.A. has banned the use of Red Dye No. 3 in food, after studies showed that the dye could cause cancer in rats. That could mean no more Brach’s iconic conversation hearts for Valentine’s Day, Nesquik strawberry-flavored milk, or certain brands of Maraschino cherries—at least until a substitute for the dye is found. In the meantime, revisit Ian Frazier’s amazing reporting on the dark secrets of a cherry empire in Brooklyn—and the bees that started producing red honey. 🍒 Thanks for reading. Let us know your thoughts about today’s edition. Plus, browse more newsletters. You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for the Science & Technology newsletter from The New Yorker. Manage your preferences | View our Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2025. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.

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