Why it matters: Scientists believe that spraying sulfur dioxide or other reflective particles into the stratosphere in sufficient quantities might be able to offset some level of global warming. But the unknown side effects, coupled with the difficult questions over how to govern a temperature-tweaking technology, make it highly controversial.
What’s next: The startup didn’t seek approval before its balloon launch. Now, by announcing plans to prohibit any future solar geoengineering experiments, Mexico may be one of the first nations, if not the first, to announce an explicit ban on such projects. Read the full story.
—James Temple
Read next: What is geoengineering—and why should you care? As the threats of climate change grow, we’re all likely to hear more and more about the possibilities, and dangers, of geoengineering. Here’s what it means.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
1 Pressure is mounting on Germany to send tanks to Ukraine
Ukraine is desperate for them, but Germany fears provoking Russia. (Vox)
+ NATO allies are growing increasingly exasperated. (FT $)
+ Germany’s foreign minister wouldn’t stop Poland from sending theirs. (BBC)
+ If released, the tanks could help secure a Ukrainian victory (Economist $)
2 Thousands marched to mark the 50th anniversary of Roe v Wade
Protestors demonstrated in 46 states across the US. (NYT $)
+ What the Roe verdict leak can teach future leakers. (The Intercept)
+ The future of medical abortion will end up being fought over in court. (Vox)
+ The cognitive dissonance of watching the end of Roe unfold online. (MIT Technology Review)
3 Crypto’s pseudo-banks are dying
And they may be taking some people’s life savings with them. (WSJ $)
+ FTX’s Sam Bankman-Fried sure isn’t going quietly. (Slate $)
+ Investors in the crypto exchange Gemini are growing understandably worried. (FT $)
4 Confidential US police files were stolen in a major hack
The thieves also stole tactical raid plans and a suspect report. (TechCrunch)
5 Donald Trump is reportedly going to ditch his own social media platform
He wants to return to Twitter just as the Republican primary heats up in June. (Rolling Stone $)
6 Ultrasound tech isn’t just for pregnancy scans
AI and other advances have turned it into a powerful diagnostic tool. (New Yorker $)
7 Livestreaming is one of Big Tech’s biggest challenges
It’s fiendishly difficult to moderate. (FT $)