Digest for 3/17/2026

Emergency physician Renee Salas explains the direct and indirect ways climate change harms human health, from heatwaves to disease spread.

What makes our bodies age ... our skin wrinkle, our hair turn white, our immune systems weaken? Biologist Elizabeth Blackburn shares a Nobel Prize for her work finding out the answer, with the discovery of telomerase: an enzyme that replenishes the caps at the end of chromosomes, which break down when cells divide.

Nir Barzilai studies the science of aging and shares discoveries about genetic factors and drugs that could lead to longer, healthier lives.

For all that's ever been said about climate change, we haven't heard nearly enough about the psychological impacts of living in such an uncertain time. TED Fellow Britt Wray shares insights on 'climate grief' and how it affects our mental health.

Public health researcher Kristie Ebi explains how rising CO2 levels are reducing the nutritional value of staple crops, potentially leading to widespread malnutrition and health issues.

MIT professor Rosalind Picard develops technologies that can measure and understand human emotion, paving the way for AI in emotional support.

Demonstrates AlterEgo, a device that reads your inner voice, showing how AI can interface directly with thoughts, with potential applications in personalized mental health therapy.

Cambridge researcher Aubrey de Grey argues that aging is merely a disease — and a curable one at that, outlining strategies to extend healthy human life.

Thomas Insel discusses how advancements in brain science and technology are transforming our approach to mental illnesses, paving the way for innovative treatments.