Digest for 5/5/2026

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

Rosalind Picard shows how technology can read and respond to emotion, with implications for mental health and personalized interactions.

Robert Morris discusses how chatbots and AI can provide accessible therapy to combat depression and improve mental health.

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.

Dan Buettner shares insights from Blue Zones, regions where people live the longest, revealing nine common habits that promote longevity.

What controls aging? Biochemist Cynthia Kenyon has found a simple genetic mutation that can double the lifespan of a simple worm, C. elegans. The lessons from that discovery, and others, are pointing to how we might one day significantly extend youthful human life.

In 2014, the world avoided a global outbreak of Ebola, thanks to thousands of selfless health workers -- plus, frankly, some very good luck. In hindsight, we know what we should have done better. So, now's the time, Bill Gates suggests, to put all our good ideas into practice, from scenario planning to vaccine research to health worker training. As he says, "There's no need to panic ... but we need to get going."

Physician Jonathan Patz discusses how climate change exacerbates health problems like heat-related illnesses and infectious diseases, and proposes solutions through sustainable practices.

Science journalist Sonia Shah explains how animal microbes (sometimes cute, sometimes deadly) move through a globalized world -- and why we should rethink how we coexist with them.