The US and China are racing to build bases on the moon, with NASA hoping to establish a small lunar city by the end of the century. But the moon is a tremendously hostile place to set up camp. A sprawling lunar base must be safe for its inhabitants, protected from falling asteroids, endless cosmic radiation, razor-sharp lunar dust, and torturous temperature swings. It also must be somewhat self-sustaining, which will require autonomous robots, nuclear power, and a way to use the moon's resources to keep the base operating.
But the chief obstacle may be one of political will. The newsletter's lead story explores what stands in the way of a city on the moon, and the piece is slated for the next issue of MIT Technology Review's print magazine.
Elsewhere in the edition, Brimstone is profiled as one of MIT Technology Review's 10 Climate Tech Companies to Watch 2026. The US startup is part green cement company, part critical mineral producer. Under the Biden administration its main pitch was cement that generates about 60% fewer greenhouse-gas emissions by switching from standard limestone to silicate rocks. Under the Trump administration, it is emphasizing the ability to extract valuable materials from those same rocks.
The newsletter also looks at a new kind of job: the delivery drone air traffic controller. Trevor Wischnewsky, an RPIC, or remote pilot in command, at Fly Trex, oversees fleets of drones that ferry cargo to homes and businesses in Texas.
The edition also reports that an Anthropic AI model submitted a fake tip about an unsolved murder, a disclosure that drew criticism from police for the nine-day delay in reporting it.
Source: MIT Technology Review · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing