The Download: a reality check for geoengineering and the science of interoception

Solar geoengineering, a concept involving deliberate climate system intervention to counter global warming, is progressing from theoretical computer simulations to practical engineering challenges. Researchers are developing aircraft, materials, and systems for its implementation. However, this transition reveals that even initial deployment would necessitate substantial new infrastructure, considerable time, and significant investment, presenting a reality check for the feasibility of cooling the planet through these methods. Separately, research into interoception, the internal bodily sense, is accelerating due to a 2021 Nobel Prize and advanced tools for mapping bodily signals. Scientists are decoding the communication pathways between the body and brain, which is yielding insights applicable to treating conditions such as obesity and anxiety. This burgeoning field of interoception research is being highlighted through MIT Technology Review Narrated podcasts, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. In related business news, SpaceX's market valuation reached $2.659 trillion yesterday, briefly surpassing Microsoft's after an initial public offering surge, positioning it as the world's fifth most valuable company.