The Download: reviving frozen pig kidneys and boosting nuclear power
MIT Technology Review reports on a breakthrough in cryopreservation where pig kidneys were successfully frozen and revived for transplantation. The newsletter also highlights efforts by US nuclear operators to increase power capacity to meet rising energy demands.
Why it matters
Advancements in organ preservation could drastically reduce transplant waiting lists, while nuclear capacity upgrades are critical for supporting the energy-intensive growth of data centers.
Plus: Ukraine says sudden Starlink speed limits disrupted key drone missions.
This is today's edition of The Download , our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology.
Pig kidneys that were cooled to -150 °C and stored in a freezer for months have been successfully rewarmed and shown to work again for the first time, say scientists.
The kidneys, which are similar in size to human ones, were left in a glass-like state, in one case for over a year. Once they had been rewarmed, tested in machines, and transplanted into pigs, the kidneys regained their color and made urine—key signs they were working.
The results are a big milestone. But the team still needs to establish whether the approach could work for humans.
Dissect what the breakthrough means for organ transplantation .
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