The Download: threats from space mirrors and credit for AI drugs
A company's plan to launch space mirrors to reflect sunlight on Earth raises concerns about light pollution, aviation, and wildlife, potentially brightening the night sky significantly. Separately, the article discusses the legal challenge of crediting AI in drug discovery patents, as current law only recognizes human inventors despite AI's increasing role.
Why it matters
The space mirror project highlights potential environmental and societal impacts of large-scale geoengineering efforts, while the AI drug discovery issue underscores the urgent need for intellectual property law to adapt to advanced AI capabilities and define inventorship in the age of artificial intelligence.
Plus: The data center backlash is scrambling the midterm elections.
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.
A company that plans to beam sunlight from space to Earth on demand might unintentionally brighten the night sky for many more people than intended, according to a new study.
Later this year, Reflect Orbital plans to launch a test satellite that will extend an 18-by-18-meter mirror in orbit. The goal is to eventually launch up to 50,000 larger satellites that can reflect sunlight to Earth on demand.
Reflect Orbital says the technology could extend sunlight for solar panel charging, emergency response, and military activities. But new research suggests the giant beams could shine as bright as 10,000 full moons and scatter light over tens of kilometers, raising concerns about dark skies, aviation, and wildlife.
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