The Download: weight-loss drugs slowing aging and carbon dioxide batteries
Recent research suggests GLP-1 weight-loss drugs may slow biological aging, while Energy Dome is developing carbon dioxide-based batteries for grid storage. Additionally, a former DeepMind researcher argues that modern AI lacks the reasoning capabilities seen in early systems like AlphaGo.
Why it matters
These developments highlight the intersection of medical breakthroughs, climate tech innovation, and the ongoing debate regarding the limitations of current AI architectures.
Plus: OpenAI has released 377 new math findings, further rattling the field.
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.
Popular weight-loss drugs may do more than help people shed pounds. They might also slow the aging process.
Drugmakers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk say patients taking their GLP-1 drugs age less quickly, according to molecular “aging clocks” that track changes in DNA or levels of key proteins.
The findings add to speculation that GLP-1 drugs could be acting on basic causes of aging and might be true longevity treatments. But how much can we read into these results?
Energy Dome is one of MIT Technology Review’s 10 Climate Tech Companies to Watch 2026 , available exclusively to subscribers .
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