Next In Tech

Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has taken up advisory roles at Microsoft and Anthropic. During his time as Prime Minister, he prioritized tech regulation, even setting up an AI safety summit in 2023. To many, Sunak's joining Anthropic is “akin to operating as an internal think tank”. Considering that Anthropic had an interest in UK government policies, many are concerned that Sunak’s appointment could potentially be seen as ‘unfair access and influence’ within the government. Microsoft is a similar case, being a major investor in the UK. However, it also said that his time spent out of government would have reduced the value of any information he still possesses, reiterating the standing rules ex-ministers have to abide by when seeking employment after leaving their position. In addition to the two tech roles, it has been confirmed that Sunak will act as a paid advisor to the bank Goldman Sachs. Sunak has voiced his opinions on technology, believing that it “will transform our world and play a key part in determining our future”. He has also stated that all proceeds from his new roles will be donated to The Richmond Project, a charity that he founded with his wife to tackle a number of problems in the UK. 

Planet Pulse

Recently, Coral reefs around the globe have become the first environmental system on Earth to pass the climate ‘tipping point’. Tipping points are critical thresholds in the Earth’s climate system in which small changes can lead to significant, sometimes irreversible, consequences. Researchers at the University of Exeter’s Global Systems Institute in England released their second Global Tipping Points Report, examining some fundamental processes that support life on the planet in terms of their proximity to benchmarks that may signal permanent damage. Due to higher ocean temperatures, coral reefs have degraded, which is crucial for marine life and provides habitats for around one-fourth of all underwater species. Additionally, reefs support the livelihoods of around one billion people, making them just as much of an economic threat as an environmental one. The scientists have determined that when global warming reaches about 1.2 degrees Celsius, that will be the tipping point for coral reefs. At 1.5 degrees, somewhere between 70-90% of coral reefs will die. Reef death is catalyzed by bleaching, or when heat stress causes coral to lose the colorful algae and become weaker. When this stress continues, the coral may completely break down. In April, it was estimated that 84% of the world’s coral reefs were under heat stress. Small pockets of coral are expected to survive, and the main priority now is minimizing the progression of warming while preserving them.

Science Explained

Today, Artificial Intelligence can be seen everywhere, whether in the media or in our daily lives. AI has the ability to automate repetitive tasks, improve decision-making processes, and enhance the accuracy and speed of data analysis. It has the potential to transform many fields, from finance to healthcare. One of the most recent iterations of AI, which is generative AI, can do things very closely to humans. Modern AI works in phases of development. Early AI was machines that received an input and then produced a recommendation based on that input. The response was based on the algorithms telling the system what to do, and the way the system was trained. Generative AI is another step forward in the development phase. Rather than simply reacting to data input, it's taking it in and then using predictive algorithms to create original concepts. This can include poems, songs, screenplays, and art. With LLMs, or Large Language Models like ChatGPT and Copilot, the system is actually just predicting what word to use next rather than understanding what it's doing. We are not in the phase of the theoretical AGI(artificial general intelligence). AGI surpasses generative AI, in which it would actually be able to mimic or surpass human intelligence. What's also interesting is that sometimes, AI will hallucinate. It may make up answers that are not true, or cite a source that doesn’t actually exist. AI is changing our lives in ways that were unimaginable earlier. 

Stem Crossroads

At the Smith Seaweed Ecology Lab at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the scientific diversity of seaweed is being showcased through the Ellen Browning Scripps Herbarium Collection. This collection was named after the institutional founding donor, Ellen Browning Scripps, who was an avid seaweed collector and historian. The establishment of this new collection was made possible because of the support of the Beyster Family, the California Institute for Biodiversity, and the Ellen Browning Scripps Family Foundation. Seaweed has a natural beauty, which is being presented through this collection. Beyond that, seaweed pressings are also important for understanding historical ecology, taxonomy, assessing biodiversity, and documenting change across space and time. The collection is made up of over 5000 macrolgal herbarium specimens that were collected by lab members and students in the Phycology: Marine Plant Biology course. Researchers and volunteers from the Smith lab have been working together since 2023 to curate and digitize seaweed pressings, representing over 300 different species. They have been collected over Southern California, making up native and non-native seaweeds. These seaweed pressings are not only useful scientifically, but they are also stunning pieces of art that are pleasing to look at and can last for centuries. 

Opportunities

If you are trying to experiment with different fields, consider looking into Younited. Younited is a student-led nonprofit that empowers high school students to explore their career interests with virtual opportunities. Simply by signing up, students can receive access to opportunities for volunteering, internships, and scholarships.

https://www.youunited.org/

If you are passionate about the environment, apply to the Green Scholars Program. This is a project-based, honors-level program for high school students who are skilled in environmental literacy, professional skills, and project management. This is a virtual internship looking for students willing to work at least 15 hours a week. 

https://www.seasidesustainability.org/internships

Our Top Picks

How Americans say the news they get makes them feel - By Christopher St. Aubin and Kirsten Eddy

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/10/15/how-americans-say-the-news-they-get-makes-them-feel/

Blending neuroscience, AI, and music to create mental health innovations - Stefanie Koperniak

https://news.mit.edu/2025/kimaya-lecamwasam-blending-neuroscience-ai-music-to-create-mental-health-innovations-1015