This edition of The Download covers a range of topics, from climate intervention to the ethics of AI in therapy. For-Profit Solar Geoengineering Raises Concerns: Scientists David Keith and Daniele Visioni express their concerns about the increasing trend of private companies entering the solar geoengineering field. They question the technical claims made by some companies and highlight the potential risks to public trust and the integrity of scientific research. Stardust, an American-Israeli company, recently raised $60 million to develop a climate-altering system for deployment by the start of the next decade. 'The Simpsons' and Their Seemingly Prophetic Predictions: Al Jean, the longest-serving showrunner for 'The Simpsons,' reflects on the conspiracy theories surrounding the show's uncanny ability to predict future events. From Donald Trump's presidency to a pandemic resembling the coronavirus, the show has seemingly foreshadowed numerous real-world occurrences. Therapists Secretly Using ChatGPT: A Breach of Trust?: Reports are emerging of therapists using ChatGPT to analyze and respond to clients, sometimes without their knowledge. This raises serious ethical concerns about client privacy and the potential erosion of trust in the therapeutic relationship. Declan, a therapy patient, discovered his therapist was using ChatGPT after a screensharing mishap during a session. The Must-Reads:

Amazon is suing Perplexity over its Comet AI agent for alleged computer fraud.
Trump has renominated Jared Isaacman to lead NASA.
Homeland Security has released a facial recognition app for police forces.
Scientific journals are overwhelmed with AI-written submissions.
The AI boom is benefiting equipment manufacturers.
Chronic kidney disease is potentially linked to climate change.
Brazil is proposing a fund to protect tropical forests.
New York is creating a citywide digital map.
The internet is at risk of catastrophic collapse, and some are preparing for it.
A Chinese spacecraft may have been hit by space junk.

Quote of the Day: "I am not sure how I earned the trust of so many, but I will do everything I can to live up to those expectations." - Jared Isaacman. Is the Digital Dollar Dead?: The concept of a digital dollar, once a prominent topic, has faced political challenges and skepticism, leading to questions about its future viability. The Boston Fed quietly ceased working on its CBDC project late last year. We Can Still Have Nice Things:

The world’s oldest air has been unleashed.
How to stop sweating the small stuff.
Happy Bonfire Night to our British readers!
The scariest music ever recorded.