This is today's edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that delivers a daily dose of what's happening in the world of technology.
Supercooled Kidneys Transplanted into Pigs: A Landmark Achievement
Time is critical in organ donation. Once removed from a donor, an organ begins to deteriorate, leaving surgeons only hours to transplant it. Traditionally, organs are stored on ice at around 4 °C (39 °F), but freezing them causes ice formation and damage—until now.
Scientists have developed a device that cools organs to -4 °C (25 °F) without ice formation. In tests with pig kidneys, the organs were preserved for days in the device and successfully transplanted. This breakthrough, reported in July 2026, raises hopes for longer-term storage of human donor organs, potentially revolutionizing transplant logistics and saving more lives.
—Jessica Hamzelou
Plus: Space data centers don't exist yet, but opposition is already growing. Also, China's push for homegrown chips continues to accelerate in 2026, with domestic semiconductor production reaching new milestones amid global supply chain shifts.