The Download: space exploration, and why we’re hooked on hybrid cars

The must-reads

I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.

1 Sam Bankman-Fried’s top associates have pleaded guilty to fraud
They’ve agreed to cooperate in his prosecution. (NYT $)
+ Here are some of the charges the US authorities have made against the pair. (Bloomberg $)
+ “Ethical crusader” Vikram Akula engaged in some similarly dodgy practices over a decade ago. (Wired $)

2 Elon Musk claims his cost-cutting has saved Twitter from bankruptcy
Others might argue it’s only hastened the company’s demise. (FT $) 
+ The obvious choice for new Twitter CEO is among the people he’s laid off. (New Yorker $)

3 It’s been a record-breaking year for the climate 
But major US legislation could pave the way to a brighter future. (New Yorker $)
+ Why biodiversity is a key measure of climate change’s effects. (Economist $)
+ 2023 is the year we’ll see if business’s climate commitments are genuine or greenwashing.  (Wired $)
+ These three charts show who is most to blame for climate change. (MIT Technology Review)

4 Gene therapy has restored 10 children’s immune systems
The patients, who were born without working immune systems, might now be able to live normal lives. (New Scientist $)
+ This family raised millions to get experimental gene therapy for their children. (MIT Technology Review)

5 The race to share the James Webb Space Telescope’s first pictures
NASA scientists had a strict deadline to meet, and no room for error. (Inverse)

6 Sextortion scammers in India are ruining victims’ lives
This is a peek inside a growing, horrifying industry. (Rest of World)

7 Your days of sharing Netflix passwords are numbered
Netflix’s crackdown on account sharing is unlikely to be popular. (WSJ $)
+ Sharing passwords is against the law in the UK, its government says. (BBC)

8 How meme stocks stopped being funny
Turns out that investing based on vibes and jokes doesn’t always pay off. (Vox)

9 Grandmas on TikTok are charming younger generations 
It’s striking a particular chord among those seeking homely, elder wisdom in the run up to Christmas. (The Atlantic $)
+ Why those “day in my life” videos are so addictive. (Vox)

10 We’re obsessed with trying to age more healthily
But promising drugs are at a risk of becoming overhyped. (Knowable Magazine)
+ How scientists want to make you young again. (MIT Technology Review)

Quote of the day

“He’s banjaxed the revenue by being a dick.”