The Download: AI in Africa, and reporting in the age of Trump

It is easy to convince ourselves that we now live in a dematerialized ethereal world, ruled by digital startups, artificial intelligence, and financial services.

Yet there is little evidence that we have decoupled our economy from its churning hunger for resources. We are still reliant on the products of geological processes like coal and quartz, a mineral that’s a rich source of the silicon used to build computer chips, to power our world.

Three recent books aim to reconnect readers with the physical reality that underpins the global economy. Each one fills in dark secrets about the places, processes, and lived realities that make the economy tick, and reveals just how tragic a toll the materials we rely on take for humans and the environment. Read the full story.

—Matthew Ponsford

We can still have nice things

A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)

+ Oscars buzz has already begun, and this year’s early contenders are an interesting bunch.
+ This sweet art project shows how toys age with love ❤️
+ Who doesn’t love pretzels? Here’s how to make sure they end up with the perfect fluffy interior and a glossy, chewy crust.
+ These images of plankton are really quite something.