Jan 11, 2025 Dispatch

Edition 25 – Secret Keys, Global AI, Life-saving Exercise

The big stories

Traditional encryption relied on a single secret key shared between sender and receiver, but public key cryptography revolutionized secure communication by using a two-key system: one public key for encryption and one private key for decryption. The system works like a special invisible ink where anyone can make messages disappear using a public formula, but only the holder of the secret formula can make them reappear. While this breakthrough was first discovered by British mathematicians in the early 1970s and later implemented through the RSA algorithm, the system faces new challenges from quantum computing - though quantum-safe alternatives called lattice problems are already being developed to maintain the security of our digital communications.

The United States and India are strengthening their technological partnership through new collaborative efforts in AI development and regulation. During a high-level meeting in New Delhi, officials from both countries agreed to create a framework for promoting mutual AI investments and establishing protective measures around the technology. Major tech companies are already investing heavily in India's AI infrastructure, with Microsoft pledging $3.7 billion for data centers and Amazon committing $12.7 billion for cloud infrastructure by 2030. The partnership extends beyond AI to include cooperation in space technology, defense innovation, and clean energy, marking a significant advancement in the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

New research from a scientific consortium reveals that exercise fundamentally transforms every tissue in the body, acting as a positive stress that prepares us for life's challenges. In an eight-week study with rats, researchers discovered that exercise altered the molecular makeup of organs throughout the body, from the brain to the kidneys, with changes mirroring the reverse of disease patterns. The benefits are substantial - exercise can reduce heart disease and cancer risks by 50%, improve sleep, mood, and breathing, with just 30-45 minutes of moderate activity five to six times weekly providing significant gains. Even more compelling, every minute of exercise translates to five minutes of extra life, making it arguably the most potent medical intervention available to everyone.