MIT Technology Review Explores Rising Conspiracy Theories and Innovative City Planning Solutions
CAMBRIDGE, MA – October 31, 2025 - A new series from MIT Technology Review delves into the escalating prevalence of conspiracy theories and their impact on science and technology, while together highlighting a novel approach to urban design inspired by an unlikely source: slime mold. The publication’s ”The New Conspiracy Age” initiative launched this week wiht a personal account of experiencing the fallout of being falsely linked to a conspiracy, alongside reporting on a startup leveraging the biological intelligence of slime mold to optimize city infrastructure.
The series comes as conspiracy theories increasingly permeate public discourse, eroding trust in institutions and hindering scientific progress. One featured story details the experience of a conspiracy theory expert who found herself at the center of a false narrative after her research was misinterpreted online. the article, available at https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/10/30/1126712/what-its-like-to-be-in-the-middle-of-a-conspiracy-theory-according-to-a-conspiracy-theory-expert/?utm_source=the_download&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&utm_term=%7CSUBCLASS%7C&utm_content=%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C], explores the real-world consequences of online misinformation and the challenges of combating false narratives. MIT Technology Review will host a subscriber-exclusive Roundtable conversation with the author, Mike, features editor Amanda Silverman, and executive editor Niall Firth on November 20 at 1pm ET; registration is available at[https://wwwtechnologyreviewcom/supertopic/roundtables?utm_source=the_download&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the_downloadunpaidengagement&utm_term=[https://wwwtechnologyreviewcom/supertopic/roundtables?utm_source=the_download&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the_downloadunpaidengagement&utm_term=[https://wwwtechnologyreviewcom/supertopic/roundtables?utm_source=the_download&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the_downloadunpaidengagement&utm_term=[https://wwwtechnologyreviewcom/supertopic/roundtables?utm_source=the_download&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the_downloadunpaidengagement&utm_term=%7CSUBCLASS%7C&utm_content=%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C]. The series is also featured in the MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast, available on Spotify ([https://openspotifycom/show/6QefEeY1IKYVn5w6nUV83Y[https://openspotifycom/show/6QefEeY1IKYVn5w6nUV83Y[https://openspotifycom/show/6QefEeY1IKYVn5w6nUV83Y[https://openspotifycom/show/6QefEeY1IKYVn5w6nUV83Y) and Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/mit-technology-review-narrated/id1523584878).
Shifting focus to innovation, the publication also reports on Mireta, a startup applying the problem-solving capabilities of slime mold – a brainless, yellow organism – to urban planning. Having existed for 600 million years, slime mold efficiently navigates complex environments to find optimal pathways.Mireta aims to translate these biological processes into algorithms that can improve transit times, reduce congestion, and enhance resilience to climate change in cities globally. Further details can be found at[https://wwwtechnologyreviewcom/2025/10/17/1125223/slime-design-better-cities-mireta?utm_source=the_download&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the_downloadunpaidengagement&utm_term=[https://wwwtechnologyreviewcom/2025/10/17/1125223/slime-design-better-cities-mireta?utm_source=the_download&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the_downloadunpaidengagement&utm_term=[https://wwwtechnologyreviewcom/2025/10/17/1125223/slime-design-better-cities-mireta?utm_source=the_download&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the_downloadunpaidengagement&utm_term=[https://wwwtechnologyreviewcom/2025/10/17/1125223/slime-design-better-cities-mireta?utm_source=the_download&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the_downloadunpaidengagement&utm_term=%7CSUBCLASS%7C&utm_content=%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C]. The reporting is by Elissaveta M. Brandon.
