Every morning, before I even make coffee, I already use dozens of microchips. I reach for my smartphone before my feet hit the floor. The smart thermostat I nudge up one-two degrees. In the kitchen, the smart toaster adjusts its browning time automatically; the coffee machine measures water temperature to the exact degree. Most of…
I come from a country where rivers crisscross the land like veins—feeding valleys, nourishing communities, and shaping the terrain. From wide, slow-moving rivers to tiny mountain tributaries, Romania’s watercourses are plentiful. But for me, growing up in Romania’s capital, Bucharest, that abundance felt strangely distant. Every morning, on my way to school, I crossed the…
