- Bill and Melinda Gates published their annual letter for 2019.
- The Gateses listed their nine biggest surprises of 2018, which include home DNA tests catching serial killers, sexist data, and the fact that toilets remain largely unchanged.
- They dedicated the letter to Bill Gates' Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, who died in October.
Bill and Melinda Gates have released their 2019 annual letter, and its theme is "surprises."
"How would you describe 2018? Was it what you expected? We'd probably say no," the letter began. "From especially devastating natural disasters on the one hand to record numbers of women campaigning for office on the other, 2018 felt to us like a series of surprises."
The Gateses went on to say that while some events had been welcome, others had been less pleasant. Here are the nine things that surprised Bill and Melinda Gates this year:
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1. Africa is the youngest continent, with a median age of 18
Bill Gates pointed out that everywhere else in the world the average age was going up. "This can be either an asset or a source of instability," he said. "Melinda and I believe that the right investments will unlock the continent's enormous potential. Young Africans will shape the future of not only their own communities but the entire world."
2. At-home DNA tests can find serial killers — and could also help prevent premature birth
Bill Gates referred in particular to the 2018 identification of the Golden State Killer, 33 years after his crimes. Investigators identified a suspect after one of his distant relatives uploaded DNA to an open-source DNA-sharing website called GEDmatch.
Gates also wrote that a large sample provided by 23andMe users gave scientists a clue as to which genes could cause premature labour.
3. We will build an entire New York City every month until 2060.
Bill Gates warned against climate change being exacerbated by electricity use, manufacturing, and agriculture.
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"It's not realistic to think that people will simply stop using fertilizer, running cargo ships, building offices, or flying airplanes. Nor is it fair to ask developing countries to curtail their growth for the sake of everyone else," he wrote.
"Part of the solution is to invest in innovation in all five sectors so we can do these things without destroying the climate. We need breakthrough inventions in each of the grand challenges."
See the rest of the story at Business Insider