By Conor Grant

This is an edition of The Future of Everything newsletter, a look at how innovation and technology are transforming the way we live, work and play. If you're not subscribed, sign up here .

Sneakers have morphed from the barefoot minimalism of a decade ago to towering platforms engineered to give runners both speed and comfort. But shoe companies aren't done yet.

This week, Aylin Woodward reports on the latest innovations in sneaker technology.

In recent years, the hype surrounding "super shoes" -- high-stack sneakers that combine thick foam with carbon fiber plates to return more energy to runners -- has contributed to a foot race between sneaker makers, with several brands developing footwear with huge, cushy soles.

Yet even super shoes can't necessarily prevent injuries that plague half of regular runners annually. Brooks, New Balance, Hoka and Nike are now fine-tuning their shoe foams' composition, thickness and shape to maximize performance and comfort.

Elsewhere in the industry, companies are developing smart shoes that record information about a runner's gait and stride and connect to a Bluetooth app. The data collected by these shoes could one day be used to personalize footwear and ward off injuries.

Other companies, such as the Swiss sneaker brand On, are looking to match technology to individual running styles.

More on this topic:

   -- 🎧 Are spray-on sneakers the future? (Listen) 
 
   -- Inside the rapid rise of "illegal" running shoes. (Read) 
 
   -- Why it's so difficult for robots to make your Nike sneakers. (Read) 
 
   -- Sneaker rivals race to find the next super foam. (Read) 

🤔 What innovations would you like to see in a running shoe? Send me your thoughts, questions and predictions at future@wsj.com (if you're reading this in your inbox, you can just hit reply).

More of What's Next: AI Breast Cancer Predictions; Lab-Grown Diamonds for Lasers; NASA's New Moon Race

AI might soon predict your odds of getting breast-cancer. Researchers and health-tech companies are designing AI models that identify patients at risk of developing cancer, and who might need more screening or preventive care.

Cutting-edge labs are growing diamonds for semiconductors, lasers and other uses. WSJ goes inside a leading synthetic diamond lab to see how the material -- and its applications -- are rapidly evolving.

NASA is preparing to send astronauts around the moon. The agency confirmed plans for a lunar flyby next year. The mission aims to set the stage for an even more difficult objective: landing people on the moon before China does.

Future Feedback

Last week, we reported on the effort to develop and launch GLP-1 weight-loss pills. Readers shared their thoughts on whether these pills would change the weight-loss landscape:

   -- "I think the pill delivery system should be less expensive than the 
      injectable, because the actual injector device adds considerable cost to 
      the patient. That lower cost should help expand the market for the 
      GLP-1s." -- Robert Williams, Pennsylvania 
 
   -- "I think pills versus needles will result in a huge difference in our 
      country's health, as the take up from folks that could use the help will 
      be much, much larger. It's simply a win-win with pills versus needles, 
      due to that greater proportion of take up." -- Rance Ryan, Florida 
 
   -- "As a physician, I believe that the nonmedicinal approach is always 
      preferential. People need to eliminate unhealthy foods from their diets." 
      -- Eric Saldinger, Maryland 

(Responses have been condensed and edited.)

Elsewhere in the Future

   -- Memecoins are coming to the stock market. (Wired) 
 
   -- Google's DeepMind unveiled a new robotics AI model that can sort laundry. 
      (Financial Times) 
 
   -- Shoplifters could soon be chased down by drones. (MIT Technology Review) 

About Us

Thanks for reading The Future of Everything. We cover the innovation and tech transforming the way we live, work and play. This newsletter was written by Conor Grant. Get in touch with us at future@wsj.com. Got a tip for us? Here's how to submit.

See more from The Future of Everything at wsj.com/future-of-everything.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 26, 2025 10:56 ET (14:56 GMT)

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