Monster Comets to Light-Emitting Plants: A World of Breakthroughs and Crises Unfolds
🔶 Monster Comet Hurtles Toward the Sun, Could Be the Largest Ever Observed
🔶 SpaceX Soars to New Heights: Valued at $100 Billion, the Private Centicorn
🔶 Engineers Create Rechargeable Light-Emitting Plants Using Nanoparticles
🔶 Winged Microchip Takes Flight: Groundbreaking Airborne Monitoring
🔶Tesla Releases Full Self-Driving Beta 10.2 to Wider Group of Owners
🔶 Dapper Labs Raises $250 Million to Transform Sports, Entertainment and Music
🔶 Warner Rakes in Over $270 Million Annually from Non-Traditional Music Platforms
🔶 Spotify's Podcast Takeover: Overtaking Apple and Shaping the Future of Audio
🔶 NMPA and Twitch Team Up to Empower Songwriters
🔶 Kobalt's Billion-Dollar Catalog, Sparks Interest from Private Equity Buyers
🔶 Researchers Generate Largest and Most Detailed Simulation of the Universe
🔶 Harvard Scientists Store 700 Terabytes of Information in a Single Gram
🔶 'PIRenderer' AI Model Unveiled, Intuitive and Precise Control of Virtual Portraits
🔶 China Launches Major Crackdown on Cryptocurrencies
🔶 China's Latest Move to Limit Kids' Online Time: 40 Minutes of TikTok a Day
🔶 Twitch Breach Exposes Creator Payouts and Source Code
🔶 Major SMS Routing Company Hacked for 5 Years, Billions of Text Messages at Risk
🔶 Lebanon's electricity crisis puts hospital patients at risk of death.
"Monster Comet from the Edge of the Solar System Hurtles Toward the Sun, Could Be the Largest Ever Observed"
In a cosmic event that may make even dinosaurs shudder, a massive comet named 2014 UN271 has been discovered hurtling towards the sun from the edge of the solar system. Estimated to be around 125 miles wide, it could become the largest comet ever observed, bridging the gap between giant comets and dwarf planets. While it won't be as close to Earth as other famous comets, astronomers will be watching it closely, with the comet's approach expected to be visible through telescopes. With its closest pass to the sun in 2031, space agencies are already making plans to intercept it, ensuring humanity gets to know this colossal object very well indeed.
Revolutionary Winged Microchip Takes Flight: Paving the Way for Groundbreaking Airborne Monitoring
In a groundbreaking achievement, engineers at Northwestern University have created the world's smallest flying structure, a winged microchip with the potential to revolutionize the field of airborne monitoring. Without a motor or engine, the microflier utilizes the principles of maple tree propellers to spin through the air, delivering ultra-miniaturized sensors and wireless communication capabilities to remote locations. Drawing inspiration from nature, the researchers optimized the microflier's aerodynamics to ensure its controlled descent, stabilizing its flight and increasing its time in the air. As a result, the microflier could be deployed to monitor air pollution, airborne diseases, and environmental contamination, providing a vital tool for safeguarding public health and the planet.
Nature's Lightbulbs: Engineers Create Rechargeable Light-Emitting Plants Using Nanoparticles
Researchers at MIT have created a second-generation of glowing plants by embedding nanoparticles into the leaves of living plants that can absorb light, store it and emit it gradually, providing a potential new source of plant-based lighting. The nanoparticle can also boost light production of other types of light-emitting plants, including those that use luciferase and luciferin nanoparticles. Plants infused with the nanoparticles can absorb photons from sunlight or a LED and after 10 seconds of charging, emit light for about an hour, getting brighter in the first five minutes and then gradually diminishing. The plants can be continually recharged and have potential applications in outdoor lighting.
Tesla Releases Full Self-Driving Beta 10.2 to Wider Group of Owners, Paving the Way for True Autonomous Driving
In a landmark achievement, Tesla has started rolling out Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta 10.2 to a wider group of owners, including those with a perfect Safety Score system rating. After a slight delay, this release marks a significant improvement over the system's previous iteration, with several zero-intervention drives already posted on YouTube. Tesla's cautious approach to testing the advanced driver-assist system with a very limited number of users has paved the way for a much larger fleet to be gradually tested, leading to an increase in training data for the company's neural networks. With this, the company aims to attain true autonomous driving in the future, thereby revolutionizing the automotive industry.
SpaceX Soars to New Heights: Valued at $100 Billion, the Private Centicorn Rockets Toward the Future
Elon Musk's SpaceX has hit a staggering $100 billion valuation following a secondary share sale by insiders, making it one of the rare private "centicorn" or "hectocorn" companies in the world. The sale saw new and existing investors agreeing to purchase up to $755 million in stock from company insiders at $560 a share. This new valuation, up from $74 billion in February, means SpaceX has achieved a rare status as a private company, a $1 billion unicorn 100 times over. The increase in value is attributed to the company's projects: Starlink, its interconnected internet network, and Starship, its next-generation rocket for missions to the moon and Mars. SpaceX is now the second-most valuable private company globally, behind China's Bytedance and ahead of fintech firm Stripe.
Spotify's Podcast Takeover: Overtaking Apple and Shaping the Future of Audio Content Consumption
According to a forecast by eMarketer, Spotify is set to overtake Apple Podcasts in the US in terms of monthly listenership, with 28.2 million listeners versus Apple’s 28.0 million. While overall growth in podcast listenership in the US is expected to slow down, Spotify is predicted to continue expanding its listener base through to 2025. YouTube and Google Podcasts are also popular platforms for podcast listening, while Amazon Music is investing in the medium. By 2024, podcasts are set to reach 40% of the population and 45% of internet users in the US at least once a month.
Warner Music Group Rakes in Over $270 Million Annually from Non-Traditional Music Platforms - Is This the Future of the Music Industry?
Warner Music Group has disclosed that it is making $235m a year in revenue from “alternative offerings that create new use cases for music,” such as TikTok, Peloton, Facebook and other platforms that are licensing music. Warner Music Group’s Chairman and CEO, Steve Cooper, explained in an interview with Goldman Sachs that the company has been “unusually early to this game” in leveraging these alternative platforms with strategic partnerships and investment. Cooper suggested that many of these new revenue streams are still in their infancy, but that they have the potential to become the next global platform and drive substantial revenues in the future. It is estimated that Facebook, TikTok, Peloton and other platforms generate around $1.48bn per year for the wider global music rights business.
Kobalt's Billion-Dollar Catalog, Including Lorde and The Weeknd Hits, Sparks Interest from Private Equity Buyers
Kobalt Music is in final negotiations with a consortium led by KKR to sell the Kobalt Music Royalty Fund II for around $1bn. The fund is expected to contain the SONGS publishing catalogue, which Kobalt acquired in 2017 for about $150m and includes songs from Lorde, The Weeknd and Major Lazer. If confirmed, the deal shows the continued incursion of big private equity into the music asset marketplace. Earlier this week, Blackstone was reported to be backing Merck Mercuriadis’ The Family (Music) with $1bn in funding to buy music assets, and Apollo is backing the new firm of HarbourView Equity Partners launched by former Temp Music and Morgan Stanley executive Sherrise Clarke Soares.
NMPA and Twitch Team Up to Empower Songwriters in the Thriving World of Gaming
The National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) and Twitch, the popular livestreaming platform, have announced a groundbreaking agreement to strengthen partnerships between the gaming and music industries. This landmark deal signals a promising step towards enhancing the visibility and revenue for songwriters, as collaborations between music publishers and Twitch will offer new opportunities to bring music to the forefront of the gaming experience. From virtual shows to studio sessions, this partnership will enable the Twitch community to discover, watch, and interact with songwriters in dynamic and innovative ways. Moreover, Twitch's new opt-in deal for music rights holders will empower them to report certain uses of their music and maintain control over their creative content. This collaboration marks a significant moment for creators, who can expect to see increased recognition and appreciation of their work in the thriving and exciting space of gaming.
Dapper Labs Raises $250 Million to Transform Sports, Entertainment and Music with Blockchain-Based Experiences
Dapper Labs, the company behind NBA Top Shot and the Flow blockchain, has announced $250 million in new funding led by Coatue, with participation from existing investors a16z, GV, and Version One Ventures, as well as new investors BOND and GIC. The investment will be used to enhance the fan experience on NBA Top Shot and expand Dapper Labs' transformative sports, entertainment, and music blockchain-based experiences. Dapper Labs has seen explosive growth over the past year, with NBA Top Shot growing 30x in 2021, registering over 1.1 million accounts and over 13 million transactions. The company plans to use the funding to scale NBA Top Shot and launch upcoming titles, as well as support additional brand-driven sports, entertainment, and music products developed on the Flow blockchain.
Lebanon's electricity crisis puts hospital patients at risk of death
Lebanon is currently facing an electricity crisis due to corruption and lack of fuel. Hospitals in the country are on the verge of collapse due to the scarcity of electricity, which is essential for modern healthcare. If hospitals do not receive diesel fuel to keep their generators running, dozens of patients receiving care in Beirut's intensive-care wards will die immediately, and hundreds of cancer patients are also in danger. Residents of Lebanon currently get an average of two hours of electricity per day from the state-owned utility Electricité du Liban, which has cost state coffers over $40 billion in the past three decades. The generator mafia, a group of independent power producers, is also unable to meet the demand due to fuel shortages.
China Launches Major Crackdown on Cryptocurrencies, Declares All Transactions Illegal and Vows to Ban Mining Nationwide
In a major escalation of its crackdown on cryptocurrencies, China's central bank has declared all crypto transactions illegal and vowed to ban crypto mining nationwide. The People's Bank of China was one of 10 government agencies to issue a joint statement pledging a "high-pressure" clampdown on crypto trading and mining. The statement also banned financial institutions, payment companies, and internet firms from facilitating crypto trading and prohibited overseas exchanges from providing services to mainland investors via the internet. The move sent shockwaves through the crypto market, with Bitcoin falling over 6% and smaller coins also tumbling. The crackdown is part of China's efforts to fend off financial risks and maintain social order, but critics warn that it may harm innovation and hurt Chinese businesses in the long run.
China's Latest Move to Limit Kids' Online Time: 40 Minutes of TikTok a Day
In an effort to curb digital addiction among young users, China is once again cracking down on their online activities. Following its recent move to limit multiplayer gaming time to just three hours a week for children, the country is now capping TikTok usage at a mere 40 minutes a day. ByteDance, the owner of China's TikTok version, Douyin, has introduced a "Youth Mode" for users under 14, restricting their access to the app during certain hours and curating content with educational value. With strict authentication requirements and bug bounties to prevent rule-breaking, China's latest move to regulate kids' digital devices and internet usage leaves little room for resistance.
Twitch Breach Exposes Creator Payouts and Source Code, But User Passwords Remain Safe
In a shocking development, Twitch, the massively popular streaming platform, has suffered a security incident that resulted in unauthorized access to some of its systems. While the investigation is ongoing, the company has assured its users that login credentials and full credit card numbers were not exposed. However, the breach did result in the exposure of a subset of creator payout data and documents from Twitch's source code repository. Twitch has taken swift action to address the situation, including resetting all stream keys and contacting those affected directly. The company has apologized to its community and underscored its commitment to data security and protection. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threats facing online platforms and the vital importance of robust security measures in safeguarding user data.
Silent Breach: Major SMS Routing Company Hacked for 5 Years, Billions of Text Messages at Risk
In a stunning admission, Syniverse, a major SMS routing company used by mobile carriers such as Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, has revealed it was hacked for five years and only recently discovered the breach. The company has not disclosed what information was accessed, but it did reveal that login information for 235 of its Electronic Data Transfer customers was compromised. While Syniverse claims it did not detect any attempt to monetize or misuse the data, sources suggest that anyone who accessed the system could have obtained extensive information, including SMS message content, for millions of customers worldwide. The revelation raises serious concerns about the security of SMS messages and highlights the need for greater vigilance in securing critical communication systems.
Tracklib Raises $12.2M to Liberate Creativity with Legal Music Sampling Platform
Stockholm-based Tracklib has raised $12.2 million in its latest funding round, led by Sony Innovation Fund, to expand its music sampling platform for producers and artists. With a catalog of over 100,000 all-original recordings from more than 400 record labels and publishers worldwide, Tracklib offers pre-cleared original music for sampling to liberate creativity in an easy, legal, and affordable way. Investors include existing and new backers such as Europe-based family offices and funds, as well as former NBA player, actor, and music producer Baron Davis. Tracklib plans to use the funds to reinforce and grow its community, expand its catalog, and feature platform, as well as pursue original collaborations with producers and artists. With its innovative vision and commitment to empowering artists, Tracklib is a groundbreaking platform that is revolutionizing the music industry.
Pocket Universe: Researchers Generate and Store Largest and Most Detailed Simulation of the Universe Yet
In the vast expanse of space, astronomers have long been limited to studying only our own universe. But now, with the creation of the largest and most detailed simulation of the universe ever made, researchers can explore the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy in ways never before possible. The Uchuu simulation contains 2.1 trillion "particles" and models the evolution of the universe over 13 billion years. While it doesn't focus on star and planet formation, it provides unprecedented insight into the behavior of dark matter and the driving force behind galaxy formation and clustering. The amount of data generated is staggering, but with high-density compression, it can be stored on a single 100 TB drive, making the universe accessible to anyone willing to explore it. As astronomical research continues to rely on large data mining, this simulation not only serves as a groundbreaking tool for scientists, but also a reminder of the endless possibilities of the cosmos.
From Data to DNA: Harvard Scientists Store 700 Terabytes of Information in a Single Gram
In a breakthrough discovery, scientists at Harvard's Wyss Institute have successfully stored a staggering 700 terabytes of data in a single gram of DNA, shattering the previous DNA data density record by a thousand times. By treating DNA as just another digital storage device, strands of DNA that store 96 bits are synthesized, with each of the bases (TGAC) representing a binary value (T and G = 1, A and C = 0). To read the data stored in DNA, you simply sequence it and convert each of the TGAC bases back into binary. The implications of this discovery are profound: storing the entirety of human knowledge in a few hundred kilos of DNA could make it possible to record everything, leading to a future where biological storage could allow us to record anything and everything without reservation.
Pioneering 'PIRenderer' AI Model Unveiled, Allowing for Intuitive and Precise Control of Virtual Portraits
In a groundbreaking new development, researchers from Peking University and Tencent AI Research have unveiled a revolutionary AI model called "PIRenderer", which allows for intuitive and precise control of facial expressions and head rotations in virtual portraits. By disentangling modifications and using an efficient neural renderer, the model is able to generate photo-realistic results with accurate motions, making it an indispensable tool for filmmakers and designers alike. The research group also demonstrated the potential of the model as an audio-driven facial reenactment tool, generating vivid videos from just one portrait image and an audio stream. This breakthrough in AI technology has immense implications for the future of filmmaking, communication design, and virtual reality, revolutionizing the way we perceive and interact with visual media.