NFT Insider Trading to Restoring Vision: A Week of Innovation, Ethics, and Progress
🔶 Former OpenSea Employee Charged in First-Ever NFT Insider Trading Scheme
🔶 Live Nation CEO Sells $160 Million in Stock Amid Concert Comeback
🔶 Apple Empowers DIY Repairs with Self Service Repair Program
🔶 Clearview AI Permanently Banned From Selling Faceprint Database Nationwide
🔶 US Biofirm Develops CRISPR-Edited Cats for Allergy Sufferers
🔶 Fighting Misinformation: Resources to Protect Against Information Manipulation
🔶 Astronomers capture first image of black hole at galaxy's center
🔶 Rocket Lab achieves mid-air capture of reusable Electron rocket
🔶 Reviving the Dead: Scientists Restore Light-Sensing Cells in Donor Eyes
🔶 iFixit and Google team up for Pixel repairability revolution
Live Nation CEO Sells $160 Million in Stock Amid Concert Comeback
Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino has sold approximately $160m worth of stock in his company since the start of 2022, according to filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The selloff comes despite Live Nation's stock price declining by about 12% in the past four months. Rapino has served as the head of Live Nation for almost 17 years and has capitalised on the company's resurging stock price as crowd-based entertainment slowly returns. Other top executives at Live Nation have also sold off significant numbers of shares and exercised stock options recently, according to the filings.
Apple Empowers DIY Repairs with Self Service Repair Program
In a move towards greater accessibility to electronic repairs, Apple has announced the launch of its Self Service Repair program. Customers in the US can now purchase genuine Apple parts and tools to repair their iPhone 12 and 13 models, as well as the iPhone SE (3rd generation). The program will expand to include Mac computers with Apple silicon later this year. The repair process begins with customers reviewing the relevant product manual on Apple's support website and then purchasing the necessary parts and tools from the Self Service Repair Store. While the program is intended for experienced DIYers, Apple has significantly expanded its network of authorized repair providers in recent years, ensuring that most customers can access professional repairs within 20 minutes of their location. Through the Self Service Repair program, Apple aims to increase accessibility to safe, reliable, and secure service and repair.
iFixit and Google team up for Pixel repairability revolution
In a groundbreaking collaboration, iFixit and Google are teaming up to launch a genuine Pixel parts program that will provide users with the ability to repair their Pixel phones with authentic components. The initiative aims to promote repairability and consumer rights, with parts available for purchase both individually and as part of repair kits that come equipped with all the necessary tools. This partnership is a significant development in the Right to Repair movement, which advocates for consumers to have greater access to genuine repair parts and resources. As manufacturers increasingly support repair, this program marks a pivotal step towards a more sustainable and equitable electronics industry.
Clearview AI Permanently Banned From Selling Faceprint Database Nationwide
Clearview AI, a controversial facial recognition company, has agreed to a legal settlement that prohibits it from selling its faceprint database to private companies and entities across the US. Clearview is also banned from providing access to its database to state or local police in Illinois for five years. The restrictions are part of an agreement that aims to align Clearview AI with Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). Clearview has been accused of capturing more than 10 billion faceprints of individuals from their online photos globally. ACLU's Nathan Freed Wessler said that the settlement shows how privacy laws can offer protection against abuse, while J. Eli Wade-Scott from Edelson PC called it one of the most significant consumer victories in the biometric battle against Big Tech.
Fighting Misinformation: Resources to Protect Against Information Manipulation and Foreign Interference
The MDM Resource Library provides resources to help individuals, governments, the private sector, academia, and others understand the threat of malicious information activities and mitigate the associated risks of misinformation, disinformation, and foreign influence activities. Included in the library are resources such as toolkits and infographics designed to educate people on the dangers of mis- and disinformation, guidance for critical infrastructure owners and operators on how to prepare for and mitigate foreign influence operations, and a guide for election officials on how to recognize, prepare for, and respond to MDM threats that may impact the ability to conduct elections. The library also includes graphic novels that demonstrate how threat actors use social media and other communication platforms to spread inaccurate information and plant doubt in the minds of targeted audiences.
Rocket Lab achieves mid-air capture of reusable Electron rocket
In a moment of technological triumph, Rocket Lab has successfully deployed 34 satellites to orbit with its Electron launch vehicle, bringing the company's total to 146. The mission, dubbed "There And Back Again," also marked the first mid-air capture of the Electron booster with a helicopter, a major milestone in Rocket Lab's pursuit to make Electron a reusable rocket to reduce launch costs for small satellites. The supersonic ballet of bringing a rocket back from space and catching it with a helicopter requires a tremendous number of factors to align and many systems to work together flawlessly, said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck. Today's mission will inform future helicopter captures as the company continues to push the boundaries of space exploration.
Astronomers capture first image of black hole at galaxy's center
Astronomers have released the first image of the black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, confirming it to be a supermassive black hole, with important implications for the study of black holes in general. The image was produced by the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, a global research team, using observations from a worldwide network of radio telescopes. Although the black hole itself is invisible, the glowing gas around it reveals a dark central region surrounded by a bright ring-like structure. The black hole, called Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), is four million times more massive than the Sun and was observed on multiple nights using a powerful Earth-sized virtual telescope. The new view captures light bent by the powerful gravity of the black hole and offers new insights on how these giant black holes interact with their surroundings.
US Biofirm Develops CRISPR-Edited Cats for Allergy Sufferers
In a groundbreaking development, a US-based biotech company has taken the first step towards creating hypoallergenic cats using CRISPR gene editing. InBio has successfully deleted the two genes responsible for the protein that triggers allergic reactions in humans from cat cells. About 15% of people suffer from cat allergies, which are caused by the small protein Fel d 1. While all cats produce Fel d 1, some breeds are believed to be less likely to trigger allergies. However, no scientific studies have confirmed this claim. InBio's achievement offers hope to cat lovers who are allergic and could potentially benefit millions of people worldwide.
Reviving the Dead: Scientists Restore Light-Sensing Cells in Donor Eyes
In a groundbreaking study published in Nature, scientists at the University of Utah and Scripps Research have revived light-sensing neurons in organ donor eyes and restored communication between them, offering hope for new treatments for blinding retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration. The team was able to make the retinal cells talk to each other, mediating human vision, using a novel transportation unit designed to restore oxygenation and other nutrients to the organ donor eyes. This transformative technical advance could help researchers develop a better understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and reduce research costs compared to animal models. The study's success raises questions about the irreversible nature of death and offers exciting new possibilities for understanding and treating blindness.
Former OpenSea Employee Charged in First-Ever NFT Insider Trading Scheme
In a landmark case, Nathaniel Chastain, a former product manager at NFT marketplace OpenSea, has been charged with wire fraud and money laundering for allegedly using confidential information about which Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) would be featured on the platform's homepage to engage in insider trading. Chastain allegedly purchased dozens of NFTs in advance of their appearance on the homepage, before selling them at a profit of two to five times their initial purchase price. This is the first case of digital asset insider trading and highlights the need for vigilance in preventing financial crimes in emerging markets, such as blockchain-supported NFTs. The charges are a testament to the commitment of the Southern District of New York to combatting insider trading, and the FBI's dedication to pursuing those who manipulate the market for personal gain.