On January 14 this year, Google bought Fitbit (a wearables company) for 2.1 billion dollars!The question is why a big name like Google buy a smaller company like Fitbit and such an acquisition is worth billions of dollars?!The same question goes for many big names and another question comes up because these big companies have very talented engineers who are able to replicate what small ones can do. So what makes big companies think about buying more in the first place?Reasons may differ from one company to another; it may also interchange with another reason, but we can distill some...…On January 14 this year, Google bought Fitbit (a wearables company) for 2.1 billion dollars!The question is why a big name like Google buy a smaller company like Fitbit and such an acquisition is worth billions of dollars?!The same question goes for many big names and another question comes up because these big companies have very talented engineers who are able to replicate what small ones can do. So what makes big companies think about buying more in the first place?Reasons may differ from one company to another; it may also interchange with another reason, but we can distill some...WW…

is a column from Future Human about the ways humans are using biology to reprogram our bodies and the world around us.hildren who are born with a rare genetic disease called progeria tragically live, on average, only until their mid-teens, though they look much older. Their bodies age so rapidly — up to 10 times faster than normal — that they usually die prematurely from heart attacks or strokes before they can finish high school. The culprit is a single-letter misspelling in their DNA.Now, scientiss have successfully corrected this misspelling in mice that have the disease by using a new...…is a column from Future Human about the ways humans are using biology to reprogram our bodies and the world around us.hildren who are born with a rare genetic disease called progeria tragically live, on average, only until their mid-teens, though they look much older. Their bodies age so rapidly — up to 10 times faster than normal — that they usually die prematurely from heart attacks or strokes before they can finish high school. The culprit is a single-letter misspelling in their DNA.Now, scientiss have successfully corrected this misspelling in mice that have the disease by using a new...WW…

At some point in the last century Americans, having gotten rid of slavery, accidentally lifted their incomes so much that they found themselves isolated in suburban houses, surrounded by machinery, cleaning their own toilets. They had rising incomes but everyone’s incomes were rising which means that there was no one to do stuff for you, and you couldn’t just buy people anymore.This century the vaunted American midde class has bottomed out and the place has started to look more like the ‘developing’ world, with a definite underclass. However, lacking generations of feudal tradition and...…At some point in the last century Americans, having gotten rid of slavery, accidentally lifted their incomes so much that they found themselves isolated in suburban houses, surrounded by machinery, cleaning their own toilets. They had rising incomes but everyone’s incomes were rising which means that there was no one to do stuff for you, and you couldn’t just buy people anymore.This century the vaunted American midde class has bottomed out and the place has started to look more like the ‘developing’ world, with a definite underclass. However, lacking generations of feudal tradition and...WW…

ost company owners would agree that the most important asset is their employees, and one of the biggest challenges of building and growing a business is recruiting and retaining a high performing team. Those companies that plan to force their teams to return to sitting in the office 9–5 every day or plan on waiting before they adopt remote working, might just end up putting that asset at risk.Here’s my thoughts on why:Let’s face it, the most reent experience of remote working has been the worst example, with many not having felt the real benefits. Adoption was forced, we’ve been locked down...…ost company owners would agree that the most important asset is their employees, and one of the biggest challenges of building and growing a business is recruiting and retaining a high performing team. Those companies that plan to force their teams to return to sitting in the office 9–5 every day or plan on waiting before they adopt remote working, might just end up putting that asset at risk.Here’s my thoughts on why:Let’s face it, the most reent experience of remote working has been the worst example, with many not having felt the real benefits. Adoption was forced, we’ve been locked down...WW…

Among residents of Billerica, Massachusetts, it is no secret that Marc Lombardo, our State Representtive, faces heavy criticism on posts uploaded to his public social media, and it should be of little surprise. Lombardo’s legacy might be the fact that, love him or hate him, he is tied for the lowest score by the group . , which would ensure access to safe abortions for teenagers, and in 2018, when Massachusetts legislators approved a via conversion therapy, Lombardo was one of the few who voted against the ban. Given his anti-choice, anti-LGBT+ stances, it seems that when he says he’s...…Among residents of Billerica, Massachusetts, it is no secret that Marc Lombardo, our State Representtive, faces heavy criticism on posts uploaded to his public social media, and it should be of little surprise. Lombardo’s legacy might be the fact that, love him or hate him, he is tied for the lowest score by the group . , which would ensure access to safe abortions for teenagers, and in 2018, when Massachusetts legislators approved a via conversion therapy, Lombardo was one of the few who voted against the ban. Given his anti-choice, anti-LGBT+ stances, it seems that when he says he’s...WW…

was 16 when I got my first job at a McDonald’s in upstate New York. It was the fall of 2014; I waspaid $8 an hour. It was around this time that I started thinking of my purchases in terms of time. A gallon of milk was around $3, slightly less than half an hour of labor. The cost of the average meal at McDonald’s was around $7, meaning that when a customer ordered a large Big Mac meal, they were spending what would take me just under an hour to earn. It would cost about $35 to fill up my car with gas — around four and a half hours of labor.In January of 2015, New York state raised the...…was 16 when I got my first job at a McDonald’s in upstate New York. It was the fall of 2014; I waspaid $8 an hour. It was around this time that I started thinking of my purchases in terms of time. A gallon of milk was around $3, slightly less than half an hour of labor. The cost of the average meal at McDonald’s was around $7, meaning that when a customer ordered a large Big Mac meal, they were spending what would take me just under an hour to earn. It would cost about $35 to fill up my car with gas — around four and a half hours of labor.In January of 2015, New York state raised the...WW…

This year has seen an upheaval in the media industry as a whole and, this week, a potential turning point for journalism. Governments around the world are against the built by Big Tech companies, in a series of and aimed at improving competition, , and restoring a reliable financial base for news media.After of relentless deregulation across industries, it’s a sigh of relief to hear that its effects are being acknowledged and the tide may be turning amongst legislators as well as citizens. But will it work?Tough state intervention in media is, in its own way, a dangerous path to walk,...…This year has seen an upheaval in the media industry as a whole and, this week, a potential turning point for journalism. Governments around the world are against the built by Big Tech companies, in a series of and aimed at improving competition, , and restoring a reliable financial base for news media.After of relentless deregulation across industries, it’s a sigh of relief to hear that its effects are being acknowledged and the tide may be turning amongst legislators as well as citizens. But will it work?Tough state intervention in media is, in its own way, a dangerous path to walk,...WW…

The label “Never Trump” is off the mark — not because true conservatives could potentially support Trump, but because our rejection of him has nothing to do with his name or who he is. Instead, rejection of Trump has everything to do with his policies and behavior as President. In more ways than not, his conduct has been antithetical to conservatism’s core, in direct tension with most everything for which we’ve claimed to fight in the past.Put simply, Trump is not conservative. Here are just a few reasons why (in no particular order):Trump has unilaterally in contravention of free trade and...…The label “Never Trump” is off the mark — not because true conservatives could potentially support Trump, but because our rejection of him has nothing to do with his name or who he is. Instead, rejection of Trump has everything to do with his policies and behavior as President. In more ways than not, his conduct has been antithetical to conservatism’s core, in direct tension with most everything for which we’ve claimed to fight in the past.Put simply, Trump is not conservative. Here are just a few reasons why (in no particular order):Trump has unilaterally in contravention of free trade and...WW…

Space biweekly vol.18, 6th January — 20th JanuaryLast summer, the published the second-quarter findings of its 2019 issue of The Space Report, revealing that:Analysts at Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have predicted that economic activity in space will become a multi-trillion-dollar market in the coming decades. Morgan Stanley’s Space Team estimates that the roughly USD 350 billion global space industry could surge to over USD .Source: Satellite Industry Association, Morgan Stanley Research, Thomson Reuters. *2040 estimates.. To allow additional time for pre-launch inspections, now...…Space biweekly vol.18, 6th January — 20th JanuaryLast summer, the published the second-quarter findings of its 2019 issue of The Space Report, revealing that:Analysts at Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have predicted that economic activity in space will become a multi-trillion-dollar market in the coming decades. Morgan Stanley’s Space Team estimates that the roughly USD 350 billion global space industry could surge to over USD .Source: Satellite Industry Association, Morgan Stanley Research, Thomson Reuters. *2040 estimates.. To allow additional time for pre-launch inspections, now...WW…

the world of investment, some adages are often repeated. Among these adages, there is one that is perfectly suited to the situation we have been experiencing since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. This adage is easy to remember:“Don’t fight the Fed”This adage is based on a rather simple observation.In today’s monetary and financial system, central banks dictate the rules of the game. As the central bank of the world’s leading economic power, the Fed is obviously the one dictating the rules of the game to the rest of the world.When the Fed decides to print more than $3,500 billion out...…the world of investment, some adages are often repeated. Among these adages, there is one that is perfectly suited to the situation we have been experiencing since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. This adage is easy to remember:“Don’t fight the Fed”This adage is based on a rather simple observation.In today’s monetary and financial system, central banks dictate the rules of the game. As the central bank of the world’s leading economic power, the Fed is obviously the one dictating the rules of the game to the rest of the world.When the Fed decides to print more than $3,500 billion out...WW…

Neuroscience biweekly vol. 24, 8th January — 22nd JanuaryThe global neuroscience market size was valued at and it is expected to reach .by Marco Leibinger, Charlotte Zeitler, Philipp Gobrecht, Anastasia Andreadaki, Günter Gisselmann, Dietmar Fischer in Nature CommunicationsTo date, paralysis resulting from spinal cord damage has been irreparable. With a new therapeutic approach, scientists have succeeded for the first time in getting paralyzed mice to walk again. The keys to this are the protein hyper-interleukin-6, which stimulates nerve cells to regenerate, and the way it is supplied to...…Neuroscience biweekly vol. 24, 8th January — 22nd JanuaryThe global neuroscience market size was valued at and it is expected to reach .by Marco Leibinger, Charlotte Zeitler, Philipp Gobrecht, Anastasia Andreadaki, Günter Gisselmann, Dietmar Fischer in Nature CommunicationsTo date, paralysis resulting from spinal cord damage has been irreparable. With a new therapeutic approach, scientists have succeeded for the first time in getting paralyzed mice to walk again. The keys to this are the protein hyper-interleukin-6, which stimulates nerve cells to regenerate, and the way it is supplied to...WW…

anuary 20, 2021, is a special day for Joe Biden. It is indeed the day he will become the 46th president in the history of the United States. Everyone hopes that the departure of Donald Trump from the White House will lead to a more peaceful presidency in the coming months.In recent weeks, appointments to key positions in the Joe Biden administration have been announced. Among the important positions is the one that Gary Gensler is expected to hold as head of the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). Former CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) financial regulator, Gary Gensler was...…anuary 20, 2021, is a special day for Joe Biden. It is indeed the day he will become the 46th president in the history of the United States. Everyone hopes that the departure of Donald Trump from the White House will lead to a more peaceful presidency in the coming months.In recent weeks, appointments to key positions in the Joe Biden administration have been announced. Among the important positions is the one that Gary Gensler is expected to hold as head of the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). Former CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) financial regulator, Gary Gensler was...WW…

ongressman Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Florida, took to the House floor on Wednesday night to that the pro-Trump mobs that overtook the Capitol building were in fact aligned with antifa.The claim was based on an anonymous source in a story from the ashington Times, a conservative outlet that has repeatedly pushed conspiracy theories. The source was described as a retired military official who told the newspaper that a facial recognition company called XRVision matched Capitol building rioters to previous images of antifa protesters collected in Philadelphia. (OneZero is not linking to the...…ongressman Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Florida, took to the House floor on Wednesday night to that the pro-Trump mobs that overtook the Capitol building were in fact aligned with antifa.The claim was based on an anonymous source in a story from the ashington Times, a conservative outlet that has repeatedly pushed conspiracy theories. The source was described as a retired military official who told the newspaper that a facial recognition company called XRVision matched Capitol building rioters to previous images of antifa protesters collected in Philadelphia. (OneZero is not linking to the...WW…

I am a software engineer and I love my job. Not only that, after work, I like to sit and try to think about new ideas on how to make the world a better place.Last year I changed my higher-paying job in a semi-corporate software house to a med-tech start-up that is focused on helping human beings. I had a lot of roles during the years, basically, I was doing what had to be done.Recently I had a realizaion that there are major changes happening in the tech world right now so that's the main reason for this article.Normally I try to avoid speculations, but I feel that my experience and...…I am a software engineer and I love my job. Not only that, after work, I like to sit and try to think about new ideas on how to make the world a better place.Last year I changed my higher-paying job in a semi-corporate software house to a med-tech start-up that is focused on helping human beings. I had a lot of roles during the years, basically, I was doing what had to be done.Recently I had a realizaion that there are major changes happening in the tech world right now so that's the main reason for this article.Normally I try to avoid speculations, but I feel that my experience and...WW…

How much have design tools changed since the dawn of Xerox technologies in the 80s? Have the basic conventions shifted much? Let’s find out that and more.The guys at Xerox probably didn’t have the biggest idea of how far things would go when they came up with the laser printing technologies back in the mid-1980s. However, the world of print and design hasn’t been the same since. Growing with new capabilities at the turn of every passing decade and becoming a firmly established industry with its place in the “global market of opportunities”.It sur would be interesting to look at the whole...…How much have design tools changed since the dawn of Xerox technologies in the 80s? Have the basic conventions shifted much? Let’s find out that and more.The guys at Xerox probably didn’t have the biggest idea of how far things would go when they came up with the laser printing technologies back in the mid-1980s. However, the world of print and design hasn’t been the same since. Growing with new capabilities at the turn of every passing decade and becoming a firmly established industry with its place in the “global market of opportunities”.It sur would be interesting to look at the whole...WW…

I went to DC with my friend to document what we saw. Joe .We spent almost 4 hours walking, and covered over 6 miles, skirting the barricaded perimeter. We had gone down in my Element, after learning that Metro stops in and around the mall were shut down. We ended up parking near Folger Park, which was as close as we were able to bring a vehicle before being spun around by DC Metro police.The neighbourhood was a quiet one, full of expensive brick houses.Evrything was covered with multiple layers of security, from metal fences, to flip up barricades.Even some of the very expensive local...…I went to DC with my friend to document what we saw. Joe .We spent almost 4 hours walking, and covered over 6 miles, skirting the barricaded perimeter. We had gone down in my Element, after learning that Metro stops in and around the mall were shut down. We ended up parking near Folger Park, which was as close as we were able to bring a vehicle before being spun around by DC Metro police.The neighbourhood was a quiet one, full of expensive brick houses.Evrything was covered with multiple layers of security, from metal fences, to flip up barricades.Even some of the very expensive local...WW…

There are so many things to unpack in this news item from Australian Channel 7 headlined “.” Here is a story that will be studied in future history classes about the global coronavirus pandemic, not to mention livestreamed on from a Maggiano’s party room rented by the hour. Apparently, an 8-year-old boy named Corona De Vries wrote to Tom Hanks about being bullied, saying that “at school people call me coronavirus.” Hanks, who had contracted and was treated for the coronavirus while in Australia in March, cheered the lad up by sending him a very special gift: not Toy Story 4 merch, which...…There are so many things to unpack in this news item from Australian Channel 7 headlined “.” Here is a story that will be studied in future history classes about the global coronavirus pandemic, not to mention livestreamed on from a Maggiano’s party room rented by the hour. Apparently, an 8-year-old boy named Corona De Vries wrote to Tom Hanks about being bullied, saying that “at school people call me coronavirus.” Hanks, who had contracted and was treated for the coronavirus while in Australia in March, cheered the lad up by sending him a very special gift: not Toy Story 4 merch, which...WW…

he old crocodile was floating at the river’s edge when a younger crocodile swam up next to him,“I’ve heard from many that you’re the fiercest hunter in all of the river bottoms. Please, teach me your ways.”Awoken from a nice long afternoon nap, the old crocodile glanced at the young crocodile with one of his reptilian eyes, said nothing and then fell back asleep atop the water.Feeling frustrated and disrespected, the young crocodile swam off upriver to chase after some catfish, leaving behind a flurry of bubbles. “I’ll show him,” he thought to himself.Later that day the young crocodile...…he old crocodile was floating at the river’s edge when a younger crocodile swam up next to him,“I’ve heard from many that you’re the fiercest hunter in all of the river bottoms. Please, teach me your ways.”Awoken from a nice long afternoon nap, the old crocodile glanced at the young crocodile with one of his reptilian eyes, said nothing and then fell back asleep atop the water.Feeling frustrated and disrespected, the young crocodile swam off upriver to chase after some catfish, leaving behind a flurry of bubbles. “I’ll show him,” he thought to himself.Later that day the young crocodile...WW…

he stakes are high for businesses, as they plan for the future and invest in the latest technology. Artificial Intelligence has become a key component of strategic planning and 5 years roadmaps: 84% of business leaders are convinced that leveraging AI is necessary to reach their revenue growth targets, according to the latest research.Artificial Intelligence is credited with both cutting costs and increasing revenues. Key benefits include automation, speed, consistency, and new insights for companies.In the long run, AI will be boosting productivity and multiplying profits. It also lets...…he stakes are high for businesses, as they plan for the future and invest in the latest technology. Artificial Intelligence has become a key component of strategic planning and 5 years roadmaps: 84% of business leaders are convinced that leveraging AI is necessary to reach their revenue growth targets, according to the latest research.Artificial Intelligence is credited with both cutting costs and increasing revenues. Key benefits include automation, speed, consistency, and new insights for companies.In the long run, AI will be boosting productivity and multiplying profits. It also lets...WW…

Based on the research of Timothy Wernerompanies often secretly contribute to political nonprofits to influence public policy. But depending on the organization they contribute to, it’s a risky practice.If discovered, this so-called covert corporate political activity can threaten a company’s reputation and even drag down its share price. When investors find out that companies they’ve invested in have given money to controversial organizations, they react negatively, punishing the “irresponsible” business by driving down its stock price.“Companies should really be thinking about the...…Based on the research of Timothy Wernerompanies often secretly contribute to political nonprofits to influence public policy. But depending on the organization they contribute to, it’s a risky practice.If discovered, this so-called covert corporate political activity can threaten a company’s reputation and even drag down its share price. When investors find out that companies they’ve invested in have given money to controversial organizations, they react negatively, punishing the “irresponsible” business by driving down its stock price.“Companies should really be thinking about the...WW…

Value stream optimization is an inherently complicated and challenging process of enhancing the efficiency of your business’s value stream mapping. VSO or value stream optimization enables businesses and brands to streamline their product flow from the supplier to their customer base by improving operational efficiencies.Gartner recently shared on Value Streams related to the success of DevOps.While you have to acquire the report yourself, I just want to share one small prediction:“By 2023, 70% of organizations will use value stream management to improve flow in the DevOps pipeline, leading...…Value stream optimization is an inherently complicated and challenging process of enhancing the efficiency of your business’s value stream mapping. VSO or value stream optimization enables businesses and brands to streamline their product flow from the supplier to their customer base by improving operational efficiencies.Gartner recently shared on Value Streams related to the success of DevOps.While you have to acquire the report yourself, I just want to share one small prediction:“By 2023, 70% of organizations will use value stream management to improve flow in the DevOps pipeline, leading...WW…

Robotics biweekly vol.22, 30th December — 13th JanuaryThe global market for robots is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 26 percent to reach just under 210 billion U.S. dollars by 2025. It is predicted that this market will hit the 100 billion U.S. dollar mark in 2020.Size of the global market for industrial and non-industrial robots between 2018 and 2025(in billion U.S. dollars):Size of the global market for industrial and non-industrial robots between 2018 and 2025(in billion U.S. dollars). Source: by Boyuan Chen, Carl Vondrick, Hod Lipson in Scientific...…Robotics biweekly vol.22, 30th December — 13th JanuaryThe global market for robots is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 26 percent to reach just under 210 billion U.S. dollars by 2025. It is predicted that this market will hit the 100 billion U.S. dollar mark in 2020.Size of the global market for industrial and non-industrial robots between 2018 and 2025(in billion U.S. dollars):Size of the global market for industrial and non-industrial robots between 2018 and 2025(in billion U.S. dollars). Source: by Boyuan Chen, Carl Vondrick, Hod Lipson in Scientific...WW…

MX banks $300M for financial data Fintech data company MX landed $300 million in a Series C financing led by TPG Capital.MX provides software used by banks and credit unions to help aggregate, analyze, and visualize financial data.Here is MX’s release:Based in LehiFintech company. Started as MoneyDesktop. Co-founded by Ryan Caldwell and Brandon Dewitt in 2010.Texas Pacific Group.9 funds, 160 investmentsSources:Written by…MX banks $300M for financial data Fintech data company MX landed $300 million in a Series C financing led by TPG Capital.MX provides software used by banks and credit unions to help aggregate, analyze, and visualize financial data.Here is MX’s release:Based in LehiFintech company. Started as MoneyDesktop. Co-founded by Ryan Caldwell and Brandon Dewitt in 2010.Texas Pacific Group.9 funds, 160 investmentsSources:Written byWW…

TLDR: Prop 13 bad. Repeal it and things will slowly get better.In 1978 California passed one of the single most deleterious ballot propositions in its history. With Proposition 13, home assessments would no longer be indexed to home values for the purposes of calculating property taxes. Ostensibly, this was to secure people in their homes, protected from the insatiable greed of the taxman. Instead, it undermined one of the key reasons that a government has any reason to help its citizens at all.Governments at eery level seek revenues to exchange for support. The primary mechanism they have...…TLDR: Prop 13 bad. Repeal it and things will slowly get better.In 1978 California passed one of the single most deleterious ballot propositions in its history. With Proposition 13, home assessments would no longer be indexed to home values for the purposes of calculating property taxes. Ostensibly, this was to secure people in their homes, protected from the insatiable greed of the taxman. Instead, it undermined one of the key reasons that a government has any reason to help its citizens at all.Governments at eery level seek revenues to exchange for support. The primary mechanism they have...WW…

You could be forgiven for thinking that disinformation and misinformation are new conditions afflicting our democracies. From rumours about pizza store paedophile rings, sneaky death taxes and COVID test microchips — it seems like all of a sudden our public life is flooded with absurd yet oddly believable reinterpretations of truth.But by diving into history we can discover that this is far from the first time that a new technology, empowering ordinary people to share information with massive groups of peers, can turn our social norms upside down. For good, and for ill.During the 1500s...…You could be forgiven for thinking that disinformation and misinformation are new conditions afflicting our democracies. From rumours about pizza store paedophile rings, sneaky death taxes and COVID test microchips — it seems like all of a sudden our public life is flooded with absurd yet oddly believable reinterpretations of truth.But by diving into history we can discover that this is far from the first time that a new technology, empowering ordinary people to share information with massive groups of peers, can turn our social norms upside down. For good, and for ill.During the 1500s...WW…