Tim Berners-Lee explained his new effort called Solid. “Solid is how we evolve the web in order to restore balance — by giving every one of us complete control over data, personal or not, in a revolutionary way. Solid is a platform, built using the existing web. It gives every user a choice about where data is stored, which specific people and groups can access select elements, and which apps you use.” | learn more
LaCroix may not be ‘all-natural’, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad for you.
Popular Science pokes holes in the lawsuit filed last week against LaCroix, while also calling BS on the all-natural claim used on much food packaging. This is a great counterpoint! | learn more
AI solution to diagnose early cognitive decline leading to Alzheimer’s.
“A big challenge facing Alzheimer’s and dementia researchers today is finding a way to identify patients suffering from the earliest stages of cognitive decline. New research is suggesting that AI could be the key to accurately predicting those patients most at risk of developing Alzheimer’s.” | learn more
Researchers demonstrate first bioresorbable electronic medicine.
Researchers at Northwestern University made “an implantable, biodegradable wireless device that speeds nerve regeneration and improves the healing of a damaged nerve.” That means no need for a second surgery to remove the device after its job is done. | learn more
How your brain decides without you.
You may already know, but cannot be reminded too often, that your brain’s priority is not truth, but rather narrative consistency. | learn more
Bluemercury doubles down on its strategy.
“As beauty retail giants Sephora and Ulta follow converging paths, Bluemercury diverges with a neighborhood strategy that builds a moat around the best beauty customers.” | learn more
Why you should pay attention to tokenized assets.
Reza Jafery explains why he believes, “Tokenized Assets and Security Token Offerings will spark adoption and legitimize the space.” I happen to think there’s something beautiful about the idea of fractionalized, tokenized & tradable assets, but I still have questions. If you’re interested in this too, talk to me about my monthly blockchain breakfast! | learn more
The crypto fund landscape.
Regan Bozman put together a Google Doc of the top 100 funds in the crypto space. | learn more
A stats-based look behind the venture capital curtain.
Eric Feng from Kleiner Perkins shares interesting data and graphs about how the VC business has changed over the past 15 years. | learn more
Japanese construction robot demonstrates the future of building.
“A new video from AIST shows a prototype robot designed to work on construction sites in situations where there is a shortage of human workers. The robot in undeniably slow but also strikingly accurate, suggesting a future where humanoid robots could replace even more human jobs.” | learn more
5 things you probably didn’t know about the Great Chicago Fire.
Mrs. O’Leary’s cow didn’t burn down the city, and more fun facts! | learn more
Airbnb scofflaws stay one step ahead of Chicago regulators.
“Illegal Airbnb listings in Chicago demonstrate that the city’s multiyear effort to clamp down on vacation rentals remains a work in progress.” | learn more
Soyuz rocket launch failure forces emergency landing for crew.
“A Russian Soyuz rocket carrying a new U.S.-Russian crew to the International Space Station failed during its ascent Thursday (Oct. 11), sending its crew capsule falling back toward Earth in a ballistic re-entry, NASA officials said.” Now seems like a good time to remember that SpaceX has become the market leader in launches, has had full success on 61 of 63 missions in the past 8 years, and has its first crewed mission planned for June 2019. | learn more
Snoop Dogg’s going to be a lifestyle guru.
“When Crook to Cook: Platinum Recipes from tha Dogg’s Kitchen comes out on Oct. 23, Snoop Dogg will officially join the pantheon of experts who are here to tell us all how to live well.” | learn more
What makes a dad joke?
Like Neo in the Matrix woke up and realized he suddenly knew Kung Fu, on the day of my daughter’s birth I suddenly learned I had mastered punny dad jokes. This article digs into why they’re pervasive across many cultures. | learn more
Amazon’s machines are moving from warehouse to office.
Attention merchants! A friendly reminder to not be asleep at the wheel. “In a major reorganization, the retail veterans who once decided what to sell on the site have lost out to the marketplace data scientists.” | learn more
Class action lawsuit alleges LaCroix contains bad stuff.
The company famously touts its beverages as “100% natural”. Now… “The firm Beaumont Costales, who filed the suit on behalf of Lenora Rice, claims that testing reveals that LaCroix contains a number of artificial ingredients, including linalool, which is used in cockroach insecticide.” |learn more
An ancient virus may be responsible for some addictive behaviors.
“Researchers have revealed that an ancient retrovirus, found in between 5 and 10 percent of the world’s population, is significantly associated with addiction. The study uncovered a connection between the retrovirus and a gene that could make individuals prone to a variety of addictive behaviors.” | learn more
FMT helps restore gut microbiome in cancer patients.
This outcome isn’t surprising, but it is a step toward better understanding of how we can manipulate the microbiome to our advantage. “The study examined a group of cancer patients revealing how fecal transplants can quickly restore a compromised microbiome within days of treatment.” | learn more
Inside Away’s instagram strategy.
The travel company that makes colorful suitcases and has raised $81MM in venture capital as they have scaled is a master of social media. Digiday explores how they use Instagram to sell you luggage. | learn more
Interview with Chris Dixon.
The a16z partner who led early investments into Ripple, Coinbase and other leading crypto companies shares his views in this interview with columnist Kevin Maney. | learn more
China’s big hack.
You may have seen some headlines about China managing to slip extra chips onto servers operated by Apple, Amazon and other US tech companies. This is a link to the Bloomberg piece with the original reporting that’s worth a read. It reinforces my view that internet security is a myth. | learn more
50 big companies that started with little or no money.
Never forget that it does not require VC funding to build a great business! In fact, most great businesses did not raise money from venture capitalists. | learn more
Medical marijuana use up 83% in Illinois.
“PTSD has become the most common qualifying condition for medical marijuana in Illinois, and more doctors are authorizing patients to use cannabis.” | learn more
Chicago gets world’s largest permanent digital art installation.
The exhibit on the Merchandise Mart called Art on the Mart, “uses 3D architectural mapping to display art via 1 million lumens on the building’s massive facade.” | learn more