I hired a pro to debunk aliens; it backfired. “When he published, I was shocked by the results. They actually made me slightly more confident in UFOs.” The author hires famed debunker Peter Miller expecting a clean takedown of the […]
The world’s most complex objects. “To ship one requires 40 freight containers, three cargo planes, and 20 trucks.” ASML’s EUV lithography machines are basically rolling miracles, and the whole semiconductor industry is bottlenecked on them. ~ learn more
Protein mania meets math. “Americans, broadly speaking, are in a state of protein mania.” Whey prices are spiking and the USDA says “inventories remain tight,” with some manufacturers already sold out for the year. ~ learn more
The creation of instant coffee. “These essences were made by boiling down brewed coffee to concentrate it. This damages the flavor, producing a bitter, unpleasant drink, hence the old saying that ‘coffee boiled is coffee spoiled’.” Instant coffee only became […]
Why airlines are always going bankrupt. “Airlines are the classic example of an “empty core” industry: an industry that is structurally incapable of reaching competitive equilibrium.” The piece argues that the sector can be profitable or competitive, but not both, […]
What is dry needling and does it work?. “Dry needling targets trigger points, or tight knots of muscle, with the goal of relieving pain and improving range of motion.” The NYT breaks down what it actually is, what the evidence […]
Hot peptide summer. “San Francisco startups are pushing a hot peptide summer” reads like a joke, but it is the framing for a real wave of peptide-focused wellness companies. If you have been seeing peptides suddenly everywhere, this is the […]
CS Lewis on the value of reading old books “It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between.” ~ learn more
The Al knowledge work stack. “The title of software engineer is going to start to go away not because engineers aren’t needed but because what was traditionally three roles (engineering, product, design) are going to become a single role.” Taylor […]
The Roomba guy’s second act. “The inventor behind the world-famous robot vacuum is now designing robots that form an emotional bond with their owners.” ~ learn more