thoughts of food

Chicago’s vegan scene contracts.

Chicago’s vegan scene contracts. In recent years, the city has witnessed a retreat in its plant-based dining options. “Despite the once-rising popularity of vegan and vegetarian cuisine, many establishments are now shuttering as diners return to traditional meats.” I sent […]

thoughts of food

Diet Coke’s ‘It Girl’ moment.

Diet Coke’s ‘It Girl’ moment. Count me in for one! Yet, I refuse to let my kids try it. The soda has made a major comeback, embraced by Gen Z as the “fridge cigarette” for its refreshing qualities minus the […]

under the microscope

Plants’ secret language revealed.

Plants’ secret language revealed. Scientists have unraveled a century-old mystery of how plants communicate stress. “We are trying to build a foundational knowledge of understanding how communication in plants happens,” explains Vesna Bacheva. The study shows plants use negative pressure […]

under the microscope

Algae as asphalt’s green hero.

Algae as asphalt’s green hero. “Algae-derived compounds can improve moisture resistance, flexibility and self-healing behavior in asphalt, potentially extending pavement life and reducing maintenance costs,” says Assoc. Prof. Elham Fini. ~ learn more

under the microscope

This frog knows its face.

This frog knows its face. I’ve shared before about the discovery that tiny electrical fields help cells determine where a nose should be, for example. I can’t get enough of how cool this is. “Picasso tadpoles make largely normal frog […]

retail therapy

The end of interchange.

The end of interchange. “Credit card companies have had a good run extracting interchange from merchants for the last forty years, but those days are coming to an end.” Fred Wilson’s a pretty good predictor of the future, but I […]

retail therapy

GenAI ads outperform human ones.

GenAI ads outperform human ones. “GenAI-created ads see 19% higher click-through rates than human-created ads.” NYU and Emory researchers found that even product packaging influenced by Generative AI boosts creative performance. As usual, when AI usage was disclosed, it tanked […]

to your health

Saltwater rinse and cold recovery.

Saltwater rinse and cold recovery. “Washing viruses out of your nose and throat can help you get better faster.” In a trial with 66 adults, saline rinses shortened cold duration by nearly two days and reduced transmission at home. ~ […]

better doing

Thin desires consuming our lives.

Thin desires consuming our lives. “We are living with a near-universal thin desire: wanting something that cannot actually be gotten, that we can’t define, from a source that has no interest in providing it.” Our modern world fuels these unsatisfying […]

tech, startups, internet

Is it a bubble?

Is it a bubble? Here’s how Howard Marks of Oaktree Capital sees it. “Memories are short, and prudence and natural risk aversion are no match for the dream of getting rich on the back of a revolutionary technology that ‘everyone […]