Category Archives: Futurism

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Can this man not just leave us all alone?

Following a too-short stint in prison for running a "Ponzi-like" securities fraud scheme, cursed "Pharma Bro" Martin Shkreli the infamous pharmaceutical exec known for purchasing a life-saving drug and subsequently raising its price by 5,000 percent is unfortunately back in business, just months after his May 2022 release from jail.

His new venture? The former hedge fund manager and convicted felon has cofounded a Web3 drug discovery platform called Druglike yes, really which according to its website seeks to "democratize" the process of finding and developing new medicines.

It's an interesting move for someone who's been banned from the pharmaceutical industry for exceedingly undemocratic behavior. And as it probably goes without saying... we're pretty skeptical.

Drug discovery is, in short, the process by which new drugs are developed and approved for preclinical study. It's a long and tedious process that requires a lot of time, money, and resources.

According to a press release,Druglike is apparently building a "decentralized" drug discovery computing network, offering a free platform to aid the development of medicines.

"We started Druglike because in our experience, traditional drug discovery software is too difficult and expensive to use," claimed the Cracker Barrel enthusiast, as quoted in the press release. "Druglike will remove barriers to early-stage drug discovery, increase innovation and allow a broader group of contributors to share the rewards."

The endeavor's claims are rooted in something called "Proof-of-Optimization," which the press release describes as "a novel blockchain consensus mechanism" that supposedly allows for students, researchers, activists, and others to securely collaborate on molecule development.

"For the first time, any computer or phone with access to the web might be responsible and rewarded for discovering the next breakthrough medicine," Shkreli's remarks continued. "We will disrupt the economics of the drug business by allowing a wide pool of innovators and contributors, rather than only pharmaceutical giants, to profit from drug discovery."

To be fair, it doesn't sound like the worst idea in the world. But it's also presented by, ahem, Martin Shkreli, who is justifiably considered a supervillain by many. He's also been banned from pharmaceuticals for good reason, and it's uncomfortable to hear him preach about democratizing the industry that he notoriously manipulated for personal gain.

More on Pharma Bro: Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli Released From Prison, Seen Eating at Cracker Barrel

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Martin Shkreli Is out of Prison, so of Course He's Getting Into Web3 - Futurism

Pascal Finette knows a thing or two about disruption. But dont just take his word for it.

Finette, co-founder of Boulder, Colo.-based consultancy be radical, has gathered insights from interviews with hundreds of world-class leaders who successfully managed change and transformed their companies.

NRF Nexus 2022 recap

Take a look at more content from this years event in Southern California.

His high-energy NRF Nexus session was originally slated to focus on Foundations of practical futurism. But in the spirit of agility and after having numerous amazing conversations throughout the day he chose to focus on innovation, disruption and transformation instead.

Disruption, he quipped, is akin to tofu, which is eaten often but tastes like nothing on its own. In the same way, disruption doesnt really mean anything anymore. His take, then is to disrupt disruption. (Thats also the title of his forthcoming book, due out next year.)

Disruption is everywhere, and leaders typically only admit their fears about it behind closed doors. Finettes company which is focused on leading into and in the unknown became obsessed with the topic, and the interviews with leaders began about four years ago.

We asked them one simple question, Finette said. We said, Dont tell us the strategy, the big thinking, the models, the framework . I want to hear from you what you actually did. And when you speak with a lot of people, patterns emerge, he said.

First and foremost, transformation is not complicated. Its just really hard.

Throughout the talk, Finette shared five insights learned from the leaders: first principles, process, core/edge, leadership and upskilling.

First principles thinking, he said, goes back more than 2,000 years. Aristotle defined a first principle as the first basis from which a thing is known. It involves arguing from capital T truth upwards. Most people dont do this; theyre more likely to reason analogically, looking for similarities to gain understanding. First principles thinking is harder to do, and takes consistently more energy. And yet, the leaders interviewed all did some form of it.

This can happen from inside the organization out, starting with what is known to be fundamentally true about the business and customer. It can be done from the outside in, starting with what is known to be true about the world or market. Or it can involve parallel worlds, when parallels are drawn from adjacent industries.

Process, meanwhile, is about agility. Many organizations run agile to help with managing changing priorities, visibility, alignment, time to market and productivity. But thats often only in the software unit. Why not apply it across the organization?

Core/edge relates to the tension between the core (or current, optimized, low-risk state) of a business and the edge (or high-risk new stuff). Leaders are not taught how to be ambidextrous with these opposites.

Leading in retail

Learn moreleadership lessons from retail industry leaders.

Some handle the tension by keeping the two separate; one leader told Finette about maintaining future Fridays: Mondays to Thursdays are all about the core, but Fridays are entirely about working on the edge. Others believe there should be a membrane between the two, even if separated, such as transferring leadership established in the core to connect to the edge element. Still others believe in full integration.

None of these approaches is right or wrong; its unique to each company. But Finette discovered universally applicable truths in setting up the edge. Its important, for example, to consider ways of dealing with risk and reward. People and companies tend to fall into three broad categories: farmers (good at sustaining); gatherers (who innovate and explore but still want to join the farmers at the end of the day in sustaining); and hunters (who enjoy the thrill of the hunt and disrupt). The hunters take risks and recognize that they might well die in their adventures, but also know that they can be celebrated as heroes upon their return and get the biggest portion of meat.

If you are a company, are you actually even attracting hunters? he asked. And once the hunters are in place, are they being properly incentivized? Is the space available for them to be hunters? Too often, he said, farmers who do a good job are rewarded with opportunities that put them in the role of hunter. They might do well, but theyll also likely get ulcers at the end of the night.

Finette also touched on the benefits of small teams for edge projects, and giving those teams control over the process, rather than confining them to freedom within the system.

As for leadership, the interviews revealed insights different than what we normally see. Those include the ability to commit (such as allowing cowboys to fully be cowboys without chipping away at what makes them unique); being able to effectively lead into the unknown; inverting the org chart so that those at the bottom become sensors, providing firsthand insight rather than just executing; communicating in story; and being persistent.

Finally, Finette spoke of upskilling. Leaders must continue to learn the new rules of any game, and understand what the companys people really need to know. In addition, learning must be scaled to the edges, rather than assuming it will just trickle down. In closing, he reminded the audience that there are no maps. Think for yourself, he said. Besides, every map includes dragons.

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NRF | Learning the principles of disruption - NRF News

Who let one rip?Smelt It

It's not easy cohabitating inside a tiny metal box while screaming through outer space at over 17,000 mph especially when it comes to foul odors that can't escape by simply opening a window.

In a recent TikTok video yes, astronauts are on TikTok now European astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti recalled the very specific smell she encountered once boarding the International Space Station.

"When I got here a couple of months ago for my second flight, I could immediately smell a very peculiar odor that brought me back instantly to the memories and sensations of my first flight's odors," Cristoforetti said in the vid.

Cristoforetti is a seasoned pro when it comes to the ISS. She currently holds the record for the longest uninterrupted spaceflight by a European astronaut, having spent 199 days on board the ISS between November 2014 and June 2015. She was more recently sent to the station back in April on board a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for a second stint.

The astronaut has used TikTok to share a number of videos over her latest flight, amassing millions of views.

Fortunately, the space station's stink didn't persist over time.

"But within a matter of days, I got used to it, and now I cannot smell it anymore," she said, adding that the station's filters take care of most of the smell.

But that doesn't mean the decades old orbital outpost is free from foul odors.

"There are, of course, a couple of places on space station that can become a little bit smelly," the astronaut admitted in her video.

For instance, "if you're close to a lot of trash," Cristoforetti recalled, pointing out that the station recently sent a Cygnus spacecraft full of crash to burn up in the atmosphere.

Then there are "big blue bags" that holds the crew's solid toilet waste, which can "of course be a little bit smelly as well," according to the astronaut.

As for number one, the "brine" that is left after the water has been removed from the recycled urine can also cause a bit of a stink on board the station.

"Other than that, the space station smells very pleasant," Cristoforetti concluded. Which is reassuring kind of.

READ MORE: International Space Station has 'peculiar odor,' astronaut says [Space.com]

More on the ISS: Elon Musk Lobs Casual Space Station Burn at Moscow

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Astronaut Complains of Pervasive Odor on Space Station - Futurism

We thank them for their service.In Memoriam

A Los Angeles-based visual effects artist who goes by the moniker Cinnamontographer has taken on the audacious task of forever enshrining an important cultural artifact in the form of a high-fidelity 3D scan.

Yes, we're talking about a frozen snack. In an exciting showcase of cutting edge tech, the animator showed off a dazzling, photorealistic rendition of a Choco Taco the iconic ice cream truck treat that is being officially discontinued by confectionary maker Klondike.

The discontinuation of the treat has turned into a media sensation, with millions mourning the loss of their favorite ice cream novelty.

"Not the Choco Taco!" Late Show host Stephen Colbert lamented earlier this week. "It was the only dessert with as much real beef as Taco Bell."

But thanks to the technological prowess of Cinnamontographer, we can at least gaze upon the treat in perpetuity before it disappears from ice cream trucks forever.

"We know how disappointing it is when your favorite frozen dessert isnt available anymore," Klondike wrote in a statement to a fan, as quoted by The Takeout. "Its always a tough decision for us to discontinue a product, especially when we hear from fans like you that really enjoyed it."

It's still unclear whether Klondike is messing with us. It certainly wouldn't be the first time a mainstream food item was discontinued, only to be resurrected later to much fanfare.

But we're not holding our breath when it comes to the Choco Taco. So for now, we'll have to contend ourselves with a photorealistic 3D render of the treat a chance to memorialize what has been lost.

More on ice cream: McDonald's Sued by Ice Cream Hackers for $900 Million

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National Hero Makes Perfect 3D Scan of a Choco Taco Before They Disappear Forever - Futurism

Not bad!Jankless

While Tesla CEO Elon Musks's oddly-shaped, historically janky Cybertruck might not look particularly efficient, a new independent analysis suggests that the much-delayed addition to the company's lineup of electric vehicles is surprisingly aerodynamic.

Aleix Lzaro Prat, a computer fluid dynamics engineer for a company called Numeric System, simulated the cyberpunk pickup's wind resistance in a digital model that he posted on LinkedIn, along with a written description of the car's simulated drag performance.

"Contrary to what many people would think, the sharp edge of the roof does not produce a big detachment! It is true that the flow it is not attached, but in fact the air follows down the slope quite seamlessly," read the engineer's analysis. "This is quite remarkable and a big aerodynamic advantage compared to other pick-up trucks."

Traditional pickup trucks are notoriously inefficient vehicles, including in terms of wind resistance. Most have a drag coefficient that is, the quantification of the aerodynamic efficiency of an object in a fluid environment between 0.55 and 0.65.

To put that in perspective, the average car tends to have a drag coefficient between 0.3 and 0.4, while the most aerodynamic vehicles are usually somewhere in the 0.26 and 0.22 range.

Musk's truck, on the other hand, has a drag coefficient of roughly 0.39 according to Prat's model a pretty stark difference when compared to the average pickup on the market.

While the engineer was optimistic about the brutalist vehicle's aerodynamic performance, they did have a few notes for the strangely designed machine.

"By adjusting couple surface features, in particular the surrounding edgy geometry of the wheel arches, the drag could be lowered even further," he added in their LinkedIn post.

All in all, hats off to Musk. While the delayed vehicle definitely has some other problems to fix, an aerodynamic design even if there's still some room to improve is no small feat for a vehicle so chunky.

More on the Tesla Cybertruck: Tesla Shows off Cybertruck, but There Are a Bunch of Wires Ripped out of the Steering Wheel for Some Reason

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New Analysis Finds That Blocky Cybertruck Has Enviable Wind Resistance - Futurism

"Imagine a robot with ten light sabers on the front."Make Way

If Cali-based startup EarthGrid has its way, downed power lines and faulty electric transformers may soon be a problem of the past.

Science and tech pub New Atlas explained the company's patent-pending process on Thursday and said the plasma boring robot it's developing can dig underground tunnels as much as 100 times faster than the competition, all while costing about 98 percent less.

"Imagine a robot with ten light sabers on the front, vaporizing through rock and soil," founder Troy Helming said in a short video that shows off the bot's plasma-boring capabilities.

The back end of the bot spits out "cornflake-size" bits of rock. New Atlas said the bot can do its job without touching tunnel walls as it bores through the ground, meaning it can complete jobs without stopping if necessary.

EarthGrid is hoping to use its tech to create an underground network of tunnels that service the United States with renewable energy.

The move could help stabilize electric grids and protect infrastructure from the elements an important lesson the people of New York City learned after the Great Blizzard of 1888. That storm dumped inches of snow onto the city and downed a bunch of power lines, which at the time weren't yet buried underground and ran solely on above-ground poles, criss-crossing the streets multiple times. Afterwards, underground wires provided more electric stability and consistency.

EarthGrid has a long way to go if it wants to move from its 20-second demo clip to a full-blown power solution for the US but we hope they figure it out soon. The country's aging electric infrastructure needs some help from somebody, somewhere.

More on renewable energy: New System Creates Jet Fuel From Water, CO2 and Sunlight

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Robot Designed to Tunnel Through the Earth Incredibly Fast Using Plasma - Futurism

Where did it come from, where did it go?String Theory

An object that looks like a bundle of string, or possibly a noodle,that showed up in images taken by NASA's Mars Perseverance Rover earlier this month has suddenly disappeared, CNN reports.

The object can clearly be seen in July 12 images taken by the rover's Right Hazard Avoidance Camera (Hazcam). Just four days later, the object was gone.

To be clear, the object is likely Earthly in origin. While NASA has yet to confirm, a spokesperson for the mission at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) told Agence France-Presse that "we have been discussing where it's from, but there's been speculation that it's a piece of cord from the parachute or from the landing system that lowers the rover to the ground."

"Note that we don't have confirmation that it's one or the other," the spokesperson added.

The location where the string showed up is some ways off from Perseverance's landing spot in the Jezero Crater, an ancient delta that experts believe was once covered in water.

Intriguingly, a JPL spokesperson it's unclear if it was the same one told CNN that it may have been blown there by the Martian wind.

It's likely we'll see more of NASA's trash left behind on the Martian surface. In April, for instance, Perseverance spotted its own parachute in the Martian desert after returning to the vicinity of its original landing spot.

Then, in June, the rover tweeted that "my team has spotted something unexpected," which turned out to be a "piece of a thermal blanket that they think may have come from my descent stage."

In short, space trash isn't just polluting Earth's orbit you can now even find discarded debris on the surface of other planets.

More on the story: NASA Intrigued by Noodle-Like Object Found on Mars

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Noodle-Like Object on Mars Has Disappeared, According to NASA Photos - Futurism

They're wasting no time.New Addition

China has added a new science laboratory module to its growing space station this week, an impressive feat shows the outpost is quickly turning into a worthy alternative to the aging International Space Station, even as the ISS descends into international drama.

It's also happening at a breakneck speed. The construction of the ISS took around 12 years. China wants to build its own albeit much smaller, at just one fifth the mass in less than one and a half.

The 23-ton module, dubbed Wentian, launched from Hainan province over the weekend atop a Long March 5B rocket, docking with the Tiangong space station early Monday morning, according to The Associated Press.

According to Chinese state-owned news network Global Times, it's the heaviest single-module spacecraft "currently in space."

The next laboratory segment, which is the space station's final piece and dubbed Mengtian, could launch as soon as October, if everything goes according to plan.

A crew of three astronauts, who have been on board the Tiangong since early June, assisted during docking procedures. The crew is scheduled to stay on board the station for six months.

Wentian will allow scientists to study how multiple species of plants, animals and microorganisms grow in space, according to Global Times.

Two massive solar panel wings will power the module, giving it a total span of 180 feet. The module also features a backup urine recycling system, in case Tiangong's existing one ever fails.

All told, it's an impressive feat. Tiangong's core module, dubbed Tianhe, launched less than a year and a half ago.

If Mengtian pulls off its own "heavenly kiss" the Chinese space agency's nickname for these rendezvous with the other two modules this fall, China will have constructed an entire station in less than a year and a half.

That kind of pace only goes to show just how far the country's space program has come in a matter of years.

READ MORE: China adds science laboratory to its orbiting space station [Associated Press]

More on Tiangong: China Is Sending More Space Junk Hurtling Down to Earth

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China Attaches New Section Onto Its Brand New Space Station - Futurism

The heat is on in the Hudson Valley, but not even 90+ degree temperatures will stem the tidal wave of events in our area. Patrons continue to pack venues as artists and musicians celebrate a summer of finally being out and about. Whats a little sweat when youre having experiences youll remember forever?

This week, weve got a full event menu of sonic adventure, nostalgic reminiscence, survival skills and eGames. Youll find something for everyone if not here in print, then online at calendar.hudsonvalleyone.com, where all area events are listed.

Hear Columbia via New York. Combo Chimbita at Spiegeltent (Bard SummerScape) on Friday, July 29, 8 p.m. This quirky quartet bounces modern psychedelic rock influences off traditional cumbia rhythms, a style they call tropical futurism. Youve never heard anything quite like it, and this is an opportunity to experience their mind-warping sound in one of the coolest venues in the Valley. Tickets are $25.

Get in the game. Grand Opening of NYXP eSports Gaming Center on Saturday, July 30, 12 p.m. Kingston is getting a new eSports gaming center on Morton Boulevard, next to Plaza Pizza. Theyll host tournaments, parties, and drop-in games featuring todays most popular titles. Expect all your favorite digital and animated characters to make an appearance: Pikachu, Sonic, Mario, Roblox and SpongeBob are rumored to be dropping by. Theres also a raffle to win your choice of PS5 or Xbox X. Grab a controller, take a seat, and see how you stack up against the areas savviest button-mashers.

Get shaken by underground rhythms. Taiko Masala Troupe at the Widow Jane Mine at the Snyder Estate, Saturday, July 30, 3 p.m. When this group of percussionists and martial artists roll out the 250-pound O-daiko drum, you know they mean business. Last time they played this unique venue, their spectacular rhythms ricocheted off the rock walls to form an alien sonic landscape of pure percussion. Oh yeah, they also are pulling off martial arts moves as an integral part of the performance. And because youre underground in literally the coolest venue in town, its a perfect concert for the dog days of summer. Donations recommended.

Its alive! Frankenstein (1931) at Rosendale Theater, Saturday, July 30 at 10 p.m. Now nearly a century old, Frankenstein is known to us as a classic. But its still easy to imagine theater-goers of the 30s getting their minds blown by this dark and twisted tale which had a lasting impact on cinema. It starts with a fourth-wall breaking warning about how shocking and horrifying the film would be. Censors of the era tried with varying success to cut scenes they deemed offensive. Todays audiences may be inured to death and violence, yet Frankenstein remains a talisman of Hollywood shock and awe. Tickets are $10 for the public, $6 for members.

Get bass all over the place. Jimmy Keneally at Lydias Cafe, Saturday, July 30, 7 p.m. With Fender bass in hand, Jimmy Keneally will front a set of R&B and American classic rock. Picks span Sam Cooke to Steely Dan, The Police to The Eagles, with a few original tunes popped into the set.

Have a brush with history. Artist reception with Bennet Harris Horowitz at Woodstock Art Exchange, Saturday, July 30, 3 p.m. Natural Resources: Scenes from the Catskills and Hereabouts brings together the artists deep art education history with the historic splendor of our area. Seeing his rich technical and artistic skill brought to bear on our beautiful surroundings is a breathtaking experience, whether you call the Hudson Valley home or are just visiting through art.

Hear a mix of sweet, sour and sublime. Speedy Ortiz (with Adult Mom and Zenizen) at Tubbys, Friday, July 29 at 7 p.m. To call Speedy Ortiz indie darlings would be selling them short. Yes, they regularly score in the 7s and 8s on Pitchfork, and theyre your favorite indie bands favorite band. But their music is far more complex than the indie moniker lets on, and that goes for the lyrics too. Fronted by the enigmatic and energetic Sadie Dupuis, the band has a way of turning the sour to sweet and back again in the blink of an eighth note. Theyre ferocious but understated, groovy but gangly, catchy but noisy. Tickets are $18.

Go where the wild things are delicious. Edible and Medicinal Plant Walk with Dina Falconi at Opus 40, Sunday, July 31 at 11 a.m. Have you ever looked around your yard and thought, What can I eat? For over 30 years, Dina Falconi has taught a steady stream of plant-curious people how to use herbs for food, medicine, personal care and pleasure. Guests will enjoy foraging with her on the sculpted grounds of Opus 40, learning to identify and use the most helpful native plants available. Tickets are $25 for the public, $10 for members.

Dance your way to West Africa. Mamadous Fantastic Band featuring members of Super Yamba at White Feather Farm in Saugerties, Friday, July 29, 7 p.m. Theoria Foundation will present this Mamadou Mbenge, a master of the tama talking drum, joined by members of Afro-funksters Super Yamba from Brooklyn. The headliner hails from Senegal, West Africa. And while his music is founded in traditional West African rhythms, youll find soul, jazz and R&B floating in and out of the mix. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, and $10 for students.

Travel through space and time with brass instruments. Brasskill at Gardiner Brewing Company, Sunday, July 31, 3:30 p.m. If you missed the Brazzamatazz Festival at Seed Song Farm last weekend, heres your chance to redeem yourself. Brasskill is a high-energy, 14-piece brass band known for reliably inciting ecstatic dance parties. Their set list includes everything from traditional New Orleans second line tunes, through international favorites, all the way up to todays punk and pop.

Continue reading here:
10 Don't-Miss Events in the Hudson Valley, July 27 - Aug 2 - Hudson Valley One

The prominent cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase is under investigation by the Securities and ExchangeCommission, with regulators now looking into whether cryptocurrencies should've been registered as securities, Bloomberg reports.

If confirmed, the investigation could mark a watershed moment in the regulation of crypto. If the SEC does deem them as securities, the crypto landscape in the country could soon look drastically different, with exchanges potentially becoming liable for fraud.

According to Bloomberg, the probe predates the regulator suing a former Coinbase manager last week for alleged insider trading.

Coinbase leadership, faced with an existential threat, is trying to get ahead of the problem.

"Im happy to say it again and again: we are confident that our rigorous diligence process a process the SEC has already reviewed keeps securities off our platform," Coinbase's chief legal officer Paul Grewal tweeted, "and we look forward to engaging with the SEC on the matter."

Crypto markets are already feeling the hurt, with the values of mainstream crypto like Bitcoin and Ethereum plummeting over the last couple of months, wiping out hundreds of billions of dollars in market value.

The skirmish could lead to an ugly, drawn out fight. Last week, the SEC argued that nine cryptos were securities seven of which are listed on Coinbase as part of the insider trading case against the former Coinbase manager.

All these allegations aren't sitting well with Coinbase's leadership.

"Coinbase does not list securities," Grewal pushed back in a Thursday blog post. "End of story."

"The SECs charges put a spotlight on an important problem: the US doesnt have a clear or workable regulatory framework for digital asset securities," Grewal wrote. "And instead of crafting tailored rules in an inclusive and transparent way, the SEC is relying on these types of one-off enforcement actions to try to bring all digital assets into its jurisdiction, even those assets that are not securities."

Regardless, the investigation is bound to be a major headache for the company. Coinbase's stock has already lost almost three quarters of its value in 2022 so far, Bloomberg notes.

But the investigation could also set an important precedent for many other exchanges out there as well.

It remains to be seen if the SEC's investigation into Coinbase will end up setting the groundwork for future crypto regulation but regulators are, nonetheless, sending a clear message: the "Wild West" era of cryptocurrencies could soon be over.

READ MORE: Coinbase Faces SEC Probe on Crypto Listings; Shares Tumble [Bloomberg]

More on Coinbase: Coinbase Manager Arrested as He Tries to Flee the Country

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Coinbase Reportedly Under Investigation by the SEC - Futurism