Today’s topics

• Renewable energy in the U.S. is a billion-dollar win

• Verizon invests $100 million in AST SpaceMobile

• Moving 25-ton stones with bare hands

• Claude’s new trick: shoe-buying bots

• Can personal submersibles be safe?

• Teen invents home energy device

  and more…

US stocks took another hit on Thursday, weighed down by ongoing concerns about prolonged high interest rates and a Salesforce (CRM) slump. The Dow Jones tumbled nearly 0.9%, losing over 350 points after Wednesday's 400-point dip. The S&P 500 slid 0.6%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite dropped about 1%. Investors are clearly feeling the heat as rate anxieties and big tech woes continue to drag the market down.

Verizon invests $100 million in AST SpaceMobile. Verizon is investing $100 million in AST SpaceMobile, joining forces with its rival AT&T to partner with the satellite operator. Abel Avellan, AST SpaceMobile’s founder and CEO, called the deal a "transformational commercial milestone" that will help cover the continental U.S. with 850 MHz radio waves. Srini Kalapala, Verizon’s SVP of technology and product development, emphasized that the satellites will provide crucial connectivity in remote U.S. areas where traditional signals fail. This partnership aims to expand Verizon’s reach using satellite technology.

U.S. markets speed up: T+1 settlement cycle kicks in. On May 28, U.S. capital markets switched from a T+2 to a T+1 settlement cycle. This change means trades of stocks, ETFs, and corporate bonds now settle in one business day instead of two. Buyers get their shares and sellers get their cash the next business day. Experts say this shift reduces risk and boosts overall market efficiency. Active traders will particularly notice fewer freeriding and good-faith violations with this quicker settlement.

Google and Magic Leap Team Up for XR Headsets

Google and Magic Leap are joining forces in a new strategic partnership to develop innovative XR technology. Both companies had major tech flops in the past decade, but their combined expertise might create something groundbreaking. The details of the deal are still vague, but Magic Leap's optical and manufacturing prowess is a highlight. Despite past challenges, the collaboration aims to push the XR ecosystem forward with unique product offerings.

Claude's new trick: personalized AI assistants. Anthropic is rolling out a fresh feature for its AI chatbot Claude, allowing users to craft email assistants or customized solutions like shoe-buying bots. Dubbed "tool use," this function integrates seamlessly with any external API of your choice. Essentially, think of these AI agents as your digital helpers, capable of tasks like analyzing data for tailored product recommendations or offering real-time customer support. All it takes to create one is API access and a little coding know-how. Plus, this tool isn't just about text—it can handle images too, opening the door to applications like virtual interior design consultations.

MIT's New Discovery: Moving 25-Ton Stones by Hand

MIT researchers have unveiled a groundbreaking method to move 25-ton stones with just human hands. The Cambridge-based Matter Design, in collaboration with CEMEX, discovered a way to make these massive concrete forms seem almost weightless. By using variable density concrete and strategically placed handle points, these stones can be rocked, tilted, and rolled into place. Inspired by the ancient techniques used for Easter Island's Moai statues, the researchers demonstrated their findings at TED 2019. This innovation promises easier and more cost-effective construction in hard-to-reach areas and offers new ways to assemble and disassemble large structures without heavy machinery.

Ohio tycoon plans safe Titanic sub dive. Larry Connor, a real estate mogul from Ohio, plans to visit the Titanic wreck to prove the safety of personal submersibles. This announcement comes less than a year after the tragic OceanGate implosion that killed five people. Connor, 74, will team up with deep-sea explorer Patrick Lahey to dive 12,467 feet to the Titanic's remains. Their mission aims to show that proper engineering can ensure safe deep-sea exploration. Connor emphasized that their trip is a research mission to demonstrate the safety of revolutionary submersible technology.

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Renewable Energy in the U.S.: A Billion-Dollar Win

The U.S. ramped up its renewable energy use, slashing emissions and improving air quality, which translated into hundreds of billions in benefits. A recent report in Cell Reports Sustainability highlights this green triumph from 2019 to 2022. By embracing renewables, the country not only helped the planet but also cashed in on significant economic gains. This shift shows how eco-friendly choices can lead to financial perks.

Wine cellar renovation unveils ancient mammoth bones. A man in Austria stumbled upon 40,000-year-old mammoth bones while renovating his wine cellar, discovering the remains of three mammoths stacked together, suggesting the site might have been a mammoth trap.

Teen innovator powers homes with homemade energy device. In Mozambique, 17-year-old Nellio Mazivila built a home energy device in his makeshift lab, aiming to promote sustainability. His creation provides power for domestic use and hopes for a greener future.

Introducing “salty liquorice” cats. Researchers in Finland have discovered a rare new cat color called "salty liquorice." These "salmiak cats" sport black coats flecked with white and a distinctive "tuxedo" pattern with solid white necks, chests, bellies, and paws.

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