Today’s topics

• Bitcoin surges 3% for the first time since March

• Is 30,000 more Starlink satellites too much?

• Second-smallest vertebrate on the planet

• Tesla Cybertruck is third best-selling EV

• LinkedIn introduces its first AI model

  and more…

On Tuesday, the Nasdaq reached a record close of 18,712.75, up 0.78%, while the S&P 500 rose by 0.16% to 5,832.92. The Dow Jones declined by 0.36% to close at 42,233.05. Alphabet, Snap, Reddit, Chipotle, and Advanced Micro Devices are scheduled to release their quarterly earnings after the market closes. Meta Platforms and Microsoft are set to report on Wednesday, and Apple on Thursday.

NYSE plans to extend after-hours trading to 22 hours daily. The New York Stock Exchange is set to extend after-hours trading on its electronic platform, Arca, pending regulatory approval. The new schedule could allow trading from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. ET, with a brief pause overnight, significantly increasing accessibility from the current 16 hours. As trading outside regular hours grows, NYSE aims to meet the demands of international investors and U.S. traders looking to place orders after work. This move comes amid increasing competition from other established exchanges.

Alphabet surpasses sales estimates, fueled by Google Cloud growth. Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, exceeded third-quarter sales expectations, driven by robust growth in its cloud computing division. Revenue, excluding partner payouts, reached $74.6 billion, surpassing analysts' average forecast of $72.9 billion, according to Bloomberg data. The company reported a net income of $2.12 per share, significantly higher than the estimated $1.84 per share.

America’s Expensive Marathon: The Billion-Dollar Election Machine. U.S. elections are among the world’s costliest, with campaign spending projected to reach $15.9 billion this cycle—topping the $15.1 billion spent in 2020. Unlike shorter election periods in countries like the U.K., where Keir Starmer raised just $12.3 million in a six-week campaign, U.S. candidates fundraise for years. In just two weeks as the Democratic frontrunner, Kamala Harris raised $300 million, eventually hitting $1 billion, while Trump’s campaign brought in $800 million.

Tesla Cybertruck surges to third best-selling EV in the U.S. In the third quarter, Tesla’s Cybertruck became the third best-selling electric vehicle in the U.S., surpassing the Ford Mach-E and other competitors. It trailed only the Tesla Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV in sales, achieving this milestone despite launching with its highest-priced trim. This success highlights the challenges faced by major automakers like Ford and General Motors in attracting customers to their electric models.

Bitcoin surges 3% after surpassing $73,000 for the first time since March. Bitcoin climbed above $73,000 on Tuesday, rising 3.8% to around $72,333.10, as it approached its all-time high ahead of the U.S. presidential election. Earlier in the day, it reached $73,601.59, marking its highest point since March 14. This price increase sparked a wave of short liquidations, leading to over $113 million in liquidations within the last 24 hours, according to CoinGlass. Additionally, shares of crypto exchange platform Coinbase and Bitcoin proxy MicroStrategy each saw a 1% rise.

Want $1 Million? Try Hacking Apple’s Servers

Apple is inviting researchers to test the security of its Private Cloud Compute (PCC) by expanding its bug bounty program, offering rewards of up to $1 million. This initiative aims to identify vulnerabilities in the secure cloud platform that supports its upcoming Apple Intelligence features. The company is eager to ensure robust security as it prepares to launch AI-driven services in the coming days. The new servers will debut next week, highlighting Apple’s commitment to security in its AI endeavors.

iOS 18.1 arrives with Apple Intelligence boosts for select iPhones. Apple’s iOS 18.1 update is here, adding new Apple Intelligence features and a variety of fixes for iPhone users. Released just a month after iOS 18.0.1, this update enhances tools introduced with iOS 18, like RCS messaging and home screen customization. iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max, and iPhone 16 users outside the EU and China gain exclusive perks, including email writing assistance, photo clean-up tools, and an upgraded Siri for smarter interactions.

LinkedIn unveils hiring assistant: its first AI agent for job recruitment. LinkedIn is launching its first AI agent, Hiring Assistant, aimed at transforming recruitment processes on the platform. This new tool will streamline various tasks, from crafting detailed job descriptions from quick notes to sourcing and engaging with potential candidates. LinkedIn positions Hiring Assistant as a significant milestone in its AI journey, targeting recruiters, a key user segment that drives substantial revenue for the platform.

NASA Unveils Nine Potential Landing Sites for 2026 Moon Mission

NASA has identified nine possible landing regions for its Artemis III mission, aimed at returning humans to the moon in 2026. All selected sites are located in the lunar South Pole, each offering unique geological features and safe landing options. This mission marks the first human return to the moon in over fifty years, focusing on exploring uncharted areas to enhance our understanding of living on the lunar surface. While the agency has not prioritized these regions, each site presents opportunities for groundbreaking discoveries.

Elon Musk proposes launch of 30,000 more Starlink satellites, sparking astronomers' concerns. Elon Musk’s SpaceX is seeking approval to deploy nearly 30,000 additional Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit, raising alarms among astronomers. The company argues that this expansion is essential for providing high-speed internet access to all Americans and billions of Starlink users globally. SpaceX is requesting lower orbits for its second-generation system and more radio frequencies, claiming the added frequencies won't cause significant interference with existing users. The plan aims to utilize the Starship megarocket for the massive deployment, but many worry about the growing obstacles these satellites pose to astronomical observations.

LaGuardia airport soars to top spot after $8 billion overhaul. Once notorious for poor rankings, LaGuardia Airport has been named the nation’s top airport by Forbes Travel Guide. The Queens airport’s dramatic rise follows an $8 billion renovation, launched in 2016 and completed two years ago. Previously, LaGuardia was even likened to a "third-world country" by Joe Biden back in 2014.

NYC Marathon returns with cool weather and street closures. This Sunday, the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon will bring an estimated 50,000 runners to race across all five boroughs, starting at 8 a.m. from Staten Island. The 26.2-mile course begins on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and ends at Central Park, with widespread street closures throughout the day. Cool, clear weather is expected, making for ideal running conditions—though early morning spectators might want to bundle up. Fans can watch from mile 3 to mile 26, cheering on runners in what’s considered the world’s largest marathon.

Lost Maya city Valeriana found in Mexican jungle. Archaeologists have discovered a lost Maya city named Valeriana in Campeche, Mexico, featuring temple pyramids and plazas hidden beneath the jungle. The find was made possible by lidar, a cutting-edge laser mapping technology used by anthropologist Luke Auld-Thomas of Northern Arizona University to explore new archaeological applications. This innovative method offers a stark contrast to traditional techniques, allowing for detailed three-dimensional mapping and expanding our understanding of the ancient Maya civilization.

In Brazil, researchers have discovered a “toadlet” that is the second-smallest vertebrate on the planet, measuring just 6.95 millimeters long—smaller than many ant species and fitting comfortably on a fingertip. Though it resembles a cricket in sound, this diminutive creature is actually an exceptionally small frog. This remarkable finding highlights the incredible diversity of life and the existence of some of the tiniest vertebrates on Earth.

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