Today’s topics

• Humanoid robot powered by OpenAI

• AI recycling robots

• SpaceX constructs spy satellite network

• Health care breakthrough

• Rare nova event to illuminate the night sky

• Octopus use camouflage to mimic a larger creature

  and more…

TikTok's US revenue soared to a remarkable $16 billion last year, setting the stage for potential suitors amid looming forced sale discussions. The House's passing of a bill mandating the app's sale within six months or face a ban has intensified interest in its acquisition. Reportedly, these record-breaking US sales could elevate TikTok's American operations' value to an impressive $150 billion. Comparatively, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, reported $135 billion in revenue for the same period.

Real estate stocks plummet after broker fee settlement. Real estate stocks, including Zillow and Redfin, saw a sharp decline following a significant settlement aimed at limiting broker fees. The agreement, which brokered with the National Association of Realtors (NAR), tightened regulations surrounding commissions in the home buying process. This move comes after a prolonged legal battle and a substantial jury verdict against the NAR and brokerage defendants, prompting a swift change in the real estate landscape and investor sentiment.

Humanoid Robot Powered by OpenAI

Robotics startup Figure, valued at $2.6 billion, showcased its latest innovation alongside new partner OpenAI. Founded by industry veterans from Boston Dynamics, Tesla, Google DeepMind, and Archer Aviation, Figure unveiled Figure 01, a full-sized humanoid robot equipped with advanced AI capabilities. (video)

AI recycling robots. At materials recovery facilities, workers and machines sift through massive amounts of recycled waste daily. Unfortunately, valuable recyclables often slip through the cracks and end up in landfills by mistake. However, Glacier, a startup, aims to revolutionize this process with AI-powered recycling robots. These robots can precisely identify 30 materials and pick out 45 items per minute. By sorting materials more efficiently, MRFs can increase their earnings from selling recyclables.

Apple and Google partnership. Bloomberg reports a potential collaboration between Apple and Google, aiming to utilize Google's Gemini AI model for upcoming iPhone features. Already partners in providing Google as the default search engine for Safari on iPhones, Apple seeks to enhance iOS updates with AI-powered capabilities. Sources familiar with the matter suggest Apple also explored using GPT models from OpenAI in discussions, hinting at a significant AI integration in the works.

Nature's Surprising Superconductor Discovered by Scientists

Few materials have the uncanny talent of carrying a current with virtually no resistance in what is known as superconductivity. Scientists have identified a natural material, miassite, as the world's first unconventional superconductor. This discovery defies traditional quantum principles, offering new insights into superconductivity and its potential applications. 

Physicists propose a theory allowing faster-than-light travel. An international team of physicists has proposed a groundbreaking theory that could permit objects to surpass the speed of light. While not violating the laws of physics, this concept promises mind-bending phenomena, as reported by ScienceAlert's analysis of the team's paper on Classical and Quantum Gravity. According to the theory, travelers exceeding the speed of light would encounter multiple timelines simultaneously, leading to a level of complexity that surpasses even the extraordinary events depicted in "Interstellar."

Stargazers Alert: Rare Nova Event to Illuminate Night Sky

This year, there's a special event happening in the night sky. A bright burst of light, called a nova, will be visible without a telescope. This nova comes from a star system called T Coronae Borealis (T CrB), about 3,000 light-years away. You can see this nova in the Corona Borealis constellation, which looks like a half-circle of stars. It will happen sometime between February and September 2024.

SpaceX constructs spy satellite network. Sources reveal that SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is developing a network of numerous spy satellites through a confidential agreement with a US intelligence agency. The project, managed by SpaceX's Starshield business unit, operates under a $1.8 billion contract signed in 2021 with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which oversees spy satellites.

Health Care Breakthrough

The brain scans of a 72-year-old man diagnosed with aggressive glioblastoma cancer have shown a striking reduction in tumor size mere days after undergoing a cutting-edge treatment infusion. Scientists are unveiling promising strategies to engage the immune system in combatting this deadly disease, offering a glimmer of hope for patients worldwide. 

Underwater Speakers: A Tool to Revitalize Coral Reefs. Scientists have revealed an innovative approach to restoring degraded coral reefs. By utilizing underwater speakers to broadcast the sounds of healthy reefs, including fish calls, researchers observed a remarkable increase in coral larvae settlement rates – up to 7 times higher than before.

Watch an octopus use camouflage to mimic a larger (and more dangerous) creature: video

During a tennis match at the BNP Paribas Open in California, play was suspended when a swarm of bees descended upon the court: video

Apple MacBook Air with M1 chip for $699. Too good to miss.

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