Today’s topics

• California bans artificial food dyes in schools

• Astronauts to return as SpaceX capsule reaches ISS

• Octopuses predate dinosaurs

  and more…

US stocks drifted slightly higher on Wednesday as geopolitical concerns gripped the market. The S&P 500 rose 0.01% to 5,709.54, the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.08% to 17,925.12, and the Dow Jones added 39.55 points, or 0.09%, closing at 42,196.52. Despite gains, the overall market remained cautious.

Google invests $1 billion in Thailand for digital expansion. Google has announced plans to invest $1 billion in building digital infrastructure in Thailand, including a new data center. The project is expected to support 14,000 jobs and meet the growing demand for cloud computing in Southeast Asia. The new hubs will be located in Bangkok and Chonburi. This follows Microsoft's announcement in May to establish Thailand's first data center region to enhance cloud and AI capabilities.

California bans artificial food dyes in schools. California became the first state to ban six artificial dyes linked to health and behavior issues in children. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the California School Food Safety Act, which prohibits Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3 from school meals, drinks, and snacks. The law will take effect on December 31, 2027.

Jimmy Carter becomes first U.S. president to turn 100. On October 1, Jimmy Carter became the first U.S. president to reach 100 years old. Known for his resilience, Carter remained active well into his 90s, surviving cancer, falls, and the loss of his wife, Rosalynn, with whom he shared 77 years of marriage. His remarkable longevity is celebrated as a testament to his strength and enduring spirit.

Harvard Students Use Meta's Smart Glasses for Real-Time Doxing Demo

Two Harvard students have demonstrated a chilling use of Meta's smart glasses, revealing how easily facial recognition technology can be employed to dox individuals in real time. Using the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, they created a system called I-XRAY that livestreams video to Instagram. An accompanying program analyzes the stream, identifies faces using AI, and cross-references images with public databases to reveal names, addresses, phone numbers, and even relatives. While Meta's glasses are equipped with a privacy light to alert individuals when they are being recorded, it may not always be easily visible. This unsettling demo highlights the potential dangers of readily available technology in the realm of augmented reality.

OpenAI secures record-breaking $6.6 billion funding round. OpenAI has completed its much-anticipated funding round, raising a staggering $6.6 billion, which sets a new record for venture capital deals and values the company at an impressive $157 billion. This significant investment comes as OpenAI plans to transition from a nonprofit lab to a for-profit structure, allowing investors to request their money back if these changes aren't finalized within two years. While this pivot has attracted substantial investor interest, it has also seemingly contributed to the departure of several long-term employees. Despite ongoing revenue growth, the monumental funding reflects the rising costs associated with OpenAI's ambitious endeavors.

Stranded Astronauts Set for Return as SpaceX Capsule Reaches ISS

SpaceX launched a Crew Dragon with two astronauts, NASA's Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, to the International Space Station. The mission aims to bring back two NASA astronauts stranded in orbit after flying on Boeing’s Starliner. The Crew-9 capsule docked with the ISS on Sunday evening, successfully setting the stage for their return journey.

Ancient Fossil Reveals Octopuses Predate Dinosaurs

A remarkable discovery in Montana has unearthed the oldest known ancestor of octopuses, with the fossil dating back approximately 330 million years. Researchers have concluded that this ancient creature lived millions of years earlier than previously thought, indicating that octopuses originated before the age of dinosaurs.

U.K. Shuts Down Its Last Coal-Fired Power Plant, Ending 140 Years of Coal Dependency

The U.K. is officially closing its last coal-fired power plant, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, marking the end of 140 years of coal use to generate electricity. The closure makes the U.K. the first major global economy to completely phase out coal as an energy source. Since 1967, the power station played a vital role in keeping Britain’s lights on, according to its parent company Uniper.

Cactus leather revolution: how two innovators are redefining sustainable fashion. In Mexico, Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez set out to tackle the environmental impact of traditional leather. Picture a workshop brimming with vibrant green cacti as they spent two years crafting Desserto—a revolutionary vegan bio-material. In October 2019, they unveiled their creation in Milan, surpassing traditional leather in both sustainability and performance. Their cactus-based leather wasn’t just a substitute—it was a bold statement, redefining fashion with eco-conscious innovation.

Same-sex flamingo pair make history as co-parents at San Diego Zoo. In a heartwarming achievement, two male lesser flamingos at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park have successfully hatched an egg together, marking a significant moment for same-sex parenting in the animal kingdom. Both flamingos, in their 40s, were initially given a fake egg to care for, and after demonstrating their nurturing skills, they received a real egg that they successfully hatched. The zoo shared that the pair has excelled in their fatherly roles by taking turns brooding the chick.

Tom Brady auctions off impressive watch collection at Sotheby’s. Tom Brady is set to sell his esteemed watch collection at Sotheby’s, featuring pieces valued between $12,000 and $800,000. The collection includes renowned brands such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, and IWC, along with a custom timepiece from Audemars Piguet. While demand for luxury watches soared during the Covid-19 pandemic, prices have since experienced a significant decline.

LVMH invests in nonalcoholic sparkling wine for luxury market. Luxury powerhouse LVMH is taking a gamble on the alcohol-free sector by acquiring a stake in a French producer of upscale nonalcoholic sparkling wine. This strategic move comes as the market for Champagne faces challenges, with LVMH aiming to attract consumers willing to spend over $100 per bottle for a bubbly experience without the alcohol.

Epic Games introduces parental controls for Fortnite. Epic Games launched new parental control features on Tuesday, allowing parents to set time limits and monitor their children's playtime in Fortnite. Accessible through the game's menu or the Epic Account Portal, these controls let guardians establish daily playtime limits, designate specific play windows, and approve requests for additional gaming time. In-game notifications will alert kids when they have 30 minutes left, and both Fortnite and Unreal Editor will be inaccessible once their allotted time expires.

TikTok of the day: watch here

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