DNA Tapes: Revolutionizing Information Storage Beyond Standard Cassettes
Jiankai Li et al. 2025
In an innovative revival of 1960s technology, researchers have created a cassette tape that utilizes DNA for encoding information, substituting traditional iron oxide with synthetic DNA molecules printed onto plastic tape.
This groundbreaking technology boasts an astounding capacity for storing information. While conventional cassette tapes typically hold about 12 songs per side, DNA tapes can encapsulate every song ever recorded.
With a capacity of 10 megabytes per song, 100 meters of DNA cassette tape can accommodate over 3 billion songs. In total, the storage potential is a staggering 36 petabytes, equal to 36,000 terabytes of hard drive space.
Led by Jiang Xinyu and his team at Southern University of Science and Technology in Guangdong, China, these cassettes are engineered to represent digital data through the sequencing of DNA bases (A, T, C, G) much like binary code in computers. This enables the storage of various digital files, including text, images, audio, and video.
The researchers were thrilled by the public’s reaction following the announcement of the DNA cassette. New Scientist reported Jiang stating, “The diverse feedback we’ve received from scientists, artists, engineers, and educators has been rewarding, inspiring many to rethink the intersection of data, biology, and technology.”
The project team’s next objective is to create a specialized reading/writing mechanism for DNA cassettes that emulates the function of traditional magnetic tape drives. “Our new ‘head’ design will precisely align the DNA tape in a reaction chamber for chemical processes like reading and rewriting,” Jiang explains.
They anticipate that DNA cassette tapes could be available commercially within five years. “Our exploration of DNA cassette tape technology transcends mere storage capability; it encompasses a reimagining of how information exists in both physical and biological forms,” Jiang concludes.
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A report from the Campaign Group reveals that TikTok is guiding child accounts towards pornographic content within just a few clicks.
Global Witness activists created fake accounts using a birth date of 13 and activated the app’s “limited mode,” designed to reduce visibility to “sexually suggestive” material.
Researchers discovered that TikTok suggested sexual and explicit search phrases for seven test accounts established on new mobile devices with no prior search history.
The suggested terms under the “You May Want” feature included “very rude and revealing attire” and “very rude babe,” escalating to phrases like “hardcore porn clip.” Sexual search suggestions appeared instantly for three of the accounts.
After just “a few clicks,” researchers encountered pornographic material ranging from depictions of women to explicit sexual acts. Global Witness indicated that some content tried to evade moderation by appearing as innocuous photos or videos. For one account, access to explicit content required only two clicks: one on the search bar and another on a suggested search term.
Global Witness, an organization focused on climate issues and the implications of Big Tech on human rights, conducted two rounds of testing on July 25, one before and one after the Child Protection Regulation (OSA) was enacted in the UK.
Two videos featuring individuals who appeared under 16 were reported to the Internet Watch Foundation, tasked with monitoring online child sexual abuse material.
Global Witness accused TikTok of breaching the OSA, which mandates tech companies to shield children from harmful content, including pornography.
A spokesperson for the UK Communications Regulatory Authority, Ofcom, stated they would “support the study’s findings and evaluate the results.”
OFCOM’s compliance code stipulates that media promoting harmful content or high-risk tech companies must “design their algorithms to eliminate harmful material from child feeds.” TikTok’s content guidelines expressly prohibit pornographic material.
In response to Global Witness’s concerns, TikTok confirmed the removal of troubling content and modifications to its search recommendations.
“Upon recognizing these issues, we promptly initiated an investigation, eliminated content that breached our policies, and began enhancing our search proposal features,” stated a spokesperson.
Illegal deforestation in the Amazon of Mato Grosso, Brazil
Paralaxis/Alamy
Life in the Amazon post-deforestation presents a grim scenario. Strong winds impede the recovery of the forest, while rising temperatures result in heat stress for both inhabitants and wildlife.
This contradicts the common belief that rainforest removal leads to a drier local climate.
Many studies suggest that deforestation in the Amazon will significantly reduce rainfall, but these studies often rely on low-resolution models that fail to accurately depict convection patterns in the region.
Recently, Alim Yun from the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Germany and her team have employed advanced climate models to represent rainforest rainfall dynamics and convection more accurately.
Dominic Spracklen, at the University of Leeds in the UK, which was not involved in the study, regards this methodology as “highly commendable,” suggesting it could “enhance predictions of climate responses to deforestation.”
Using this innovative approach, Yoon previously reported that under current climatic conditions, a complete deforestation of the Amazon would yield relatively stable average annual rainfall. The ongoing research aims to analyze how hourly patterns of rain, heat, and wind shift in this complete deforestation scenario.
The team’s findings indicate an increase in the frequency of dry spells, with a 54% rise in severe rainfall events. Concurrently, daily temperature extremes rise by 2.7°C (4.9°F) and 5.4°C (9.7°F), significantly heightening heat stress among local populations. Moreover, extremely strong winds are becoming more prevalent.
Over 30 million individuals reside in the Amazon region, including around 2.7 million indigenous people. “Expect intensified rainfall and extreme temperatures,” warns Lewis Catterrand from the University of Leeds. “This is alarming for everyone in the area.”
However, he cautions that further validation of this modeling approach is necessary. Additional research is essential to explore the effects of partial deforestation on the local climate in light of future projections for the region. “These extreme scenarios are meant to aid scientists in understanding the implications, but we know they don’t paint a complete picture,” says Catterrand.
From 1950 to 2020, intense heatwaves led to a 25-38% decrease in bird populations inhabiting these biodiverse tropical regions, as reported by Maximilian Cotts and his team from Barcelona’s Super Computing Center.
The researchers have yet to utilize these findings to forecast future bird population trends as global temperatures continue to rise, but early indicators are concerning. “The situation looks grim,” Cotts remarks.
He and his team have initiated a comprehensive analysis of global bird populations using the Living Planet Database. This dataset, however, does not include seabirds. Additional data on habitat destruction was sourced from the Hyde database for global environments, along with historical weather and climate data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
The researchers compared this information to identify correlations that could shed light on the observed changes in bird populations. Their findings suggest that habitat loss is a significant driver of decline, corroborating earlier studies, particularly in regions with latitudes between 21° and 43° north or south.
In contrast, extreme heat is the predominant factor affecting bird survival in tropical areas, where many species often exist at the edge of their heat tolerance limits. If these limits are exceeded, they risk mortality , explains Kotz. Even if they manage to survive an intense heat episode, their health is typically compromised, diminishing their reproductive success.
The team is also analyzing how the exacerbation of extreme heat is attributable to anthropogenic climate change, and how bird populations would behave in a scenario without warming. This approach enables researchers to gauge the impact of climate change on bird abundance.
Although such attribution studies have been traditionally employed to assess extreme weather events related to climate change, Kotz notes that this is the first instance of applying this methodology to evaluate ecological repercussions.
There remains a significant lack of data regarding bird population trends, particularly in tropical regions. Kotz acknowledges this deficiency but believes there is enough evidence to draw meaningful conclusions. He cautions that insufficient data in these areas may lead to an underestimation of the impacts.
Insects and Ecosystem Expedition Safari: Sri Lanka
A unique journey into Sri Lanka’s diverse ecosystems, focusing on entomology and rich biodiversity.
Reports suggest that 90 individuals, including journalists and members of civil society, have been targeted by those familiar with the issue.
The termination of the contract came soon after WhatsApp revealed that Paragon’s spyware was used to target multiple individuals. Paragon, like other spyware vendors, sells cyber weapons to government clients for crime prevention purposes. The entities behind the alleged attacks on certain government clients remain unknown.
The decision to end the Italian contract was prompted by the discovery that two activists critical of Italian investigative journalist and dealings with Libya were among those targeted. All three were vocal opponents of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government.
Meloni’s office denied any involvement in the alleged violations after accusations surfaced, stating that neither the national intelligence reporting agency nor the government was responsible.
Anonymous sources speaking to The Guardian revealed that Paragon initially faced scrutiny when the allegations of spyware abuse emerged. The Italian contract was temporarily suspended, and later terminated for violating the terms of service and ethical framework agreed upon.
A request for comment from an Italian government spokesman was made by The Guardian. Meloni is expected to address the alleged violations in Congress, and WhatsApp reported that approximately seven Italians were affected.
In response to inquiries, a Paragon representative declined to confirm or deny developments, citing company policy not to discuss matters related to potential clients.
Francesco Cancello, editor-in-chief of investigative news outlet FanPage, was informed that his phone was targeted using hacking software. The Graphite Spyware, similar to Pegasus, can infect phones without user interaction, possibly compromising devices.
WhatsApp detected the hacking attempts with the help of the University of Toronto’s Civic Research Institute. There is uncertainty about ongoing monitoring by government clients and the extent of involvement in each case.
The motive behind Cancello’s targeting remains unclear, but previous investigations by the publication may have played a role. Paragon’s move may allay some concerns, but unanswered questions remain about other cases uncovered by WhatsApp.
Paragon, recently acquired by US company AE Industry Partners, specializes in national security markets. The company has not responded to requests for comment about the acquisition.
Paragon previously secured a contract with ICE, the US immigration and customs enforcement agency, under the Biden administration. The contract’s compliance with regulations restricting spyware use by the federal government is unclear, as it was reportedly suspended.
A Cheerios-inspired robot that emits alcoholic fuel using fluorescent dye.
Jackson K. Wilt et al. 2024
The same phenomenon as beetles floating on a pond and Cheerios growing in clusters.You can combine them inside a cereal bowl to make a small floating robot.
One such effect, the Marangoni effect, occurs when a fluid with a low surface tension spreads rapidly across the surface of a fluid with a high surface tension. To take advantage of this effect, stenus There are beetles that have evolved to fly around ponds by secreting a substance called stenusin, and toy boats that run on soap.
To explore how engineers can use this, jackson wilt Harvard University and his colleagues 3D printed round plastic pucks about 1 centimeter in diameter. Each had an air chamber for buoyancy and a small fuel tank containing 10 to 50 percent alcohol, which has a lower surface tension than water. The alcohol gradually leaks out of the pack and the pack moves across the surface of the water.
The researchers used alcohol, which evaporates, as fuel, unlike soap, which ends up contaminating the water and ruining the Marangoni effect. It turns out that the stronger the alcohol, the better the results. “The beer would be pretty bad,” Wilt says. “Vodka is probably the best thing you can use. Absinthe…that's a lot of propulsion.” At top speed, the robot moves at 6 centimeters per second, and some experiments propelled the puck for as long as 500 seconds. It has been confirmed that
By printing pucks with multiple fuel outlets and gluing them together, researchers can also create larger devices that can make wide curves or rotate in place. Using multiple packs also allows researchers to study the “Cheerios effect,” where cereals and other similar floating objects cluster together. This occurs because they form a meniscus, or curved surface, in the fluid, and these surfaces are attracted to each other.
Wilt said 3D printed devices could be useful in education to help students intuitively understand concepts related to surface tension, but could also be carefully designed to produce more complex and elegant behavior. If this technology is developed, it can be expected to be applied to environmental and industrial processes.
For example, if there is a substance that needs to be dispersed throughout the environment and also acts as a suitable fuel, the robot can automatically disperse it around it. “Say you have a body of water that needs to release a chemical and you want it to be distributed more evenly, or say you have a chemical process that needs to deposit material over time,” Wilt says. . “I feel like there's some really interesting behavior here.”
As we welcome summer, the Northern Hemisphere is now experiencing longer daylight hours due to the 2024 summer solstice. This day has been celebrated for millennia, whether for religious reasons or simple festivities like barbecues. If you’re curious about the significance of this day, particularly at sites like Stonehenge, we have information to share.
When is the summer solstice in 2024?
The summer solstice in 2024 will occur on Thursday, June 20th at 9:51pm BST (4:50pm EDT New York time, 1:50pm PDT Los Angeles time). This precise astronomical moment marks the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere when it faces the sun directly, resulting in the longest day of the year with the most hours of sunshine.
When are sunrise and sunset on the summer solstice?
On Thursday, June 20th, sunrise in London is at 4:43am BST, and sunset is at 9:21pm BST. Timings vary slightly depending on the location within the UK and the US.
Summer solstice sunrise times in New York City: 5:25 a.m. EDT.
Summer solstice sunset times in New York City: 8:31pm EDT.
Summer solstice sunrise times in Austin, Texas: 6:30 a.m. CDT.
Summer solstice sunset times in Austin, Texas: 8:36pm CDT.
Summer solstice sunrise times in Los Angeles: 5:42 a.m. PDT.
Summer solstice sunset times in Los Angeles: 8:08pm PDT.
Although the summer solstice is the longest day, it does not always have the earliest sunrise or latest sunset, which vary based on the latitude.
What is the Summer Solstice?
The summer solstice represents the moment when the Northern Hemisphere is most tilted towards the sun, resulting in the longest day of the year. This tilt of the Earth’s axis causes different seasons in the hemispheres, with the summer solstice marking peak summer in the Northern Hemisphere and peak winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
Due to the Earth’s tilt, sunlight falls directly on the Northern Hemisphere during the summer solstice. In the Southern Hemisphere, this marks the shortest day of the year, or winter solstice. – Image credit: Getty
Various celebrations of the summer solstice take place globally, with Stonehenge being a famous site for observing this phenomenon. People have gathered at this ancient stone circle to witness the sunrise aligning with the central altar stone, marking the arrival of summer.
Starting in the late Middle Ages, Swedes began the tradition of erecting a Midsummer pole and dancing around it. The custom of decorating the pole with flowers and greenery was called a “maja”, which also came to be called a Maypole. – Image credit: Getty
What is the difference between the equinox and the summer solstice?
While equinoxes mark the change of seasons when day and night are approximately equal, solstices like the summer solstice focus on sunlight. The summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is the longest day of the year, contrasting with the winter solstice, which is the shortest day.
Do other planets have solstices?
Every planet in the solar system experiences solstices due to its axial tilt, with Earth’s tilt being more noticeable than other planets like Venus or Jupiter. The tilt of a planet’s axis affects its seasons, with Uranus being particularly tilted and experiencing extreme variations in sunlight.
Upcoming Summer Solstice Dates and Times, BST
2025: June 21, 3:42 AM
2026: June 21, 9:24 AM
2027: June 21, 3:10 p.m.
2028: June 20, 9:01 p.m.
2029: June 21, 2:48 AM
2030: June 21, 8:31 AM
About our experts
Darren Baskill is an Outreach Officer and Lecturer in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Sussex. She has a background in astrophotography and astronomy, bringing expertise to the study of celestial events like the summer solstice.
Reports suggest that Elon Musk’s visit to China led to an immediate benefit with a deal for Tesla to utilize mapping data from Baidu, a major web search company, to introduce driver-assistance technology to the largest car market globally. This marks a significant advancement.
Over the weekend, Musk made a surprise visit to China. He shared a photo of his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the social network X, which he acquired in 2022.
According to sources referenced by Bloomberg News, Baidu, a dominant force in Chinese web search, will offer mapping and navigation services to aid Tesla in implementing driver-assistance technology labeled as “Full Self-Driving” (FSD). The provision of mapping services, crucial for driver-assistance technology, is strictly regulated by the Chinese government.
Despite its name, FSD does not enable autonomous driving. It necessitates a driver who is prepared to take control at any moment. Launching in China could enhance Tesla’s position in the competitive market there and boost revenue. The service costs $8,000 or $99 (£80) per month, but is not accessible in many countries.
Musk has had confrontational interactions with politicians in the past, criticizing U.S. President Joe Biden and entering a dispute in Brazil over censorship issues on X, formerly Twitter. However, his approach towards China’s second-ranking official, Li, was more conciliatory, expressing being “honored” to meet him.
Musk’s interactions with China have been complex due to various business ties. X is blocked by the Chinese government due to strict censorship policies. Additionally, there were concerns from the Chinese government regarding an incident involving a satellite launched by SpaceX, Musk’s rocket company, coming close to their space station.
However, Tesla operates a factory in Shanghai, and its Model Y was the third best-selling electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle in China in March 2024, according to CleanTechnica. BYD, a Chinese competitor to Tesla in electric car sales, has two top-selling models.
The news of Musk’s visit and the partnership with Baidu were met with enthusiasm by Tesla investors, who view potential self-driving capabilities as crucial for Tesla’s position as the most valuable automaker globally. Tesla’s stock price rose by 6% in premarket trading in New York.
Dan Ives, a technology analyst at Wedbush investment bank, mentioned in a client note that Tesla’s future standing relies heavily on FSD and autonomous driving. He emphasized the significance of making FSD accessible in China, a step that appears to be imminent.
Shurin Financial recently announced a DeFi card. It is an innovative solution designed to integrate the functionality of traditional debit and credit cards with the decentralized financial services offered by DeFi. The introduction of this card aims to facilitate everyday transactions using cryptocurrencies and strengthen its integration into the global payments ecosystem.
Overview of Xuirin Finance’s DeFi card
Xuirin Finance's DeFi card allows users to use cryptocurrencies to perform a variety of financial transactions, including online purchases, bill payments, and cash withdrawals at ATMs. This initiative is part of Xuirin Finance's efforts to increase the accessibility and practicality of digital currencies in daily financial activities.
Pre-sale phase and token distribution
In the first pre-sale phase, Xuirin Finance offered 15 million tokens at a price of $0.03 each, reaching the funding limit of $450,000. After completing stage 1, the company is preparing for the second stage of the token pre-sale. At this stage, he offers 25 million tokens at a price of $0.04 each, with a funding goal of $1 million.
Xuirin Finance’s $500,000 Mega Giveaway
In conjunction with the ongoing presale, Xuirin Finance has announced a mega giveaway with a total prize pool of $500,000. The benefit includes generous rewards for 20 winners, with the aim of engaging and growing the community around Xuirin Finance's services. Participation in the giveaway requires a minimal investment in the pre-sale, but provides additional engagement opportunities to increase your chances of winning.
Main features of Xuirin Finance's services
Focused on increasing the utility of cryptocurrencies in everyday transactions, Xuirin Finance has integrated several features into its DeFi card. These features include seamless online shopping, bill payments, and ATM withdrawals with digital currencies. This initiative reflects the company's goal to improve the infrastructure that supports the widespread adoption of decentralized financial technology.
This section also highlights the value that Xuirin Finance offers, but sticks strictly to feature descriptions without hinting at enthusiasm or encouraging investment.
Future outlook for Xuirin Finance
As the pre-sale progresses and Xuirin Finance continues to enhance its services, the company is focused on expanding the practical use of cryptocurrencies in everyday financial transactions. This initiative is in line with ongoing developments in the cryptocurrency space aimed at improving accessibility and convenience for users.
About Ruirin
Shurin Financial is a groundbreaking DeFi platform dedicated to transforming the decentralized finance landscape. With a mission to bridge the gap between traditional finance and his DeFi, his Xuirin is introducing innovative solutions such as DeFi debit cards, AI-enhanced P2P lending, and secure multi-chain DeFi wallets. . Designed to enhance accessibility and user empowerment, Xuirin aims to redefine financial transactions and make them more efficient, transparent, and inclusive.
For more information about Xuirin Finance and to participate in the ongoing presale, users can visit:
Indonesian authorities issued a tsunami warning Wednesday after the eruption of Mount Luang sent volcanic ash thousands of feet into the air. Authorities ordered more than 11,000 people to leave the area.
Indonesia’s Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center said there were at least five major eruptions in the past 24 hours at a volcano on the northern side of Sulawesi island. Authorities raised the eruption alert to the highest level.
Mount Luang spews hot lava and smoke on the north side of Indonesia’s Sulawesi island on Wednesday. Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation/via AFP – Getty Images
At least 800 residents left the area early Wednesday.
Indonesia, an archipelago of 270 million people, has 120 active volcanoes. It is prone to volcanic activity because it is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a series of horseshoe-shaped seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean.
Officials urged tourists and others to stay at least 6.0 miles from the 778-meter-high Luang Volcano.
Officials fear that parts of the volcano could collapse into the ocean, causing a tsunami, like the 1871 eruption.
Taglandan Island, to the northeast of the volcano, is once again in danger, and residents have been advised to evacuate.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency announced that residents would be relocated to Manado, the nearest city on Sulawesi island, a six-hour boat ride away.
In 2018, the eruption of Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano caused parts of the mountain to fall into the sea, triggering a tsunami along the coasts of Sumatra and Java, killing 430 people.
Shurin Financial recently announced a DeFi card. It is an innovative solution designed to integrate the functionality of traditional debit and credit cards with the decentralized financial services offered by DeFi. The introduction of this card aims to facilitate everyday transactions using cryptocurrencies and strengthen its integration into the global payments ecosystem.
Overview of Xuirin Finance’s DeFi card
Xuirin Finance's DeFi card allows users to use cryptocurrencies to perform a variety of financial transactions, including online purchases, bill payments, and cash withdrawals at ATMs. This initiative is part of Xuirin Finance's efforts to increase the accessibility and practicality of digital currencies in daily financial activities.
Presale phase and token distribution
In the first pre-sale phase, Xuirin Finance offered 15 million tokens at a price of $0.03 each, reaching the funding limit of $450,000. After completing Stage 1, the company is preparing for the second stage of the token pre-sale. At this stage, he offers 25 million tokens at a price of $0.04 each, with a funding goal of $1 million.
Xuirin Finance’s $500,000 Mega Giveaway
In conjunction with the ongoing presale, Xuirin Finance has announced a mega giveaway with a total prize pool of $500,000. The benefit includes generous rewards for 20 winners, with the aim of engaging and growing the community around Xuirin Finance's services. Participating in the giveaway requires a minimal investment in the pre-sale, but provides additional engagement opportunities to increase your chances of winning.
Main features of Xuirin Finance's services
Focused on increasing the utility of cryptocurrencies in everyday transactions, Xuirin Finance has integrated several features into its DeFi card. These features include seamless online shopping, bill payments, and ATM withdrawals with digital currencies. This initiative reflects the company's goal to improve the infrastructure that supports the widespread adoption of decentralized financial technology.
This section also highlights the value that Xuirin Finance offers, but sticks strictly to feature descriptions without hinting at enthusiasm or encouraging investment.
Future outlook for Xuirin Finance
As the pre-sale progresses and Xuirin Finance continues to enhance its services, the company is focused on expanding the practical use of cryptocurrencies in everyday financial transactions. This initiative is in line with ongoing developments in the cryptocurrency space aimed at improving accessibility and convenience for users.
About Ruirin
Shurin Financial is a groundbreaking DeFi platform dedicated to transforming the decentralized finance landscape. With a mission to bridge the gap between traditional finance and his DeFi, his Xuirin is introducing innovative solutions such as DeFi debit cards, AI-enhanced P2P lending, and secure multi-chain DeFi wallets. . Designed to enhance accessibility and user empowerment, Xuirin aims to redefine financial transactions and make them more efficient, transparent, and inclusive.
For more information about Xuirin Finance and to participate in the ongoing presale, users can visit:
I
In the early 2000s, Olivia Packenham came home from school, heard the familiar dial-up tone of her family’s computer connecting to the Internet, and was transported to the virtual game world of Neopets in her AOL browser.
Packenham, who started playing at the age of 8, played for many years before losing interest in high school. But in December 2023, after almost her 15-year hiatus, she logged back into her neopets.com. Then she realized that her childhood pets were waiting for her. Her favorite “Bruce” (the Neopets version of Penguin) is now over 21 years old.
Packenham says that when she opens Neopets today, it’s like going back to that time in her life. This time, my mother didn’t yell at me because the family’s phone line was clogged.
“It was like walking into a museum of the early 2000s Internet,” said Packenham, 32. And he is one of the thousands of players who have returned to Neopets over the past year.
Packenham’s return was no coincidence. His Neopets, which announced a bold rebrand in 2023, is consciously courting former fans with the promise of reuniting with old digital friends who have remained largely unchanged.
Returning Neopians (user community name) cites several reasons for returning. A woman who went by the username Solabee said she started playing the game at age 9 and began playing almost every day after her return. The resurgence of Neopets felt very special to millennials, she said. In fact, 40% of her users are between the ages of 25 and 34, and 26% of her users are between the ages of 18 and 24, the next largest demographic. Revisiting this site reminds me of a hopeful time in Internet history, when logging online was still new and exciting. Many of the Neopians interviewed for this article prefer to keep their online personas separate from their real lives and asked to be quoted by their usernames.
“We are the most nostalgic generation, so when major global events or crises occur, we all want to go back to the safest time in our lives, which is our childhood,” Soraby said.
Olivia Packenham's Neopets, the penguin-like "Bruce" variety. Photo: Courtesy of Olivia Packenham.
Neopets' strong start and long decline
Neopets started in 1999 as an early internet universe where users could care for a variety of virtual pets and play mini-games. A crude social network that predates Facebook, the site allowed users to add friends, send each other messages, exchange resources and virtual currency, and battle. It peaked in the mid-2000s with more than 25 million active users, but its popularity quickly declined as competing gaming and social sites exploded on the Internet.
The platform has changed hands multiple times since its founding, slumped amid acquisitions, and had just 100,000 users when it was acquired by Chinese company NetDragon in 2017. Further deepening the decline was the decline of Adobe's Flash Player (software). Powered most of the site – Browsers began to be phased out Neopets started around 2017 and was officially discontinued in 2020. Neopets received little attention and the interface was not updated.
That's because entrepreneur and investment consultant Dominic Lo, who joined NetDragon as new markets director in 2020, launched an internal campaign to revive the Neopets brand, calling it a "giant leap of faith." ” until he called it. Ms Lo, 36, recalled that after she immigrated to Hong Kong as a child, she used Neopets to keep in touch with friends in Canada. He realized that his Neopets was at risk because NetDragon had shut down several underperforming sites it had acquired.
“Despite its decline over the past decade, when lack of updates and flash outages made half the site unplayable, a quarter of the remaining users log on every day,” he said. “Seeing how close-knit the rest of the community is, and as a player myself, I resonated with the emotional attachment that drove these core users to support Neopets. Perhaps this is why We’ve found that we have probably the most sticky customer base.”
Law persuaded NetDragon's upper management to give Neopets a "final blow" to save it, spinning Neopets into an independently owned company with a management team of which he is now CEO. We finalized the acquisition agreement. The move was backed by undisclosed external investment. Under a group known as Neopets Team (TNT), the company began restoring the site's functionality, updating its design, and improving its most famous classic games. Next, TNT wants to enable more mobile capabilities. Although much of the site is still bogged down with some glitches, Roe said that its failure to change with the times has ironically been an asset.
“With no updates, we basically preserved early internet culture in its purest form,” he said. “When a user logs on, the game looks 99% the way he did, and his pet is there. It's like reuniting with an old friend. There aren't many experiences in life that allow you to relive your childhood. there is no.”
Difficulties in reviving Neopia
Efforts to revive Neopets have intensified, with monthly user numbers nearly tripling to 300,000 in the past six months, and the company on track to be profitable by the end of 2024, Lo said. .
“We believe this is the beginning of recovery. But there is still much work to be done,” Lo said.
In addition to prioritizing bringing lapsed users back to the site, Neopets is seeking to license the intellectual property for its trading card game and branded Monopoly board.
“We're already on track to be profitable, but we want to make sure it's sustainable and future-proof our intellectual property so we can survive for years to come.” Mr Law said.
As pressure continues to make Neopets financially viable in the real world, the company's new leadership will also have to contend with the digital financial component of the site, which operates on the Neopoints cryptocurrency. With few updates to the site over the years, a huge black market has emerged for specific pets, and the site's virtual economy has suffered from hyperinflation.
Neopets' original logo and creatures. Photo: Neopets
Neopets runs on a complex economy consisting of two main components: items and Neopoints. Throughout the years
View from a kayak on Death Valley Temporary Lake, February 9, 2024
Michael Kohler/NPS
Heavy rain has fallen in California in recent weeks, resulting in the remarkable formation of a rare temporary lake in Death Valley, the driest place in the United States.
Record levels of rain have flooded California over the past month. Numerous atmospheric river storms (narrow bands of highly concentrated moisture in the air) worsen wet conditions, putting up to 37 million people at risk of flooding.
Heavy rainfall also hit Death Valley National Park along the California-Nevada border. In fact, it rained so much that the park's Badwater Basin, normally a dry salt flat, temporarily turned into a shallow lake.
At 86 meters below sea level, the basin is the lowest point in North America and was home to an ancient body of water that researchers named Lake Manly tens of thousands of years ago.
Over the past few decades, the lake has been backfilled several times. In August 2023, rains associated with Hurricane Hillary formed a lake 11.3 kilometers long and 0.6 meters deep, which shrank in the following months. Well, it has been replenished once again. The current maximum length of the lake is nearly 10 kilometers and the depth is approximately 0.3 meters.
Last year, Death Valley National Park Closed for several weeks after Hurricane Hillary This is because flooding damaged the road network and limited opportunities for visitors to explore the temporary lake. This time, the park opened and the re-emergence of Lake Manly attracted tourists, including swimmers and kayakers.
Bitcoin (BTC) closed last week at around $41,750, down 5.0% from the first week of the new year, to close at around $43,750. The price showed significant fluctuations, mainly influenced by the increased market dynamics due to the approval of the BTC Spot ETF. The week began with a strong uptrend in anticipation of approval on Monday, with prices rising 9.0% to nearly $47,000. BTC approached $48,000 on Tuesday, but the false news about confirmation encountered significant volatility, causing a drop below $45,000 before stabilizing near $46,000 overnight.
On Wednesday, the SEC granted approval for the BTC Spot ETF, leading to heightened volatility, especially on Thursday when ETF trading began. After soaring to around $49,000, BTC began a significant downtrend, especially on Friday, when the price fell by 7.7% to below $43,000. Prices gradually declined over the weekend, ultimately ending the week at around $41,750.
The launch of the BTC Spot ETF has increased market activity. An analysis of daily trading volume on centralized exchanges for the seven-day period from January 8th to 14th showed that daily trading volume reached nearly $50 billion, the highest since November 2022. The launch of ETFs has increased activity in the entire market, and not just in BTC.
From January 8th to 14th, BTC's daily trading volume was recorded at $17.8 billion, an increase of 26% from the $14.1 billion recorded the previous week. Ethereum (ETH) recorded a total daily trading volume of $7.7 billion during the same period, an 83% increase from the $4.2 billion recorded the previous week, indicating increased activity across the market.
The recent strength of the market compared to BTC is further substantiated by analyzing BTC's dominance in terms of market capitalization relative to the overall digital asset market. At the end of the week, BTC's share was 51.1%, down 5.4% from 54.0% the previous week.
BTC price trends, coupled with volume data and the performance of specific altcoins, indicate that it adheres to the typical “buy the rumor, sell the news” pattern associated with major market events. Market participants predicted the ETF's approval 90% of the time and adjusted their portfolios accordingly prior to SEC approval.
During Q4 2023, BTC showed significant strength, with the price increasing by 57% to around $42,300 from $27,000 at the end of Q3. As BTC reached almost $49,000 after approval, investors took profits on positions initiated at lower BTC price levels and transferred their capital to altcoins, as evidenced by its decline in dominance over the past week. began to be redistributed.
This pattern is common and does not indicate a failed ETF launch. In the first two days of trading, the 11BTC Spot ETF closed with approximately $1.4 billion in cumulative inflows, partially offset by $600 million in outflows from the Grayscale Bitcoin ETF (GBTC). Net inflows were approximately $800 million.
The GBTC outflow was facilitated by the fact that it was not a new product launch, but rather a conversion from an existing Bitcoin trust holding over 600,000 BTC. Grayscale has higher management fees (1.5%) compared to most of its competitors (0.2%/0.3%), leading some investors to withdraw from Grayscale and opt for more favorable management fees. May reinvest in other BTC ETFs with fees.
The Disney+ app has been removed from video displays in some Tesla cars, with some drivers complaining they were caught in the middle of a nasty feud between CEO Elon Musk and Disney president Bob Iger. It’s leaking out.
A Tesla owner posted on Musk’s social media platform X a screenshot of the vehicle’s video screen showing the Disney+ app missing.
“So, Disney+ has been removed from my Tesla,” an X user using the account name “The Tesla Hoe” posted over the weekend.
“I think this is retaliation for Disney pulling advertising from Company X (which they have a right to do).”
A Tesla owner lamented the fact that “we have to let young children know what’s next.” [that] You can’t sit in a Tesla and watch Disney+ and deal with their upset emotions.
“Because two grown men can’t have a civil discussion and move on. These happens like a tantrum,” @TheTeslaHoe continued. “And now Tesla owners feel like they’re caught in the crossfire of something that’s not their fault at all.”
Tesla owners reported over the weekend that the Disney+ app was removed from their cars’ theater screens. Tesla Theater/YouTube
Another Tesla fan with the username “Hall Mars Catalog” confirmed that the Model S does not include Disney+.
last week, Tesla-centric news site Electrek Tesla reportedly notified Disney of its decision to remove the Disney+ app from video displays, without providing an explanation as to why.
A subsequent post informed Tesla users that they could still access Disney+ by manually entering the URL into their car’s web browser.
But the Disney+ app, which typically appears alongside major platforms like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and TikTok, is no longer visible on theater home screens.
The Post has reached out to Disney and Tesla for comment.
During an appearance at the business conference DealBook Summit on Nov. 29, Musk told companies that have stopped advertising on X to “take a hard look at themselves.”
A Tesla owner posted a screenshot of a theater screen without the Disney+ app installed. The image above is a stock photo of a Tesla theater screen. Tesla Theater/YouTube
Earlier in the day, Iger told Dealbook that Disney’s decision to stop advertising on He said it had an impact on him.
“He took a very public position and we felt that the association of that position with Elon Musk and X was not necessarily a positive thing for us,” Iger said.
Musk has denied that he is an anti-Semite.
Musk was asked about companies that had stopped advertising on the platform following a Media Matters report that said their ads were running alongside pro-Nazi content.
Last month, Tesla CEO Elon Musk attacked Disney CEO Bob Iger after the Mouse House suspended Musk’s advertising on social media platform X. Getty Images for The New York Times
“If someone’s going to blackmail me with money, go fuck yourself,” Musk said, referring specifically to Iger.
A week after Musk appeared on DealBook, the Mouse House began advertising on rival social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, even though those sites had allowed the targeting of underage users. Mr. Musk publicly called on Disney to fire Mr. Iger after a lawsuit alleges that he had published the following.
“Bob Iger thinks it’s cool to run ads next to child exploitation material. A real stand-up guy,” Musk posted, misspelling the longtime media mogul’s name. did.
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