• Loeb vs Tyson / The Theorist and The Storyteller: Whose Science Matters Most?: Both men would scale the heights of their respective realms - Loeb through his groundbreaking research into black holes and alien civilizations, and Tyson by becoming arguably the world's most famous scientist, hosting revivals of Cosmos and garnering a cult social media following. (Ken Rutkowski)
• More Than 90% of Stablecoin Transactions Aren’t From Real Users: More than 90% of stablecoin transaction volumes do not originate from genuine users, based on a new metric co-developed by Visa Inc., indicating that these crypto tokens may still have a long way to go in terms of widespread adoption. The dashboard that Visa and Allium Labs created aims to focus on transactions made by actual people rather than bots and big traders. According to Visa, "organic payments activity" accounted for only US$149 billion of the approximately US$2.2 trillion ($2.97 trillion) in transactions during April. (The Edge Singapore)
• Scientists Discover a Missing Link Between Diet And Cancer Risk: A mechanism for gene inactivation that stops tumor suppression that has not been studied before shows how unhealthy eating habits or metabolic disorders like diabetes can make you more likely to get cancer. Researchers from Singapore and the UK used mouse models, human tissue, and lab-grown human breast organoids to show that changes in glucose metabolism may help cancer grow by temporarily turning off the BRCA2 gene that protects against tumors. (ScienceAlert)
• The Number of Public Companies has Fallen Fast: There is no lack of theories regarding the reasons behind this phenomenon. A commonly favored belief among American executives is that the introduction of new regulations post the fraud and accounting scandals in the early 2000s, prominently highlighted by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, significantly increased the expenses of becoming publicly traded, particularly for smaller enterprises. The insinuation that eliminating such inconveniences is necessary is strongly suggested. (Sherwood)
• Why Apple's Ad Business isn't What you Think It Is: Apple is renowned for its iPhone, although recent reports indicate a decline in sales. In response, Apple has strategically emphasized its expanding "services" sector, encompassing App Store revenue, warranty and cloud storage sales, and music and TV subscriptions. (Business Insider)
• X launches Stories, Delivering News Summarized by Grok AI: X, is utilizing Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok to curate a feature summarizing personalized trending stories in the app’s Explore section. Premium subscribers can access post summaries directly associated with trending stories showcased on the For You tab. (Techcrunch)
• Saudi Arabia's Price Hike May Signal Oil Bottom: One of the recent positive developments for bonds and non-energy stocks may have reached its peak following the decision by Saudi Arabia to increase the price of its leading crude oil for Asia for the third consecutive month. During the past weekend, Saudi Aramco, a state-owned company, announced a 90-cent rise in the June official selling price of Arab Light crude for Asian customers, now standing at $2.90 per barrel above the regional Oman-Dubai benchmark. (Zerohedge)
• U.S. Tech Sector Layoffs Continue: The quantity of U.S. technology professionals being laid off increased this week, as did the number of firms implementing these actions. Specifically, the insurtech industry encountered significant challenges with closures at Sproutt in Connecticut and Assurance in Bellevue, Washington. The impact on U.S. technology employees due to the closure at Sproutt remains uncertain. According to reports, Assurance, which Prudential Financial purchased in 2019 for $2.35 billion, fired all 112 of its employees this week. (Crunchbase)
• Is it Actually Time to Get Bullish on China?: While it may not reach the New York Times best sellers list, a significant book for investors this year could be a modest volume released in late March by a niche Beijing imprint, Central Party Literature Press. Titled "Excerpts of Xi Jinping’s Speeches on Finance Work," this state-published compilation of financial directives from the CCP leader has had notable impacts on financial markets, despite not possessing the allure of popular commercial titles like "The Big Short. (Robinhood)
• Starbucks Promised a 'Triple Shot' China Expansion. It isn't Working: Starbucks is facing challenges in engaging consumers globally. Supply falls short in the U.S., while expansion in China is behind schedule. The company's stock dropped post lower second-quarter earnings, attributed to declining sales in key markets. (Qz)
• Squirrels may Have Given Medieval Britons Leprosy: Humans may have contracted leprosy from squirrels during medieval times, according to researchers. A study of human and red squirrel remains from archaeological sites in Winchester, southern England, revealed closely related strains of the bacteria responsible. Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that affects the skin, nerves, and mucous membranes. (BBC)
• Scientists Intrigued by Bacteria That Turns Any Blood Into Universal Donor Type : A team of researchers has identified a common bacteria that has the potential to effectively manipulate the enzymes in blood supplies, converting it into a universal donor type. The implications for clinical applications are considerable. Global blood supply shortages are a problem that persists, especially in low-income areas. Aging populations make the problem worse. Typically, blood groups are categorized based on the A and B antigens found on red blood cells, with group O lacking both antigens. (Futurism)
• DARPA’s Futuristic Manta Ray Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Sees First Full-Scale Ocean Testing: The Manta Ray prototype uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) has completed full-scale tests in an ocean environment as reported in an update on the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) website. The Northrop Grumman-built testing, which took place between February and March 2024 off the coast of Southern California, demonstrated various submerged operations to engage new UUV control and propulsion modes. (The Debrief)
• Scientists Watch Orangutan Treat its Own Wound with Medicinal Plant for the First Time: Scientists have observed a wild orangutan applying medicine to its own wound in a first-of-its-kind event. A Sumatran orangutan, known as Rakus, was observed consuming leaves of a medicinal plant, creating a pulp, and applying it to an injury near its eye. This behavior not only surprised scientists due to the orangutan's awareness of the plant's medicinal properties but also presented a previously undocumented instance of an ape tending to its injuries. (Dailymail)
• The World's Fastest Growing Emerging Markets (2024-2029 Forecast): Large emerging markets are projected to have an increased impact on global economic growth in the foreseeable future, propelled by demographic transitions and the expansion of the consumer base. Concurrently, numerous smaller nations are anticipated to experience economic growth rates two times higher than the global average in the upcoming five years, attributable to abundant natural resources and other contributing factors. Nevertheless, the existence of high debt levels poses potential risks to forthcoming economic endeavors. (IMF)
• Milk Has Lost Its Magic: Milk is classified by its various percentages, including nonfat, 2 percent, and whole milk. Recently, a new concern has arisen regarding milk. The FDA discovered traces of bird flu in 20% of milk samples collected nationwide. This raise worries that the virus, currently prevalent in animals, could potentially pose a threat to human health. (The Atlantic)
• Photo, Image / Video of the Day:
Queen Studio Session in 1977 preforming "We Are The Champions"
• Notable Statistics: The most common dream in selected countries
• YouTube Worth Watching:10 Things Jerry Seinfeld Can't Live Without
• Ken's Book Pick: Last Entry Point: Stories of Danger and Death in the Boundary Waters
• Ken's Website / Tool Pick: iListen summarizes any article or webpage into short podcasts. Too frequently, we have little to no time to read because of overflowing inboxes, numerous newsletter subscriptions, and general information overload. We want to help you absorb more knowledge in less time. Key features include fully customizable podcasts, a podcast library to listen to all your audio summaries from one spot, and our Chrome extension where you can summarize any webpage into a podcast directly from your browser. Simply drop in your URL, select your preferred summary type and voice, and generate your podcast with a click.
The Best Careers for Your Personality Typ
e
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a widely used personality assessment that provides valuable insights into how individuals perceive the world and make decisions. Here are some reasons why understanding MBTI personality types can be useful:
Self-Discovery and Self-Acceptance:
MBTI provides a framework for self-awareness. By identifying your personality type, you gain insights into your natural tendencies, preferences, and strengths.
Self-acceptance becomes easier when you recognize that your unique traits are part of a larger pattern shared by others.
Career Guidance and Decision-Making:
Knowing your MBTI type can guide your career choices. Different types thrive in different work environments.
For example:
Introverts (I) may prefer roles that allow independent work or deep focus.
Extroverts (E) might excel in collaborative, people-oriented positions.
Thinkers (T) may gravitate toward analytical or technical fields.
Feelers (F) often thrive in roles that involve empathy and human connection.
Judgers (J) prefer structured, organized work, while Perceivers (P) adapt well to flexible environments.
Effective Communication and Relationships:
Understanding your type helps you communicate more effectively with others.
For instance:
Sensors (S) appreciate concrete details and practical examples.
Intuitives (N) enjoy discussing abstract concepts and possibilities.
Feelers (F) value emotional expression, while Thinkers (T) focus on logic.
Judgers (J) like clear plans, while Perceivers (P) are open to spontaneity.
Team Dynamics and Collaboration:
Teams benefit from diverse personalities. MBTI fosters better collaboration by:
Highlighting each member’s unique contributions.
Encouraging empathy and understanding.
Balancing strengths and weaknesses.
Conflict Resolution:
When conflicts arise, knowing MBTI types can help:
Explain differing viewpoints.
Encourage compromise.
Find common ground.
Personal Growth and Development:
MBTI suggests areas for growth based on your type.
For example:
Introverts (I) might work on networking skills.
Thinkers (T) can develop emotional intelligence.
Perceivers (P) may benefit from time management strategies.
In summary, MBTI enhances self-awareness, improves relationships, and informs decision-making across various aspects of life. Remember that it’s a tool, not a strict rule—individuals are complex and multifaceted!