Hi everyone!
As this is the first edition of 2025, I want to start by wishing you a happy new year. I hope you enjoyed the holidays and are refueled to take on this new year.
Before we get going, I want to mention an amazing blog post by Adam Singer about "algorithm comfort".
He starts by asking a simple question: when was the last time you browsed around a bookstore and picked a book that looked interesting purely by looking at the cover? When did you not buy a book because it was recommended to you or because it had good reviews? Most of us don’t do this anymore.
Instead, we read books that Amazon recommends us. We listen to songs Spotify recommends. We watch videos that YouTube pushes in our feed.
The troubling part is that these algorithms do one thing: they subtly funnel us into the same streams.
Following algorithms means blending into the mainstream wasteland. You lose your impulse to explore. You’ll have less courage to confront the unfamiliar. And even worse: it will erode your creativity.
So let's break the mold in 2025! Judge a book by its cover and give it a chance. Listen to that weird heavy metal band that incorporates math into their songs.
I hope this newsletter can help you break the algorithmic comfort and discover things you otherwise wouldn't have.
Cheers, Xavier
🤓 Cool Stuff I Found on the Internet
4-day work week is a hit
A German study found that a 4-day work week boosts employee productivity and well-being. Companies saw output remain the same or even increase despite a 20% reduction in work time. Could the 100-80-100 model (100% pay, 80% time, 100% output) be the future of work?
TikTok "rots" your brain
A study found that excessive use of short video platforms like TikTok leads to increased brain activity in emotional regulation and reward processing areas. This was linked to disrupted sleep patterns, emotional dysregulation, and impairments in attention and memory.
Laptop stand made from a sheet of paper
The g.stand is a laptop stand made from a single sheet of recycled paper. Despite weighing only 45g, it can support even heavy laptops.
Starlink vs Stealth aircraft
Stealth planes have special shapes to block radar signals. Chinese researchers claim they can now detect those planes using Starlink satellites as the planes cast a "shadow" against the satellite signals. It's a clever idea, and hard to prevent.
🤨 Questions nobody asked
With two young kids at home, I'm always wondering how long it'll take before they catch their next cold.
But I noticed something odd: while our kids are catching one bug after the other, my girlfriend and I remain mostly unaffected. Why? Is the immune system of parents somehow stronger because we're exposed to more germs?
Turns out, the immune system of parents is indeed "stronger". A study found that parents are 48% less likely to develop symptoms of a common cold.
That’s not to say parents are immune to colds. They get infected at similar rates, but they develop fewer symptoms when infected. On par with our experience.
The study also found that having 3 or more children boosts your immune system even further. Oh, and this effect was only observed in parents aged 24-55.
🧠🤖 Artificial intelligence
Project Digits: personal supercomputer
Nvidia has announced Project Digits, a personal AI supercomputer. Powered by the new GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip, this compact device fits on a desk and runs on standard power. It can handle AI models with up to 200 billion parameters, starting at $3,000.
Lawsuit: Meta pirated data to train AI
A lawsuit against Meta alleges that the company, with Mark Zuckerberg's approval, knowingly used pirated materials from LibGen to train its Llama AI models. The company allegedly admitted to torrenting LibGen content despite employee concerns. This case is part of a larger copyright infringement lawsuit filed in 2023 against Meta and OpenAI.
Chinese reasoning model beating OpenAI?
DeepSeek has released an open-source version of its reasoning model, DeepSeek-R1, claiming performance comparable to OpenAI's models on certain benchmarks. The model, available under an open source license (!), excels in physics, science, and math domains. With 671 billion parameters, R1 offers improved reliability through self-fact-checking. Smaller versions are also available for various hardware capabilities.
AI dubbed Zelenskyy interview
Lex Fridman interviewed the President of Ukraine on his podcast. They spoke a mixture of languages, but what's interesting is that Fridman enlisted Elevenlabs to dub the interview in English, Russian, and Ukrainian. Not only was the interview dubbed, the voices of Fridman and Zelenskyy were also cloned by AI.
AI-powered phishing campaigns
This study used GPT-4 and Claude to automate the entire phishing process - from gathering intel on targets to writing persuasive emails. The researchers achieved click-through rates over 50% and claim this could radically lower costs for attackers. It may even render spam filters obsolete as each phishing mail is uniquely tailored.
"Free" AI in office suites
Google is now offering all AI features "free of charge" to all Workspace users. This move intensifies the competition with Microsoft. While the AI features are now included at no extra cost, Google is slightly increasing the base price of Workspace plans. The new offering includes AI-powered tools for email summaries, design generation, meeting note-taking, and access to the Gemini bot.
⏳ On this day...
1915 - Alexander Graham Bell inaugurates U.S. transcontinental telephone service, speaking from New York to Thomas Watson in San Francisco.
1924 - The first Winter Olympics open in Chamonix in the French Alps.
1961 - John F. Kennedy delivers the first live presidential television news conference.
👽 Space
Space X breaking records and 7th Starship flight
In 2024, SpaceX broke several of its own records. They launched a Falcon 9 rocket every 2.7 days and landed all of them! One particular Falcon 9 has been re-used 25 times. The company now plans to fly each Falcon 9 up to 40 times while also working on its replacement: the Super Heavy, which recently completed its 7th test flight and landed back at the launch tower!
60 years of spaceflight patches
NASA's space mission patches have a rich tradition, serving as powerful symbols of human exploration. This article explores the history of mission patches and highlights the most iconic ones.
Earth is closest to the Sun
Earth reaches perihelion, its closest point to the sun, on January 4, 2025. So why is it so cold in the northern hemisphere? It’s because of Earth’s tilted axis. The northern hemisphere is now tilted away from the Sun, leading to colder temperatures and shorter days.
Lift off for New Glenn
Blue Origin - the space company of Jeff Bezos - has successfully reached orbit with it's New Glenn rocket! That's a major achievement for a new rocket. The company also attempted to land the booster, but that sadly failed. On to the next one!
Parker Solar Probe touches the Sun
The Parker Solar Probe flew 6.1 million kilometers above the surface of the Sun and survived! The probe was exposed to temperatures that reach almost 1400°C! By studying the Sun up close, we can better understand its impact throughout our solar system.
🏥 Health & Medicine
Disney vs. kidney stones
Struggling with kidney stones? Go to Disney World and ride the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster. Researchers found that sitting in the rear car led to a 64% pass rate! They tested this using a 3D kidney model and real stones. The only thing I'm wondering: would insurance cover preventive trips to Disney World?
Potential superbug killer found
Researchers have discovered a bacteriophage in Melbourne’s Merri Creek that effectively kills a dangerous superbug. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect (and kill) bacteria. This discovery might lead to the use of bacteriophages as an alternative to antibiotics. Especially now when antibiotic resistance continues to rise.
Airbourne microplastics could lead to cancer
A review of 3,000 studies has revealed health risks associated with airborne microplastics. These tiny plastic particles, smaller than 5 millimeters, are released into the air from various sources, including tire wear and degrading garbage. The study implicates microplastics in serious health issues such as infertility, colon cancer, and poor lung function.
⚡️ Energy & Environment
Pollution Slows Marathoners
A new study from Brown University reveals that air pollution significantly affects marathon performance. Using a machine learning model, researchers analyzed fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels at major U.S. marathons from 2003 to 2019. They found that for each 1 microgram per m³ increase in PM2.5, male runners were 32 seconds slower, and female runners 25 seconds slower.
Glyphosate-resistant weeds
Scientists have confirmed the first case of glyphosate-resistant weed in the UK. This discovery raises concerns about the effectiveness of the world's most widely used herbicide. Glyphosate is crucial for crop production, but its extensive use has led to resistance in some weeds globally. Experts warn that this could have significant financial consequences for farmers and emphasize the need for more sustainable practices.
Accidental discovery: method to recycle plastic
Researchers at the University of Alabama accidentally discovered a more efficient method for breaking down recycled plastic using imidazole. This could revolutionize plastic recycling by producing higher-quality materials with a wider range of uses. The new process appears to be more cost-effective and commercially viable than the current methods. This discovery also highlights the importance of curiosity-driven research in addressing global environmental challenges.