$200M Salary? It’s Real.

Today’s topics

• Meta spends big — $200M to snag ex-Apple exec.

• McDonald’s AI Job Bot Exposed 64M Résumés with a “123456” Password

• Denver Museum Unearths Dino Right Under Its Parking Spot

• EPA Reverses Offshore Wind Permit, Citing Legal Flaws

• TikTok Bans Linked to Better Student Performance

  and more…

Meta spends big — $200M to snag ex-Apple exec

Meta’s on a billionaire hiring binge, reportedly dropping over $200 million to lure away Apple’s former AI lead, Ruoming Pang, for its flashy new Superintelligence Labs. Apple didn’t flinch — in Cupertino, no one gets paid like that unless their name rhymes with Pim Tuck. Zuckerberg’s treating AI hiring like a fantasy draft, assembling a dream team of ex-CEOs, Apple engineers, and anyone who can spell “transformer model.” Compensation is off the charts — $300M+ total packages, stock vesting like confetti, and signing bonuses that rival NBA contracts. Even OpenAI’s Sam Altman says Meta’s been blitzing his team with offers in the hundred-million-dollar range.

Bitcoin Breaks $123K as Crypto Hype Meets Politics

Bitcoin surged to a record-breaking $123,000 before easing slightly — because the crypto faithful aren’t done chasing their decentralized dreams. The rally comes as the U.S. gears up for a fresh debate on crypto regulation. Trump, never one to miss a wave, has dubbed himself the “crypto president,” promising pro-crypto policies and a regulatory red carpet for digital assets. Investors are loving the momentum, wagering that Washington might finally turn crypto from a digital Wild West into something closer to Wall Street Lite™. With strong demand and political buzz, analysts say the outlook is still very bullish.

Tesla Lands in India — But It's Just Browsing, Not Building

Tesla is finally opening its doors in India with a new showroom in Mumbai on July 15 — but don’t get too excited. It’s here to sell, not set up shop. The launch bash at Maker Maxity Mall marks Elon Musk’s long-awaited entry into the Indian market after years of will-they-won’t-they teasing. He even shared some techy small talk with Prime Minister Modi back in April. While India wants Tesla to build locally, the EV giant prefers importing from Shanghai and Berlin — avoiding long-term commitment like a red flag on Bumble. And the red carpet isn’t free: India slaps a 70% import duty on EVs unless companies pony up $500 million and build on home turf. So far, Tesla’s answer? A hard pass. Meanwhile, local stars like Tata and global player BYD are already cruising through the EV market. Tesla’s in the game now — just fashionably late, and still deciding whether to stay for dessert.

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McDonald’s AI Job Bot Exposed 64M Résumés with a “123456” Password

McDonald’s AI hiring assistant, Olivia—used to collect résumés and run personality quizzes for job applicants—left 64 million records exposed due to embarrassingly weak security, including an admin password set to “123456.” The bot runs on McHire, a platform by Paradox.ai, which failed to secure backend access, allowing independent researchers to easily uncover emails, phone numbers, and chat transcripts from applicants worldwide. Paradox confirmed the breach and claimed only the researchers accessed the data, now scrambling to patch holes and launching a bug bounty program—something they probably should’ve done before treating personal info like it was disposable drive-thru receipts.

GM Adopts China’s Low‑Cost EV Battery Strategy

GM is embracing low-cost lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) battery tech—heavily used in China—to slash EV costs. Its Ultium Cells joint venture with LG will begin LFP cell production in Tennessee by late 2027, initially importing before ramping up domestic output. Meanwhile, GM is developing a higher-density lithium‑manganese‑rich (LMR) chemistry for its larger EVs, targeting production in 2028. This layered battery strategy is aimed at improving affordability and performance without dependence on Chinese IP. Read more

Varda Raises $187M to Cook High-End Pharma… in Space

Varda Space just scored $187 million to keep launching mini drug labs into orbit. Why? Because in microgravity, molecules behave better — crystals grow cleaner, compounds bond tighter, and the result is next-gen pills with galactic potential.

On a previous mission, Varda successfully grew ritonavir (an anti-HIV drug) in space and brought it back to Earth intact. Sounds like sci-fi, but investors are clearly buying in — to the tune of hundreds of millions. Each reentry capsule hauls back up to 50 kg of active pharmaceutical ingredients, enough for a full quarterly batch of some high-value drugs. No need for bigger spacecraft — just more launches, more capital, and more fleece-clad VCs hyping it as “the future of medicine.”

SpaceX Kicks Off $250 M “Gigabay” Facility at Starbase, Texas

SpaceX announced a massive $250 million expansion at its Starbase site in South Texas—a 700,000-square-foot “gigabay” designed to ramp up Starship production to up to three boosters per day, targeting early completion by late 2026. This move supports Elon Musk's Mars ambitions by accelerating rapid launch and reuse capabilities. Despite recent setbacks like a Starship test explosion and crane accident, SpaceX continues to push ahead with major manufacturing investments  Read more

Denver Museum Unearths Dino Right Under Its Parking Spot

While drilling for geothermal energy under its parking lot, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science accidentally unearthed a 70-million-year-old dinosaur fossil — because nothing says “sustainable future” like hitting prehistoric bones. The surprise find? A partial vertebra from a plant-eating dino, now proudly displayed in the museum’s Discovering Teen Rex exhibit (because of course it has a catchy name).

Scientists believe the small bone could belong to a much larger skeleton buried 700 feet down — but let’s be real, no one’s about to jackhammer through that much concrete. Budgets exist. So does common sense. The museum, now playing it cool, is calling the dig a “scientific coring initiative.” Sure, let’s go with that.

EPA Reverses Offshore Wind Permit, Citing Legal Flaws

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ruled that a pivotal offshore wind permit granted to US Wind for a project off Delmarva was issued in error. The agency flagged several legal mistakes in Maryland’s issuance of a final determination. This rollback could delay future offshore wind projects, raising concerns about regulatory consistency and renewable energy progress. Read more

Toxic Chemicals Found in Tap Water Across All 50 States

A sweeping new analysis reveals that Americans nationwide are exposed to multiple harmful chemicals in drinking water systems—with some compounds exceeding federal legal limits. The findings highlight long-standing contamination issues, prompting renewed urgency around water treatment policies and public health safeguards. Read more

Cal Raleigh Snags Spot on Team USA for 2026 WBC

Seattle Mariners' standout catcher Cal Raleigh has officially joined Team USA’s roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Raleigh, the current MLB home run leader, brings serious offensive firepower—but fans are buzzing over the absence of any New York Yankees stars in the lineup. Read more

TikTok Bans Linked to Better Student Performance

Since banning smartphones in classrooms this January, Dutch schools are seeing real results — and surprisingly, they're good. According to a new government study, students are more focused, socializing more, and in some cases, actually learning. Of the 317 high schools surveyed, 75% reported improved attention, two-thirds saw better student behavior, and a third noted higher grades. In short: fewer distractions, more studying. Education Secretary Marielle Paul called the outcome “wonderful,” praising schools for “putting their shoulders to the wheel” — which, in Dutch spirit, might just mean doing the obvious.

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