Billionaires aren't having the best week.

Today’s topics

• Air France Levels Up the Luxe

• Turning Lightning Into a Weapon — Thanks to This Tree

• Toyota and Hyundai Join Forces with Boston Dynamics for AI-Powered Robots

• US-Russia Crew Arrives at International Space Station

• A Little Shine for the NYC Subway

  and more…

Air France Levels Up the Luxe

Air France just dropped its ultra-luxe first-class suite — and it’s clearly gunning for the private jet crowd. The new “La Première” cabin is a bold play in the luxury race, designed to compete with the likes of British Airways and Lufthansa. Think plush red-and-grey bed-seat hybrids, Michelin-starred bites, and a tasteful dose of French flair to remind you this is anything but economy. No word on the renovation budget, but with one-way tickets reaching €10,000, Air France isn’t exactly pinching pennies.

Tough Week at the Top

Break out the world’s smallest violins — the planet’s 500 wealthiest individuals just watched a jaw-dropping $536 billion vanish in a mere two days. That’s right: half a trillion, gone in a market blink. The culprit? Trump’s tariff bomb, which sent global markets into a tailspin. The S&P 500 sank 10.5%, the Nasdaq plunged 11.4%, and billionaires everywhere may have briefly considered parting with a yacht or two (don’t worry, they held on).

Plaid’s Price Tag Takes a Hit

Plaid — the fintech plumbing that links your bank account to apps like Venmo, Robinhood, and Coinbase — just raised $575 million at a $6 billion valuation. Not bad… until you remember it was worth $13.4 billion back in 2021. Ouch. Still, the company’s been busy branching out into bill pay, data analytics, and tackling AI-driven financial fraud. It also claims 2024 was a record-breaking, profitable year. This latest funding round, backed by big names like BlackRock, Fidelity, and Franklin Templeton, finally gives employees a chance to cash in on long-frozen shares. But don’t expect an IPO just yet — that’s still on ice.

Turning Lightning Into a Weapon — Thanks to This Tree

Deep in Panama’s jungle, one tree isn’t just surviving lightning — it’s using it to dominate. Meet Dipteryx oleifera, or almendro, a tropical titan that acts like a living lightning rod. Thanks to its towering height and wide crown, it attracts strikes that scorch nearby competitors and stranglehold vines — while walking away unscathed. In one recorded blast, 115 surrounding trees were wiped out, and every parasitic vine clinging to the almendro was vaporized. The result? More sunlight, zero competition, and a 14x boost in reproduction. While most trees get fried, almendro turns lightning into a power move.

UFC Enters the Metaverse

UFC has joined forces with Meta to bring its fights to more screens — and closer to your face. The new partnership taps into Meta’s ecosystem, from Instagram and WhatsApp to Meta Quest headsets and those smart glasses no one really asked for. Dana White promises a more “interactive” UFC experience, complete with AI-powered fighter rankings and exclusive content on Threads (yes, it’s still around). Meta branding will also hit the Octagon and broadcasts. Zuckerberg, a self-proclaimed MMA fan, seems thrilled. Just… no rematches in the cage, please.

US-Russia Crew Arrives at International Space Station

On April 8, 2025, a multinational crew comprising NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS). Launched aboard the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome, the crew is set for an approximately eight-month mission focusing on scientific research and technology experiments. This collaboration underscores the enduring partnership between the U.S. and Russia in space exploration. Read more​

Controversy Over SpaceX Rocket Landings at Hawaiian Wildlife Refuge

The U.S. Space Force plans to convert Hawaii's Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge into a landing site for SpaceX's hypersonic rocket tests. This initiative, part of the Rocket Cargo Vanguard program, aims for up to ten rocket landings annually over four years. Conservationists have raised concerns about potential harm to the atoll's ecosystem, which hosts over 1.5 million birds across 15 species. The U.S. Air Force is consulting with the Fish and Wildlife Service and promises to explore mitigation measures, with a public environmental assessment expected soon. ​Read more

New Procedure Offers Hope for Reversing Male Infertility

Doctors at the University of Pittsburgh performed a new stem cell procedure on a 26-year-old cancer survivor to help him produce sperm again. While results are still pending, the method shows promise for restoring fertility in men affected by cancer or testicular failure. Read more

Trump Administration Opens Over 50% of Protected Forest Land for Logging

The Trump administration has opened more than 50% of previously protected U.S. national forest land for logging, following an executive order aimed at increasing domestic timber production by 25%. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced plans to ease environmental protections, designating 113 million acres—59% of National Forest System (NFS) land—as facing emergency situations, including wildfire risk and declining forest health due to pests, disease, and invasive species. Critics argue that logging may lead to long-term ecological damage and that climate change plays a larger role in intensifying wildfires. ​Read more

Chemical Industry Seeks Exemptions from EPA Pollution Rules

Industry groups such as the American Chemistry Council and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers are requesting broad exemptions from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air pollution rules, including limits on toxic substances like mercury and benzene. This follows an offer by the Trump administration for industrial polluters to apply for two-year exemptions from nine Biden-era environmental rules through a newly established EPA portal. Environmental advocates have criticized the move, warning of serious public health risks, including increased air pollution-related diseases and developmental damage in children. ​Read more

Cornhuskers Claim Inaugural College Basketball Crown

The Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team triumphed in the inaugural College Basketball Crown Tournament, defeating UCF in the final and securing a $300,000 prize. Despite not matching the prestige of an NCAA Tournament win, this achievement allowed the Huskers to end their season on a high note. UCF's standout senior, Darius Johnson, scored an impressive 73 points throughout the tournament, leading his team to the championship game. ​Read more

A Little Shine for the NYC Subway

After decades of the same old map, New York City’s subway system has finally rolled out an update. Don’t get too excited, though — it’s not a complete overhaul, just a flatter, straighter, and supposedly “simpler” design. Think "graphic design enthusiast" with a transit budget. The MTA's in-house team worked on the revamp, claiming it’s easier on the eyes, especially for digital users and anyone who’s ever had a mini meltdown trying to track down the elusive E train.

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