The Clearest Proof of Alien Life So Far

Today’s topics

• Capital One Acquires Discover

• ChatGPT Can Now Guess Your Location From Photos — Cool or Creepy?

• The Clearest Proof of Alien Life So Far

• Scientists “Unveil” a New Color Never Seen Before

• Bezos' Voice Takes Over Seattle Streets

  and more…

Capital One Acquires Discover

Capital One’s $35 billion takeover of Discover just cleared a major hurdle — regulators gave it the nod. The Fed and OCC have signed off, even though Discover was recently hit with a $100 million fine for quietly overcharging fees... for 16 years. But they apologized and promised to pay it back, so all’s forgiven? With approvals in hand, Capital One says the merger will officially close on May 18 — bringing two cashback heavyweights one step closer to forming a credit card superpower.

Lyft Goes Euro: $200M FreeNow Deal Expands Its Reach Across the Pond

Lyft is making its European debut the fast way — by buying in. The ride-hailing company is shelling out close to $200 million to acquire FreeNow, a mobility platform owned by BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The move nearly doubles Lyft’s market footprint and unlocks access to major cities like Paris, Milan, and Frankfurt, where FreeNow already runs everything from taxis to e-scooters. Operating in over 150 cities and recently hitting break-even (aka “we finally stopped losing money”), FreeNow gives Lyft a running start. Lyft’s CEO called the timing “perfect” — which, let’s be honest, is CEO-speak for “fingers crossed this pays off.”

Ultra-Rare Platinum Rolex Daytona Could Fetch $1.6M at Auction

An exceptionally rare platinum Rolex Daytona is headed to the Sotheby’s auction block in Geneva on May 11 — and it could pull in as much as $1.6 million. This 1999 Ref. 16516, featuring a diamond-studded mother-of-pearl dial, is one of only four Daytonas ever privately commissioned — a rarity, since Rolex isn’t exactly in the custom business unless you have royal-level clout. The mysterious collector remains unnamed, absurdly wealthy, and apparently not a fan of stainless steel. It’s the first time this unicorn of a timepiece is going under the hammer, so expect sky-high bids, sky-high egos, and one seriously dramatic auction room.

ChatGPT Can Now Guess Your Location From Photos — Cool or Creepy?

There’s a new viral trend that’s both fascinating and a little unsettling: people are using ChatGPT to pinpoint the exact location of random photos. Welcome to the world of “reverse location search,” where your Instagram Story might as well come with built-in GPS coordinates. OpenAI’s latest models, o3 and o4-mini, now have the ability to analyze images, which means they can crop, zoom, rotate, and enhance photos to figure out where they were taken — sometimes down to the bar, restaurant, or street corner. One user even tested it by uploading a picture of a purple rhino head in a dark bar, and o3 correctly identified a speakeasy in Williamsburg. While this is fun for now, it’s easy to see the privacy concerns that could arise. Imagine screenshotting someone’s Story, asking ChatGPT where they are, and suddenly you’re digital stalking. Notably, OpenAI hasn’t exactly been quick to address these potential safety issues.

U.S. Government Intensifies Antitrust Actions Against Google and Meta

The U.S. government is escalating its antitrust actions against tech giants Google and Meta, signaling a significant shift in the regulation of Big Tech. Google recently suffered a major legal defeat when a federal judge ruled it had monopolized the online advertising market through illegal practices, marking its second significant antitrust loss. Additionally, another case targeting Google's control over the search engine market is ongoing, with prosecutors pushing for the divestment of the Chrome browser. Simultaneously, Meta faces an antitrust trial by the Federal Trade Commission, which seeks to force the company to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, arguing that Meta created a monopoly in the "personal social networking" market between 2012 and 2020. These developments could drastically reshape the business operations of these tech giants and bolster competitors like OpenAI. ​Read more

The Clearest Proof of Alien Life So Far

Scientists say they’ve uncovered the most compelling clue so far of potential life beyond Earth — on a planet 124 light-years away. The planet, K2-18b (a name only a space nerd could love), could be an ocean world. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers detected two intriguing chemicals in its atmosphere — DMS and dimethyl disulfide — which, here on Earth, are only produced by living organisms like marine algae. It's not confirmation of alien life, just a tantalizing cosmic “maybe.” More observations are needed, and the scientific community is deep in debate. So, no one’s shouting “aliens!” — at least not yet.

NASA’s Oldest Astronaut Celebrates 70th Birthday in Space

While most people mark their 70th with cake, balloons, and a brunch spread, Don Pettit celebrated his milestone by plummeting back to Earth in a Soyuz capsule after spending 220 days in orbit. The NASA veteran, now the agency’s oldest active astronaut, wrapped up a seven-month mission aboard the ISS with two Russian cosmonauts. Together, they orbited the Earth 3,520 times and traveled a whopping 93.3 million miles, proving that age is nothing when you’re defying gravity. Pettit touched down in Kazakhstan on Sunday, probably without a party hat, but certainly with the most epic birthday story imaginable.

Scientists “Unveil” a New Color Never Seen Before

Scientists claim to have discovered a brand-new color — one that humans supposedly haven’t seen until now. Named “olo,” it emerged after researchers used laser pulses to stimulate certain cells in the eye. Described as somewhere between blue and green, it’s different enough to feel like something entirely new. While some experts are skeptical, others are calling it groundbreaking. Regardless, it’s a fascinating reminder that, even in 2025, the world still has a few surprises — and sometimes they’re hiding in your eyes.

Trump Administration Proposes Changes to Ozone Pollution Regulations in Utah

The Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed changes to ozone pollution regulations in Utah, a state grappling with poor air quality. The new rules would allow Utah to attribute high ozone levels to international sources, such as pollution from China, or natural sources, potentially exempting the state from sanctions and reducing the pressure to implement local pollution controls. Critics argue that this approach could lead to increased pollution and health risks, as the source of ozone matters little to those affected by it. ​ Read more

EPA Demands Action from Mexico to Stop Tijuana Sewage Pollution

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has demanded urgent action from Mexico to stop the ongoing pollution from Tijuana, which has been contaminating the Pacific Ocean off Southern California. Since 2018, over 100 billion gallons of raw sewage have flowed into the ocean, leading to repeated beach closures and health issues. Zeldin emphasized the need for Mexico to implement additional infrastructure, including floodgates and sewage diversions, to address the crisis. ​ Read more

NFL Draft Kicks Off This Week

The 2025 NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 24, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Top prospects like Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, and Shedeur Sanders are expected to be early picks. The Tennessee Titans hold the first overall pick, with teams like the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants following closely behind. The draft will be broadcast across multiple platforms, including NFL Network and ESPN. ​Read more

Bezos' Voice Takes Over Seattle Streets

Seattle pedestrians got a glimpse of a dystopian twist last week when crosswalk signals started sounding like Jeff Bezos — literally. At least six signals were hacked to play AI-generated Bezos deepfakes, urging, “Please don’t tax the rich.” The fake Bezos also warned of billionaires fleeing to Florida and made a chilling reference to Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering a healthcare CEO. While the identity of the hacker remains a mystery, one thing’s for sure: Seattle’s crosswalks have entered their wild phase.

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