Waving Goodbye to TikTok, Embracing Lemon8

Today’s topics

• Getty and Shutterstock Come Together

• Lemon8: TikTok’s Alternative Strategy

• Discovery of New Skeletal Tissue Advances Regenerative Medicine

• Unrivaled Women's Basketball League Launch

  and more…

Getty and Shutterstock Come Together

Getty Images and Shutterstock have announced a $3.7 billion merger, creating a stock photo powerhouse to better compete with AI-generated imagery. The combined entity, led by Getty CEO Craig Peters, aims to achieve significant cost savings and boost earnings by 2026. Both brands will maintain their platforms post-merger. Read more

Trump Announces $20B Data Center Deal

Donald Trump announced a $20 billion foreign investment at Mar-a-Lago, with Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani committing to building U.S. data centers. Trump suggested the investment could ultimately double. Initial construction will focus on states including Texas, Arizona, and Michigan. Sajwani, a longtime associate of Trump, implied the agreement was solidified by Trump’s election victory. Read more

US Elections Fuel Crypto Prediction Market Boom

With the 2024 U.S. elections on the horizon, crypto prediction markets are experiencing a significant surge. Voters and investors alike are flocking to blockchain-based platforms to wager on election outcomes, contributing to the growth of these decentralized markets. The increasing interest reflects the expanding role of cryptocurrencies in political forecasting, offering a new way for participants to engage with major events. Read more

Lemon8: TikTok’s Alternative Strategy

As TikTok faces the threat of a U.S. ban, creators are flocking to Lemon8 — a new app from ByteDance that blends elements of TikTok, Instagram, and a dash of Pinterest. Released in the U.S. in 2023, Lemon8 is gaining traction as creators hype it up as the next big thing. Owned by the same company behind TikTok, Douyin, and CapCut, it comes with all the same concerns, just wrapped in a different app.

Instagram Highlights in Jeopardy?

Rumor has it that Instagram might shuffle Highlights into a hidden grid tab, making your carefully crafted story collections harder to find. Adam Mosseri called the idea “contentious” — translation: everyone hates it, but they’re doing it anyway.

CES 2025: The Future No One Asked For
Day 3 at CES is here, and things are getting… unconventional. From stretchy laptops and Sony's unexpected car price cuts to a fuzzy robot that attaches to your bag, innovation knows no bounds. Robotic vacuums are now sporting arms and legs, because why not? Meanwhile, LG unveiled more TVs no one asked for, Honda teased some futuristic cars (that might never hit the road), and Nvidia threw a massive party to flaunt their latest graphics cards. Dive into all the quirky, futuristic, and over-the-top details with our full coverage at the link below.

SpaceX to Launch Lunar Landers for Moon Habitation Research

SpaceX is set to launch two lunar landers, Blue Ghost and Resilience, on January 15 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The mission will gather data on lunar radiation and soil to support future human habitation on the Moon. Both landers, part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, have a 14-day window for their tasks before the lunar night begins. Read more

Discovery of New Skeletal Tissue Advances Regenerative Medicine

An international research team has identified a novel type of skeletal tissue, offering significant potential for advancements in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.: Read more

Hydroclimate Whiplash Intensifies Globally

Studies indicate that rapid transitions between extreme wet and dry weather, known as hydroclimate whiplash, have increased worldwide due to climate change, with projections suggesting further acceleration as global temperatures rise. Read more

Meta Explores Nuclear Power to Meet Energy Demands

Meta is seeking proposals from nuclear power developers to add 1 to 4 gigawatts of nuclear generation capacity in the U.S. by the early 2030s. This initiative aims to support its artificial intelligence and environmental goals amid growing electricity demands, with U.S. data center power use expected to triple by 2030. Read more

New York State Reconsiders Nuclear Power Amid Climate Goals

Caught in a climate bind, New York State is reconsidering nuclear power as part of its energy strategy. Experts suggest that a new generation of reactor technologies could eventually help the state meet its climate objectives.Read more

Unrivaled Women's Basketball League Launch

A new women's basketball league, Unrivaled, is set to begin its inaugural season on January 17. Tennis star Coco Gauff has joined as an investor, and Lola Bunny from Space Jam is helping to promote the league. Unrivaled has revealed a strong broadcast team for TNT Sports, featuring Brendan Glasheen, Lisa Leslie, Sarah Kustok, and others. Samsung, the league's official technology and presenting partner, will offer extensive pregame, postgame, and in-game content, and provide players with fitness tracking devices. Read more

University of Wisconsin-Madison's Rising Rankings

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has climbed to No. 35 in the latest U.S. News & World Report's "Best Colleges" rankings, marking its highest overall ranking in 15 years. The university also ranks 12th among public universities and has seen improvements in various academic programs, including engineering, business, and computer science..

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