Ceasefire?
Wednesday, November 27th, 2024
World Events and Politics — Ceasefire Talk Begins
CNN
A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect in Lebanon at 4 a.m. local time. According to President Joe Biden, this agreement is intended to establish a "permanent cessation of hostilities." He also expressed hope that a similar ceasefire would be achieved in Gaza. Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu cautioned that Israel would respond with military action if Hezbollah were to acquire weapons capable of targeting Israel in the future.
Science and Technology - The Billion-Dollar Firm Plans to Build Giant Quantum Computers From Light
Nature
PsiQuantum, a private quantum computing company founded by Australian physicist Jeremy O’Brien and his colleagues, has set an ambitious goal to develop a functional quantum machine by late 2027. The company has successfully raised over $1 billion in funding, positioning itself with a valuation exceeding $3 billion, comparable to internal quantum computing projects at major tech firms like Google and IBM. PsiQuantum aims to create a photonic quantum computer that utilizes light in silicon chips, which is expected to outperform classical computers by being fault-tolerant and capable of solving commercially useful problems. Despite its significant funding and bold promises, some experts express skepticism about the company's progress and its ability to achieve its goals, particularly given its plan to leap directly to a system requiring around one million qubits without demonstrating smaller-scale prototypes.
The company's approach distinguishes itself from competitors by using photons—massless particles of light—as qubits, which theoretically allows for greater resilience against environmental noise. However, challenges remain in generating and manipulating these photons effectively. PsiQuantum's strategy involves continuous generation and measurement of photon clusters to perform calculations, but critics note that the firm has yet to publicly demonstrate smaller quantum systems that could validate its larger ambitions. While the company is making strides in securing funding and developing its technology, the lack of visible progress in creating functional prototypes has raised concerns among academics about PsiQuantum's long-term viability and the feasibility of its ambitious plans.
Business and Finance — The Falcon Fell After Earning
Crowdstrike
CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. experienced a decline in its stock price after issuing a disappointing earnings forecast, predicting adjusted earnings of 84 to 86 cents per share for the fiscal fourth quarter, falling short of analysts' expectations of 87 cents. This announcement follows a previous incident where a flawed update caused widespread computer crashes globally, affecting various industries. Despite the earnings outlook, CrowdStrike reported third-quarter revenue of $1.01 billion, exceeding expectations, and raised its full fiscal year revenue guidance to between $3.92 billion and $3.93 billion. The company also surpassed $4 billion in annual recurring revenue, making it the fastest cybersecurity software firm to reach this milestone.
The fallout from the earlier update incident continues to impact CrowdStrike, with Delta Airlines filing a lawsuit claiming significant losses due to the outage. In response to investor concerns, CEO George Kurtz emphasized the company's resilience and commitment to improvement following the summer's challenges. While the strong revenue figures and increased guidance provide some positive news, the weaker earnings forecast has led to skepticism among investors about CrowdStrike's recovery trajectory and future performance in the competitive cybersecurity landscape.
Health and Wellness — Everyone Agrees Americans Aren’t Healthy
The Atlantic
I've watched the Biden administration's public health efforts with a mix of frustration and skepticism. Despite passionate rhetoric about beating diseases like cancer and improving nutrition, their policies have been disappointingly tepid. Their agencies seem more adept at treating health problems than preventing them, with initiatives like food warning labels and sodium reduction targets feeling painfully incremental compared to the scale of America's health crisis. Even more concerning is how this bureaucratic ineffectiveness has created an opening for controversial figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose unscientific views might paradoxically appeal to people frustrated with the current system. While Kennedy's proposed solutions are likely unworkable, his nomination reveals a deeper truth: our public health establishment has lost credibility by failing to make meaningful progress on fundamental health challenges like chronic disease, obesity, and declining life expectancy.
Baking — Blackberry Cake
I have not posted much about cake recipes recently, so here is one to try. Blueberry has been a popular choice, but I think it is time to turn a shade darker and try blackberry instead.
Livetosweet
Song Recommendation - Under the Tree by Ed Sheeran
Quote of the Day
“The important thing is not what they think of me, but what I think of them.” — Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria (1819–1901) was the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until her death, marking one of the longest reigns in British history at 63 years. Her era, known as the Victorian Age, was characterized by significant industrial, cultural, and political advancements, as well as the expansion of the British Empire. Victoria was also Empress of India from 1876 and became a symbol of British imperial power, earning her the title "the Grandmother of Europe" due to her numerous royal descendants across the continent.
Enjoy your Wednesday! Cheerios