Web Audio | Cryovolcano | Mighty Mito - The Convo Kit #42

The sun sets over desert mountains while a neon glow rises. I’ll explore the reverse ATMs as soon as the next sentence is over. But that’s all I can say, they tell me what happens here, stays here.

-Steve

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Web Audio

Not your average web-based audio, orb-weaving spiders can “hear” through their silk. Spiders were observed reacting to various sounds directed at their webs.

• Laser vibrometer sent sounds to 1,000 web locations

• Spiders sometimes adjusted their position to “tune” the web

• Sadly, 0 references to “spidey-sense” in the study

We already knew spiders sense vibrations in their webs. The real potential here is using spider-silk to augment audio for humans, such as in hearing aids and speakers.

Speaking spider

Cryovolcano

Data from NASA’s New Horizons mission show significant age differences in Pluto’s surface. Scientists believe cryovolcanoes resurfaced whole regions, similar to how Earthly volcanoes create islands.

• Cryovolcano: Erupts water, ammonia, and/or methane that freezes at surface temperatures

• Pluto’s Wright Mons is the largest known cryovolcano

• Wright Mons = 2.5 miles high and 90 miles wide

Beyond sounding cool, cryovolcano activity implies that Pluto is holding more heat than expected. Proving we still have a lot to learn about the distant dwarf planet and cyrovolcanism in general.

Brrrruption

OURtochondria

Faulty mitochondria can lead to diseased organs due to a lack of cellular energy. Fortunately, ETH Zurich scientists found a new way to transplant our microscopic powerhouses.

• Mitochondria are transplanted using a special nanosyringe

• Proven promising in animal studies

• 80%: Recipient cell survival rate

Transplanted mitochondria begin working with their new cell within 20 minutes. Scientists hope this technique will one day treat diseased organs and could potentially be used for anti-aging treatment.

MYtochondria es YOURtochondria

Eggless Eggs

What came first, the chicken or the egg? The EVERY Co. decided to simplify things by removing the chicken with their “EVERY EggWhite”.

• 100% animal-free

• Mimics real egg-whites in taste and culinary utility

• Currently available in vegan macarons

EVERY EggWhite probably isn’t at your grocery store yet, but once it scales it could significantly reduce the environmental impact of egg-based foods. After going plant-based last year, I miss eggs the most and can’t wait to get my hands on these.

Count your eggs

Dyson Face

Dyson transformed its vac-tech into an air-purifier with noise-cancelling headphones. The “Zone” has been in development for 6 years and looks as odd as it sounds.

• Purifier is a detachable magnetic over the mouth visor

• Contact-free visor + 2-stage filtering = clean air with no stuffiness

• Tested on a mannequin with mechanical lungs to simulate human breathing

Dyson’s companion app displays local air quality so users can decide when to crank up the purification. The unexpected clean-stack may appeal to brand-loyalists: Clean air, clean beats, clean floors.

Literal air pods

1 More Thing

Spider-web audio

Thank you for reading!

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