Blog

Business

Lilium, once a prominent player in the electric aircraft industry that raised over $1 billion before going public, has ceased operations and laid off approximately 1,000 employees after failing to secure financing or exit insolvency.

Potential Restructuring Lifeline
In a turn of events, Lilium announced on December 24 that a consortium of investors had agreed to acquire two of its subsidiaries, potentially allowing the company to restructure and emerge from insolvency.

The German publication Gründerszene first reported the layoffs, and co-founder Patrick Nathen confirmed on LinkedIn that the 10-year-old company had stopped operating.

“After 10 years and 10 months, it is a sad fact that Lilium has ceased operations. The company that Daniel, Sebastian, Matthias, and I founded can no longer pursue our shared belief in more environmentally friendly aviation. This is heartbreaking, and the timing feels painfully ironic,” Nathen wrote.

The layoffs affect the majority of Lilium’s workforce, following an earlier round of 200 job cuts reported in a regulatory filing on December 16.

A Lilium spokesperson, responding to inquiries, declined to provide further details, stating, “The company will communicate once we can say something.”

Lilium’s Struggles and Setbacks
Lilium had been developing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) electric aircraft capable of speeds up to 100 km/h, attracting investors such as Tencent and securing customer commitments, including an order for 100 electric jets from Saudi Arabia. In 2021, the company went public on the Nasdaq through a reverse merger with SPAC Qell.

Despite progress, including powering up its first full-scale prototype, Lilium was still years away from delivering its product. The company’s financial challenges came to a head in October when it filed for insolvency—Germany’s equivalent of bankruptcy—after failing to secure emergency funding from the German government. Under insolvency, control of its subsidiaries, including Lilium eAircraft, was transferred to administrators, with KPMG overseeing the sale process.

Lilium’s potential restructuring offers a glimmer of hope for the company and its vision of sustainable aviation, but its future remains uncertain as it navigates the aftermath of these challenges.

Read Full Article
0 Comment
Science

Vast Space, a commercial space station developer, has signed an agreement with SpaceX to carry out two private astronaut missions to the International Space Station (ISS), pending NASA approval.

On December 19, Vast announced the deal to fly two Crew Dragon spacecraft to the ISS as part of NASA’s Private Astronaut Missions (PAMs), short-duration missions aimed at advancing commercial space station development. These missions are seen as a step toward future privately owned space stations.

Max Haot, CEO of Vast, expressed that enabling crewed missions to the ISS is crucial to Vast’s strategy, enhancing collaboration with NASA and global space agencies. He added that the missions will help position Vast as a leader in developing the next-generation space station.

Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president and COO, also expressed excitement about the partnership, emphasizing the expanded opportunities for people to travel to space.

The missions are contingent on NASA’s approval. So far, NASA has awarded four PAMs, all to Axiom Space, with no competition from other companies. Axiom has already flown three of these missions and is preparing for the fourth, Ax-4, scheduled for 2025. All PAM missions to date have used Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Vast announced its plans to bid for future PAM opportunities in February. While NASA has not yet released a solicitation for new missions, it has indicated that it would support up to two PAMs annually, although only one has taken place per year thus far.

Vast faces competition from Axiom, which announced plans on December 18 to build its own commercial space station. Axiom’s new approach involves adding a power and payload module to the ISS, which will later be removed to form a standalone station.

Axiom plans to continue competing for PAM missions to the ISS. Mark Greeley, Axiom’s COO, stated that the company will pursue PAMs as long as they are available.

Vast’s agreement with SpaceX also builds on an earlier contract for the launch of its Haven-1 module, set for late 2025. Haven-1 will support up to four short-duration visits, allowing Vast to test technologies and gain experience for its proposed Haven-2 space station, part of NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations program.

Vast also mentioned ongoing discussions with government space agencies regarding the potential participation of astronauts from various countries in its private astronaut missions. For example, the Czech Republic signed an agreement with Vast in November to explore flight opportunities for Czech astronauts on Vast missions.

Read Full Article
0 Comment
Business

As the European Commission embarks on its 2024-2029 mandate, policymakers, government officials, and startup leaders from across the continent gathered in Brussels for the ESNA Forum. Their goal: to chart the future of Europe’s startup ecosystem and answer a critical question—can Europe unify its fragmented foundations to emerge as a global innovation leader?

Harmonizing Policies for Startup Growth

The European Commission’s agenda offers a rare opportunity to embed startups into its broader vision for sustainable growth, digital sovereignty, and global competitiveness. However, the continent’s fragmented regulatory frameworks and ongoing talent shortages continue to hinder scalability and innovation.

While Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s mandate emphasizes security, democracy, and economic leadership, the pace of action will determine whether Europe can maintain its relevance in the global innovation race.

A notable development is the introduction of the first-ever EU Commissioner for Startups, a role currently held by Ekaterina Zaharieva. Zaharieva has pledged to introduce a European Innovation Act to drive transformative advancements in research and innovation (R&I). The Act calls on Member States to meet the 3% GDP target for R&I investment, address brain drain by creating more opportunities within Europe, and protect the freedom of research.

Talent as the Cornerstone of Innovation

Europe’s startup potential is deeply tied to its talent pool. While the region boasts a robust STEM workforce, it faces significant brain drain as top innovators seek opportunities abroad.

To reverse this trend, Europe must foster an entrepreneurial culture that values agility, boldness, and resilience. Retaining top talent and attracting global innovators will require creating an environment that supports both personal and professional growth.

Embracing a “Made in Europe” Identity

Emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, present Europe with an opportunity to shape its global identity. Leaders at the ESNA Forum, including Lucilla Sioli, Head of the AI Office, and Carme Artigas, Co-chair of the UN AI Advisory Body, emphasized the importance of championing a “Made in Europe” narrative.

This vision highlights ethical and cutting-edge innovation rooted in European values. By prioritizing the ethical use of technology, Europe can position itself as a leader in AI and other critical industries, solidifying its role in shaping the global tech landscape.

From Ambitions to Action

Turning Europe’s innovation aspirations into tangible outcomes will require collaboration between public and private sectors. The ESNA Compendium, unveiled at the forum, outlines a roadmap for addressing key challenges faced by startups. This strategy focuses on five pillars essential to Europe’s growth:

  1. Talent – Attracting and retaining the best minds.
  2. Investment – Prioritizing funding for transformative technologies.
  3. Intellectual Property – Protecting innovations to foster a competitive edge.
  4. Regulatory Alignment – Simplifying cross-border operations.
  5. Entrepreneurial Culture – Encouraging agility and resilience.

The Compendium’s recommendations bridge EU missions with actionable steps, offering a comprehensive plan to harmonize policies, reduce ecosystem fragmentation, and boost cross-border collaboration.

Scaling Success Across Industries

Europe’s success in clean technologies demonstrates how coordinated policy and investment can drive global influence. This model can now be replicated across other critical sectors to unlock further potential. Removing regulatory roadblocks and scaling investments in transformative technologies will be key to accelerating innovation.

As Europe stands at this crossroads, the decisions made today will determine whether the continent can transform its ambitions into outcomes, uniting its fragmented ecosystem into a global innovation powerhouse.

Read Full Article
0 Comment
Lifestyle

Five cups of dark chocolate per week were linked to a decreased incidence of type-2 diabetes in a US study including 192,000 individuals.

The use of milk chocolate, on the other hand, was connected to increased weight gain rather than any preventive effects.

Over 18,000 cases of type-2 diabetes and 34 years of data were used in the study, which demonstrated the potential health benefits of dark chocolate, especially those which contains 70% or more cacao.

First and foremost, everyone should be aware that the study provides the ideal environment for a phenomena known as the “healthy user bias” in scientific literature. Simply said, people who are concerned about their health are more likely to choose dark chocolate over milk chocolate due to its lower sugar level, just as people who are less concerned with controlling their total sugar intake won’t care which chocolate is available.

Additionally, nurses and other health professionals made up the 192,000 participants, making them the most likely to be aware of the dangers of added sugar in meals.

The healthy user bias can appear in other ways, even though the authors of the study, which was published in the British Medical Journal, claim to have adjusted the results for lifestyle, diet, and personal factors. The diets of the individuals were obtained using food frequency questionnaires, which are notorious for having participants enter what they actually ate rather than what they imagine or want to perceive themselves as eating.

Because people lack the time or willingness to sequester themselves in a metabolic ward in order to conduct a randomized controlled trial that would produce the gold standard of medical data, these issues are not exclusive to this study on chocolate; they are present in nearly all dietary literature.

Despite these warnings, eating dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate was still associated with a 21% lower risk of type-2 diabetes, the most common metabolic disease in the US and worldwide.

The study’s finding that eating five or more servings of dark chocolate per week was linked to a 10% lower incidence of type-2 diabetes than those who consumed no chocolate at all may have been one of its strengths.

Their choice of alternative options, like vanilla ice cream, may be the reason, but it could also be a sign that the discovery is more than just a corollary.

Read Full Article
0 Comment
Science

Contrary to popular belief, Io, Jupiter’s innermost giant moon, may not have a shallow sea of magma beneath its surface.

Io, the most volcanic region in the solar system, is home to hundreds of volcanoes, some of which are active enough to be imaged by powerful Earth-based observatories.

At Jupiter, the Juno

Today’s Nature article uses data from NASA’s Juno probe, which has been orbiting Jupiter since 2016 and passing near its moons.

In December 2023 and February 2024, Juno captured images of Io from a distance of only 930 miles. This is the closest a spacecraft has come to Io in 20 years, since NASA’s Galileo orbited Jupiter. The two-megapixel camera on board the spacecraft, called JunoCAM, captured the pictures.

Global Ocean of Magma?

The fresh photos and investigations from the flyby were expected to help determine if the magma is dispersed widely or in regions.

This is precisely what has occurred, as models of Jupiter’s tidal heating of Io indicate that volcanic activity on Io is unlikely to originate from a magma ocean.

Tidal Heating

The ideal location in the solar system to comprehend tidal heating is thought to be Io. It is engaged in a never-ending gravitational struggle with Jupiter and its three other large moons. Jupiter’s eccentric orbit also causes variations in its gravitational pull.

Magma is formed beneath the surface due to deformation and frictional tidal heating caused by its continuous stretching and squishing during its 42-day orbit.

Unwavering Mantle

The authors concluded that a subterranean magma ocean cannot be the cause to the melting of Io’s interior since the tidal energy is insufficient. “Tidal heating alone appears insufficient to allow such a magma ocean to develop at Io,” according to the study. According to the authors, this implies that the mantle, or layer between the crust and core, of Io is primarily solid.

Planetary scientists’ knowledge of other moons, including Jupiter’s Europa, Saturn’s Enceladus, and Uranus’ five largest moons, may be affected by the results.”Although it is commonly assumed among the exoplanet community that intense tidal heating may lead to magma oceans, the example of Io shows that this need not be the case.

Read Full Article
0 Comment
Entertainment

Harry Potter fans will soon have the chance to revisit the Wizarding World as the first four films in the series return to theaters nationwide in 2025. Beginning February 13, 2025, Fathom Events and Warner Bros. will re-release Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. For the first time, select screenings will offer immersive formats like 3D and 4DX, adding a fresh experience for longtime fans.

Participating theater chains include AMC, Cinemark, Regal, Megaplex, and Showcase Cinemas. Following the February 13 launch, the films will screen in order across three consecutive weekends, running Thursday through Sunday. The event coincides with the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, originally released in 2005.

The series first began in 2001 with the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, starring Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger.

Exciting Updates for HBO’s Harry Potter TV Series

The theatrical re-releases come as excitement builds for the upcoming Harry Potter television series on HBO. Warner Bros. confirmed the reboot in 2023, with production now moving forward. According to The Wrap, filming for the series is set to begin in the summer of 2025.

Showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod shared updates during a recent Max showcase in London, announcing that the series will be filmed at Leavesden Studios, the original production site for the Harry Potter films.

Casting for the reboot is underway, with 32,000 child actors submitting applications for the lead roles. Gardiner and Mylod revealed that their team reviews roughly 5,000 audition tapes daily. They also confirmed that the series will remain true to the characters’ ages as depicted in the books, with Professor Snape in his 30s and Lily and James Potter portrayed as younger parents.

A Deeper Dive into the Wizarding World

Gardiner also provided details on the series’ runtime and creative direction. Season 1 will span eight hours, focusing entirely on the events of the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. This expanded format allows for a deeper exploration of the story and the magical world’s intricacies.

“We have eight hours to tell the first book, so we can dig into the real depths and crevices and how the language of magic can be evolved,” Gardiner explained.

Despite the fresh take, the creative team is committed to honoring the legacy of the original films. “We’re both massively fond of the movies… We get a bigger sandpit to play in,” Gardiner shared.

With both the theatrical re-releases and the upcoming TV series, 2025 promises to be an exciting year for Harry Potter fans eager to rediscover the magic.

Read Full Article
0 Comment
Healthcare

Winter often brings reduced physical activity and an increase in calorie consumption, leading many to indulge in foods that can drain energy and negatively impact health. However, peanuts, a widely loved snack, offer a nutritious and satisfying alternative to less healthy options like chocolates and chips. Here are six compelling reasons why peanuts should be a staple in your winter diet:

1. Rich in Healthy Fats

Peanuts are an excellent source of healthy fats, particularly monounsaturated fats, which are crucial for maintaining energy levels during colder months. These fats also support heart health by lowering bad cholesterol levels, making peanuts a heart-friendly snack.

2. Boosts Energy Levels

Feeling sluggish during winter? Peanuts provide a perfect combination of healthy fats, protein, and fiber, which work together to sustain energy levels throughout the day. Snacking on peanuts can help you stay active and alert even in chilly weather.

3. Improves Skin Health

The dry winter air can take a toll on your skin, leaving it parched and dull. Peanuts are rich in niacin (vitamin B3), which helps maintain hydrated, glowing, and healthy skin. Additionally, the improved blood circulation supported by peanuts can be especially beneficial in combating the effects of cold weather on the skin.

4. Strengthens Immunity

Winter is synonymous with an increased risk of colds and flu. Peanuts are packed with vitamin E, a potent antioxidant that bolsters the immune system and helps the body fight infections. Including peanuts in your diet can enhance your defenses against seasonal illnesses.

5. Regulates Blood Sugar Levels

Peanuts are a diabetic-friendly snack due to their high protein and fiber content. These nutrients help regulate blood sugar levels, ensuring a steady supply of energy throughout the day. They are also a great choice for those aiming to avoid energy spikes and crashes.

6. Supports Digestive Health

Rich in dietary fiber, peanuts promote smooth digestion and help prevent constipation, a common issue during winter when heavier meals dominate the menu. The fiber in peanuts ensures that your digestive system functions efficiently, even when indulging in richer, more substantial foods.

Read Full Article
0 Comment
Science

Less than two years ago, the first dark comet—a celestial object that resembles an asteroid but travels through space like a comet—was discovered. Six more were discovered shortly after. Researchers have doubled the number of known dark comets by discovering seven more, according to a new paper. They also discovered that these comets have different characteristics and belong to two different populations: larger ones that live in the outer solar system and smaller ones that live in the inner solar system.

When researchers discovered in a March 2016 study that the route of the “asteroid” 2003 RM had deviated slightly from its predicted orbit, it gave them their first clue that black comets exist. The usual asteroidal accelerations, such as the little acceleration called the Yarkovsky effect, were unable to account for that anomaly.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California study coauthor Davide Farnocchia stated, “When you see that kind of perturbation on a celestial object, it usually means it’s a comet, with volatile material outgassing from its surface giving it a little thrust.” “But try as we might, we couldn’t find any signs of a comet’s tail. It looked like any other asteroid — just a pinpoint of light. So, for a short while, we had this one weird celestial object that we couldn’t fully figure out.”

Strange Celestial Things

The astronomy community and Farnocchia didn’t have to wait long for the next puzzle piece. The following year, in 2017, the first known astronomical object to originate outside of our solar system was found by a NASA-sponsored observatory. In addition to appearing as a single point of light, like to an asteroid, 1I/2017 U1 (‘Oumuamua) also underwent a trajectory modification, resembling a comet as it expelled volatile material from its surface.

Farnocchia remarked, “Oumuamua was surprising in several ways.” “The fact that the first object we discovered from interstellar space exhibited similar behaviors to 2003 RM made 2003 RM even more intriguing.”

Seven solar system objects that resembled asteroids but behaved like comets were discovered by 2023. They were given their own category of celestial objects, “dark comets,” by the astronomy community because of that. Now that seven more of these objects have been discovered, scientists can begin to ask new questions.

Darryl Seligman, the lead author of the new research and a postdoctoral scholar in the Physics department at Michigan State University, East Lansing, stated, “We had a big enough number of dark comets that we could begin asking if there was anything that would differentiate them.” “By analyzing the reflectivity,” or albedo, “and the orbits, we found that our solar system contains two different types of dark comets.”

Two Different Types of Dark Comets

The authors of the study discovered that one type of comet, referred to as outer dark comets, has traits with comets in the Jupiter family: They are on the larger side (hundreds of meters across or more) and have very eccentric (or elliptical) orbits.

The second category of comets, known as inner dark comets, are smaller (tens of meters or less), inhabit the inner solar system, which includes Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, and revolve in almost circular paths.

Seligman and Farnocchia’s study adds to our understanding of dark comets and poses a number of new concerns, similar to many other astronomical discoveries: What was the origin of dark comets? Why do they accelerate so abnormally? Were they filled with ice?

“Dark comets are a new potential source for having delivered the materials to Earth that were necessary for the development of life,” Seligman added. “The more we can learn about them, the better we can understand their role in our planet’s origin.”

Read Full Article
0 Comment
Science

Another set of SpaceX’s Starlink broadband satellites was recently launched from the Space Coast in Florida.

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center hosted a Falcon 9 rocket that launched 24 Starlink spacecraft Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 11:41 p.m. EST (04:41 GMT on Wednesday, Nov. 27).

As scheduled, the first stage of the Falcon 9 touched down on the SpaceX droneship “A Shortfall of Gravitas” in the Atlantic Ocean around eight minutes after launch.

According to a SpaceX mission description, it was the booster’s 15th launch and landing. To date, it has completed 15 flights, 11 of which were Starlink missions.

According to SpaceX, the 24 Starlink satellites were deployed around 65 minutes after liftoff as scheduled by the upper stage of the Falcon 9.

To date, SpaceX has launched 117 Falcon 9 missions in 2024, with 81 of those missions focused on expanding the Starlink network. In the last eight days, five of those Starlink flights had taken place.

Astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell claims that there are currently close to 6,700 active spacecraft in the Starlink megaconstellation, the largest ever created.

Read Full Article
0 Comment
Science

Early on Monday morning (November 25), SpaceX intends to launch a second set of its Starlink broadband satellites from Florida’s Space Coast.

On Monday, during a 3.5-hour window that begins at 4:35 a.m. EST (0935 GMT), a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites, including 12 with direct-to-smartphone capability, is set to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

About five minutes prior to launch, SpaceX will start webcasting the launch live through X.

The first stage of the Falcon 9 will land on the droneship “Just Read the Instructions” in the Atlantic Ocean around eight minutes after liftoff, providing everything goes as planned.

According to a SpaceX mission description, it will be the booster’s thirteenth launch and landing. To date, Starlink missions have accounted for six of its twelve flights.

About 65 minutes after liftoff, the top stage of the Falcon 9 will proceed to transport the 23 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit, where they will be deployed.

With over 6,600 operational spacecraft, Starlink is the largest satellite constellation ever constructed, according to astronomer and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell.

And as the scheduled mission on Monday morning demonstrates, the megaconstellation is constantly expanding. Almost 70% of SpaceX’s 115 Falcon 9 missions to date in 2024 have been Starlink trips.

Read Full Article
0 Comment