Curated Commons // Edition 113
Thank you for subscribing (if you haven’t, subscribe now!). Welcome to the 113th edition of Curated Commons. Happy reading, and do pass on the newsletter and share it on your social networks if you find it interesting! It’s free! Dollar-free, ad-free, and algorithm-free.
Let’s dive right in ($ indicates potential paywall).
Save the planet. Also spy for us
Signs that we are truly living in the future. Security agencies are telling delegates who are attending the ongoing COP27 summit in Egypt not to download the official app for fears it could hack their phones! - Read here
Amazon continues to progress on robotics
Amazon’s commitment to automate its business is second to none. They’ve unveiled a new robotic arm that can pluck millions of items of varying shapes and sizes (apparently 65% of Amazon inventory!). Watch out, humans!- Read here
Solar for power savings, at a country level
New report says India saved $4.2 Bn in fuel costs thanks to solar power generation in H1 2022. Lots of savings for other countries too - Read here
Cannabis, the wonder drug?
Antibiotic resistance is a silent pandemic, thanks to indiscriminate prescription/usage, and we need solutions quickly. Can cannabis-based drugs help? - Read here
Is it the beginning of the end of social media?
The world was going ‘social’ and we’d be connected to everyone, everywhere. But connecting everyone, everywhere might not have been a great idea in retrospect. Works great in groups with common goals, terrible in others. Is this the beginning of the end of the social media age? - Read here ($)
How easy/hard is it to start a record label?
The NPR gave it a go. Interesting read/listen - Read here
How rich countries tackle emissions reductions
It’s a joke. - Read here ($)
If you work in tech, know even one person can make a difference
Is that EV a real car if it doesn’t make a huge noise?
Fake engine noises are here to stay, and if they are here, then customization options for a price aren’t too far! - Read here
How to attract subscribers and influence TV?
HBO knows how to do that. And it just turned 50. - Read here ($)
Using smartphone data to predict structural failure of bridges
Can you use data from smartphone accelerometers to predict the structural conditions of bridges and help predict and prevent catastrophic disasters? New research says yes. - Read here
More interesting reads:
A physicist used credit-card rewards, gift cards and money orders to pocket more than $300,000. Then the IRS went after him- Read here ($)
How bottled water become America’s top-selling beverage - Read here
An oral history of the rise of TikTok - Read here($)
“A landlord sent an email blast to 300 tenants telling them to pay rent. It inadvertently helped them organize a rent strike.” - Read here
And finally
Stay safe, and happy reading! And if you liked the newsletter, thank you, and maybe consider sharing it? My DMs on Twitter are always open for any feedback.