Turns Out We're the Aliens 👽

February 3, 2025 | Read Online

Happy Monday and welcome to Issue #32 of the Tech Fizz newsletter!

Scientists have found evidence that life on Earth might have extraterrestrial origins, while simultaneously discovering a potential new home for life just 19.7 light-years away – and if that's not enough to pique your interest, the sound barrier has been broken once again by civilian aviation, marking the dawn of a new era in high-speed travel.

🧠 Brain Blast
Hot tech discoveries and breakthroughs from last week

Alien Ancestors: Life on Earth may have extraterrestrial roots. Researchers have detected organic compounds in a sample retrieved from the asteroid Bennu. This discovery strengthens the hypothesis that the essential components for life might not have originated solely on Earth but could have been delivered by asteroids billions of years ago.

Breaking the Barrier: When the Concorde was retired in 2003, it seemed like supersonic air travel had become a thing of the past. However, that changed this week when Boom Supersonic’s prototype aircraft, XB-1, successfully broke the sound barrier—marking the first civilian jet to do so since Concorde. The aircraft boasts significantly improved fuel efficiency, making faster travel more practical for future passengers.

Battery Boost: Lithium-air batteries store more energy than their lithium-ion counterparts but have long been impractical due to their short lifespan and inefficiency. Scientists are now experimenting with a soluble catalyst as an electrolyte, which enhances electrical charge transport and extends battery life to 960 hours, achieving an efficiency of up to 95.6%.

Backup Basecamp: The search for extraterrestrial life has taken an exciting turn. Astronomers have identified an exoplanet 19.7 light-years away, named Super-Earth HD 20794 d, which could support life. The planet’s movement in and out of its star’s habitable zone creates temperature variations that may allow liquid water—a crucial ingredient for life—to exist.

Anti-Freeze Animal: Scientists have unraveled how polar bears endure frigid temperatures. These Arctic predators produce a natural greasy substance, sebum, which coats their fur, preventing ice buildup and preserving warmth. This discovery may lead to eco-friendly anti-icing technologies, reducing the need for environmentally harmful chemicals.

📸 Industry Snapshot
A candid look at layoffs and venture capital funding

No major layoffs last week! Cheers! 🍻

⚛️ Helion Energy, a company focused on creating the world's first fusion power plant to provide unlimited clean electricity, raised $425M on January 28 for a valuation of $5.4B.

🗣️ ElevenLabs, an AI audio research and deployment company that creates models for realistic speech and sound effects, raised $180M on January 30 with Andreessen Horowitz as one of the lead investors for a valuation of $3.3B

📱 Social Cues
What's poppin' in tech on social media

Quantum Flash: A viral Reddit video showcases uranium ore releasing radiation inside a cloud chamber. The footage captures subatomic particles streaking through the vapor, described as being comparable to a grain of salt carving a path wider than Jupiter.

Life-Saving Signal: A skier who tumbled over 1,000 feet and suffered a broken leg narrowly avoided freezing to death thanks to an Apple Watch SOS alert. The emergency call notified authorities just in time, likely saving his life.

Ad Rage: YouTube users are outraged over excessively long, unskippable ads—some lasting up to an hour. In response, Alphabet suggests that ad blockers may be interfering with the "Skip" button rather than blocking the ads themselves.

AI at the Helm: Salesforce CEO Mark Benioff predicts that today’s executives may be the last to oversee an entirely human workforce. As AI becomes more embedded in daily operations, some Reddit users are intrigued, while others express concern about the future of employment.

Chatbot Loophole: A DeepSeek R1 user discovered a method to bypass the AI's content restrictions, successfully extracting censored political details about China—raising concerns over chatbot security and information control.

😎 Only Good Vibes
A boost of positivity to jumpstart your week

Heart muscle cell.
Credit: Thomas Deerinck, NCMIR/Science Photo Library

Cancer Killer: Scientists have developed a single-molecule drug that eradicates breast cancer tumors in mice with just one dose, while also significantly reducing the size of larger tumors. With no known side effects and human trials on the horizon, this discovery could provide a safer, non-invasive alternative for treating cancer.

Disease Detector: Australian researchers have created an advanced AI model that revolutionizes lung disease detection. Achieving 96.7% accuracy in diagnosing pneumonia, COVID-19, and other conditions through ultrasound videos, the model surpasses previous technologies while also explaining its findings to radiologists and streamlining the diagnostic process.

Antibody Armor: Since 2024, the U.S. has reported 67 human cases of bird flu, including one fatality. Now, scientists have developed an antibody therapy that could be a vital tool against the virus. Early tests on monkeys successfully prevented severe illness and death, with human trials set to begin soon.

Heart Hero: A pioneering clinical trial has demonstrated that muscle patches, grown from stem cells, can provide temporary support for a failing heart. In a recent case, a 46-year-old woman’s heart was stabilized for three months, giving her enough time to receive a transplant. This innovation could offer new hope to thousands of patients awaiting donor hearts.

Stem Cell Synergy: For the first time, a mouse with two male parents has grown to adulthood. Using embryonic stem cell engineering, scientists modified reproductive genes to create this bi-parental mouse, paving the way for potential breakthroughs in regenerative medicine for humans.