Elon Musk’s X Grants Blue Ticks for Free, Sparking Controversy
Elon Musk, CEO of X, formerly known as Twitter, has made a significant reversal in the platform’s policy by granting blue ticks to its most-followed users for free. This decision has sparked dismay and embarrassment among some beneficiaries. The move has stirred controversy and raised questions about the value and exclusivity of the blue tick, previously associated with verified identity.
Elon Musk Announces Tesla’s Robotaxi Product Unveiling
Elon Musk announced on social media that Tesla will unveil its robotaxi product on August 8, causing shares to rise over 3%. Despite previous claims, Tesla has yet to deliver a robotaxi or fully autonomous vehicle. With other companies already in the autonomous vehicle market, the anticipation for Tesla’s announcement is high.
Record Number of New Billionaires Join the Three-Comma Club, with $14.2 Trillion in Combined Wealth
Forbes reports a record 2,781 new billionaires worldwide, collectively worth $14.2 trillion. Notable newcomers include Todd Graves, Maggie Gu, Molly Miao, Ren Xiaoqing, Renuka Jagtiani, and Andrea Pignataro, with the United States, China, and India leading the way in producing new billionaires.
Criticism of Elon Musk’s Mars Colonization Plan
Elon Musk’s plan to colonize Mars has been criticized by the Royal Astronomer, Lord Rees of Ludlow, as a ‘dangerous illusion.’ Critics argue that the practical obstacles, including the exorbitant cost, technological limitations, and the inhospitable conditions on Mars, make this vision unrealistic. The debate raises questions about the prioritization of resources and efforts in addressing pressing issues on Earth, particularly in the context of climate change.
Chunks of SpaceX’s Exploded Starship Selling for Thousands on eBay
Chunks of SpaceX’s exploded Starship are being sold for thousands of dollars each on eBay, with recovered ceramic heat shield tiles becoming a lucrative secondary market for unique souvenirs. Lucky individuals have stumbled upon perfectly preserved heat shield tiles on the beaches near SpaceX’s testing facilities in Boca Chica, Texas, and are capitalizing on the opportunity by selling them for prices ranging from $30 for a broken tile to well over $2,000 for a mostly intact one. With one tile listed for a whopping $7,500 on eBay, the potential profits are attracting sellers eager to cash in on these unique space artifacts.
Ice Cube Faces Criticism for Collaborations with Controversial Figures
Ice Cube faces criticism for collaborating with controversial figures such as Elon Musk and the Trump administration, sparking debates about his political leanings and alliances.
Elon Musk’s Secret Gambling Technique
Elon Musk’s father, Errol Musk, revealed that he taught his sons, Elon and Kimbal, a secret gambling technique at a young age, leading to Elon winning $42,000 on roulette years later. This sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of Elon Musk’s upbringing and early experiences with risk-taking and strategy.
Elon Musk Claims Neuralink’s Brain-Computer Chip Could Restore Sight in Blind Individuals
Elon Musk claims that Neuralink’s brain-computer chip technology has the potential to restore sight in blind individuals, citing successful tests on blind monkeys. The new product, Blindsight, aims to address vision impairment, with Musk expressing confidence in its capacity to significantly enhance visual capabilities. Emphasizing the safety of the technology, Musk stated that no monkey has died or been seriously injured by a Neuralink device. With FDA approval and ongoing advancements, Neuralink’s innovations hold immense potential for addressing medical conditions and improving human capabilities.
Neuralink’s First Patient Plays Chess Using Brain Chip
Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-chip startup, achieves a milestone by live-streaming its first patient, Noland Arbaugh, playing online chess using the implanted chip. The demonstration showcases the potential of the technology in restoring functionality to individuals with physical limitations, despite early-stage caution from experts and regulatory concerns.
SpaceX’s Super Heavy-Starship rocket completes third test flight
SpaceX’s Super Heavy-Starship rocket completes successful test flight, reaching space and experiencing peak heating before breaking apart during descent. Despite the mishap, company officials see the flight as a major step forward and believe the data collected will help improve performance for the next test flight.