Extraterrestrial Life
Extraterrestrial Life
3.18 | “People who have never had to grapple with their own mistakes, are the most vulnerable." - unknown
News and Numbers
Markets this Week:
S&P 500 is down 1.61%
NASDAQ 100 is down 2.06%
Bitcoin-USD is up 0.19%
Ethereum-USD is up 0.23%
Headlines from this Week:
Tyson Foods enlists self-driving trucks to deliver chicken wings and hot wings in northwest Arkansas.
China bans government officials from using iPhones for work.
Roblox plans PlayStation debut, new world-building AI tools.
Finance
By Vlad Estoup, B.Comm. (Finance); working in Ethereum cybersecurity
OOO
Out of office until October 7, 2023.
This is not financial advice and you should always do your own research before investing in any securities or cryptocurrencies.
Sci-Tech
By Keyann, Software Engineer in Web3
Update your iOS
Apple has recently released a crucial security update for its iOS 16 platform, aimed at addressing a "zero-click, zero-day" exploit that poses a significant threat to iPhone and iPad users. The exploit, referred to as "Blastpass," was first identified by Citizen Lab and has been found capable of installing the Pegasus spyware developed by Israel-based NSO Group. This article delves into the specifics of this exploit, its implications, and what Apple and users can do to mitigate the risks.
What is "Blastpass"?
The Blastpass exploit allows attackers to compromise iOS devices without any action on the part of the user. According to Citizen Lab, it has already been used to install the Pegasus spyware on the iPhone of an employee belonging to a Washington DC-based organization. This exploit is especially dangerous because it can bypass security on devices running even the latest version of iOS (16.6) without any user interaction. The vulnerability is believed to involve PassKit, an SDK that enables developers to integrate Apple Pay into their apps, along with malicious images sent via iMessage.
What Can Pegasus Do?
Pegasus is a sophisticated spyware developed by NSO Group that has been at the center of various controversies. Once installed, the software can read text messages, listen to calls, access stored images, and even track a user's location, among other capabilities. The spyware was banned by the Biden administration earlier this year after it was used by various governments to spy on journalists, activists, and other targeted individuals.
How Apple Is Responding
Apple has launched a security update—iOS 16.6.1—to counter the Blastpass vulnerability. The company states that a "maliciously crafted attachment may result in arbitrary code execution." While not elaborating further due to obvious security concerns, Apple has advised all users to update their devices immediately to this latest version.
Citizen Lab's Recommendation: Lockdown Mode
In addition to updating to iOS 16.6.1, Citizen Lab advises "all at-risk users to consider enabling Lockdown Mode," a feature that severely restricts the functionalities of Apple devices. This mode is intended for a "very small number of users who face grave, targeted threats to their digital security," according to Apple.
Past Security Concerns
This is not the first time Apple has had to address critical security vulnerabilities. Earlier in February 2023, Apple disclosed another vulnerability that "may have been actively exploited." It reflects the growing concern over the digital security of mobile devices, which are integral to people's personal and professional lives.
Paradigm Shift
By Roman Kuittinen-Dhaoui, BBA, CPHR Candidate; working in Human Resources
Extraterrestrial Life
In July, three military veterans - Ryan Graves (Executive Director of Americans for Safe Aerospace), David Grusch (retired Air Force Major), and David Fravor (retired Navy Commander - testified in Congress' hearing on UFOs.
Grusch claimed the U.S. government has operated a secret "multi-decade" reverse engineering program of recovered vessels. He also said the U.S. has recovered non-human "biologics" from alleged crash sites.
Grusch suggests that the U.S. government has likely been aware of "non-human" activity, potentially related to extraterrestrial life, since the 1930s. However, the Pentagon denies any cover-up and states that there is no verifiable information supporting the existence of programs involving extraterrestrial materials. Grusch claims to be a government whistleblower, facing retaliation but not specifying the tactics used, citing an ongoing investigation.
The vastness of the universe, with billions of galaxies, each containing billions of stars and potentially even more planets, has led many scientists to believe that the conditions for life might exist elsewhere in the cosmos. The discovery of thousands of exoplanets (planets orbiting stars outside our solar system) by space telescopes like Kepler and TESS has further fueled this speculation, as some of these planets are located in the "habitable zone" where conditions might be suitable for liquid water and, potentially, life as we know it.
Additionally, various scientific efforts, such as the search for microbial life on Mars and the study of extreme environments on Earth, have provided clues that life can be adaptable and resilient, increasing the chances that life could exist in a variety of environments.
However, despite these tantalizing possibilities, there is no direct evidence of extraterrestrial life, whether in the form of microbial life on Mars or signals from intelligent alien civilizations. The search for extraterrestrial life continues through various means, including the study of exoplanets, the exploration of Mars and other celestial bodies, and the ongoing search for radio signals or other forms of communication from distant stars.
(Head)Space
by Keyann
Art History
I’m always intrigued by discovering art terms and styles. I find it very enlightening to learn new terms that encapsulate the aesthetics and trends of various eras. Simultaneously, I’ve been thinking a lot about why our architectural focuses have changed - despite being the most advanced our society has ever been, many people are critical about today’s architecture in comparison to the Romans, Greeks, or Egyptians.
With that in mind, much of my headspace recently has revolved around ‘Art Deco’, a term and movement I just learned from this tweet by Culture Critic. Art deco was a popular art movement from the 1920s to 1940s that influenced design in America.
Here are some prime examples.
The cover image above is the American Radiator Building, New York City (1924)
Below is the Guardians of Traffic, Cleveland (1932)
Mercury Steamliner Train (1936 and 1959)
Shortly after learning about Art Deco, I saw a post about Batman the Animated Series (1992) being Art Deco inspired. You can see a lot of similarities between the batmobile and mercury train.
Art deco quickly became of my most favourite terms since discovering mid-century modern. Yet, I couldn’t shake the similarities between them.
Example of mid century modern from the Incredibles 2:
They’re both renderings of retro futurism, that is, what people back then thought the future will look like. Both incredibles and batman take place in their own fictional metropolis cities. They also both evoke a feeling of nostalgia. But, aside from animation advances, they have differences in their aesthetics.
Art Deco emerged in a world grappling with the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression. It was an era of contradictions—economic hardships alongside jazz-fueled opulence. These paradoxes were embodied in the Art Deco movement, which reveled in human achievement, technological progress, and the desire for luxury. The Mercury Train, for instance, with its sleek design and technological innovation, stands as an epitome of the era's aspirations.
On the other hand, Mid-Century Modern arose in the aftermath of World War II. This period saw a societal shift towards values like equality, inclusivity, and equity. The design philosophy followed suit. Rather than focusing on opulence, luxury, and decorative splendor, Mid-Century Modern aimed at democratizing design, which means making it accessible and functional for everyone. Films like "The Incredibles," with their Mid-Century Modern aesthetics, encapsulate this change in the understanding of what constitutes "greatness."
Mid-century modern takes place at the wake of the art deco movement, so it makes sense why they’re similar; the context and background of mid-century modern is art deco, so it’s no surprise the buildings look similar.
But what's fascinating is how these artistic movements serve as mirrors to society. Art Deco’s flamboyance represented the contradictions of its time, mixing economic hardships with a lust for luxury and grandiosity. Conversely, Mid-Century Modern, shaped by a post-war desire for equality and mass accessibility, focused on democratizing design. Each leaves a trail, echoing society's shifting priorities and mindsets.
Today's discussions often lament that we've lost our touch for building monumental structures like the Colosseum or the Pyramids. How and when that occurred, I think I finally pinpointed, but you could also argue 'greatness' is an ever-changing concept. In our current climate of social justice, sustainability, and technological advancement, greatness might look more like the Internet or breakthroughs in healthcare. These modern marvels may lack Art Deco's visual flair, but they embody a form of greatness that aligns with our current values.
While the shift from art deco to mid-century modern may shed light on a pivotal change in societies values, it also highlights our evolved priorities.
The true beauty of exploring these art styles and architectural movements is not just in their aesthetic allure but in the rich tapestry of societal evolution they represent. They offer us a lens to review the past, understand the present, and anticipate future changes in how we define 'greatness.'
In the end, the transition from Art Deco to Mid-Century Modern serves as a microcosm of broader shifts in societal values, reflecting an ongoing narrative that is as fluid as it is fascinating. And as we continue to grapple with what 'greatness' means in the 21st century and what our values should be, we're reminded that while styles and trends may evolve, the cultural essence they capture remains eternally relevant. Ultimately, it’s on individuals to focus on the footprint they’ll leave behind as that echoes the values and priorities of that period.
Company of the Week
GoMechanic
GoMechanic is an online car servicing platform operating in India. All cars go through the online platform that people use to book appointments, have their car repaired/serviced, get price quotes and more. The startup services more than two million cars annually.
Written by: Vlad Estoup, Keyann Al-Kheder, and Roman Kuittinen-Dhaoui