Discover Daily by Perplexity

Meta is launching an ambitious $10 billion subsea cable project, connecting continents in a W-shaped pattern to bolster global internet access. Meanwhile, scientists have discovered the gene behind orange fur in cats, revealing why 80% of orange felines are male. The discussion delves into a captivating scenario of what would happen if humans vanished, showcasing how quickly nature would reclaim urban spaces using real-world examples like Chernobyl. It's a blend of technological ambition and the wonders of nature!

Earth bacteria shocked scientists by colonizing asteroid samples, challenging containment methods and our understanding of microbial life in space. A study reveals that RNA’s left or right-handed preferences might not be as fixed as once thought, shifting our view on how life developed. Meanwhile, Zipf's Law reveals a consistent pattern in language frequency that transcends cultures, offering insights into human cognition and potential advancements for AI language processing. These findings open new doors to both biology and linguistics.

Scientists are uncovering the secrets of human hibernation by identifying brain neurons that control dormant states in mice. This breakthrough could lead to medical advancements, especially in treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The podcast explores how hibernating animals, like Arctic ground squirrels and black bears, manage extreme conditions. With NASA eyeing hibernation for space travel, the challenges of applying this to humans, such as lack of natural hibernation triggers, are also discussed.

A remarkable archaeological find in Syria has revealed the world's oldest alphabetic writing, dating back to 2400 BCE. This discovery shakes up previous beliefs about the origins of written communication, suggesting it was more widespread. Meanwhile, deep beneath the Indian Ocean lies a mysterious 'gravity hole,' where Earth's gravitational pull is unusually weak. This anomaly, linked to ancient geological processes, sheds light on ocean circulation and climate patterns. Together, these topics redefine our understanding of history and Earth's evolution.

Dive into the intriguing world of antitrust as the European Commission investigates Corning's Gorilla Glass, potentially shaking up the smartphone industry. Uncover remarkable mathematical breakthroughs, including solutions to the Height Zero Conjecture, vital for fields like quantum mechanics and cryptography. Finally, brace yourself for alarming news from Naples, where the Phlegraean Fields supervolcano shows heightened activity, prompting massive evacuation plans as seismic events surge. A blend of science, technology, and urgent alerts awaits!

Amazon's $4 billion plunge into AI with Anthropic is shaking up the tech landscape, especially against rivals like Microsoft and Google. Scientists have unearthed potential clean energy in unusual natural hydrogen reserves found beneath the Midcontinent Rift. Lastly, a riveting historical tale shows how mustard gas from WWI unexpectedly paved the way for chemotherapy, transforming a weapon of war into a vital cancer treatment. Each topic reveals fascinating intersections of innovation, history, and health.

Explore the fascinating world of LUCA, the Last Universal Common Ancestor, dating back 4.2 billion years. This ancient microbe thrived in extreme conditions, showcasing an impressive array of 2,600 protein-coding genes and a complex immune system. Scientists unveil how LUCA's capabilities challenge our understanding of life's origins and hint at the possibility of complex organisms emerging quickly on other planets. Discover the remarkable biodiversity that existed alongside LUCA, reshaping our views on the early evolution of life.

Explore how Niantic is harnessing player-generated data to craft detailed 3D maps, sparking debates on privacy in augmented reality. Discover the aftermath of sabotage on Baltic Sea cables, straining international communications and raising concerns about security. Finally, learn about a remarkable single-celled organism that may solve the chicken-or-egg dilemma, highlighting the evolution of multicellular life and the genetic foundations that predated complex animals.

Norwegian fishermen had a tense encounter with a U.S. submarine, highlighting NATO’s military presence in the Arctic and its impact on local communities. Meanwhile, tech mogul Bryan Johnson faced a setback in his costly anti-aging quest after an allergic reaction during a controversial treatment. Finally, groundbreaking observations from the James Webb Space Telescope are shaking up our understanding of gravity, suggesting that early galaxies may align with modified Newtonian dynamics rather than traditional dark matter models.

Explore the world's first fully AI-generated video game that creates its own open-world environment in real-time. Discover the troubling rise of 'ghost jobs' in the job market, with legislation now being considered to bring transparency. Dive deep into the Silurian Hypothesis, questioning if humans were the first advanced civilization on Earth, and learn about methods to detect evidence of ancient industrial societies. Uncover how this theory is changing our perception of the planet's history and the potential for past technologies.