Paper-Thin Robot Squeezes 3mm G
South Korean researchers built a paper-thin robot that squeezes through 3mm gaps and lifts 70x (!) its weight. The flexible robotic "sheet" mimicks myosin, the protein that powers muscle contractions in your body. Inside the sheet are dozens of microscopic air chambers stacked in layers. When air flows through them in a specific sequence, tiny feet move like muscles pushing and returning. Each foot repeats a simple push-and-return motion, allowing the robot to travel long distances with small movements. In demos, it navigated through a pipe with just 3 millimeters of clearance while carrying a camera 23x heavier than itself. The team also attached it to a standard 2-finger gripper, instantly giving it the ability to rotate and reposition objects mid-air without moving the arm. One day this could be used in minimally invasive surgery, allowing robots to navigate through the body's smallest passages.
IPO Market Collapses as Pricing Plummets Across Sectors
IPO market in the toilet. First was MiniMed pricing low. Then PayPay. Now MDA Space, which goes well below its as-converted price in Toronto.
Discrete Hearing Aids: Flysound H8 vs H9 Reviewed
Can't hear everyone in a meeting or while at the sports bar? Might be time to consider a discrete hearing aid. I check out two, the Flysound Premium OTC Hearing Aids Models H8 & H9. Same tech, different designs: https://t.co/1J3G3Zm7U4...
Suggesting a Jones Act Episode for Odd Lots Listeners
@TheStalwart @tracyalloway Have you thought about doing an episode on the Jones Act? I could see Odd Lots listeners being interested in it, maybe having some opinions.
Passenger's Armrest Abuse Sparks Fight, Miami Diversion
Frontier Passenger Used A Stranger As An Armrest — Then Touched His Wife, Started A Fight, And Forced A Miami Diversion - View from the Wing https://t.co/Oogk2Q2LgW
Homebuilders Slam “ROAD to Housing” Despite Pro‑housing Claims
Homebuilders: Build-to-rent ban isn't the only problem with "ROAD to Housing" legislation. How do you pass a supposedly pro-housing bill that is opposed by homebuilders and most housing experts/economists?
Limited Cases Don't Prove Chinese Weapon Inferiority
Listen, I get the attraction of these kinds of pieces and conclusions about Chinese weapon systems, but there is a lot more to it than a handful of export systems operated by a foreign nation getting destroyed by an overwhelming...
Bayhorse Silver Launches 2,000‑meter Underground Drill Program
Bayhorse Silver $BHS.V $BHSIF Mobilizes Diamond Drill To The Bayhorse Silver Mine For A Minimum 2,000 Meter Underground Drill Program by @newsfile https://t.co/YNKuSkNh8x https://t.co/NZx3dJU5Ww
Netflix M&A Aims to Fuel Engagement Through Games, Podcasts
What should be the business objectives behind any future M&A deal by Netflix $NFLX? @Adweek s Mark Stenberg (@MarkStenberg3) asked me for specific deal predictions. A few of my answers are in the On Background newsletter below, alongside some other smart...
Russia Rakes Up $150 Million Daily From Oil Surge
NEW: Russia is earning up to $150mn a day in extra budget revenues from oil sales amid price rises thanks to the US-Iran war. Moscow has so far earned $1.3bn-$1.9bn from taxes on oil exports and could receive $3.3bn-$4.9bn in total...
Questioning Strategic Reserves Amid Low Export History
IEA reserve requirements set on the basis of national net imports. We're not a net importer. Our net exports were smaller during the CPC time in gov't. Was a strategic reserve built up during that period? Contemplated?
Egypt Turns Sinai Buffer Zone Into Military Stronghold
Israeli media report Egypt is quietly increasing its military buildup in Sinai, and is transforming the demilitarized buffer zone into a major military stronghold.
Lilly Warns GLP‑1 Knockoffs Are Dangerous, Intensifies Compounder Battle
Lilly warns GLP-1 knockoffs may be ‘dangerous,’ escalating war with compounders https://t.co/XOKLqIzAES @ByJonGardner $LLY $NVO #obesity
CoreWeave Sued for Overstating AI Capacity and Hiding Provider Risk
Very interesting development as a lawsuit was filed on $CRWV. Using a lot of the angles the AI bears have been concerned about with "optomistic commentary." Will be interesting to watch. The core complaints are: 1. CoreWeave allegedly overstated its...
Defending Innovation: Supporting Anthropic in Court
.@fiftyyears is going to court. We've joined this amicus brief in support of Anthropic. American innovation depends on companies being governed by the laws Congress passes and the Constitution. Proud to stand up for this principle with @JoinFAI and others.
Feb 2026 SAC:
How did homes sell compared to their original list price? Here's a way to show that. Anything above the 0% line went above, and anything below went below. FEB 2026 SAC REGION Above: 30.7% Below: 56.0% At Original List Price: 13.3% Any thoughts?
US/Israel Must Keep Strait Open to Block Iran's Trump Card
On the other hand, if US/Israel give up because unable to keep the straits open, we hand Iran a trump card almost as valuable as nuclear weapons. So, can the whole US + Israeli military not stop Iran from threatening...
Zero Broadband Funding Shows Power of Effective Oversight
"Today, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved $0 in federal broadband deployment funds for the District of Columbia. Why? Because effective oversight matters." via NTIA https://t.co/jwFvQUvmBe
US Crude Surges 10%, Volatility Predicted Hormuz Closure
US crude #oil is up nearly 10% - second largest day's rally for the commodity in four years. Looks like the implied volatility was giving a portentous signal ahead of time. It wasn't like the closure of Hormuz was surprising news......
Why Peptide Enthusiasts Fear Tested Vaccines
Can someone explain to me why many of the same folks who love experimenting with peptides (i.e. little to no rigorous safety data) are terrified of vaccines and other drugs that have testing... How does someone square that circle?
EU Mulls Looser Carbon Rules, Boosts Energy Aid
EU weighs looser carbon rules, state aid to cut energy costs https://t.co/ZZlkBSlSdq via @E_Krukowska @AlbertoNardelli @europressos https://t.co/V7T7n7KnxM
Iran's Crisis Fueled by Prior Sense of Invulnerability
FWIW - The greatest risk to the unfolding events in Iran was, is, and will continue to be the backdrop of invulnerability that existed moments before hand.
Hormuz Disruption Could Persist for Up to One Month
If Hormuz flows do not resume for a month, that's the worst-case disruption duration my colleagues at @RapidanEnergy and I modeled last June when we mapped out a US-Iran conflict on global oil and LNG markets and prices. We modeled disruption...
Energy K‑Shape: Owners Thrive, Consumers Struggle
That sound you hear is the widening of the K-Shaped economy - this time between the owners of energy assets and the consumers of energy assets.
Trump Tells Oil, Shipping to Prep For
The Trump administration has told U.S. oil companies and shipping groups to prepare for a potential waiver of the Jones Act https://t.co/X46i7aSDwu
Half Maternal Deaths in Five Years: New National Strategy
“Across the country,” writes Olivia Walton, “mothers are dying at rates that would have shocked our grandmothers.” Walton, the founder and CEO of Ingeborg Investments and Ingeborg Initiatives, lays out a call to action to stop what she rightly calls...
Prometeo’s Ximeale Man Joins Camp Hustle, Expands North
I'm excited to annouce that @ximealeman is joining us at Camp Hustle this year. Her company, Prometeo, built open banking infrastructure across Latin America. Now they're scaling north. 🧵 https://t.co/FuTF4Xr1CS
Acquirers Are Already Courting Sellers—Be the Next Buyer
9 million businesses changing hands this decade the acquirer in your market is already calling owners already signing NDAs already in due diligence the sellers they close with this year were always going to sell to someone the only question was whether that someone was you
BorrowerJustice Urges CFPB Oversight of Bilt's Risky Transition
Consumer advocacy group @BorrowerJustice has asked the CFPB to bring Bilt under its supervision, owing to the risk posed to consumers from the company's problematic transition to new bank partner Column and processor Cardless. https://t.co/l6UDTQyZjI
Iranian Rocket Near Jerusalem's Sacred Sites Sparks Prayer
Iranian rocket lands "a few hundred meters from the Old City, the Western Wall, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre." I have warned about this in the past. The reckless and desperate behavior of the Islamic regime in...
Trump Reverses Stance: High Oil Prices Now Beneficial
Trump shifting his own feedback calculus: high oil prices are good now. Let's see how long that lasts.
Renewables Become Only Viable Exit Amid Global Energy Crisis
Renewables are the only exit strategy: Day 12 (updated) impact of the Israel and US attack, tracking Force Majeure, surcharges, and the explosive inflation behind the headlines FORCE MAJEURE IMPLICATIONS >Shell: FM on all LNG cargoes from Qatar >QatarEnergy: Pretty much totally down,...
China’s Middle East Play: Diversified, Not Iran‑Centric
This is not in fact "a jaw dropping twist" to anyone who has paid attention to China's approach to the Middle East. Beijing has a diversified portfolio of partners and interests, has never put all its eggs in the Iran...
Mortgage Payments Up $1,300 Monthly Since 2021
A $500K mortgage was $1,900/month in 2021. A $500K mortgage is now $3,200/month. $1,000+ more each month for the same home.
Senate's ROAD to Housing Act Threatens Ranch‑style Duplexes
This is a "ranch-style" apartment community in West Virginia, built in 1983 and once owned by an apartment REIT (Equity Residential). It features duplexes across a 92-unit property. It would become impossible to build these under the Senate's "ROAD to Housing...
Rio Silver Poised for Production, Attractive Buy at $85/Oz
Rio Silver $RYO.V $RYOOF Great buy opp setting up here on Rio Silver with Silver still trading at $85/oz and the company going into production by year end ... https://t.co/FCYB1X4WaD
Taiwan's AI Supply Chain Covers End‑to‑End Hardware
2/ Taiwan’s AI supply chain includes companies specializing in: *AI servers *cooling systems *testing equipment *chip packaging *compute racks & trays *fab construction *contract manufacturing
Universal Extends Theater Window to Minimum 45 Days
As studios finally start to see the damage of the short theatrical windows are making long term, #Universal is changing their strategy and will keep #universal released titles exclusively in Theatres for at least 45 days, regardless of performance at...
NHTSA Forum Highlights Growing Support for Zoox AVs
This week, I joined @NHTSAgov Administrator Jonathan Morrison, @TechTekedra, and @chris_urmson for a discussion at the @NHTSAgov National AV Safety Forum. Thank you @USDOT, @SecDuffy, and everyone else involved for your continued support of @Zoox and the future of AVs...
Microbes in Tumors: Unraveling a Controversial Role
What is the significance of microbes in tumors, a field mired in controversy? https://t.co/D5sHkLLsrT https://t.co/ntGLlke4iC
Know Your Software Before Signing Vendor Contracts
Organizations often fall into a pitfall by signing software contracts without fully understanding the product. Vendors may even transition their offerings, leading to a mismatch between what's shown and what's delivered. #SoftwareContracts #Implementation #VendorManagement https://t.co/vyU1Ua8qrL
Telus Tweaks Rates, Signaling Competition, Not Price War
As noted by the KeyBanc analysts, $T released a new mobile rate card today: -Premium 2.0 is more expensive than before -Value 2.0 is cheaper than before Is this a #pricewar? Not quite, but it is a signal of competition in the space. https://t.co/qmhZx9UeS7
Trump Must Nominate CDC Director by March 25
A deadline is looming for the Trump administration. If it wants to be able to have an acting director at #CDC it must nominate a director candidate by March 25. Complicated situation laid out in this piece written before Jay...
Tesla's Biggest Bet: Batteries and Energy, Not Robotaxis
NEW: Batteries and energy, not robotaxis and humanoid robots, are Tesla’s best business bet https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2026/03/12/teslas-best-growth-story-isnt-robotaxis-its-batteries/
Non‑psychiatrists Overprescribe Psychiatric Meds, Endangering Patients
Too many physicians who aren't psychiatrists think "they know best" when it comes to psychiatric medications. Nothing could be further from the truth. Or more potentially dangerous for the patient who encounters one of these dung holes.
Pentagon's Neglect Angers US Merchant Marine
The easiest ways to infuriate the US Merchant Marine: Not give them advance warning on military action. Not provide naval protection for 🇺🇸 ships (5 are stuck in the Gulf) Refuse to thank them after multiple ships are attacked. Waive the Jones Act. The...
Jones Act Suspension Hints at Looming Oil Export Limits
If the Trump admin is suspending the Jones Act you better believe that they're pretty darn close to some kind of petroleum export restrictions. Those will make the *domestic* US pricing environment more tolerable for a few weeks—after which it will...
Only Use Unsecured Loans when Cash Flow Covers Payments
“Although I caution anyone from doing unsecured loans, I have done some... To minimize risk [I make] sure that the money will be invested in a manner that will increase sales and profits at the business and also that the...
War Threatens Spring Housing Market Stability
Today's podcast discusses is spring #housing is really at risk due to the war? @housingwire @sarahteresa6 #mortgagerates #housing #economics #chartdaddy
US Oil Imports Rebound to 1990 Levels, 2 M Bpd
US is still a net importer of about 2 million barrels per day of oil, roughly back to 1990 levels. https://t.co/p77J48rR7V