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☆ Black Friday 2022: Expert tips for finding the best deals
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Zoe Malin | Zoe Malin Is The Associate Updates Editor For Select On Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +16 min

“We used to see Thanksgiving weekend as the kickoff to the holiday season, but now it’s almost more of a halfway point. Last year, select retailers also offered special price-match policies to ensure early shoppers got the best price possible during the holiday shopping season. How to find the best deals and save money during Black FridayFinding the best deals and saving money during Black Friday go hand in hand — if you shop the deepest discounts, you’ll spend less overall. Credit cards may even offer bonus promotions during the holiday shopping season, which Select’s money experts will keep you updated on as they’re announced. Credit cards may even offer bonus promotions during the holiday shopping season, which Select’s money experts will keep you updated on as they’re announced.

☆ Back hedge funds to outperform equities and bonds this year, UBS says
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Amid this environment, hedge funds have broadly outperformed and are "well placed to navigate current market volatility," according to a new report by UBS. Research by the Swiss investment bank shows that hedge funds gained 0.4% in August while global stocks declined by more than 4%. The chart below shows how hedge funds have consistently beaten broader equity indexes this year. For example, despite a more-than 8% fall in the MSCI World Index in April and June, hedge funds returned 2.3% and -0.7% for the two respective months. In such a scenario, UBS said it prefers hedge funds that offer "macro strategies" that can trade on volatile markets.

☆ Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy are racing to capture a $9B opportunity by selling ads off their own sites — but it could destroy what makes retail advertising so unique
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Lauren Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

It's extremely important to snatch this new opportunity now, as more retailers leap into ad sales. Insider Intelligence, which is owned by Insider, expects for retailers' offsite ad revenue to grow from $5 billion this year to $8.5 billion in 2024. Brian Gleason, the company's chief revenue officer, said offsite ads open up new programmatic ad budgets for retailers. But in pursuing offsite ad sales, retailers risk undermining the main draw of their ad-selling business. But companies that sell ads off their own sites have difficulty proving that ads drove someone to do something.

☆ These maps show which parts of the US are already having a green energy jobs boom
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

With the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law, there could be more postings for green energy jobs. Curtis pointed out that many of the green job postings fall in "red" areas of the US, such as in parts of Texas. "Future environmental legislation is more likely to pass if the green energy transition is perceived as helping these regions." Curtis told Insider one takeaway of his and his co-author's research is just how large growth in these green energy jobs has been since 2007. And more clean or green energy jobs could be made as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act.

☆ Wildfire Smoke Is Erasing Progress on Clean Air
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Mira Rojanasakul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Smoke from wildfires has worsened over the past decade, potentially reversing decades of improvements in Western air quality made under the Clean Air Act, according to research published Thursday from Stanford University. The new analysis reveals a picture of daily exposure to wildfire smoke in better geographic detail than ever before. Where Wildfire Smoke Pollution Increased Over the Past Decade 0 0.25 0.5 1 2 4+ micrograms of PM2.5 Seattle Spokane WASH. Portland MAINE Missoula MONT. FLA. Micrograms of PM2.5 0 0.25 0.5 1 2 4+ Note: Map shows increase in average wildfire smoke from 2006-2010 to 2016-2020. The research isolated wildfire smoke from background pollution from other sources, which has actually decreased in recent decades.

☆ America’s dependence on credit cards is growing. The Fed’s rate hike will make it more painful
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Martha C. White | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —As prices continue to rise, Americans are becoming increasingly reliant on credit cards to make purchases. “The effect on existing credit card borrowers is probably actually worse,” he said, because of the rate hikes the Fed has undertaken already this year. Credit cards were a big cause of that: In the second quarter, 233 million new credit accounts were opened, the largest increase since 2008. Of the new debt that accumulated during that quarter, $46 billion was credit card debt. Credit bureau TransUnion found that there are more credit cards today, and there is more debt on those cards.

☆ Scientists at America’s top nuclear lab were recruited by China to design missiles and drones, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Dilanianmug.Jpg | Ken Dilanian | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

The report, by Strider Technologies, describes what it calls a systemic effort by the government of China to place Chinese scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where nuclear weapons were first developed. Scientists were paid as much as $1 million through participation in Chinese government “talent programs,” which are designed to recruit Chinese scientists to return to China. Moreover, U.S. officials and experts say most Chinese scientists who immigrate to the U.S. remain here — and many have made significant contributions to U.S. defense technology. Workers at Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, N.M. Los Alamos National Laboratory via AP fileLos Alamos officials referred questions to the Energy Department, which declined to address the report’s specific findings. “No one can say this is not a national security issue,” Evanina said.

☆ Florida Republicans prefer Ron DeSantis for president over Donald Trump in 2024, poll shows
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Republicans in Florida would prefer DeSantis over Trump for a 2024 White House ticket. According to a USA Today/Suffolk University poll published Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis leads former President Donald Trump 48% to 40% in a hypothetical 2024 presidential primary. The USA Today/Suffolk University poll projected DeSantis would win reelection by a 7-point lead of 48% to 41%. The USA Today/Suffolk University poll found Trump would beat Biden in Florida 47% to 44% in a hypothetical matchup.

☆ Farm and food investors face $150 bln loss on climate change - report
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Cattle gather in a field near a wind turbine in the Landes de Couesme wind farm near La Gacilly, western France, April 26, 2014. The study, seen by Reuters News, found the companies' value would decline by an average of around 7% by 2030, equivalent to some $150 billion in investor losses, if they did not adopt new practices. The report does not name specific companies so it is not taken as investment advice, a campaign representative said. It is being published by Race to Zero, a U.N.-backed campaign to address climate change. The report will be presented at Climate Week in New York, a series of events tied to the gathering of world leaders in the city.

☆ Games That Push the Brain to the Limit Get Scientists’ Attention in Fight Against Dementia
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Betsy Morris | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

You may be able to prevent or delay dementia with changes in diet and exercise, research has found. Now another possible tool for avoiding dementia is getting researchers’ attention: specially designed videogames. Companies are marketing a crop of digital games that promise a workout for the brain, with a battery of speed, attention and memory exercises. Researchers are working on them, too. Scientists are studying whether such “brain training” games can help stave off or delay age-related deterioration in the brain.

☆ Hazardous 'forever chemicals' are in our water, food, and air. Here are 6 simple ways to reduce exposure at home.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-17 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Hazardous "forever chemicals" called PFAS are contaminating drinking water, food, and air. It may be impossible to completely avoid PFAS, but there are a few simple ways to reduce your exposure. Even if you can't completely dodge PFAS, there are a few easy ways to reduce exposure in your daily life. A 2019 study found that people had lower PFAS levels in their blood after eating at home, and higher levels after eating fast food or at restaurants. A few types of water filters can diminish PFAS levels, though they may not completely remove the chemicals from the water.

☆ Saturn's gravitational pull shredded an ancient moon, creating its iconic rings and unusual tilt, new research suggests
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Paola Rosa-Aquino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

New models suggest Saturn's gravity shredded a moon, Chrysalis, about 160 million years ago. The ancient moon could explain two long-standing mysteries: Saturn's iconic rings and dramatic tilt. Cassini captured five of Saturn's moons in a single frame, on July 29, 2011. Saturn's rings display their subtle colors in this view captured by NASA's Cassini spacecraft, on August 22, 2009. NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science InstitutePlanetary scientists have long suspected Saturn's tilt may have come from gravitational interactions with Neptune.

☆ Once unthinkable, Pakistan's record rainfall could now happen once a century
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-15 | by ( Evan Bush | Evan Bush Is A Science Reporter For Nbc News. He Can Be Reached At Evan.Bush Nbcuni.Com. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Climate change made the unprecedented monsoon rainfall that left one-third of Pakistan underwater last month far more likely, according to a team of scientists who analyzed the event. They also looked at the heaviest five-day period of monsoon rainfall in hard-hit Sindh and Balochistan. The study found that climate change had inflated the chances of heavy rainfall for both geographies and time periods. As much as one-third of the rainfall that fell during the most intense period in Sindh and Balochistan could be attributed to climate change, it found. Researchers performed an attribution analysis of the heat wave and found it was made 30 times more likely to have been due to climate change, according to Fahad Saeed, an Islamabad-based researcher at the Center for Climate Change and Sustainable Development.

REUTERS/Evelyn HocksteinHONG KONG, Sept 14 (Reuters Breakingviews) - China biotech’s American honeymoon is ending. Key to his initiative is ensuring that “biotechnologies invented in the United States of America are made in the United States of America”. With more bad news set to trickle out of Washington, Chinese biotech companies have a bitter pill to swallow. The order "directs the federal government to ensure biotechnologies invented in the United States of America are made in the United States of America," Biden said. Hong Kong shares of WuXi Biologics, a Chinese contract drug manufacturer, closed down 20% on Sept. 13 to HK$53.40.

☆ The 'merge' has arrived — Wednesday is your last chance to buy ether before historic makeover
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-14 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

While analysts say that anticipation around the merge has helped pump up the price, some experts see the real upside coming after the merge takes place. watch nowJuicing institutional interestWith the upgrade, ethereum won't become faster, cheaper or more scalable. Research firm Fundstrat wrote in a note that a successful merge would cement ethereum as the "premier blockchain network." The bitcoin network experiences a similar type of supply reduction roughly every four years. WATCH: Bitcoin falls below $19,000 as Ethereum upgrade kicks into full gear

☆ Side-by-side photos of the Orion Nebula show how powerful Webb's infrared cameras are. They spot star-forming clouds and gas cocoons Hubble can't see.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-13 | by ( Paola Rosa-Aquino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Astronomers released a new image of the Orion Nebula on Monday from the James Webb Space Telescope. "We are blown away by the breathtaking images of the Orion Nebula. The Orion Nebula is a massive star-forming region 1,350 light-years from Earth, making it the nearest stellar nursery to us. Webb spots previously hidden star-forming threadsHubble's image, left, and Webb's image, right of the Orion Nebula. The Orion Nebula is similar to the environment our solar system was born in, Habart added, so studying it could be key to understanding our solar system.

☆ World's largest container line is rerouting its fleet to avoid collisions with endangered blue whales, the largest animals on earth
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-11 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Blue whales, which are endangered, grow to be 80 feet long and can live for 80 years. "By ensuring these small changes, MSC is making a significant difference for these endangered whales. Tharaka Basnayaka/NurPhoto/Getty Images"Re-routeing is the key hope to turn the tide for blue whales off Sri Lanka. Blue whales are the largest living animals on earth. While hunting blue whales is prohibited, the species continues to be threatened, primarily due to declines in its primary food source, krill.

☆ Citi expands program to help diverse communities reach 'transformational' homeownership milestone. Here's who qualifies
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-09 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Research has found that Black homeownership has declined. If the rate of Black homeownership were the same today as it was in 2000, there would be 770,000 more Black homeowners, according to the Urban Institute. watch nowEven as the U.S. homeownership rate surged to record highs in 2020, Black homeownership was still lower than it was a decade ago, according to the National Association of Realtors. Who qualifies for Citi's lending programCiti's HomeRun community affordable lending program is eligible to low- to moderate-income borrowers based on census data. In order to expand credit access for homeownership, Citi will look at alternative ways of assessing credit readiness, according to Frison.

☆ Tesla Model Y's Autopilot gets best grade in European safety tests
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-07 | by ( Matt Mcfarland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington, DC CNN —The Tesla Model Y received the highest grade of any vehicle in a European safety test that ranked driver-assist systems like the automaker’s controversial Autopilot system. Tesla’s other vehicles were not tested, but its new models have the same standard driver-assist technology as the Model Y. In 2019, a Tesla Model 3 received an overall five-star score. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating cases in which Tesla vehicles using Autopilot have rear-ended emergency vehicles stopped on roadways. Tesla received a score of 7.7 out of 9 points on the emergency braking near pedestrians.

☆ Science has figured out why Silicon Valley keeps forking over millions to charismatic screw-ups like WeWork founder Adam Neumann
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-07 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

And in and around Silicon Valley, they're the informational coin of the realm. Silicon Valley, after all, prides itself on being an ultrarational place for data-driven decisions, made by people with the brains and intestinal fortitude to identify disruptive winners. But the more solid research puts the lie to the idea of Silicon Valley as a utopia of empiricism. Its unfettered belief in freewheeling, big-ticket plays, in fact, is what sets Silicon Valley apart from other tech ecosystems. To the movers and shakers of Silicon Valley, a startup isn't merely a business.

☆ NASA's Perseverance rover is reliably producing oxygen. A scaled-up version could help astronauts breathe on Mars one day.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-01 | by ( Paola Rosa-Aquino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A toaster-sized device called MOXIE is tucked inside NASA's Perseverance rover, which landed on Mars in 2021. NASA's Perseverance rover descends onto Mars, on February 18, 2021. The oxygen atoms then combine with each other to produce oxygen gas. MOXIE splits carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide and oxygen atoms, before the single oxygen atoms combine to make breathable oxygen. Researchers imagine a jumbo version of MOXIE, approximately 100 times larger, could produce oxygen at the same rate as several hundred trees.

The state’s restrictive abortion laws spotlight existing gender disparities within the VA medical system, according to former military women who shared their personal experiences during a listening tour held by Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., chairwoman of the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health. The VA does not provide any abortion services, even initial consultations, to women seeking more information about terminating their pregnancies. And that doesn’t end when we get out,” veteran Amber Davila, 37, said outside of the session in Austin, Texas. “We will continue to make sure they have timely access to the full suite of reproductive care,” the VA said. “This is fuel to the fire,” said Plescher, lead outreach coordinator for Grace After Fire, a female veterans group based in Houston.

☆ These startups are beating Elon Musk in the race to let you mind meld with your computer
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-17 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +21 min

That's when I started reporting on them, and like any good nerd I was compelled by what scientists could learn with these "brain computer interfaces." The race for implantable brain chips has been a long, deliberate marathon. Graham Felstead, who has severe paralysis, was the first person to have a BCI inserted via the blood vessels. Brain chips will enable them to perform simple actions on their own and reduce the need for round-the-clock care. "When we started in 2015 and I was pitching venture capitalists on brain computer interfaces, no one knew what a brain computer interface was," says Matt Angle, the CEO of Paradromics.

☆ Rising layoffs, high inflation, and the dreaded R-word have American workers nervous. Here's a guide to managing your career in an uncertain economy.
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-18 | by ( Rachel Durose | Catherine Henderson | Rebecca Knight | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

The economic news is mixed: Inflation and interest rates are high, but the job market looks solid. It's possible that the Fed manages to cool off the economy and tame inflation without causing a spike in unemployment, said Flowers. "The outlook isn't as rosy as it was," Nick Bunker, the head of economic research at the jobs platform Indeed. If the thought of an economic downturn makes you fear for your job, you're not alone. Mentor someone else in your organization — if you're relatively new on the job yourself, take a student intern under your wing.

☆ The hidden side effect of overturning Roe v. Wade
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-12 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Which means that, to a large extent, we won't know how the court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is actually the health and wellbeing of women and children. We could maybe look at all pregnancy-related emergency department visits, or look at changes in miscarriage and abortion numbers before and after. But even in the days of Roe, some states — including California — refused to provide abortion data to the CDC. Abortion data, like abortions themselves, have largely been subjected to a political debate over rights, at the expense of actual knowledge. They need numbers, they need facts, they need stories."

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