Why it matters: Boston Dynamics announced that Atlas the humanoid robot that "sparked the imagination" -- and some "Terminator"-inspired fear when it became untethered -- is being retired. The video is full of flips, flops and hilarious fails that feel kinda like watching a human baby growing to adulthood, but in this case a clumsy lump of metal and hydraulic fluid blossoming into a graceful athlete worthy of competing on "American Ninja Warrior" if it had a robotics division. Enjoy your golden years, Atlas!
Looks can be deceiving: It's kinda funny how humans used to worry that robots that looked like us would take over the world. Nowadays, the AI craze has people worrying that computers and servers that can talk and type like us will rule the world.
Why it matters: This story is a deep dive in more ways than one.
You probably know there are thousands of miles of cables criss-crossing the ocean floor that deliver internet connectivity to users all over the world. When there is a major break in the cables, like the one that wiped out the internet in swaths of west and central Africa last month, the outage makes big news. But did you know there are smaller breaks that happen quite often? This story is about the fleet of ships that is positioned around the world to locate and fix the breaks.
Why it matters: A new study has revealed that musicians often bring exemplary skills to the workplace ... even when they're working jobs that aren't related to music. Experience collaborating with others, working independently, paying attention to detail and managing time wisely are among the many skills that transfer from music education to an employment setting.
Why it matters: Amid alarmist headlines about a "loneliness epidemic" brought on by social media and infused by a pandemic, this article takes a more measured look at loneliness. There are times when loneliness is not a good thing, but there are also times when loneliness can be leveraged as a time of healthy reflection. Social connection is important and often glamorized. Meanwhile, the ability to enjoy solitude is less glamorous ... but maybe it shouldn't be.
Why it matters: Moonlight triggers changes in noise from animals around healthy coral reefs, which researchers say could fine-tune restoration and monitoring of reef ecosystems. From moonrise to moonset, high-pitched fish grow louder and vocalize more often, while high-pitched invertebrates and fish with more bass quiet down during this time.
Why it matters: Is it weird that a film studio would release a trailer that features a well-known actress and then cut all the scenes featuring the actress from the final version of the movie? Yes. But if you rented the movie hoping to see said actress and were disappointed when she didn't appear, would you actually file a lawsuit? When two fans of Ana de Armas spotted the actress in the trailer for "Yesterday" but didn't see her in the movie, they decided to sue for false advertising. A rental fee that cost each fan $3.99 ballooned to hundreds of thousands of dollars in court costs when the case didn't go their way. The pair eventually settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed sum.
I just want to say a heartfelt thank you to all the WYWWers who passed along well wishes for my daughter Sabina. Once again, the surgery to remove a tumor from her lungs went smoothly. The team at Seattle Children's Hospital continues to amaze us. We were in the hospital for just 25 hours and Sabina is feeling so strong that she returned to school this morning. Incredible.
Why it matters: A key ingredient in an ancient recipe for Mesopotamian beer is bread. When two brewers with a background in sustainability realized how much bread was wasted around the world each day, they decided to revive the sudsy recipe. The end result is a brew that puts waste from bakeries and other businesses to good use.
I was listening to this song today via my earbuds and when I took my earbuds out, the song was playing on the speakers in the coffee shop. Weird.
There is a WYWW playlist on Spotify to keep track of all the songs listed in this space. Enjoy!
Enjoy the View
Sunrise in Seattle
I popped this photo yesterday morning.
About the Editors
Sean McMahon
That story about loneliness reminded me of a painting an old friend of mine created. It was an artistic silhouette of her sitting on a beach, staring out at the ocean with the words "Enjoy the Solitude" above her head. I always liked the message from that painting.
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I didn't get there by wishing for it or hoping for it or dreaming about it. ... I got there by working for it.
