Welcome to the weekend.

Prime Numbers

3,800,015 — The United States’ domesticated bee colonies have been booming, rising 31% since 2007 to 3,800,015 colonies, a million of which have been added in the past five years alone.

70 — A new poll from YouGov found that 70% of adults who made a New Year’s resolution said they have mostly or entirely stuck to them, with just 20% conceding that they have mostly or entirely given up on them.

40 — A new study shows that landfills in the United States are emitting methane at levels at least 40% higher than previously reported, with leaks accounting for 90% of all measured methane emitted from landfills. 

AI and the Middle Class

David Autor seems an unlikely artificial intelligence (AI) optimist. The labor economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is best known for his in-depth studies showing how much technology and trade have eroded the incomes of millions of American workers over the years. But Autor is now making the case that the new wave of technology — generative AI, which can produce hyper-realistic images and video and convincingly imitate humans’ voices and writing — could reverse that trend. AI, if used well, can assist with restoring the middle-skill, middle-class heart of the U.S. labor market that has been hollowed out by automation and globalization. New York Times (6 minutes)

Gen Z and the Tool Belt

America needs more plumbers, and Gen Z is answering the call. Long beset by a labor crunch, the skilled trades are newly appealing to the youngest cohort of American workers, many of whom are choosing to leave the college path. Rising pay and new technologies in fields from welding to machine tooling are giving trade professions a facelift, helping them shed the image of being dirty, low-end work. Growing skepticism about the return on a college education, the cost of which has soared in recent decades, is adding to their shine. Enrollment in vocational training programs is surging as overall enrollment in community colleges and four-year institutions has fallen. The number of students enrolled in vocational-focused community colleges rose 16% last year to its highest level since the National Student Clearinghouse began tracking such data in 2018. The ranks of students studying construction trades rose 23% during that time, while those in programs covering HVAC and vehicle maintenance and repair increased 7%. Wall Street Journal (7 minutes)

21 Profitable Exits

How has the art investing platform Masterworks been able to realize a profit for investors with each of its 21 exits to date? Here’s just one example: an exited Banksy was offered to investors at $1.039 million and internally appraised at the same value after acquisition. As Banksy’s market took off, Masterworks received an offer of $1.5 million from a private collector, resulting in 32% net annualized return for investors in the offering. Every artwork performs differently — but overall, Masterworks assets held longer than one year have delivered median returns of 17.6%, 17.8% and 21.5%** (respectively). Masterworks takes care of the heavy lifting: from buying the paintings, to storing them, to selling them for you, no art experience required. How can you get involved in Masterworks' next offering? Just use this exclusive link to unlock VIP access. Masterworks (Sponsored) 

Climate Intervention

As humans continue to burn fossil fuels and pump increasing amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the goal of holding global warming to a relatively safe level, 1.5 degrees Celsius compared with pre-industrial times, is slipping away. That has pushed the idea of deliberately intervening in climate systems closer to reality. This week, scientists conducted the first outdoor test in the United States of technology designed to brighten clouds and bounce some of the sun’s rays back into space, a way of temporarily cooling a planet that is now dangerously overheating. The scientists wanted to see whether the machine that took years to create could consistently spray the right-size salt aerosols through the open air, outside of a lab. If it works, the next stage would be to aim at the heavens and try to change the composition of clouds above the Earth’s oceans. New York Times (7 minutes)

Environmentalists with Guns

The Amazon rainforest faces escalating threats from illicit mining operations that employ destructive tactics like dredging rivers with mercury. With soaring gold prices driving a modern gold rush, illegal mining now accounts for over half of Brazil's gold supply, laying waste to vast swaths of the Amazon at an unprecedented rate. These environmental assaults release vast carbon stores, devastate biodiversity, and encroach on indigenous people. Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has a high-profile initiative to dislodge thousands of illicit miners from the Amazon. His troops on the ground are the Specialized Inspection Group, or the Grupo Especializado de Fiscalização (G.E.F.). It’s a special operations unit within Brazil's environmental agency tasked with combating illegal deforestation, mining, and other environmental crimes in the Amazon rainforest and protected areas. Utilizing intelligence gathering and surveillance, the G.E.F. raids illegal operations, destroys machinery used in these crimes, and arrests perpetrators — often confronting armed groups involved in lucrative illicit activities like wildcat mining and land grabbing. Their high-risk jungle operations target the powerful criminal networks driving rampant environmental destruction in the Amazon basin. The G.E.F's specially trained agents coordinate with military, police, and local authorities during these dangerous enforcement missions in remote regions. New Yorker (61 minutes)

Learning As We Get Older

People tend to lose interest in learning as they get older. One theory is the increasing cost of investing in new skills versus specializing in existing skills for career advancement. Two other potential reasons are busyness from work, and family responsibilities leaving less time and energy for learning endeavors. A commonly cited but less convincing explanation is that aging minds cannot absorb information as well, though accumulated knowledge can aid learning in familiar areas. To encourage lifelong learning, reduce friction around starting projects, set aside time for exploring new topics separate from job skills, and shift focus to knowledge-intensive subjects over those requiring mental quickness. Maintaining curiosity amid life's demands is an intentional choice individuals can make. Scott H. Young (6 minutes)

Singing as an Adult

Overwhelmed by the drudgery of daily life as a 36-year-old, this writer/entrepreneur/mother struggled to remember what true joy felt like and realized she had not experienced it since her carefree youth when she loved activities like singing in her high school choir. Though not talented enough to pursue singing seriously, she suddenly felt a fierce desire to recapture that joy and scheduled voice lessons. Standing in the studio a week later, uttering the first notes unleashed a torrent of nostalgia and sensations akin to yoga or great sex, transporting her back to the unbridled joy of girlhood. Singing allowed her to momentarily shed the burdens of adulthood and reconnect with her authentic, joyful self. Cup of Jo (7 minutes)

Should We Work Together?

Hi! I’m Kyle. This newsletter is my passion project. When I’m not writing, I run a law firm that helps startups move fast without breaking things. Most founders want a trusted legal partner, but they hate surprise legal bills. At Westaway, we take care of your startup’s legal needs for a flat, monthly fee so you can control your costs and focus on scaling your business. If you’re interested, let’s jump on a call to see if you’re a good fit for the firm. Click here to schedule a one-on-one call with me.

Founder Fridays

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Weekend Wisdom

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. -Mahatma Gandhi