Welcome to the weekend.

Check out my May playlist. The vibe is indie circa 2014. Enjoy!

Prime Numbers

75,000 — Researchers recreate the face of a 75,000-year-old Neanderthal woman after reassembling skull fragments found in an Iraqi cave. 

2,000 — By 2025, Waste Management is seeking to replace 2,000 of its 18,000 service-hauling collection trucks with rear loads instead of side loads. 

2.5 — In 2022, 2.5% of all U.S. births were a result of IVF. 

FTX Found the Money

It turns out that FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange that collapsed in 2022, is solvent. Wild! Even though FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has been convicted of fraud, the company has managed to accumulate billions of dollars more than needed to cover their customers’ losses. This surplus is due to a strong rally in cryptocurrencies, particularly Solana, which was heavily backed by FTX as well as the sale of various assets, including a stake in the artificial intelligence (AI) company Anthropic. The outcome of customers receiving full recoveries plus interest is considered rare in U.S. bankruptcy proceedings, as lower-ranking creditors typically receive only a small fraction of their holdings. FTX chief executive officer John Ray, who took over the firm during its collapse, described the result as "unbelievable" in the context of bankruptcy cases. The latest draft bankruptcy plan estimates that customers and digital asset loan creditors will recover between 118% and 142% of their claim values at the time of the bankruptcy petition. Bloomberg (8 minutes)

Golden Age of Freelancing

While AI poses a threat to freelancers whose jobs focus on easily automatable tasks, it appears to offer significant benefits for the most highly skilled independent workers. We may be entering a golden age for high-skilled freelancers. A survey of 214 highly skilled freelancers, including engineers, developers and data scientists, reveals that the majority of respondents believe that generative AI makes them more likely to pursue an independent career. Doing so may increase their productivity and boost their earning potential. In fact, 54% of respondents used generative AI multiple times a day or constantly, and 45% reported saving six or more hours per week. Respondents reinvest the time saved through AI in strategic thinking, upskilling and taking on additional projects, creating a virtuous cycle of personal and professional growth. The survey suggests that freelancers must cultivate these new capabilities to remain relevant, with 86% of respondents believing that every knowledge worker needs to learn how to use generative AI. Fast Company (6 minutes)

Embrace Chaos

In a world obsessed with command and control, embracing chaos may be the hidden secret to your organization’s success. Antifragile companies gain from disorder just as ecosystems thrive on disturbances. Adapting and growing stronger organizations that embrace a degree of chaos creates environments where employees are encouraged to think outside the box, experiment fearlessly and learn from failures. Embracing chaos doesn't mean “anything goes.” It means using upheaval as a catalyst for transformation and adaptability in a rapidly changing world. It's about harnessing disorder to create the new order, inviting confusion to fuel the creation of clarity. By cultivating antifragility, your organization can not only withstand turbulence but also thrive in it. Don’t fear a volatile and uncertain future; flourish in it. Talentism (Sponsored)

The Far Side of the Moon

The moon's far side, first seen in 1959, is strikingly different from its near side, with a more cratered surface, a thicker crust and a lack of dark lava plains. Scientists believe this dichotomy is tied to the moon's formation and evolution, and studying the far side can provide insights into the early Earth and the solar system's history. One theory suggests that Earth's intense heat kept the Moon's near side molten for longer, allowing crustal elements to vaporize and condense on the far side, making its crust thicker. Another theory proposes that the near side's slower crystallization led to an accumulation of heat-producing elements, lowering the melting temperatures of rocks in the near-side mantle and producing more magma. Future missions, such as sample returns from the South Pole-Aitken Basin and the Moscoviense lava plain, as well as NASA's Artemis program, aim to unravel the exact conditions in which the moon formed and evolved, helping us better understand the formation of terrestrial planets like Earth and mars. The Planetary Society (6 minutes)

Conspiracy

COVID vaccines, chemtrails the Great Reset: Why do people invent false conspiracies when there are so many real ones to worry about? There’s only one way to find out. Ask a true believer. Jason Liosatos, a conspiracy theorist from Totnes, Devon, holds a fervent belief in a wide array of conspiracy fictions, ranging from antisemitic canards to anti-vaccination falsehoods and distortions of the Holocaust. His conviction in these theories appears to be driven by a profound sense of obligation to expose and resist what he perceives as an oppressive global system fueled by greed, fear, and the relentless pursuit of power and profit. Liosatos sees himself as a lone voice of truth, a martyr willing to endure persecution for his controversial beliefs, which he claims to champion for the sake of future generations. Despite the deeply harmful nature of the conspiracy theories he propagates, Liosatos seems genuinely convinced that his actions serve a higher purpose: the creation of a more just and equitable world. His unwavering commitment to these misguided notions seems to be rooted in a desperate attempt to make sense of a world he views as fundamentally broken and chaotic, a quixotic quest that has tragically led him to embrace and disseminate dangerous and delusional ideas. The Guardian (11 minutes)

Small Things

Here are four simple daily practices that can considerably boost happiness. 1) Putg your phone to bed before you go to sleep: Establishing an electronics curfew an hour before bedtime can greatly improve sleep quality and mental health. 2) Consider what you love about your spouse instead of what annoys you: Focusing on your partner's positive qualities can transform your relationship for the better. 3) Use pleasant fragrances to improve your mood. Indulging in the ritual of applying a beloved perfume, even when lounging at home, can provide an instant mood boost and a sense of self-care. 4) Read before bed every night: Swapping late-night social media scrolling for reading a book can lead to better sleep and a more rested feeling upon waking. These small, meaningful additions to one's daily routine have the power to significantly enhance overall happiness and well-being. HuffPo (6 minutes)

Checking In

In a recent study published by the American Psychological Association, researchers found that people consistently underestimate how much others in their social circle appreciate a surprise check-in. The study, which involved more than 5,900 participants, conducted a series of experiments to evaluate the accuracy of people's estimations and the factors contributing to the level of appreciation. The experiments revealed that those who initiated contact significantly underestimated how much recipients valued the gesture, with the disparity between expectation and reality being greater when the communication was more unexpected. The research suggests that many people want to reconnect with friends but hesitate to do so and that these hesitations may be misplaced. Maintaining social connections has a big impact on mental and physical health, so give your friend a random call today. They’ll appreciate it more than you expect. The Guardian (5 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

Check out my other email, Founder Fridays — a Friday morning briefing helping startup founders and operators scale smarter.

Weekend Wisdom

If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right. -Henry Ford