Happy Friday, muggles. Someone alert Ross Geller: Scientists reexamined some bone from a horned dinosaur and discovered it suffered from an aggressive cancer we humans fight to this day. The findings will probably inspire paleontologists to re-analyze more fossils, just like we’re going over these stories you might have missed this week.

Thousands to benefit from New York’s $1 billion clean energy investment

Sun Aug 2

New York State has set a goal for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The latest development is an investment in clean and energy-efficient solutions for more than 350,000 low-to-moderate income (LMI) households. This would more than double the number of current LMI households with access to voluntary electric load reduction and improved insulation and air sealing.

Overall, the hope is to:

• Improve energy efficiency for residents
• Reduce energy bills, totaling over $40 million annually
• Improve indoor air quality and health outcomes

How will the $1 billion be spent over 5 years?

• Over $800 million invested in energy efficient solutions for individuals and buildings
• $45 million for community engagement and development with community-based organizations
• $30 million for research of institutional barriers, and funding for pilots and demonstrations; and then development of clean heating and cooling solutions

This also complements another initiative in New York City that was announced in May. That initiative:

• allocated $70 million to help residents with utility bills
• offered 74,000 free air conditioning units to low-income seniors

SOURCES: Grist, New York State, NY Renews 

A $1.4 billion lawsuit over Siri in China

Mon Aug 3

Chinese AI firm Shanghai Zhizhen is suing Apple for patent-infringement over a chatbot similar to Siri, alleging that Siri uses its tech that was patented in 2009. 

What is Apple saying?

Obviously, it's dismissing the claims. It says Siri doesn’t contain the same features, especially since the Chinese company’s product was related to games and instant messaging. 

What’s at stake?

Besides the $1.43 billion... 

• China’s courts could ban Apple from selling all products with Siri in the country
• Apple could lose their China accounts, which account for ~16% of overall revenue
• The lawsuit also speaks to the larger intellectual property battle that is escalating between the U.S. and China 

Previously, Apple has lost two trademark disputes in China since 2012. 

SOURCES: The Wall Street Journal, The Next Web, CNET

The breakup business in Japan

Sun Aug 2

Ever wish you could hire someone to end your relationship?  Well, in Japan there are at least 270 wakaresaseya (professional relationship destroyers) agencies that are advertising their services online. Agents have a couple of different plays to make the breakup happen, including seducing them into an affair or blackmail. 

Why do people in Japan hire private agents for a breakup?

• To avoid confrontation
• To gather evidence to move along proceedings during a contested divorce
• To break up affairs

How much does this cost? 

One agency says cases usually cost around $3,000, but can go all the way up to $150,000. These cases can also take a few months to complete.

SOURCES: BBC, Inside Hook, Los Angeles Times