Obvious Ventures, the firm co-founded by Twitter’s Evan Williams, has raised a fifth fund, and this one, just like its predecessors, comes with a “fun” number: $360,360,360. “We invest in the frontiers of math and science and physics, and we like to celebrate math in our fund numbers as well,” James Joaquin (pictured far right), the firm’s co-founder and managing director, told TechCrunch. The firm’s first fund was $123,456,789, and the second was $191,919,191 (a palindromic number that reads the same ...

Core Insights - Barnes & Noble College (BNC) has entered a partnership with the University of California, Berkeley to manage retail and e-commerce operations for the university's stores starting January 20, 2026 [1][2] Company Overview - Barnes & Noble College is a leading solutions provider for higher education, operating over 1,160 physical and virtual stores across the United States [5] - The company focuses on enhancing affordability, access, and achievement in education, serving millions of students [6] Partnership Details - The partnership aims to modernize campus retail, improve customer experience, and enhance access to course materials for the UC Berkeley community [2][3] - Key benefits include a transformed retail experience with a modern layout, improved flow, and a customer-friendly environment that reflects the university's culture [8] - The partnership will also feature an elevated merchandising assortment and enhanced technology offerings, including computers and support services [8] Strategic Goals - The collaboration is designed to create a central hub for engagement among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors, fostering a sense of community [4] - The initiative aligns with UC Berkeley's commitment to providing an exemplary campus experience while supporting student success and affordability [5]

Blue Economy & Human Health - The blue economy must include human health at its center, as strong coasts are built by strong, well people [1] - The current US food system costs $3 trillion annually due to diet-related diseases, lost productivity, and environmental damage [4] - Poor nutrition alone accounts for tens of billions of dollars in preventable healthcare costs [4] - The health of coastal communities is critical to the success of the Mississippi blue economy [6][11] Challenges & Disconnects - Fisher folk feel left behind by the blue economy, picturing a future that dishonors their traditions [2][3] - Coastal communities face realities like declining catches, floodwaters, and a lack of legacy for future generations [8] - Mississippi is a food-growing and Gulf state, yet it is the hungriest state in the nation, with poor health outcomes and unaffordable local food [12] - Global food systems may negatively impact local food systems [13] Solutions & Opportunities - Protecting the legacy of coastal communities means ensuring they are fit, fueled, and not demonized for global problems [11] - Blue economy resilience needs healthy people, as purpose, inclusion, and social support are critical for human health [15][16] - Inclusive innovation should leverage the knowledge, history, and power of coastal communities [17][18] - Innovations should involve the people they aim to serve as part of the solution, not collateral damage [20]

Pig Farming Industry & Historical Context - Pigs, introduced to North America in the 1400s-1500s, were once intimately familiar to everyone [1] - In the last century, pigs have faced numerous challenges, jeopardizing their contributions [2] - The perception of pigs needs to change, recognizing their contributions to medicine, farming, culinary arts, and skincare [4] - From the 1970s, the pork industry transitioned to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), turning pigs from heroes into villains [8] Medical Contributions - Galen, a famous doctor, credited much of his understanding of the human body to pigs through public dissections [5] - Up until the last decade, nearly every surgeon trained using pigs [6] - Pigs provide hormones and fluids for medical care, including heparin, insulin, and bile extracts [6] - Pig parts are used in heart valve replacements [6] - John's Hopkins was awarded over $21 million to advance pig organ viability for addressing the organ donor shortage [7] Farming & Sustainability - 986% of pork in the US is raised in factory farms, depriving pigs of sunshine, exercise, clean air, and water [7] - Pig manure, a valuable soil input, is transformed into toxic sludge in CAFOs, poisoning air and water [9] - Pigs' rooting behavior is essential and not solely tied to hunger [9] - Factory farming on concrete denies pigs this essential function [10] Culinary & Nutritional Aspects - The industry should look beyond bacon and consider nose-to-tail cooking [11] - Culinary roots are in lard, not tallow, but Crisco replaced lard in popularity [12] - World War II rationing further diminished lard's use [13] - Pastured pork lard is less prone to oxidation and has a better omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio [14] Skincare Applications - Pig skin and fat have historically been used for wound care and skin treatments [16] - The skincare industry is dominated by a vegan ethos, despite crop agriculture causing the deaths of over 18% billion wild animals annually [16] - Lard from pasture-raised pigs closely matches the lipid matrix of human skin [19] - Lard is non-comedogenic and deemed safe for cosmetic use in 2017 [20] Ethical Considerations & Future Actions - For many pigs, the only good day is the day their life ends [21] - The industry needs to increase pastured pork production from 1-2% to 5-10% in the coming decade [22] - Consumers can request pastured pork at grocery stores or find local farmers [22][23]

研究项目 - 行业关注一项针对 100,000 名英国人进行的人体扫描的大型健康研究 [1] - 该数据库为疾病如何发生提供了前所未有的窗口 [1]