Explainers on business and markets, science and tech, health and medicine, and society and culture. www.profolus.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhz4tliv3m26The United states, under the second Trump administration, is treating space as a critical economic and national security domain. Its newer American Space Superiority doctrine is moving away from the free access model of space exploration. https://www.profolus.com/topics/why-is-nasa-building-a-moon-base-worth-usd-30-billion/27 Mar 2026 03:00 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhz4tliv3m26https://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhz35r5cqf2rEconomist Ben S. Bernanke explained that the tendency of the stock market to move with oil and gas prices can be explained by their tendency to react in the same direction to common factors: aggregate demand, overall uncertainty, and risk aversion. https://www.profolus.com/topics/relationship-between-oil-and-gas-prices-and-the-stock-market/27 Mar 2026 02:30 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhz35r5cqf2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhyzickzpc2rThe U.S. maintained a healthy alliance with the reigning Iranian monarch, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, during the 1970s. Iran was also its foremost economic and military partner in the Middle East. https://www.profolus.com/topics/causes-of-the-conflict-between-iran-and-the-united-states/27 Mar 2026 02:00 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhyzickzpc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhydp472i42jWith a 30 billion U.S. dollar price tag and a 10-year clock ticking against a rising Chinese space program, NASA is no longer just planning a visit. The U.S. space agency is building a home on the surface of the Moon. https://www.profolus.com/topics/why-is-nasa-building-a-moon-base-worth-usd-30-billion/26 Mar 2026 19:30 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhydp472i42jhttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhx6kb4swu2zCortical Labs, a biotech startup based in Melbourne, is establishing the first biological data centers in Melbourne and Singapore. Specifically, instead of silicon chips, these facilities are designed to run on lab-grown human brain cells to process information. https://www.profolus.com/topics/cortical-labs-building-biological-data-centers-human-brain-cells/26 Mar 2026 08:25 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhx6kb4swu2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhwrfe3kqs24SWARM Biotactics is a biotechnology and defense company that develops what it calls bio-robotic systems based on programmable and hardware-equipped insects for intelligence gathering, search and rescue operations, and several industrial inspections. READ MORE: https://www.profolus.com/topics/swarm-biotactics-nato-controllable-cockroach-spies/26 Mar 2026 04:30 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhwrfe3kqs24https://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhwrfejvy422Iran has been battered by relentless airstrikes from the U.S. and Israel. Meanwhile, Russia, one of its powerful allies, remains generally detached despite their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. https://www.profolus.com/topics/why-russia-not-helping-iran-war-us-israel/26 Mar 2026 04:30 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhwrfejvy422https://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhwppycw3q2jTrump insisted that using the term “defense” for a government agency that oversees the armed forces appeared too passive, while “war" reflected the historic record of decisive victories of the United States. https://www.profolus.com/topics/why-donald-trump-wants-to-rename-the-department-of-defense-to-the-department-of-war/26 Mar 2026 04:00 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhwppycw3q2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhwo26zilx2uThe Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University suggests that the country is sitting on a massive oil stockpile of about 1.4 billion barrels that can last 100 to 130 days. READ MORE: https://www.profolus.com/topics/china-has-strategic-insulation-against-global-oil-and-gas-shocks/26 Mar 2026 03:30 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhwo26zilx2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhwmelxpqj2rThe Hyundai Research Institute noted that the superstar K-pop boyband BTS brings in an estimated $3.4 billion as economic value and another $1.26 billion in added value each year. https://www.profolus.com/topics/the-contribution-of-bts-to-the-south-korean-economy/26 Mar 2026 03:00 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhwmelxpqj2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhwkowbtjw2hDespite being surrounded by seemingly accessible land and naval routes, in addition to airspace, it is near-impossible to invade Iran. Even ground military operations against the country will be logistically and financially challenging. https://www.profolus.com/topics/challenges-invading-iran-iranian-defense/26 Mar 2026 02:30 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhwkowbtjw2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhwizbk4an22The introduction of ChromeOS and Chromebooks is part of the attempt of Google to popularize cloud computing. Nonetheless, although ChromeOS has several notable selling propositions and advantages, it also has several drawbacks. https://www.profolus.com/topics/chrome-os-advantages-and-disadvantages/26 Mar 2026 02:00 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhwizbk4an22https://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhwi6bq4dn24Traditional data centers that run on silicon-based processors guzzle huge amounts of energy and water. However, for a biotech startup based in Australia, the future is in wetware. READ MORE: https://www.profolus.com/topics/cortical-labs-building-biological-data-centers-human-brain-cells/26 Mar 2026 01:45 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhwi6bq4dn24https://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhwgioee7z22Researchers uncovered how AI agents, autonomous systems that are commonly based on large language models, coordinate complex propaganda campaigns without requiring any direct human intervention or oversight. READ MORE: https://www.profolus.com/topics/ai-agents-can-run-propaganda-campaigns-on-their-own/26 Mar 2026 01:15 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhwgioee7z22https://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhpeztuzmx24For industries and sectors in which hydrocarbons are the main input, such as those in the transportation and manufacturing businesses, higher fossil fuel prices result in poor stock performance. https://www.profolus.com/topics/relationship-between-oil-and-gas-prices-and-the-stock-market/23 Mar 2026 06:00 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhpeztuzmx24https://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhpddyt73n2zThe company, which owns both Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster, alleges that ChatGPT from OpenAI is not merely learning from its articles and entries, but is cannibalizing value while also harming its brands. https://www.profolus.com/topics/explainer-why-encyclopedia-britannica-suing-openai/23 Mar 2026 05:30 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhpddyt73n2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhpbochsm32zA German biotech and defense startup called SWARM Biotactics has developed, tested, and deployed insects equipped with electronic components for intelligence gathering, search and rescue operations, and industrial inspections. https://www.profolus.com/topics/swarm-biotactics-nato-controllable-cockroach-spies/23 Mar 2026 05:00 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhpbochsm32zhttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhp7ylf2vw2qChina has exposure to Middle East energy exports. But years of policies and actions have allowed it to create a diversified and redundant energy mix, a massive oil stockpile, and a strong supply of oil and gas from strategic alliances. https://www.profolus.com/topics/china-has-strategic-insulation-against-global-oil-and-gas-shocks/23 Mar 2026 04:30 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhp7ylf2vw2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhp75qkjp52yPokémon Go developer Niantic used the mobile game to crowdsource players into scanning and taking billions of real-world images from around the world that it then used to build a commercialized virtual positioning system for guiding urban navigation. READ MORE: https://www.profolus.com/topics/pokemon-go-players-provided-data-navigation-systems-robots/23 Mar 2026 04:15 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhp75qkjp52yhttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhp6d2rwob2oHow do you turn a greenhouse gas into a soft summer dress? The secret lies in a high-tech enzymatic cascade that reassembles carbon molecules into long-chain polymers to produce cellulose fibers. https://www.profolus.com/topics/rubi-laboratories-turns-carbon-emissions-into-textiles/23 Mar 2026 04:00 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhp6d2rwob2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhp4nexaqe2eKONSYSE: Researchers have identified a category of individuals known as hasslers. These are difficult people who consistently create needless problems and emotional strain. Their presence in a social circle is not a mere nuisance but a legitimate health risk. https://www.konsyse.com/articles/difficult-person-aging-you-faster/23 Mar 2026 03:30 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhp4nexaqe2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhp2xtmojo2kThe Supreme Court of the United States held on 20 February 2026 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 or IEEPA does not grant the U.S. president the authority to unilaterally impose tariffs. https://www.profolus.com/topics/explaining-u-s-supreme-court-ruling-against-trump-tariffs/23 Mar 2026 03:00 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhp2xtmojo2khttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhozc37cpt2zKONSYSE: Trump's spy chief Tulsi Gabbard explained that the U.S. and Israel have different strategic objectives in their war with Iran. The U.S. IS focused on degrading the strike capabilities, while Israel is targeting broader regime infrastructure. https://www.konsyse.com/articles/war-iran-reveals-disconnect-u-s-israel/23 Mar 2026 02:30 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhozc37cpt2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhoxmn3wbt2zOne of the biggest drawbacks of purchasing and owning an Amazon Kindle is that users do not own the e-books purchased from the Kindle Store. A purchase translates to a mere license. This is stated in the Kindle Store Terms of Use. https://www.profolus.com/topics/amazon-kindle-e-reader-drawbacks-cons/23 Mar 2026 02:00 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhoxmn3wbt2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhovwrtbcv2nKONSYSE: The armed confrontations between Iran and the combined forces of the United States and Israel are creating a widening web of conflicts and specific geopolitical pain points that now stretches further toward the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. https://www.konsyse.com/articles/war-with-iran-is-tilting-the-balance-toward-russia-and-against-ukraine/23 Mar 2026 01:30 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhovwrtbcv2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhoubaulqm2gWater acts as a plasticizer for biopolymers like paper and starch. This means it gets between the molecular chains and pushes them apart to make the material soft and weak. But the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia has an alternative workaround. https://www.profolus.com/topics/nickel-doped-chitosan-bioplastic-promising-plastic-alternative/23 Mar 2026 01:00 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhoubaulqm2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhoslilnkp2nHuman rights organizations documented systemic failures by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement that resulted in the traumatic separation of undocumented parents from their minor children across the United States. https://www.konsyse.com/articles/report-finds-trump-admin-is-deporting-parents-without-their-children/23 Mar 2026 00:30 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhoslilnkp2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhoqvuuybe2eSand is the second-most used resource after water. The world consumes about 50 billion metric tons of it each year. This volume is enough to build a 27-meter-wide and 27-meter-high wall around the planet Earth every year. But sand is running out. READ MORE: https://www.profolus.com/topics/global-sand-shortage-causes-effects/23 Mar 2026 00:00 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhoqvuuybe2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhopxy3axt2gThe world consumes about 50 billion metric tons of it each year. This staggering volume is enough to build a 27-meter-wide and 27-meter-high wall around the planet Earth every year. But sand is running out. READ MORE: https://www.profolus.com/topics/global-sand-shortage-causes-effects/22 Mar 2026 23:43 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhopxy3axt2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/profolus.com/post/3mhoprzyvkl2tThe world consumes about 50 billion metric tons of it each year. This staggering volume is enough to build a 27-meter-wide and 27-meter-high wall around the planet Earth every year. But sand is running out. READ MORE: https://www.profolus.com/topics/global-sand-shortage-causes-effects/22 Mar 2026 23:40 +0000at://did:plc:bwlmvbkb4slemo4doi4cwvet/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhoprzyvkl2t