QLN 10 (126) - 3D-Printed Batteries, Dual Threat, Record Debt, UAE's CBDC, Biotech Startup & Marburg Virus

This newsletter has 6 cover stories, 25 articles, 5 videos & 1 quote

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SMALL TALK

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This startup can 3D print and deliver solid-state batteries in any form

Solid-state batteries are considered the holy grail of the industry - providing obvious advantages over conventional lithium-ion batteries like adding energy density, faster charging, cutting costs and reducing flammability problems. But the one challenge that still stands is how to scale up the manufacturing of these next-gen batteries. A silicon valley startup has come up with an innovative solution. At the Sakuu startup factory in San Jose (California), a revolutionary 3D printing technology is transforming the way batteries are manufactured. By employing thin layers of powder, this technique can alter the physical appearance of batteries, such as creating curved e-bike batteries that perfectly fit the bike frame or customized cellphone batteries that fit snugly around the circuit board, extending the time between charges.

How US businesses are being targeted by ransomware and malware?

Being tracked by Cisco Talos, this new malicious campaign employs a dual threat. The typical modus operandi for this campaign begins with a phishing email and initiates a multi-stage attack sequence in which the perpetrator delivers either ransomware or malware, then removes evidence of malicious files to conceal their actions and thwart analysis. The malicious ZIP file attached to the initial phishing email includes a BAT loader script. Once opened by a victim, the loader script downloads another malevolent ZIP file from a server controlled by the attacker, inflates it automatically, and executes the payload, which could either be the GO variant of Laplas Clipper malware or MortalKombat ransomware.

US Household Debt Hits a Record High

According to the Household Debt and Credit Report by the New York Fed, the amount owed by U.S. households experienced a significant increase of $394 billion, to $16.9 trillion during the fourth quarter. This marks the most substantial quarter-over-quarter surge in household debt in the past two decades, with balances now standing $2.75 trillion higher than pre-pandemic levels at the end of 2019. The Federal Reserve's interest rate hike cycle has also exacerbated the situation, resulting in higher borrowing costs for credit cards, mortgages, and auto loans. Although the rate of serious delinquencies of 90 days or more is not yet at alarming levels, it is a factor to monitor as the year progresses.

UAE central bank embraces digital currencies with the planned launch of CBDC

As part of its newly launched Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) program, the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) has revealed plans to introduce a central bank digital currency (CBDC) for both domestic and cross-border use. The CBUAE aims to bolster the country's financial services sector through the FIT program, promoting digital transactions and enhancing the UAE's standing as a financial and digital payment hub. The initial phase of the FIT program centers around the launch of a CBDC, which is expected to play a pivotal role in achieving these objectives.

The crypto city offers a unique testing environment for biohacking company's controversial gene therapies

In an unconventional move, biotech startup Minicircle began recruiting participants last year for a gene therapy clinical trial that required them to purchase an NFT to participate, with payment made in cryptocurrency. The trial is set to take place in an experimental crypto city located in Próspera, Honduras, further adding to its unconventional nature. Despite the innovative approach, medical ethics experts are raising concerns about the potential implications for the medical tourism industry and the trial's ethical implications. Nevertheless, Minicircle is determined to pave the way for biohacking to gain mainstream acceptance, focusing on gene therapies that target common conditions such as HIV, muscular disorders, obesity, and low testosterone.

WHO is deploying teams to trace the spread of the highly transmissible Marburg Virus

Cameroon has reported two suspected cases of Marburg disease, following a confirmed outbreak in neighboring Equatorial Guinea, where at least eight people have died and 16 more are likely infected with the highly transmissible virus, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). The outbreak is the first since June 2022 when Ghana recorded three cases of the virus. Marburg virus, which belongs to the same family as Ebola, can cause severe symptoms such as fatigue, headache and hemorrhaging, with up to 50% of patients dying from the disease. The fatality rate can vary depending on the strain of the virus, with serious bleeding typically occurring a week after the onset of illness. Concerns have been raised over the outbreak's impact on the region's burgeoning medical tourism industry.

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FK's MEDIUM BLOG

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OTHER ENGAGING READS

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VIDEO CORNER

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The great thing in this world is not so much where you

stand, as in what direction you are moving.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

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Read every story from Faisal Khan on Medium to stay informed with the best content across a wide range of topics including Business, Tech, Space, Cryptos, Health & Science.

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