🧱 A Company Haunted by Its Own Plastic

🧱 Lego Is a Company Haunted by Its Own Plastic

Lego, the plastic empire, is in a bit of a pickle.

Its oil-based ABS plastic, used since 1946, is now facing environmental challenges due to the non-biodegradable nature of its material.

Lego tried to switch to rPET, made from recycled bottles. However, this endeavor faced hurdles due to the demanding manufacturing processes of rPET and its higher carbon footprint compared to ABS.

Plastic persistence in the environment is an emerging concern, evidenced by Lego pieces found in oceans and former nuclear missile sites.

But Lego’s Replay initiative, which reclaims and redistributes second-hand pieces, could be part of the solution. Additionally, the company's acquisition of BrickLink, an online marketplace for new and second-hand pieces, enhances the circularity of its toys.

Lego's commitment to sustainability remains crucial for its long-term survival as an organization.

🌒 Mining Water on the Moon and Mars for Space Colonies

Starpath Robotics is cooking up a plan that’s straight out of a sci-fi novel.

They’re planning to mine and refine water for rocket fuel using resources from the moon and Mars. The goal? To support self-sustaining human colonies in space.

They’re planning to send a team of about 50 mining machines to the moon’s surface, specifically targeting the water-rich polar regions.

Despite their challenging conditions with extreme cold and darkness, Starpath is developing specialized vehicles to navigate and operate in these regions.

In order to power these operations, they’re also working on a large solar array to power processing plants located on the South Pole’s peaks, which are conveniently bathed in near-permanent sunlight.

The mining machines will then transport the extracted material to the refinery for processing, all powered by this solar array. The extracted material will be processed into water and then split into its constituent atoms for rocket propellant.

🛑 Kenyan Authorities Push for Worldcoin Shutdown

Worldcoin, the crypto project by Sam Altman, is facing a shutdown in Kenya.

A parliamentary committee has recommended disabling Worldcoin’s presence until proper regulations are in place. This comes after Kenya suspended Worldcoin enrollment due to concerns about its “authenticity and legality”.

The committee also called for criminal investigations into Tools for Humanity Corp., the company building Worldcoin, and its Kenyan partners. They’re under scrutiny for using “financial incentives” to obtain biometric data.

Worldcoin, which creates a new “human identity and financial network” through eye scans and cryptocurrency, had a significant uptake in Kenya. But the rush for signup bonuses led to its suspension.

The report hinders Worldcoin’s plans to resume operations in Kenya and comes amidst increasing global scrutiny of the company.

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