Orbital Data Centers: A Game Changer for SpaceX Valuation

The Frontier

Science & tech breakthroughs in AI models, hardware, and computing that define what's possible

Can orbital data centers help justify a massive valuation for SpaceX?. SpaceX's plans for orbital data centers are positioned as a key part of its strategy for a potential IPO, suggesting a significant shift in data center infrastructure and its valuation expectations.

SpaceX seeks $1.75T IPO valuation, so it needs a narrative bigger than launches and Starlink. Musk is casting orbital data centers as his AWS moment, recalling how Amazon's 2006 cloud bet multiplied its market cap in the following years. Secure a hyperscaler client by 2027 or investors balk.

TechCrunch

Scientists found a protein that drives brain aging — and how to stop it. Researchers at UC San Francisco have identified a protein, FTL1, that drives brain aging and demonstrated that reducing its levels can restore memory performance in mice. This discovery could lead to significant advancements in treatments for cognitive decline.

UCSF work shows trimming FTL1 alone rolls back mouse hippocampal aging, a simpler lever than 2016's multi-gene Yamanaka cocktail. Among scores tested, only this protein shifted, flagging a druggable target. Biotechs will file INDs for FTL1 inhibitors within 24 months.

Science Daily

Netflix AI Team Just Open-Sourced VOID: an AI Model That Erases Objects From Videos — Physics and All. Netflix's open-sourcing of the VOID AI model, designed to erase objects from videos, represents a significant advancement in video editing technology, potentially transforming content production in the entertainment industry.

Netflix open-sourcing VOID turns a weeks-long VFX task into a one-click filter, collapsing post-production labor for object removal. Houses that billed days per shot now face free code. Expect TikTok and YouTube editors to adopt by Q3 2026, squeezing VFX rates.

Marktechpost

Model Developments

Latest AI model releases, capabilities, and technical breakthroughs shaping the competitive landscape

Claude, OpenClaw and the new reality: AI agents are here — and so is the chaos. The emergence of advanced autonomous AI agents like Claude and OpenClaw raises significant discussions about job security and the potential for artificial general intelligence, marking a pivotal moment in AI development.

150,000 GitHub stars in days shows OpenClaw is scaling developer adoption faster than Kubernetes in 2014, yet its deep filesystem control still lacks a common sandbox. Enterprises will lock down endpoints or demand vetted forks before Q4 2026.

VentureBeat

Capital & Control

Tracking the flow of capital and influence that shapes the tech landscape

Peter Thiel’s big bet on solar-powered cow collars. Founders Fund, led by Peter Thiel, invested $220 million in Halter, a startup developing solar-powered collars for cattle management. This investment underscores the growing interest in innovative agricultural technologies.

Founders Fund’s $220M check shows Thiel swapping overheated gen-AI for neglected ag-tech, taking board control at a $2B price. That tag is <1/30 Anthropic’s $60B while targeting the $600B dairy market via SaaS collars. If Halter hits 1% of 100M global cows, Deere or Fonterra likely bid pre-2027.

TechCrunch

Infrastructure & Power

The physical backbone of AI: compute, data centers, supply chains, and the geopolitics of energy

In Japan, the robot isn’t coming for your job; it’s filling the one nobody wants. Japan's initiative to develop a domestic physical AI sector aims to address labor shortages and enhance productivity, indicating a significant shift in industrial automation strategies.

Intel's planned 500MW AI datacenter in Ohio would absorb 10 % of the 5 GW spare capacity the US grid still has. That's the draw of 375,000 homes. Net effect: Intel to lock 20-year PPAs and add onsite generation by 2027 or wait in the connection queue.

TechCrunch

Digital Defense

Threats and defenses shaping the global security landscape

New FortiClient EMS flaw exploited in attacks, emergency patch released. Fortinet issued an emergency patch for a critical vulnerability in its FortiClient EMS, which has been actively exploited in attacks, emphasizing the urgency of cybersecurity measures.

Fortinet EMS exploit hands intruders command of every enrolled laptop, scaling one compromise into thousands of shells. Average 90-120-day patch lag mirrors MOVEit's 2,000-victim spree. If hotfix uptake stays slow, RaaS groups will mass-deploy ransomware by May.

Bleepingcomputer

The Performance Edge

Peak performance science for sustained execution in high-stakes environments

New AI tool predicts whether aggressive small cell lung cancer will respond to treatment. A new AI tool can predict the responsiveness of aggressive small cell lung cancer to chemotherapy before treatment begins, allowing for more tailored and effective patient care.

This advancement in AI-driven diagnostics could revolutionize treatment protocols in oncology, enabling earlier enrollment in clinical trials and reducing unnecessary treatments.

Medicalxpress

The Terminal

Strategic intelligence for builders and operators

Plugin Keep Marketplace On Failure. Added CLAUDE_CODE_PLUGIN_KEEP_MARKETPLACE_ON_FAILURE env var to keep the existing marketplace cache when git pull fails, useful in offline environments

The new feature allows users to maintain their existing plugin marketplace access even if a software update fails, which is especially helpful for those working in areas with limited internet connectivity. This means you can keep using your tools without interruption, even when updates don’t go as planned.

Claude Code (v2.1.90)