JQJO — General news · Page 73

Protein demand is surging: 61% of U.S. consumers increased intake last year, new Cargill research shows. The $114 billion category is swelling as high‑protein drinks jumped 122% since 2020 and chains like Starbucks and Smoothie King add options; PepsiCo says protein is a growing focus. Dietitians cite protein’s role in bones and muscles but warn wellness culture often overshoots needs and recommend whole foods over supplements. Consumer Reports found unsafe lead levels in over two‑thirds of 23 powders and shakes tested. Experts suggest roughly 0.8 g/kg body weight and at least 20 grams per meal.

Penn State fired head coach James Franklin after a stunning three-game slide, as athletic director Patrick Kraft said the move reflects a deeper look at the program’s trajectory. The skid started with an overtime loss to Oregon in a roaring White Out, then shock defeats to UCLA and Northwestern, where QB Drew Allar suffered a season-ending leg injury. Despite heavy investment and high-priced coordinator hires, a preseason No. 2 team saw its offense stall and defense miss key stops. With fan frustration rising, even a $45 million buyout couldn’t save Franklin’s 11½-season tenure; Terry Smith is interim coach.

Ace Frehley, 74, is on life support after a brain bleed triggered by a fall in his home studio, TMZ reports. The KISS guitarist has been on a ventilator for days with little improvement, forcing cancellation of all remaining 2025 tour dates. Family members are weighing whether to remove life support as soon as Thursday evening. Despite online tributes that fueled rumors of his death, insiders said he was still alive Thursday afternoon. Earlier posts had downplayed his condition. Separately, bandmate Gene Simmons was hospitalized after fainting and crashing his car in Malibu, but later said he was fine.

A new study suggests lead exposure among ancient hominids may have influenced social and behavioral functioning during evolution, with Homo sapiens better tolerating the toxin than Neanderthals. Researchers measured lead in 51 fossilized teeth, some 1.8 million years old, and found exposure in 73% of samples spanning Homo sapiens, Neanderthals, and other Homo species. In lab-grown brain organoids, lead disrupted FOXP2 when paired with ancient variants of the NOVA1 gene. The authors note model limits but argue this resistance likely gave modern humans a survival advantage.

Internal "Amazon Confidential" memos warn AWS is facing a fundamental shift as startups delay adopting its cloud and spend early budgets on AI models, inference, and GPU services that are easier to switch. YC's 2024 cohort leaned heavily on OpenAI and Anthropic, while use of multiple AWS services slipped; even "all-in" customers like Cursor spend the bulk on external AI APIs and neocloud GPUs. AWS calls the data outdated and says startups still choose its platform, citing recent wins and price cuts, even as rivals' faster growth and GPU-focused challengers intensify pressure.

Spectacular footage captures Starship’s Super Heavy booster seconds before it splashes into the Gulf, capping SpaceX’s 11th test flight, which achieved all objectives. Launched from Starbase, the V2 vehicle showed improvements over Flight 10; Ship softly touched down in the Indian Ocean about an hour after liftoff, while the booster ended its mission roughly 6.5 minutes in. The flight also deployed Starlink mass simulator satellites, reignited Ship’s Raptors in space, and tested a new engine-burn initiation sequence for Super Heavy’s deceleration and landing—flying a reflown booster on its second mission and closing out V2’s run.

Federal officials rejected the lone bid for more than 6 million tons of coal under Utah’s Manti-La Sal National Forest, the third Western public-lands coal sale to collapse this month. The Interior Department said the offer, covering two tracts near the Skyline Mine and requested by a Wolverine Fuels subsidiary, failed to meet the Mineral Leasing Act’s fair‑market‑value standard. Similar setbacks include a Montana sale later nixed after a $186,000 bid and a postponed Wyoming auction. An Interior spokesperson echoed the Trump administration’s claim that Democratic policies hurt sales; analysts point to market forces, and environmentalists cheered the rejection.

Responding to backlash over “AI slop,” Pinterest is rolling out controls that let users limit generative AI imagery in categories like beauty, art, fashion and home décor. The tools, found under Settings > Refine your recommendations, arrive with more prominent GenAI labels and feedback options. Citing academic literature, Pinterest says GenAI now accounts for 57% of online material. The controls launch first on the website and Android, with iOS to follow in the coming weeks. CTO Matt Madrigal said the update aims to balance human creativity with AI innovation and help feeds reflect what inspires users.

Apple has refreshed the 14-inch MacBook Pro base model with an M5 chip and two notable storage upgrades. The company claims up to 2× faster SSD performance than the equivalent previous model, citing “the latest storage technology,” but offering no specifics or benchmarks. The base configuration now supports up to 4TB of storage, up from 2TB, while higher-end 14- and 16-inch models with M4 Max reach 8TB. Pre-orders are open now. The laptop launches Wednesday, October 22, with U.S. pricing starting at $1,599.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby warned the federal shutdown could weaken public confidence and hurt bookings if it drags on, though he said it hasn’t yet dented the carrier’s business. Delta’s Ed Bastian issued a similar caution, while noting operations remain unaffected. The shutdown, which began Oct. 1, has essential TSA officers and air traffic controllers working without pay amid FAA concerns about already thin staffing. Insufficient staffing last week disrupted flights in Nashville and Burbank, as controllers’ union members urged the public to press lawmakers to end the stalemate.