Get ready for a journey through groundbreaking advancements, from life-altering medical technologies to immersive gaming experiences.

This week's newsletter is oozing with the kind of cutting-edge developments that'd make even Deadpool drop his chimichanga. First off, we've got Michael Levin from Tufts University playing mad scientist with bioelectricity, potentially regrowing limbs and organs like it's no big deal. Elon Musk's Neuralink is implanting brain devices in humans, aiming for some serious mind-over-machine action. Xreal is throwing a whopping $60M into AR glasses to amp up your gaming life. 

Adam Goldstein from Archer Aviation is redefining "catching a cab" with electric air taxis, making traffic jams look like ancient history. For the chess buffs, MR-Chess is merging the virtual with the real, making you feel like a grandmaster in your living room. And HUMAN Security? They're switching up the leadership deck to keep fighting the good fight against online baddies. Dive in for a wild ride through the tech landscape!

Health Tech

Regenerative medicine is advancing rapidly, with Tufts University's Michael Levin leading the charge in using bioelectricity to regenerate tissues, limbs, and organs. His company, Astonishing Labs, aims to commercialize this technology, potentially revolutionizing healthspan extension. Levin's work focuses on bioelectric patterns within cells, which, when manipulated, can rewrite biological outcomes. This approach could enable the regeneration of complex biological structures, offering new solutions for various medical conditions. For more details, visit the original article.

Louis Rosenberg, in a VentureBeat article, discusses the creation of a digital twin - virtual replica - of Las Vegas in Agora World for CES 2024. This project, completed in just 10 minutes using no-code tools, signifies a major step in virtual experience creation. It parallels concepts from "Ready Player One," where virtual worlds are intricately designed and highly immersive. 

This development marks a shift towards more accessible and rapid creation of digital environments, potentially transforming e-commerce and online interaction by making immersive content creation more mainstream.

Elon Musk announced that Neuralink has successfully implanted its first brain device in a human patient, marking a significant milestone for the company's goal to enable mind-controlled computing. The implant, named Telepathy, aims to assist individuals with severe mobility impairments in controlling digital devices through thought. Initial trials focus on patients with quadriplegia or ALS. Despite extensive animal testing and ambitious promises, a commercial brain implant remains years away, with extensive human trials still required.

Mixed Reality

Xreal has secured $60 million in funding to develop consumer AR glasses aimed at enhancing gaming experiences. The company's founder, known for his success in mobile gaming, is focusing on creating lightweight, stylish AR glasses that offer high-quality visuals without the need for external power sources or computing units. This investment marks a significant step toward bringing augmented reality to mainstream consumers, particularly in the gaming sector.

The release of MR-Chess, an immersive app, marks a significant advancement in mixed reality gaming. This innovative chess game, which blends virtual and physical realities, offers players an authentic over-the-board experience without the constraints of physical space. Developed with support from industry experts, MR-Chess allows players to interact naturally, sharing a chessboard as if in the same room, complete with voice communication and an experimental haptic interface for tangible chess pieces. Available on Meta Quest's App-Lab, MR-Chess embodies the future of spatial computing in gaming.

Transportation

Adam Goldstein, CEO of Archer Aviation, envisions electric air taxis as the future of urban transport, preferring this term over "flying cars" or EVTOLs. Archer has advanced in creating efficient and appealing air taxis through innovative design and lightweight materials. Emphasizing safety and FAA compliance, these vehicles feature multiple redundancies. Goldstein discusses the potential for air taxis to transform urban mobility with lower costs and infrastructure demands, aiming for widespread accessibility. He also addresses the challenges of entering aviation with a non-traditional background and the importance of a solid business model for success.

Company Spotlight: HUMAN Security

HUMAN Security announced a strategic leadership transition with Tamer Hassan, co-founder and CEO, moving to the role of Executive Chairman, and Stu Solomon, previously President of Recorded Future, appointed as the new CEO. This change aims to combine Hassan's visionary leadership with Solomon's deep security expertise to drive the company's growth and innovation further. HUMAN, known for disrupting online fraud and bot attacks, has achieved significant milestones under Hassan's leadership, including surpassing $100M in ARR and being recognized as one of the TIME100 Most Influential Companies in 2023.

A Little Extra