Every day we wake up, drink a cup of coffee, and get ready for work. Following are a handful of stories from around the tech world condensed to fit into one single cup of coffee. These are the things you need to know before you step foot out of your door (or in front of a webcam) and into the real world this morning.
So sit back, grab a cup, and start your morning off right with a few “Quick Bytes” from Innovation & Tech Today.
Total Lunar Eclipse: Tuesday, Nov. 8
People across the U.S. had the opportunity to view a rare lunar eclipse this week. On Tuesday, Nov. 8, the Earth, Sun, and moon aligned to create a Blood Moon eclipse. The phenomenon marks the last total lunar eclipse until 2025.
According to NASA, residents from coast to coast were able to witness the eclipse that began at 12:02 a.m. PST. on Tuesday.
The eclipse lasted several hours, reaching totality at approximately 2:17 a.m. PST and ending at about 5:50 a.m. PST.
Meta Plans Mass Layoffs
According to the Wall Street Journal, Facebook parent company Meta Platforms is planning to begin large-scale layoffs, with an official announcement set for Wednesday.
The downsizing initiative could reportedly affect thousands of the more than 87,000 employees at the company. Company officials have already told employees to cancel nonessential travel beginning this week.
The largest set of layoffs in the company’s 18-year history is likely due to the failure of its metaverse project, which has seen abysmal active user numbers despite an extensive marketing campaign. Meta’s market value has plunged more than $700 billion from its all-time high.
Twitter Inc. cut almost half of its staff last week after Elon Musk assumed the role of CEO. Meta’s coming announcement paired with Twitter’s biggest layoff in history could be a harbinger of things to come for the tech sector after a period of massive growth during COVID.
Synthetic Photosynthesis Could Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Provide Fuel Alternative
Scientists have found a way to trigger the process of photosynthesis in a synthetic material.
The process has great potential for creating a technology that could significantly reduce greenhouse gases linked to climate change, while also creating a clean way to produce energy.
Fernando Uribe-Romo, a chemistry professor at the University of Central Florida, and his team of students created a way to trigger a chemical reaction in a synthetic material called metal-organic frameworks (MOF) that breaks down carbon dioxide into harmless organic materials.
The findings of his research are published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A.
The carbon created from the chemical process could be used as solar fuel, according to Uribe-Romo.
China Supply Issues to Limit iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max Availability
Apple Inc. has warned of supply issues regarding its latest iPhone. China’s COVID-19 restrictions have affected the production of iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models, according to the Wall Street Journal.
An assembly factory in Zhengzhou, China, is operating at reduced capacity, which will impact the supply of Apple’s high-end models moving into the holiday season.
Last week, Apple-supplier Foxconn Technology Group entered a week-long lockdown at its Zhengzhou complex after battling a COVID-19 outbreak that lasted several weeks. The facility, known as iPhone City, is the world’s biggest assembly site for Apple’s smartphones and home to hundreds of thousands of workers.
