The Phoebe Bridgers Planetarium

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Happy Friday, Future Party. Well, this likely won’t end well — scientists at Stanford University and the Arc Institute have taught AI how to make viruses that don’t exist in nature. They did so by training the Evo system to design DNA molecules, which were then inserted into bacteria. Those bacteria produced entirely new viruses that were able to infect other bacteria (and only bacteria). So, yeah, it really does work.

The breakthrough could open the door to a new generation of gene-specific drugs and therapies… or send us down a path where bad actors create a virus that escapes the lab and becomes an aberration of nature. High stakes!

SpaceX announced that it plans to expand its Starlink satellite-phone service into a full-fledged mobile network.

The Big Picture: Starlink has already become the market leader in satellite internet, so it was only a matter of time before it set its sights on the mobile market — the domestic market alone is worth about $600 billion. The move puts Starlink in direct competition with entrenched carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.

Behind The Service: Starlink is rolling out a service to improve your service.

Last Call: It’s no surprise that SpaceX is doubling down on Starlink’s capabilities. During its first earnings call a couple of days ago, the company revealed that Starlink was its biggest revenue driver, raking in $4.29 billion of its overall $7.81 billion in revenue last quarter. Currently, Starlink’s mobile capabilities primarily fill coverage gaps in rural areas for major carriers. That leaves plenty of room for expansion.

The Future: If Musk wants to make it to Mars, he may have to fund it with a great phone service that takes off with customers.

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Phoebe Bridgers is ushering in her new album, Lost Weekend, with two different listening shows at planetariums around the world.

Why It Hits: IRL experiences are all the rage, but it still takes something special to stand out in a sea of stunts. From headlining a residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas to inventing a premium large-format experience for a blockbuster, events that deliver scale, scarcity, and spectacle are the best way to capture attention.

Between The Tracks: Phoebe Bridgers wants you to sit back and soak in her album the way you would the cosmos.

Final Setlist: Bridgers hasn’t released a solo album in six years… and she’s already proven there’s plenty of pent-up demand for her new work. She won three Grammys as part of boygenius and sold out surprise acoustic shows at Madison Square Garden. With attendees’ phones and smartwatches set to be locked away in Yondr pouches to prevent the album from leaking, expect FOMO to be at an all-time high.

Next Listen: It’s only a matter of time before someone releases an album in actual orbit. We have the technology.

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39.6% of you voted Yes, in a class in yesterday’s poll: Have you ever learned a dance routine?

“I’m an avid soul line dancer (not to be confused with country line)! Think R&B, hip-hop, and soul, with moves that are more fluid and groovy.”

“I was a cheerleader at one point in my life, so I learned dance routines for pep rallies. I also wanted to learn Latin dances (salsa, merengue, etc.), so I learned in a more informal setting and then practiced at clubs. Same with various line dances.”

“I want to look cool at the club, so I practice in my room.”

“I was a ballet dancer for 15 years. I learned so many routines!”

“Very glad I wasn’t the only one who selected ‘I don’t dance.’ Only because I have a disability. :(”

Let’s keep the conversation going. Join Poll Of The Day, so your opinions can shine. Discover how your views line up with your peers’, check out cool insights, and have some fun. It’s data with personality.

📺 Season 8 of Love Island USA was the most-watched series of the summer, racking up almost 19 billion minutes viewed.

🎮 Rockstar Games is premiering an extended look at GTA VI on Netflix.

📡 The FCC repealed a rule that capped TV station owners from reaching more than 39% of US television households through their local stations.

🤖 Four of Google’s top AI researchers have left the tech giant to form a new startup called Discovery Loop.

🔌 Tech startup Lumilens has raised $700 million to replace data center wires with beams of light.

📱 Startup Pally has raised $5.2 million to roll out an AI assistant for managing your overflowing text messages.

🎓 Derek Jeter is backing ALUM, a new hospitality company bringing luxury digs to college towns.

👗 Christie’s is auctioning off wardrobe pieces from The Devil Wears Prada 2 to benefit the Committee to Protect Journalists and the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

👔 You can now head to work wearing an air-conditioned shirt, thanks to Japanese retailer Yofuku no Aoyama.