Thursday☕️

16 Jan 2025 — 5 min read

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The FDA has decided to ban FD&C Red No. 3, a red dye used in foods and medicines, because studies have shown it can cause cancer. This dye, often found in candies, baked goods, and some medications, has been a concern for decades. It was banned from use in cosmetics back in 1990, but until now, it was still allowed in food and drugs. The FDA’s decision follows safety rules that prohibit ingredients linked to cancer and brings the U.S. in line with other countries that have already banned or restricted the dye.

Manufacturers now have until 2027 to stop using the dye in foods and until 2028 for medicines. This gives companies time to find safer replacements. Consumers will soon start seeing products reformulated to meet the new safety standards. This change is a big step toward protecting public health and making food and medicines safer.

Economics & Markets:

Geopolitics & Military Activity:

After 15 months of fighting, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal starting on Sunday. The agreement includes a six-week truce, during which Israeli troops will gradually leave Gaza’s populated areas. In return, Hamas will release hostages, including some Americans, while Israel will free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. President Joe Biden confirmed some Americans will be among the first hostages released, but didn’t say how many. Of the seven Americans held, three are believed to be alive, while four have been confirmed dead.

The announcement has brought celebrations across the region. In Gaza, members of Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades paraded in the streets, while in Tel Aviv, people celebrated the hope for peace. The deal, brokered by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, aims to end the destruction in Gaza and bring stability to the region.

Environment & Weather:

Space:

Today Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The massive rocket, standing 320 feet tall, reached orbit on its first flight, achieving its main goal of delivering a prototype satellite. However, the rocket’s reusable first-stage booster was lost during its landing attempt in the Atlantic Ocean.
This launch is a big step for Blue Origin as it enters the competitive satellite launch market, challenging companies like SpaceX. The New Glenn rocket is designed to carry large payloads and will play a key role in future missions, including deploying satellites for Blue Origin’s Project Kuiper, which aims to provide global internet service. Despite the booster setback, the launch is considered a success, showing Blue Origin’s ability to reach orbit and marking a milestone in its push to become a major player in space exploration.

Yesterday, January 15, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying two private lunar landers, marking a significant step in commercial lunar exploration. The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, designed to advance scientific research on the Moon and support the Artemis initiative. The two landers, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost and iSpace’s Resilience, will deliver scientific payloads and commercial experiments to the lunar surface, with each targeting different regions of the Moon.
The Blue Ghost lander, built by Firefly Aerospace, will arrive in the Moon’s Mare Crisium basin in about 45 days. It carries ten NASA payloads to study lunar soil, temperature variations, and electromagnetic activity, among other objectives. Meanwhile, iSpace’s Resilience lander will take a longer route, using gravity assists to reach its destination at the Mare Frigoris region in four to five months.
It carries six commercial payloads, including experiments on food production in lunar conditions, a radiation probe, and a micro rover. These missions aim to gather data critical for future crewed lunar missions and the establishment of a sustainable human presence on the Moon under NASA’s Artemis program.