Merry Christmas☕️

25 Dec 2024 — 4 min read

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Yesterday, American Airlines briefly grounded all U.S. flights due to a technical issue, causing widespread delays during the busy holiday travel season. The ground stop lasted less than an hour but delayed over 900 flights, accounting for more than a third of the airline’s schedule. Another 200 flights from its regional carrier, Envoy, were also delayed. Despite the disruption, only 11 flights were canceled. Thunderstorms near the airline’s largest hub in Dallas-Fort Worth further complicated the situation.
The problem was caused by a hardware issue with a system managed by DXC Technology, which provides critical flight data like weight and balance needed for departures. The issue was resolved quickly, and flights resumed. American Airlines apologized to passengers for the inconvenience and worked to minimize further disruptions during the busy holiday travel period.

Economics & Markets:

Environment & Weather:

On December 24, 2024, Mount Raung in East Java, Indonesia, erupted at 9:30 AM local time, releasing ash and gas up to 8 kilometers (26,000 feet) into the sky. The eruption disrupted air travel, forcing the closure of nearby airspace, and prompted evacuation orders for people living within 3 kilometers of the volcano. Authorities advised residents to use masks to protect against ash inhalation, while emergency teams were sent to monitor the situation and assist affected communities.

Mount Raung is one of Java’s most active volcanoes, standing at 3,332 meters (10,932 feet) with a wide 2-kilometer caldera. It has a long history of eruptions, with over 50 recorded since 1593. One of its most significant eruptions occurred in 1593, causing widespread destruction and fatalities. More recent eruptions, such as in 2015, caused heavy ashfall that disrupted air travel and damaged crops. Due to its frequent activity, Mount Raung remains a key focus for volcanic research and monitoring in Indonesia.

Business:

The Nordstrom family, along with Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool, is set to take Nordstrom private by buying all the shares they don’t already own in a $6.25 billion deal. The Nordstrom family currently owns about 33.4% of the company, while Liverpool holds an additional 10% stake. Together, they plan to purchase the remaining shares from public investors at $23 per share, offering a 42% premium over the stock’s price in March 2024, before rumors of the transaction surfaced.
This move is part of a long-term strategy to reshape Nordstrom without the pressures of being a publicly traded company. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals. For the Nordstrom family, this marks a significant step in regaining full control over the company they founded, while Liverpool strengthens its partnership and investment in a major U.S. retailer.

Space:

Science & Technology:

In December 2024, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and their collaborators unveiled Genesis, an open-source platform designed to revolutionize the training of robots and AI systems by simulating real-world conditions at unprecedented speeds. Genesis can run simulations up to 430,000 times faster than real life, allowing robots to train and improve in hours instead of years. It achieves this by performing physics calculations 80 times faster than other popular tools, all on standard computer hardware.
Genesis is both powerful and accessible, enabling users to create highly realistic environments using simple text descriptions. Genesis is a breakthrough for robotics because it allows robots to train in virtual worlds that mimic real-life scenarios, much like how video games create immersive simulations. Robots can now practice tasks such as driving, assembling products, or navigating challenging environments millions of times in a short period.
By offering a safe, scalable, and highly customizable training platform, Genesis is set to accelerate advancements in robotics and AI for critical industries like manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and beyond. Its open-source nature ensures that anyone can access, use, and even improve the platform, democratizing robotics development and fostering innovation on a global scale.

Statistic: