EDITOR'S PICK FINANCE SOCIOLOGY The Rise Of “Even Money” Profits Key Takeaway: The origins of commercial gambling can be traced back to the mid-1600s when mathematical probability emerged. In 1713, mathematician brothers Johann and Jacob Bernoulli introduced the “Golden Theorem,” later known as the law of large numbers, or long averages. This led to a “probability revolution” in gambling, transforming the industry in Britain and […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK TECHNOLOGY Is Artificial Intelligence Inevitable? Key Takeaway: The hype surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) is a long-standing belief in technological determinism, which suggests that once a technology is developed, its widespread adoption is unavoidable. However, this perspective is oversimplified and misleading when it comes to AI. Evidence of AI’s impact on productivity remains sparse, and there’s little consensus on its utility […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS EDITOR'S PICK The Comeback Of China’s Tech Billionaires: A New Dawn Or Controlled Market? Key Takeaway: Pony Ma, co-founder of Tencent Holdings, has regained the title of China’s richest individual with a net worth of over A$65 billion. His rise reflects Beijing’s control over its private sector, which aligns with the state’s goals in China’s unique “socialist market economy.” Tencent’s success, including the AAA video game “Black Myth: Wukong,” […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK SOCIOLOGY Why Profit Alone Won’t Save Us Key Takeaway: A study by researchers has found that companies can make a difference without sacrificing financial performance by integrating social and environmental concerns into their business strategies. This approach, known as “social profit orientation,” places equal value on financial profits and positive social outcomes. Companies like Mastercard’s Girls4Tech initiative and World Central Kitchen’s Food […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK STRATEGY The Power Of Small Changes: How Marginal Gains Lead To Extraordinary Success Key Takeaway: The British cycling team’s 2008 Beijing Olympics victory was a result of a simple strategy: the pursuit of marginal gains. The team’s coach, Sir Dave Brailsford, believed that success could be achieved by making a series of 1% improvements across every aspect of the cyclists’ gear, stamina, and physical conditioning. This principle, known […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS EDITOR'S PICK The Impact Of Negative Reviews Key Takeaway: Travelers often turn to online reviews to choose the perfect destination, shaping their experiences. Businesses read reviews and often act on them, analyzing sentiments and benchmarking against competitors. They respond to reviews, taking actionable steps to address feedback. Negative reviews can be catalysts for change, allowing businesses to refine offerings and enhance customer […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS EDITOR'S PICK STRATEGY The Business Impact Of Reduced Marketing Key Takeaway: A study published in The Journal of Marketing suggests that businesses often cut their marketing budgets for short-term savings, but these cuts can cause long-term problems. The study gathered transcripts of nearly 25,000 earnings calls held by public companies from 2008 to 2019. The more earnings-oriented language in the calls, the more likely […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
EDITOR'S PICK STRATEGY The Real Art Of War Key Takeaway: The Art of War, an ancient Chinese war manual from the 5th century BCE, is often cited as a cliché by teen edgelords and management gurus. However, the book is actually a work of clear-sighted and sometimes ruthless realism, influenced by philosophy and strategy. The book, which is attributed to Chinese general and […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS EDITOR'S PICK Boeing: Are Businesses Too Big To Fail? Key Takeaway: Alaska Airlines flight 1282 nearly fell out of the sky after losing a door plug, following two similar 737 Max plane crashes in 2018 and 2019. Boeing was charged with conspiracy to defraud regulators in 2021, but the US government agreed not to prosecute the company if it promised to pay a criminal […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS EDITOR'S PICK SOCIOLOGY Is Journalism Still A Viable Vocation? Key Takeaway: The shrinking press corps in the US has led to a decline in journalism, with many reporters and editors leaving the profession due to burnout. This has not only affected civil society but also led to reduced political engagement and oversight of those in power. Journalism is attractive to many people because it […] Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
The Future Tech Of Music Is Space-Bending Key Takeaway: Researchers have developed a technology that creates “audible enclaves” in open air, creating highly focused, localized zones of sound. These isolated audio pockets allow sound to materialize only at a precise point in space, unheard by others nearby. This breakthrough could revolutionize public communication, entertainment, military applications, and office design. The process, known […] Written by Empirics Asia April 9, 2025April 9, 2025 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
The Promise And Peril Of A.I. Therapy Key Takeaway: AI-powered mental health tools, such as chatbots and self-help apps, offer immediate emotional support to those in need. However, these tools cannot replace the complexity, depth, and ethical safeguards of human therapy, especially when dealing with serious mental health issues. AI lacks emotional understanding, cultural context, and real-time adaptability, which can be dangerous […] Written by Empirics Asia April 8, 2025April 8, 2025 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
How Hidden Friendships Redefine Animal Intelligence Key Takeaway: Research shows that some animals form surprising partnerships, challenging traditional views on how intelligence evolves in the animal kingdom. For example, Octavia and Finn, a day octopus and coral trout, work as a team, each bringing unique skills to the hunt. Other species have also developed remarkable partnerships, such as the greater honeyguide […] Written by Empirics Asia March 28, 2025March 28, 2025 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Can A Book Be Dangerous? Key Takeaway: Books have long been a subject of debate, with some being praised for sparking imagination and empathy, while others are feared for warping minds or seducing readers into fantasy. The fear of fiction altering our sense of the world dates back to the early days of the novel, with women often being portrayed […] Written by Empirics Asia March 24, 2025March 24, 2025 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
The Hidden Cost Of Space Key Takeaway: Satellite re-entry, a process where defunct satellites are disposed of, is causing a significant environmental impact on Earth’s atmosphere. As satellite usage increases, researchers are focusing on the re-entry process itself, which releases metal particles into the Earth’s atmosphere. These particles, such as aluminum oxide and lithium, can influence the planet’s energy balance, […] Written by Empirics Asia March 21, 2025March 21, 2025 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
The Science Of Impatience Key Takeaway: Impatience is a common trait in humans, often influenced by our evolutionary past and perception of time and risk in the modern world. Early humans preferred immediate rewards, such as food and resources, as they were more likely to survive in unpredictable conditions. However, modern financial decisions often favor delayed rewards, as our […] Written by Empirics Asia March 20, 2025March 20, 2025 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
A Cosmic Mystery Unraveled Key Takeaway: Astronomers have discovered strange, pulsing radio signals in space, known as long-period transients, that appear far too slow to be attributed to neutron stars. The LOFAR radio telescope has identified the origin of one of these enigmatic signals, revealing a surprising culprit: a white dwarf. The red star, identified as ILTJ1101+5521, emitted bright, […] Written by Empirics Asia March 19, 2025March 19, 2025 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Rethinking Education Key Takeaways: The Industrial model of education that fueled the modern era and its dizzying reach did its job incredibly well. In his writing, Flynn illustrates study after study, spanning nations and decades, in which modern educational gift of abstraction — a transcendent sign of intelligence, as we saw in Raven’s Matrices — has been […] Written by Anthony Fieldman March 2, 2022October 19, 2022 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
How China Is Transforming Its Economy Through Learning I highly recommend reading the McKinsey Global Institute’s new report, “Reskilling China: Transforming The World’s Largest Workforce Into Lifelong Learners”, which focuses on the country’s biggest employment challenge, re-training its workforce and the adoption of practices such as lifelong learning to address the growing digital transformation of its productive fabric. How to transform the country […] Written by Enrique Dans February 1, 2021February 1, 2021 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
Why You’re Not Seeing Success With Influencer Marketing With the new year around the corner, now is a good time to re-evaluate your past marketing strategies and gear up for the year ahead. For some businesses, influencer marketing has simply not seemed to live up to its lofty promises of genuine engagement, credibility, and transparency. Some have claimed that it has been failing […] Written by Michael Tan January 14, 2021January 15, 2021 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked
A New Philosophy of Business I’m about to ask you to take a mental leap. For the next 8 minutes, suspend your notions of what a business is, and I’ll propose a new lens for you to look through. There are a lot of questions asked around what “community” means for business. “Where should community fit in my organization?” and […] Written by Empirics Asia September 5, 2018September 5, 2018 Saving Bookmark this article Bookmarked