Starlink Vs Tesla—A Tale Of Two Musks...

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Elon Musk has recently solidified his status as the wealthiest individual in history, with Tesla (TSLA) emerging as his dominant source of wealth. Tesla's market capitalization reached an astounding peak of nearly $1.5 trillion, underscoring its monumental growth. Meanwhile, SpaceX, another Musk-led venture, boasts a market valuation of $350 billion (of which Musk owns 40%). Analysts suggest that SpaceX could eventually surpass Tesla in value, highlighting its transformative potential in the aerospace and telecommunications industries. The story is even more compelling when viewed in the context of what Starlink and global internet can bring to SpaceX.

Tesla's stock performance has been both remarkable and volatile. From January 1 to April 22, 2024, Tesla stock was down 43%. However, between April 22 and December 17, 2024, the stock surged 238% from its lowest point. Following its peak in December, Tesla's value experienced a 21% decline by January 2, 2025, including a sharp 6% drop on that day alone.

This rollercoaster volatility prompts critical questions: At what point does a stock become overvalued? Did Tesla genuinely gain $800 billion (from $700 billion on October 23 to $1.5 trillion on December 17) in market capitalization due to intrinsic growth, or was this surge driven by speculative enthusiasm?

These dynamics raise an interesting possibility: Can investors favor Musk's vision yet prefer one stock over the other? Is it conceivable for Tesla to experience a downturn while SpaceX continues its upward trajectory?

The table below highlights funds with a Tesla weighting of 15% or more, showcasing their exposure and associated risks. Among these, the Baron Partners Fund (BPRTX) stands out with a staggering 44% of its total assets under management (AUM) invested in Tesla—more than double the weight of the next closest non-leveraged, non-international fund. Furthermore, this concentration also comes at a higher cost: the Baron Partners Fund charges the highest fees in the Tesla peer group, with an expense ratio of 2.25%.

Scientists Left Baffled After Discovering Asteroid-comet Hybrid That's Like Nothing Ever Seen...

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Scientists have made a shocking discovery about a rare object in our solar system likened to an asteroid-comet hybrid.

Astronomers from the University of Central Florida have made the space discovery using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

As they analysed near-infrared images, the scientists found something that is 'like nothing' the astronomy world has ever seen before.

The UCF Florida Space Institute (FSI) researchers found a Centaur and while it may be named after a mythical creature that is half-horse and half-man, in space terms, it describes an asteroid-comet hybrid.

These bodies are found between Jupiter and Neptune and though they behave like asteroids, they produce gas and dust like comets.

An asteroid can be described as a large chunk of rock from left over collisions from the early stages of our solar system, which are mostly located between Mars and Jupiter in the asteroid belt.

Centaurs are a combination of both, and one in particular has left researchers Dr Charles Schambeau and Scientist Noemí Pinilla-Alonso scratching their heads.

They're almost like time capsules containing information about the formation of our solar system, though something sets Chiron aside.

Space Science And Exploration In 2025: What To Know – DW – 01/02

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While not technically "marooned," given there are regular crew and supply voyages that could return them at a later date, the pair of astronauts were forced to stretch their stay on the ISS from two weeks to, now, a minimum of nine months.

The astronauts have since joined Crew-9, a mission from SpaceX launched to the ISS to carry the two astronauts back home .

Crew-9 was originally planned to return to earth in February, but NASA announced in December it will delay the Crew-10 launch, which is set to replace Crew-9.

Crew-10 is being delayed by a month, meaning the astronauts should return to Earth in March if there are no further delays.

2025 will be the year the European Space Agency ( ESA ) begins analyzing Earth's ecosystems from space.

The FLuorescence EXplorer (FLEX) mission will provide global maps of plant health and stress. FLEX has a 3 1/2 year design lifetime from launch.

The satellite will include new instruments capable of measuring photosynthetic activity from space for the first time. The instrument, called FLORIS, will measure vegetation fluorescence to record photosynthesis on a mass scale to provide better understanding of how plant ecosystems affect the global carbon cycle.

A separate ESA mission launching in 2025 will also analyze Earth's forests. The Biomass mission will measure information about the state of our forests and how they are changing.

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Dog Robots Can Trek Through Mud Using Moose-inspired Hooves

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Many quadrupedal robots can adeptly handle uneven or sloped terrain , but only if the ground beneath them is relatively stable. Factor in slippery or muddy surroundings and four-legged machines may quickly falter or fail completely. But one engineering team believes they found a solution in mimicking animals often found in boggy habitats. According to a study published in Bioinspiration ⁘ Biomimetics by researchers at Estonia's Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), dog bots could soon take their cues from giant moose .

"[M]ost robots cannot access a wide range of highly important terrestrial environments, including wetlands, bogs, coastal marshes, river estuaries and fields, which are abundant in nature," explained TalTech biorobotics professor and team lead, Maarja Kruusmaa, in an accompanying statement on January 2nd.

Ungulates (split-hooved animals like cattle and moose), however, are evolutionarily equipped to handle these often sticky situations. After conducting physical experiments observing actual moose feet, researchers found that cloven hooves are key to maneuvering through mud and similarly waterlogged terrain. This is due to the ability of split-hooves to both spread out and contract during each footfall. Each toe's exposed contact area increases and reduces as it steps into and out of muddy ground, thereby helping a moose to avoid sinking too far into the mire. But more important are the cloven hoof's suction properties.

"We found that the moose's hoof behaves similarly to a suction cup, like how you manage to stick your fingernail under its surface and break the suction force," said Simon Godon, a biorobotics doctoral candidate and study co-author.

Godon also likened mud's physical properties to wet bathroom tile as it sticks to your feet after stepping out of the shower. But unlike humans, a moose's shifting hooves better allow it to break that surface tension and avoid getting stuck in the muck.

Following their moose tests, researchers then designed silicone slippers for a quadrupedal robot. According to results from their lab analysis, the ungulate-inspired booties reduced sinkage depth by about 46 percent and lessened suction force by roughly the same amount. The accessories also lowered the machine's walking energy cost by as much as 70 percent.

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The Road Ahead For Distributed Solar In 2025

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According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), solar contributed 67% of all new electricity-generating capacity added to the U.S. grid in the first six months 2024. Thanks to federal incentives, domestic solar manufacturing has grown four times over in recent years, putting the U.S. in a strong position to meet its solar deployment goals with locally-produced panels.

American leadership in solar technology will likely continue to play a key role. U.S. companies, like First Solar, are making significant investments in innovative solar technologies, particularly in thin-film photovoltaic modules. This focus on advancing solar technology provides the U.S. with a competitive edge, even as global competitors push for cost-cutting solutions. As solar systems evolve to integrate storage solutions and microgrid capabilities, American ingenuity may help offset price advantages from abroad.

Furthermore, in recent years, many traditionally conservative states have become leaders in solar and energy storage, fueling job creation and economic growth. For example, Texas installed 5.5 GW of solar capacity in the first half of 2024, nearly doubling Florida's 2.9 GW. This surge in solar adoption emphasizes the growing role of renewable energy in national energy security, particularly in the face of extreme weather events that strain the power grid.

With the growing adoption of solar, SEIA has predicted 39,000 new manufacturing jobs by 2033 resulting from federal policies, with many of these jobs landing in red states. Solar and storage systems in these regions will be crucial to support the grid against climate-related disasters.

While tariffs can incentivize domestic production, they also risk raising energy prices for consumers, particularly if applied widely. Empirical data shows that the burden of tariff-related price hikes often falls on consumers. As the cost of imported solar equipment increases, utilities — which are not designed to absorb higher costs — tend to pass these increases on to their customers, including residential, commercial and industrial users.