Happy Thursday and happy birthday to Ella and Eliza Fuller, formerly conjoined twins who were attached at the abdomen. The twins, who were born at Texas Children’s Hospital, were separated when they were just four months old. They celebrated their first birthday on March 1st, marking a huge milestone!

 ☕️Postcall’s one-sip markets update:

The US Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged for a fifth straight time on Wednesday, while also signalling three rate cuts ahead for 2024. Nvidia announced the Blackwell B200 chip, which it claims can reduce energy consumption by 25x compared to the H100. Outside of tech, Lululemon and Nike will report earnings this week, on the heels of Adidas posting its first annual loss in 30+ years.

Ready for this week’s stories?

Staying #Up2Date 🚨

 1. Improved tools for stools

Getting colorectal cancer (CRC) screening can sometimes be a literal bummer — who wants to provide stool samples or get colonoscopies? A more non-invasive screening test using cell-free DNA (cfDNA) may soon be on the horizon. This study from NEJM assessed a blood-based test in a population eligible for CRC screening. In an average-risk screening population, this cfDNA blood-based test had 83% sensitivity for colorectal cancer, 90% specificity for advanced neoplasia, and 13% sensitivity for advanced precancerous lesions. 

2. Shots & clots 

Although COVID-19 vaccines have been associated with increased risk for cardiac and thromboembolic events (myocarditis, thrombosis etc), these risks have always been thought to be higher following SARS-CoV-2 infection. A staggered cohort study looked into the association between COVID-19 vaccination and the risk of post-COVID cardiac and thromboembolic complications. After comparing 10 million vaccinated & unvaccinated folks, getting the shot was associated with reduced risks of COVID-19 venous & arterial thromboembolism as well as heart failure. 

3. Over the counter birth control

Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control pill will be available in drug stores and supermarkets in the US later this month, after getting FDA approval last summer. The company says their product has a 98% effectiveness rate and should start to work 48 hours after the first dose. The product will be available on their website and on Amazon. To protect the privacy of their customers, Opill says the orders will be sent in unbranded boxes.

👨‍💻Heidi’s Tech Bites

1: Because owning more than half the satellites in space isn’t enough, SpaceX has reportedly been contracted by a US intelligence agency to build hundreds more, according to Reuters. These low-orbit spy satellites would be able to both track targets on the ground and operate as a swarm.

2: Social news website/forum/meme factory Reddit is planning to go public tomorrow, aiming for a valuation of up to $6.4 billion. It’ll be the first significant tech and social media platform IPO (initial public offering) in years.

3: The HIMSS conference took place this week, drawing 30,000+ health and tech professionals to Orlando, FL. With generative AI hitting the mainstream, ambient clinical documentation tools were the talk of the conference.

4: Microsoft has hired Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of AI research lab DeepMind, as the CEO of Microsoft AI. Suleyman will lead the company’s consumer AI products and research, like the generative AI service Copilot. The new addition is Microsoft’s attempt to get a leg up in the AI industry as other big tech companies battle to capitalize on the market.

Want to use AI instead of just reading about it? Try Heidi, the only free AI scribe.

Electric Cars Spark a Conversation  🚗

While electric vehicles are revving up to be the future, some people are questioning the public health implications behind their production.

What happened: Researchers at Northwestern University found that if 30% of the gas vehicles in Chicago switched to electric, the reduction in pollution would save more than 1,000 lives and $10 billion in US healthcare costs every year. 

Why it’s interesting: The team ran simulations to find out the reduction in emissions from all types of electric vehicles. In an earlier study, researchers found that if they replaced 30% of heavy duty trucks with electric versions, it could save around 500 lives and about $5 billion per year in health benefits. (Carbon dioxide and black smoke, both found in gas engines, affect the respiratory and cardiovascular system.)

But some are concerned about the production of lithium ion batteries for EVs. They use three times more cumulative energy demand than a regular battery. Only 5% of them get recycled, which means the rest end up in landfills and could potentially cause fires. 

In 2016, 40,000 children in the Democratic Republic of Congo reportedly worked in mines, retrieving minerals for products like cell phones and electric cars. Chile is also affected by the mining, as it can contaminate the country’s water supply. It’s been reported that by 2040 the demand for these minerals will increase 20-fold.

Bottom line: One prescription does not fit all, and the same can be said for gas and electric. So before you trade in, do your own research to see what’s best for you.

Notable Numbers 🔢

$112k: the daily interest accruing on Trump’s $454M USD judgment in his civil fraud case. But he testified last year that he had $400M in liquid assets, so he should be good 👍️

8 (in 10 days): the number of Boeing incidents reported between Mar. 4 and Mar. 14 that required emergency landings or diversions.

6%: commission rule in home purchase transactions has been eliminated. In an attempt to reduce the cost of living, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) cut the policy by paying $418 million in damages and eliminating rules on commissions.

20k: U.S adults participated in a study that limited their eating to less than 8 hours a day and found they were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease. A previous study found that time restricted eating was beneficial for losing weight and heart health, however new information says there’s a 91% higher risk of death due to time-restricted eating. 

Postcall Picks ✅

🛍️ Shop: Amazon’s Big Spring Sale starting Mar. 20th til the 25th! You don’t need a prime membership to participate on the best fashion, beauty, and tech deals of the season.

🌑 Plan: Your eclipse watching party. Occurring on Apr. 8, 2024, the total solar eclipse will be passing through the U.S, Canada, and Mexico. Find out if your state is one of the lucky ones living in its path here.

📗Read: about how these MDs conquered imposter syndrome.

👀 Watch: How it’s made — this common ingredient is used in jellybeans, wood finish, and fruit preservation (shellac).

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