Niantic’s CEO believes the metaverse could be a ‘dystopian nightmare’

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The metaverse, the concept of an alternative, shared digital world that originated in sci-fi, has bubbled up to the surface of tech chatter during the later days of the pandemic. It’s a concept that a number of Big Tech and gaming companies, most notably Facebook, Roblox, and Epic Games, are trying to make real.

One of the technologies that may be used to interact with a future metaverse is augmented reality, which intermingles digital content with the real world through a smartphone screen right now and AR glasses in the future. Niantic created the game that introduced many people to AR, Pokémon Go, which means that the company has a vested stake in its own version of a digital reality. Niantic said Tuesday it had acquired a 3D scanning app called Scaniverse, which it will use to crowdsource images from the smartphone cameras of game players. Those images will form a map that will allow Niantic to anchor digital objects to real-world places.

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Startup looks to help oil and gas producers 'get real' on methane emissions

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Natural gas companies are facing growing pressure from investors and customers to demonstrate their fuel is cleaner than competitors as the industry looks to overcome doubts that it can continue to play a role in addressing climate change.

But the industry has long struggled to collect and provide accurate data to prove claims of clean gas.

A new range of third-party data providers aims to change that by helping companies measure their emissions and certify gas as being clean.

Denver-based startup Project Canary, launched in 2019, scores oil and gas operators based on factors including methane emissions intensity, the level of emissions per unit of economic activity.

The company also provides producers solar-powered devices for continuously monitoring methane emissions that can be installed across the oil and gas supply chain.

Based on the data it helps collect, Project Canary will certify producers as providing “Responsibly Sourced Gas,” a branding that could give operators a leg up in the marketplace.

“Think of it as a credit score,” Project Canary co-founder and CEO Chris Romer told the Washington Examiner. “We are like the Moody and S&P of climate ratings.”

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Hailey Bieber's Adorable Necklace Is on Sale for More Than 50% Off

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Whether it's street style or beach style, Hailey Bieber is constantly serving up fashion inspo, and her latest pick is no different. The 24-year-old model has jumped in on the beaded jewelry trend with a playful-yet-stylish choker -- and it's now on sale for just $30. 

Bieber is a big fan of Frasier Sterling's Custom Lucky You Choker, which she personalized with a sparkly "H" charm in the center. She's shown off the necklace several times on social media -- both on her Instagram Story and main feed -- and it's safe to say we've fallen in love with the adorable piece. The 14 inch beaded necklace features fresh water pearls, glass seed beads and 14k gold plated zinc charms with cz details, for a whimsical look. 

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How Frasier Sterling Achieved Over 100% Growth YOY By Giving Consumers Exactly What They Want

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Gen Z and millennials are becoming the main force in fashion consumption, and the market competition for winning their attention and loyalty is fierce. With so many fashion houses (including some of the biggest names in the industry) struggling well before the pandemic even started, Frasier Sterling, the DTC jewelry brand known for its feel-good, on-trend designs at affordable price points has steadily grown over 100% YoY since inception. What has it done right?

Founded by Frasier Lipton, Frasier Sterling was initially “a complete one-woman show”. Lipton offered jewelry made from precious and semi-precious stones with prices ranging from $150 to $3,000 when she first started, and worked hard to build up her brand. “My first line sheets were made using Word and I physically walked into stores and asked to speak with the buyers. I developed a reorder business very quickly and found myself working until 2am for years to keep up with my order volume, until it hit an inflection point and wasn’t manageable anymore.” The young founder tells me.

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