Track 16. Hydrofoil Ferries, Aging Waves, $1500 Headphones

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Bullet Train is your express route to the stories, products & concepts shaping our future. No short-term headlines, no fluff—just the innovations transforming the world and our place in it, curated by the team behind the Meco App.

Hi BT readers,

Last week we discussed how soon we’ll see a 1-person unicorn (poll results on that below), and then this article on how pint-sized startups are changing the US economy popped up in our feeds. Worth a read!

It’s September 4^th , today’s stops include:

• Hydrofoil ferries could change commuting ⛴️ 

• New study finds aging spikes at 44 and 60 🧓 

• Are $1500 headphones worth it for sustainability? 🎧️ 

And don’t miss our #offtherails segment — not so future-focused, just a bit of fun

Weekly coverage of stories shaping the future — brought to you in streamlined bullet points:

Hydrofoil ferries could change commuting

• What to know: Stockholm is set to welcome the Candela P12 — an electric hydrofoil ferry that uses 80% less energy than traditional ferries by rising above the water, reducing drag and emissions

• Hydrofoil physics: think of it as a ‘wing’ beneath the boat — when the vessel moves fast enough (23 mph) the foils push water downward, generating lift and allowing the boat to glide above the surface

• Speedy delivery: because hydrofoil ferries don’t leave large wakes, they can go faster in ports and busy waterways (the Candela P-12 can go 35 mph, while traditional ferries usually travel at ~13mph)

• A commuter’s future: Candela’s ferries are currently being tested in Stockholm and New York Harbor, and will reportedly head to Neom — part of a larger mission to turn these ferries into a more efficient, eco-friendly commuting alternative for cities near waterways

Dive deeper on this story here

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New study finds aging spikes at age 44 and 60

• What to know: a Stanford study found that molecules in the body undergo sharp changes at two distinct ages, the mid-40s and early 60s

• Aging isn’t linear: aging is thought to be a gradual process, but this suggests there are ‘aging waves’ where we age faster than normal

• Age wave 1: in the mid-40s, there’s an abrupt change in molecules related to alcohol, coffee, and fat metabolism, as well as heart, skin, and muscle function

• Age wave 2: by the early 60s, significant molecule changes were more linked to carbohydrate and caffeine metabolism, immune regulation, and kidney function

• Intervention opportunities: the goal is to pinpoint what causes these sudden shifts, but this also gives individuals a more targeted range for when to get serious about healthy lifestyle interventions as it relates to longevity and quality of life

Dive deeper on this topic here

A story that drummed up big emotions and bigger opinions

Are $1500 headphones worth it for sustainability?

• What to know: Bang & Olufsen, leaders in luxury audio, have just announced a new pair of headphones that retail for $1,549 (no joke)

• Why so much: the Beoplay H100 headphones feature premium materials and the top-notch audio experience you’d expect from B&O, but it’s their repairability that’s driving some of the high price point

• Longterm investment: the company suggests these headphones could last a lifetime, as the ear pad, headband cushion, batteries, and circuit boards can all be replaced

• Where our minds are going: we’re all about the sustainable concept, but at the rate of technological advancements it’s hard to see people committing to any type of tech product for the next 30-50 years

But of course, we want to know what you think:

A bit of fun to round out your ride

• Experts predict the next supercontinent ‘Pangea Ultima’ will be a hellscape uninhabitable by mammals within 250M years… here’s what it will look like

• Can you guess the most popular tool to prevent kids from using AI to cheat on schoolwork? A hint: Dwight Schrute would approve

• A vacation that simulates the castaway experience is niche for sure, but some people are paying this company to drop them off on a deserted island to see if they have what it takes to survive

• If you’re not watching the Paralympics, then what are you doing? We’ve seen some of the most incredible feats of athletic performance, including this insane badminton rally

• And lastly, is your phone actually listening to you? A recent report from an ad agency says yes, but the truth is we’ll never really know what they’re collecting on us — safe to assume it’s a lot…

Here’s what Bullet Train readers had to say about last week’s poll:

You all were fired up and very evenly split on this one…

Will there be a 1-person unicorn in the next 5 years? 

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Yes, I think so (50%)

“And I hope it is me! 😉” - N

“I think so, but I think that’s a bad thing. We don’t need more billionaires in the world. ” - A

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 No way (50%)

“People traditionally overestimate the speed of technical advances and underestimate the amount of work needed to get something successful. A $1bn unicorn is going to have to be doing anywhere from $250m - $400m in revenue - depending on the multiple - to get anywhere near a $1bn valuation and you're not gonna get there on your own. AI agents aren't anywhere near good enough yet to independently reason and generate genuine creative marketing solutions to take up the majority of the heavy lifting. ” - I

Please mind the gap as you get off the train ✌️