No lame duck

Good morning Staker! Here’s what’s cookin’ today. Gold continues its meteoric rise, researchers unveil robotic hand that gives Thing a run for the money, some tips to keep your knees in good shape during the cold weather, and what’s in store for Super Bowl LX 🏈

Let’s get into it!

A troy ounce of gold has been trading at over US$5,000 in the last 48 hours, continuing a historic run unlike any seen since the late 1970s.

As of yesterday, gold had already rallied another 15% in 2026, and economists expect it could peak at anywhere from $5,400 to over $6,000.

The rally early this year in particular has been the consequence of several factors, including the U.S. operation to kidnap Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, President Donald Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on Greenland, and the American Department of Justice’s threat to indict Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell.

All of these have contributed to economic uncertainty, the weakening of the U.S. dollar, and a general sentiment of anxiety that’s historically driven investors to seek shelter. Traditionally, safe havens have been found in precious metals.

While gold has soared above $5,000, silver is also rallying at a rate not seen since 1979. On Sunday alone, a troy ounce of silver was up 4.5% to $107.8, adding to its 2025 rally of 141%.

If scientists said you could evolve to make your hands more dexterous, what would you have them do?

Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology have creatively answered the question, with the creation of a robotic arm and hand that can grasp objects in 33 different ways using its six silicone-tipped fingers.

Its digits are designed in a way that allows the hand to pick up objects from both sides of the palm, as opposed to human hands that are limited by only having one thumb. (Yes, we’re aware of the irony of describing the human opposable thumb as “limiting.”)

“There is no real limitation in the number of objects it can hold; if we need to hold more objects, we simply add more fingers,” Aude Billard, study author and head of the Learning Algorithms and Systems Laboratory at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, said in a statement.

Oh yeah, the robotic hand can also detach itself from the arm and crawl around like a spider while still maintaining its grasping abilities.

Now there’s a Thing 😜

If you feel like you experience more joint pain when the weather gets colder, you’re likely not imagining it.

Generally speaking, the body’s synovial fluid—which acts like motor oil for the joints—depletes as we age. Cold weather or low barometric pressure can also cause it to thicken and expand, reducing mobility and elevating tension between bones and the nearby eroding cartilage.

The cherry on top is that winter forces the body to work harder to stay warm, and when there’s snow on the ground, it’s harder to get traction on slippery and uneven terrain.

While it’s unrealistic to regain the mobility of your 25-year-old self, there are ways to minimize joint pain and slow cartilage degeneration.

For starters, it’s helpful to stay active with exercises that encourage motion but minimize impact. Indoor cycling, swimming, water aerobics, or light yoga are can all be helpful.

Adhering to a diet that contains plenty of polyphenols and other anti-inflammatory components—such as the Mediterranean diet—is also encouraged. Supplements can be helpful as well, but only after consulting a physician for personal recommendations.

Mental stress can also quickly lead to physical stress on the joints, often in the neck, back, and hip areas. Taking proactive steps to keep the mind at ease, be it through physical exercise, meditation, or socializing—all important steps for maintaining low levels of mental and physical stress.

arXiv (pronounced “archive”) is a research database that’s existed since 1991, and is one of the oldest and most useful tools on the internet.

Its purpose has been for scientists to upload drafts of studies to let their peers know about their work, allowing them to get the word out in advance of the lengthy and slow-moving peer-review process.

However, according to a recent article in The Atlantic by arXiv creator and Cornell information scientist Paul Ginsparg, the database’s usefulness has come under attack by AI slop, and may never fully recover.

Ginsparg contributed to a 2025 analysis of large language models’ (LLMs) impact on arXiv, and found the popularity of papers written by or written with assistance from ChatGPT is now 33% higher on the site.

arXiv uses moderating tools to prevent AI slop from being uploaded, but posters have figured out ways to circumvent those barriers by tricking the site into believing papers are based on real stories. They’re ‘juiced’ by making false claims of “groundbreaking discoveries” to draw further interest, despite being about embellished or nonexistent studies.

Ginsparg noted LLMs aren’t necessarily fatal to a paper’s credibility, and can be used “to overcome language barriers.” However, their use in inventing studies to generate user engagement is eroding the credibility of a database that’s historically served as an incubator for scientific scholarship.

11 years ago, the Seattle Seahawks had the New England Patriots dead to rights, when coach Pete Carroll elected to have Russell Wilson pass on the 1-yard line instead of handing the ball off to Marshawn Lynch.

The instantly famous pass was intercepted by New England defender Malcolm Butler, and the Pats won their fourth Super Bowl and first of three in that decade.

That year the Seahawks defense—known as the Legion of Boom—was feared around the league. This year, they’ve adopted a new name: the Dark Side. Now, one would think that would make their Super Bowl opponent the good guys, but what’s another way of describing the Dark Side?

The Empire.

The Kansas City Chiefs had an historic run but when it comes to pro football, whether anyone likes it or not, there’s only one empire: the New England Patriots.

While the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick dynasty ended seven years ago, and the team went 8 and 28 between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, the areturn of three-time Super Bowl champion and Patriots Hall of Famer Mike Vrabel as head coach instantly turned the team around.

With the wisdom of Vrabel and the explosive MVP-contending season of 23-year-old QB Drake Maye, the Pats are headed back to the Super Bowl to face the pride of the NFC in QB Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks.

How does one choose between the Dark Side and the Empire? The stage is set for the battle of the bad guys, and the oddsmakers like the Seahawks. Will they be right, or will the empire strike back?

Quiz long and prosper

We’re taking you outta this world in today’s trivia. 🤣 That’s right, we’re quizzing you on all things Star Trek. Complete the game and earn a shot at a $25 eGift Card ;)

Winner will be notified on Wednesday afternoon. Keep an eye on your inbox and don’t forget to check your spam folder!*