Quantic’s Weekly Roundup – November 2020 (2)

Quantic’s Weekly Roundup is a satisfying mix of the latest breaking news, business, STEM and social science stories. Here are your headlines for this week: 

Do NOT hold the fries: According to data, comfort food and tons of alcohol got America through election night. Searches for “fries near me” and “liquor stores near me” skyrocketed across all platforms. According to Drizly, an alcohol delivery company, the blue states it services saw a 75% increase, while red states hit a 33% increase. Blue states favored wine, while swing states preferred liquor.

Just breathe: A Singapore startup has developed a breath test it says can detect COVID-19 in under 60 seconds. Based on clinical trials involving 180 patients, the system has clocked an accuracy rate of more than 90%. The startup, Breathonix, believes the test will be a welcome and viable alternative to the uncomfortable nose swab tests, which also take longer to process results. 

Zombies, science-fiction, and secret agents, oh my! A new breed of running apps are being designed to motivate those who might not be excited to hit the pavement. The app, Running Stories, uses real-time data and GPS markers to integrate an exciting plot with your surroundings. Complete a secret mission, fend off monsters, all while burning plenty of calories.  

Reduce, reuse, recycle… robots? AMP Robotics’ AI-robots are being used to sort and recycle more than 67 million tons of waste. With sorting jobs becoming less appealing, and the recent, skyrocketing increase in packaging from online shopping, the need for processing recyclables has never been greater. Now, between the robots’ sorting accuracy and lower labor costs, facilities will be able to focus on improving the recycled materials that they sell.