Hey folks!

Here’s some big news from the universe this week. Scientists at Cambridge University, working with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), might have just stumbled upon hints of life on a distant planet called K2-18b. It’s a chunky little world, about two and a half times bigger than Earth, sitting 124 light years away from us. Way too far for a quick visit, but close enough for JWST to sneak a peek at its atmosphere.

And guess what? They found traces of gases — dimethyl sulphide and dimethyl disulphide, which, here on Earth, are only produced by simple living organisms like marine bacteria. It’s like sniffing the air and catching a whiff of life… from 700 trillion miles away!

Now, scientists are being super cautious. Right now, the evidence is exciting but not bulletproof — think of it like finding footprints in a forest without spotting the creature. They need more data to be 99.99999% sure it’s real and not just some cosmic prank. But if they do confirm it, it could shake up one of science’s biggest mysteries — the Fermi Paradox.

You see, the Fermi Paradox asks a simple but haunting question: if the universe is so big, and conditions for life seem pretty common, then where is everybody? Why haven’t we found signs of life yet? If K2-18b really is teeming with life, it could be one of the first answers to that cosmic puzzle, showing that life might actually be everywhere, just hidden away on distant worlds.

Do you think that’s true?

Here’s a soundtrack to put you in the mood 🎵

Summer Came for Us by Nevin

You can thank our reader Himani Kumar for this soothing recommendation!

What caught our eye this week 👀

Why the government wants you to ditch your old AC

Summer’s here. And if you’re like most people in India, the air-conditioner is your best friend these days. But what if we told you that keeping that old, trusty AC could actually be hurting your wallet… and the planet?

Yes, and that’s why the government is now planning a cool new move – a financial incentive plan that lets you scrap your old AC and upgrade to a more energy-efficient one.

Let’s break this down. You see, old air conditioners — especially those that are over 8 years old or have a 1- or 2-star energy rating — are major energy eaters. They pull huge amounts of electricity from the grid, jack up your monthly bills, and pump out way more carbon emissions into the environment.

So the government’s thinking? If millions of Indians replace these old units with brand new 5-star models, it could cut down the country's electricity demand by a massive margin, slash household power bills by over ₹6,000 a year, and even help India hit its climate targets faster.

And it makes sense because as of 2023-24 India buys about 11 million air conditioners in a year. Plus, in cities like Delhi and Mumbai, a chunk of peak electricity demand in summers comes just from cooling needs.

And the plan is pretty simple. Hand over your old AC to a certified recycler. Get a certificate or rebate. Use it to buy a new, energy-efficient (i.e. 5 star) AC. Win-win!

Some companies like BSES Yamuna’s electrical exchange already offer huge discounts on brands like Voltas, LG, and Godrej. And the upcoming plan aligns this initiative at a larger scale. So many other brands are already preparing to roll out special discounts and exchange offers too.

But here’s what can get you thinking - what happens to your old AC once you turn it in?

Well, it doesn’t just get dumped in a landfill. Certified recyclers will carefully dismantle it, recover precious materials like copper, aluminum, and high-grade plastics, and dispose of harmful refrigerants safely.

The move itself comes at a time when India stares at another AC shortage this summer. Last year, a sudden 60% surge in demand led to a deficit of nearly 4–5 million AC units. And while manufacturers have stocked up better this time, a mix of compressor shortages, supply chain bottlenecks, and regulatory hurdles means inventories could still run thin if the heatwave stretches on. So if you’re someone planning for a new one, locking in your new AC brands and specs early might not just beat the rush but could dodge potential price hikes and waiting lists too.

And this isn’t just about saving money either. It’s part of something bigger — India’s Cooling Action Plan (ICAP), a blueprint to make our cooling needs more sustainable. By 2038, the country wants to slash cooling energy demand by over 40%. And upgrading our ACs is a giant first step.

And here’s another thought to chew on — Globally, the world is installing 10 new ACs every second! Most of them in fast-growing economies like India. So, if we don’t get efficient cooling right now, we might just end up overheating the planet even more while trying to cool ourselves down.

So the next time you’re chilling under the cool breeze of an AC, remember — the choices we make today about something as simple as our home appliances could shape the future of our planet. And if your AC is old and tired? Maybe it’s time to give it a graceful, green goodbye 😊

Infographic 📊

This Day in Financial History 📜

April 23, 2005 — The First YouTube Video Upload That Changed Entertainment

Imagine this. It’s 2005. You whip out your chunky camcorder, shoot a 19-second clip in front of some elephants, upload it to the internet, and… bam! You’ve just started the biggest video platform the world’s ever seen. Well, that’s exactly what Jawed Karim, one of YouTube’s co-founders, did on April 23, 2005. The clip? “Me at the Zoo” is still live on YouTube today.

And the impact is nothing short of revolutionary. Because fast forward 20 years, and YouTube has become a cultural giant. 

The video streaming giant is celebrating its 20th birthday and here are some cool facts it has shared. 

Over 20 billion videos uploaded. 20 million videos added daily. Over 100 million comments are exchanged every single day. And more than 300 music videos crossing the billion-views mark. (Fun fact: Adele’s "Hello" hit 1 billion views in just 88 days, the fastest!)

So yeah, YouTube isn’t just a site you visit today. It’s the backbone of how we learn, laugh, create careers — and sometimes, fall down endless rabbit holes late at night.

But it’s not just about viral cat videos or meme culture anymore.

Because if YouTube were a standalone company, analysts estimate it would be worth between $475 billion and $550 billion — about 30% of Alphabet’s entire valuation. And in 2025, it’s on track to surpass Disney in media revenue, making it the new king of entertainment.

It’s even changed how we watch TV. According to Nielsen, YouTube now ranks as the largest aggregate TV content source in the US, beating old-school giants like Disney, Netflix, and NBCUniversal.

And YouTube’s not slowing down. It’s rolling out multiview TV experiences, personalized music radios with just a mood description, voice replies to comments, and even 4x playback speeds.

Of course, they didn’t forget their roots either. To celebrate their 20th birthday, YouTube dropped a nostalgic “Yoodle” (their version of a Google Doodle) and even threw in a classic Rickroll Easter egg on some videos. Because what’s the internet without a little trolling?

Bottom line? From a shaky zoo clip to shaping global culture, education, activism, entertainment, and commerce — YouTube changed how the world connects and creates. And if you ever needed proof that a 19-second idea could change the world, this is it 😉

Readers Recommend 🗒️

This week, our reader Shubham Kumar recommends reading Flying Blind: The 737 MAX Tragedy and the Fall of Boeing by Peter Robison. And as you’ve already guessed this book is about one of the worst tragedies in modern aviation.

Thanks for the rec, Shubham!

That’s it from us this week. We’ll see you next Sunday!

Until then, send us your book, music, business movies, documentaries or podcast recommendations. We’ll feature them in the newsletter! Also, don’t forget to tell us what you thought of today's edition. Just hit reply to this email (or if you’re reading this on the web, drop us a message: morning@finshots.in).

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