It takes 919 pounds of rare earth minerals to build one 15-ton, F-35 fighter jet, a critical set of components that are about to be much harder to find. China, which controls about 80% of the global supply, is considering an export ban. arsTECHNICA, February 16, 2021
More than 15% of debt raised in the U.S. high-yield bond market has carried a rating of CCC or below, the lowest rating given since the start of 2021. That’s the highest share since 2007. Financial Times, February 15, 2021
“Politics are about what should be; investing is about what is.” Anonymous
A shocking new study found that the New York City subway is kind of gross. More specifically, researchers measured air quality in 71 underground stations during morning rush hours in Boston, Philly, D.C., and New York searching for particles at the PM2.5 level. Nationally, the determined safe daily level is 35 micrograms per cubic meter; New York’s subway clocked in at 251 micrograms per cubic meter and the Christopher Street station in New York which connects to the PATH train to New Jersey came in at 1,499 micrograms per cubic meter. The Guardian, February 10, 2021. Oliver Milman, The Guardian
The island of Manhattan is home to roughly 1.6 million people. With an area of nearly 23 square miles, there are more than 72,000 people per square mile. If the entire world lived with this population density, all of humanity could fit into the country of New Zealand. The Daily Overview, February 17, 2021
Credit card balances and other revolving credit lines ticked down 0.3% month over month in December and fell to 10.8% year over year, the steepest decline ever. Yahoo, February 16, 2021
In 2010, a programmer bought two pizzas for 10,000 Bitcoin in what will go down as the most expensive pizza transaction ever. Assuming there were 16 slices between the two pies and you take 15 bites each- at today’s bitcoin price, that is about $2 million per bite. Morning Brew, February 17, 2021
