It's home to the largest collection of childhood objects in the UK and recently reopened to the public after having a little makeover.

Museum Digital Archives Internship (Chicago--virtual)

January 12
Fourth Grade Community Project: Going to the Museum
Encourage your students to research and visit a museum in your community with these activities.

Reusable entry strip withstands 5 Pascals of negative air pressure

We bring you a new episode of Trade Talks: Unlocking The Experience with special guest CEO/Founder of KnowHow and The Experience Events keynote speaker Leighton Healey.

Scientists are keen to explore beneath Europa’s thick blanket of ice, and they can do so indirectly by hunting for evidence of activity emanating from below. A new study published in the AGU journal Geophysical Research Letters, did exactly this.

The post New evidence of watery plumes on Jupiter’s moon Europa appeared first on GeoSpace.

The two companies will continue to use DS Smith Circular Design Metrics when co-creating new packaging innovations.

The global pharmaceutical packaging market is set to grow over 5% year-over-year in 2019, and bottles will remain highly sought after, followed by blisters, vials and ampoules.

Drug-producing industries are expected to continue to operate at normal or near normal capacities despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pharmaceutical industry is undergoing a tremendous packaging revolution, paving way for the future development of intelligent solutions. One such breakthrough achieved in this space is the blister packaging.

For pharmaceutical manufacturers, measuring and controlling moisture content is critical to ensure product safety, quality and efficient production since the amount of moisture in deliverables can have diverse effects when converting feedstock into products such as tablets, capsules, gel or liquid-based products.

Collaboration includes sharing knowledge on packaging technologies to reduce the environmental burden.

Diofan® Ultra736 is fluorine-free, meets regulatory requirements for direct pharmaceutical contact and supports the design of sustainable films with thinner coating designs. 

This reusable and fully recyclable plastic packaging is available in three colors and is suitable for all caps.

ANALYTICA, a behavioral sciences-based company in Edinburgh, as launched the first service that optimizes packaging using consumer psychology and neuroscience-led customer tests.

Amcor has adapted its design technology to develop the first polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles for pasteurized beer in Brazil.

The company cites a study where its Fillbee reusable packaging cut CO₂ emissions by nearly two-thirds compared to conventional beverage packaging.

Antares Vision Group has implemented a traceability solution for cosmeceutical skin care provider Episciences, Inc., addressing supply chain visibility and gray market diversion challenges. The system was developed by ACSIS, a business unit of Antares Vision Group.

The material provides adhesion in a cool, damp environment and can be washed off again at a later stage without leaving any residue.

The updated packaging tells the story about Neutral’s work with farmers and explains what it means for its milk to be carbon neutral from “grass to glass.”

Dr P. Freud's Answer - From 'Ask Dr. Pigman Freud' by Hugh M. Kramer. The renowned guinea pig psychotherapist answers questions on guinea pig behavior, psychology and intelligence.

'Ask Dr. Pigman Freud' by Hugh M. Kramer. The renowned guinea pig psychotherapist answers questions on guinea pig behavior, psychology and intelligence.

Buy best selling books on neuropsychological assessment and testing.

The Syntegon Versynta FFP is an individually configurable machine with an integratable isolator for filling aseptic and highly potent liquid active ingredients.

The U.S. Farmed seal will first appear on Anheuser-Busch's Busch Light this May, and Budweiser, Bud Light and Michelob ULTRA have also obtained U.S. Farmed certification.

Under Regulation (EU) 2021/2117, which came into force last December, all EU wine producers and suppliers need to provide the most accurate and up-to-date ingredient and nutritional information at retail, a difficulty given the propensity of wine’s ever-changing composition.

Made with 90% post-consumer recycled PET film, the new tapes offer a way to dramatically reduce the use of virgin plastics in case sealing operations.

From tethered caps to a plethora of recycle bins, a trip to Europe this summer revealed a variety of approaches to sustainable packaging.

The growing need from pharmaceutical customers for a complete packaging solution was the impetus for this partnership.

Restel, a Finnish restaurant and catering company, kicks off a pilot with reusable cups made of biobased and recyclable Sulapac® material in selected restaurants, including two Burger King outlets.

New tenant requirement sets foodservice-ware standards that aim to reduce waste.

Collaboration led by the NextGen Consortium makes reusable cups the default option in national and local restaurants across the city of Petaluma, California.

This new serveware, designed to work well in fast-paced food service environments, will replace traditional porcelain dishes for in-room breakfast service.

Participants will leave the webinar with recommendations that municipalities, businesses, and organizations can undertake to invest in reusable packaging systems in their communities.

The new containers, called Veda, feature proprietary tracking and collection technology created by OZZI®, a leading reusable systems and container brand.

Mars' use of this simulation technology has already reduced the quantity of plastics purchased by Mars for testing by approximately 246 tons.

The ACP-722 RRP offers one of the smallest footprints currently available, being up to 50% smaller than equivalent casepacker models.

The Berry Cup Range combines reusability with a premium quality feel and high-impact branding opportunities.

Produce Packaging's new containers will be made with Waddington Europe's Eco Blend 100 material that consists entirely of a combination of post-consumer (PCR) and post-industrial (PIR) recycled PET (rPET).

Soft-fruit containers made with MONOAIR™ cushion technology now include square, large rectangular and standard versions.

Global produce company will debut the reusable plastic containers in select Texas markets.

A new study by Future Market Insights predicts the market to reach a valuation of $58.37 billion in 2021.

The need to modernize technology, automate, and provide sustainable solutions – plus supply chain woes – influence the billions being poured into expansion.

People's Bank of China USD/CNY reference rate is due around 0115 GMT.

The People's Bank of China (PBOC), China's central bank, is responsible for setting the daily midpoint of the yuan (also known as renminbi or RMB). The PBOC follows a managed floating exchange rate system that allows the value of the yuan to fluctuate within a certain range, called a "band," around a central reference rate, or "midpoint." It's currently at +/- 2%.

How the process works:

• Daily midpoint setting: Each morning, the PBOC sets a midpoint for the yuan against a basket of currencies, primarily the US dollar. The central bank takes into account factors such as market supply and demand, economic indicators, and international currency market fluctuations. The midpoint serves as a reference point for that day's trading.
• The trading band: The PBOC allows the yuan to move within a specified range around the midpoint. The trading band is set at +/- 2%, meaning the yuan could appreciate or depreciate by a maximum of 2% from the midpoint during a single trading day. This range is subject to change by the PBOC based on economic conditions and policy objectives.
• Intervention: If the yuan's value approaches the limit of the trading band or experiences excessive volatility, the PBOC may intervene in the foreign exchange market by buying or selling the yuan to stabilize its value. This helps maintain a controlled and gradual adjustment of the currency's value.

Earlier:

• ICYMI - PBOC Governor warned on yuan slide, will 'guard against risk of overshoot'

Deutsche Bank has revised its forecast for the European Central Bank’s (ECB) terminal rate, lowering its central-case projection from 2.25% to 1.50%. The bank now anticipates the ECB’s policy rate will dip slightly below the neutral rate by the end of 2025, rather than returning to neutral by mid-year as previously expected.

This shift in outlook is driven by several factors, including the potential for new tariffs from a Trump administration, which would likely impact trade, along with weaker macroeconomic performance in Europe and the increasing risk of inflation falling below target.

According to Deutsche Bank, the uncertainty surrounding these dynamics is considerable, especially given the unclear timing and effects of U.S. tariffs and potential European responses. Reflecting this uncertainty, the bank has outlined a broad target range of 1.00% to 1.75% for the ECB’s terminal rate.

Deutsche Bank notes that the terminal rate’s trajectory and ultimate level will depend on key influences such as:

1. European fiscal policy,
2. the economic health of Germany,
3. developments in China,
4. and fluctuations in oil prices.

The bank further suggests that the global economy may be entering a new phase, with Europe potentially experiencing increasingly divergent economic conditions compared to the U.S.

People's Bank of China USD/CNY reference rate is due around 0115 GMT.

The People's Bank of China (PBOC), China's central bank, is responsible for setting the daily midpoint of the yuan (also known as renminbi or RMB). The PBOC follows a managed floating exchange rate system that allows the value of the yuan to fluctuate within a certain range, called a "band," around a central reference rate, or "midpoint." It's currently at +/- 2%.

How the process works:

• Daily midpoint setting: Each morning, the PBOC sets a midpoint for the yuan against a basket of currencies, primarily the US dollar. The central bank takes into account factors such as market supply and demand, economic indicators, and international currency market fluctuations. The midpoint serves as a reference point for that day's trading.
• The trading band: The PBOC allows the yuan to move within a specified range around the midpoint. The trading band is set at +/- 2%, meaning the yuan could appreciate or depreciate by a maximum of 2% from the midpoint during a single trading day. This range is subject to change by the PBOC based on economic conditions and policy objectives.
• Intervention: If the yuan's value approaches the limit of the trading band or experiences excessive volatility, the PBOC may intervene in the foreign exchange market by buying or selling the yuan to stabilize its value. This helps maintain a controlled and gradual adjustment of the currency's value.

Earlier re China:

• Green shoots in China? Excavator sales grew 15% in October
• It's not a pretty picture in China

The USD is higher in trading today as the Trump trade continues. HIgher USD. Higher stocks. Bonds we don't know as the bond market is closed for Veterans Day today. Gold is lower but bitcoin in higher.

In this video, I take a look at the EURUSD, USDJPY and GBPUSD from a technical perspective.

EURUSD: The EURUSD fell below the swing lows from June between 1.0665 to 1.06705. That is below the low from last week at 1.06819. Staying below that area keeps the sellers in control. Absent a move above those levels and the buyers are not winning. ON the downside, the next support comes in at 2024 lows between 1.0600 to 1.06097.

USDJPY: The USDJPY has bounced higher and pushed to the 153.88 level. That level has helped to slow the run higher today. Recall from last week, the price did move above that level and ran to a high of 154.70 on the dollar buying after the Election before the corrective move lower (the price bottomed at the 100 bar MA on the 4-hour chart). So the pair is at a key technical level between support at the 100 bar MA on the 4-hour chart, and the high from last week at 154.70.

GBPUSD:The GBPUSD has seen more up-and-down momentum over the last few weeks of trading. It is trading near the low of that up and down range with 1.2832 to 1.2872 the swing area to get to and through to increase the bearish bias. On the topside gettting back above the low from 3 weeks ago comes in at 1.29065. That would need to be broken to give the buyers more confidence.

In the kickstart video, I take a look at the 3 major currency pairs:

EUR/USD Summary

The EUR/USD continued its downward trend due to concerns over slower economic growth and increased tariffs under President-elect Trump.

Key Points:

• Initially rose in the Asian session, but sellers took control near 1.0665-1.06703 swing area. That area was the lows from back in June.

• Staying below the lows from June kept the sellers in control

• Reached a low of 1.0606, testing April's swing lows and the year's lows (since October 2023). A move below the 1.0600 increases the bearish bias.

• Buyers may lean against the low as risk can be defined and limited against the level with stops on a break below.

-------------------------------------------

USD/JPY Summary

The USD/JPY exhibited volatility, with potential bullish signals.

Key Points:

1. Rose yesterday, then stalled between 153.59-153.88 (swing area).

2. Found support at 153.397 (61.8% of July's move down).

3. Broke above 153.88 (bullish signal).

4. Next targets: 154.54-155.09.

Outlook:

Bullish Scenario

Stay above 153.88, targeting 154.54-155.09.

Bearish Scenario

Move below 153.397 increases short-term bearish bias.

--------------------------------------------------

GBP/USD Summary

The GBP/USD fell, breaking below two-week lows and the 200-day MA.

Key Points:

1. Broke below last week's low (1.28329) and 200-day MA (1.28178).

2. Reached 1.27915, then bounced.

3. Traded above and below 200-day MA.

Outlook:

Bullish Scenario

Move above 1.28329, 1.2844, and 1.2866 (50% of April's move) indicates buyer strength.

Bearish Scenario

Stay below 1.28329 and 1.2844 maintains seller confidence; breaking below 200-day MA again confirms bearish trend.

The EURUSD is pushing against its 2024 low at 1.0601. A break below that level would open the door for further downside momentum. A move to new laws would take the price to the lowest level since November 2, 2023.

There is not a lot support technically until a swing area near 1.05158 and 1.05316.

In a big step for decentralized technology, Deutsche Telekom MMS has partnered with Meta Pool as part of its Enterprise Node Operator (ENO) program, becoming the first telecommunications giant to operate a validator node on the NEAR blockchain. This collaboration not only enhances NEAR’s network security and decentralization but also signals a new era of enterprise-driven blockchain adoption, powered by Meta Pool.

Meta Pool, a leader in liquid staking solutions on NEAR, developed the ENO program to connect established industry leaders with the decentralized ecosystem. By joining this initiative, Deutsche Telekom provides NEAR with enterprise-grade infrastructure that boosts both network reliability and performance. This partnership marks a milestone in Meta Pool’s mission to transform the decentralized ecosystem, elevating NEAR’s technology to new levels of scalability and security through trusted industry partnerships.

About Meta Pool

Meta Pool is a multi-chain liquid staking ecosystem and a DAO with multi-chain governance on NEAR and Ethereum. It offers Vote-to-Earn governance rewards, Liquid Staking Tokens on Ethereum, NEAR, Solana, Aurora, ICP, and Q, and Solana's first restaking aggregator, supporting mpSOL, jitoSOL, bSOL, and SOL. Meta Pool makes liquid staking simple and accessible across multiple blockchains, with plans for further expansion.

A Visionary Collaboration for Decentralized AI and Blockchain Innovation

Meta Pool’s (https://www.metapool.app/) ENO program was designed to bridge traditional and decentralized worlds, creating a robust and resilient network on NEAR through partnerships with industry leaders. By joining this initiative, Deutsche Telekom empowers NEAR with the infrastructure to support decentralized applications at scale, opening doors for new advancements in AI, blockchain scalability, and multi-chain interoperability. With Meta Pool’s ENO program as the foundation, Deutsche Telekom is taking a leap toward reimagining the future of decentralized networks.

"NEAR stands out as an ecosystem that shares our vision of combining blockchain and AI with a decentralized approach that prioritizes data privacy and security," said Oliver Nyderle, Head of Digital Trust & Web3 Infrastructure at Deutsche Telekom MMS. "Together, we’re breaking new ground and building a future that connects these technologies in ways never seen before."

Meta Pool, Deutsche Telekom, and NEAR: Building a User-First, Decentralized Future

In an era where data sovereignty and transparency are paramount, Meta Pool’s ENO program brings companies like Deutsche Telekom into the NEAR network, securing blockchain and AI solutions that empower users. This partnership sets the stage for a privacy-focused, decentralized future, championed by industry leaders committed to the transformative power of blockchain.

“This partnership is a turning point for NEAR, Meta Pool, and our Enterprise Node Operator program,” said Claudio Cossio, Meta Pool’s co-founder. “With Deutsche Telekom’s world-class infrastructure expertise, we’re taking NEAR’s protocol to unprecedented levels of decentralization and resilience.”

NEAR Protocol - A Unique Foundation for Decentralized Innovation

NEAR is a high-performance, environmentally sustainable Layer 1 blockchain built to host decentralized applications for millions of users. Thanks to its unique sharding technology, NEAR enables fast, energy-efficient transactions, making it a “green” alternative within blockchain technology. NEAR aligns with Meta Pool’s mission to advance accessible, eco-friendly blockchain solutions that support a more inclusive digital future.

Through Meta Pool’s ENO program, Deutsche Telekom gains access to cutting-edge blockchain insights, reinforcing its leadership in decentralized AI. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to exploring Web3 possibilities, setting the stage for a more transparent, secure, and innovative digital world.