HeyWhatsNew: Carcinogenic Food Coloring Red No.3 Gets the Boot, and Jeff Bezos Joins the Billionaire Space Race
Hey there, HeyUp Crew! Another week, another wave of tech news to dive into. From exciting product launches to groundbreaking updates and industry shake-ups, we’ve got the latest scoop on everything making waves in the tech world this week. Ready to catch up on all the action? Let’s see what went down in the week beginning 13/01/2025.
DJI Removes Fly Zone Restrictions Amidst LA Fires
DJI, the Chinese drone maker, will no longer enforce geofence barriers that prevent its drones from flying over restricted areas like airports, wildfires, and government sites. While the company says this change empowers users, it raises safety concerns amid increasing drone sightings near critical infrastructure.
Previously, DJI's geofencing system automatically stopped drones from entering sensitive zones, such as government buildings and hospitals, to prevent interference with essential services. Popular Science reports that now, drone operators will receive alerts when approaching restricted airspace but can choose to ignore them. This decision puts full responsibility on operators to avoid risky areas, a significant shift from the company’s earlier safety measures implemented after incidents like the 2015 White House drone crash.
TikTok CEO Will Attend the Upcoming Inauguration, Despite the Looming Ban of the App in the U.S
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next week, according to the New York Times. This comes as the Supreme Court considers upholding a bipartisan law that could force TikTok to be sold to a U.S. company or face a ban.
Meanwhile, reports from the Washington Post suggest Trump is considering delaying the law's enforcement with an executive order after taking office, though legal experts doubt he can override a law passed by Congress. Tech giants Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg are also expected to attend the event, sitting together on the main dais alongside other notable figures.
Jeff Bezos Officially Enters the Space Race with Blue Origin
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, owned by Jeff Bezos, successfully launched from Florida early Thursday after an initial delay on Wednesday. This marks Bezos’ entry into the competitive private space race, directly challenging Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The New Glenn’s first mission aimed to reach orbit, a crucial milestone for Blue Origin. “This is our first flight, and we’ve prepared rigorously for it,” the company shared on X. “Our key objective today is to reach orbit safely. Anything beyond that is icing on the cake.”
Fox Business reports Blue Origin also attempted an ambitious booster landing in the Atlantic, acknowledging that success on the first try would be a challenge. Regardless of the outcome, the company emphasized that valuable lessons from this launch will shape future missions.
Food Coloring “Red No.3” Banned After 118 Years
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially banned the use of Red 3, a dye commonly found in candies, snack cakes, and maraschino cherries, due to potential cancer risks. This decision comes nearly 35 years after the dye was barred from cosmetics for the same reason.
The ban follows a 2022 petition from food safety and health advocates and is based on studies linking Red 3, also known as erythrosine or FD&C Red No. 3, to cancer in lab rats. The FDA cited the Delaney Clause, a law that prohibits any additive shown to cause cancer in humans or animals, as the basis for its decision.
Nintendo Reveals the Switch 2, but It’s Not Quite Ready to Launch Yet
According to Tom’s Guide, Nintendo has officially announced the Nintendo Switch 2, ending years of rumors, leaks, and fan theories. The long-awaited successor to the best-selling Switch was revealed through a two-minute trailer that highlights some of the features that have been at the center of speculation, though Nintendo has yet to dive into detailed specifications.
Fans can expect the Switch 2 to build upon the foundation of the original, offering improved performance while maintaining the beloved hybrid design. More details about the Nintendo Switch 2 are expected to be shared in the coming months.
Galaxy S25 Leaks Ahead of Samsung Event Next Week
The Verge reports that Samsung is rumored to be developing a super-thin smartphone, and new renders from OnLeaks and Smartprix suggest it will be called the Galaxy S25 Slim. The leaked images reveal a sleek design with a flat front, back, and sides, resembling the Galaxy S24 and earlier S25 renders.
The Galaxy S25 Slim is said to measure just 6.4mm thick, making it 1.2mm thinner than the Galaxy S24 and significantly slimmer than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which reportedly has a depth of 8.2mm. Despite its slim profile, the phone is expected to pack a powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, 12GB of RAM, and a triple-camera setup on the back. The Galaxy S25 Slim is rumored to launch in May 2025, though it might make an appearance at Samsung’s January 22 event.
That’s a wrap on this week’s tech highlights. Stay tuned for more updates, insights, and innovations in next week’s newsletter. Bye for now.
