• Walmart posted strong fourth-quarter results Tuesday, beating on both the top and bottom lines and on same-store sales.
• Online sales surged 40% for the 2019 fiscal year.
• The retail giant reiterated its fiscal-year 2020 forecast.
• Walmart shares were up 4.6% following the results.
• Watch Walmart trade live.

Walmart on Tuesday blew past fourth-quarter expectations, posting strong top- and bottom-line results and same-store sales.

The retail giant earned an adjusted $1.41 a share on revenue of $138.8 billion, beating the $1.34 and $138.7 billion that analysts surveyed by Bloomberg were expecting. The results excluded a charge of $0.17 a share attributed to the new tax law and an unrealized gain of $0.03 a share on Walmart's equity investment in JD.com.

Same-store sales excluding fuel were also strong, coming in at up 4.2% versus the 3.2% gain that was anticipated.

For fiscal-year 2019, Walmart earned an adjusted $4.91 a share as revenue increased 2.8% year-over-year to $514.4 billion. Comparable sales excluding fuel were up 3.6%. The retailer said e-commerce sales surged by 40% in the fiscal year.

"Progress on initiatives to accelerate growth, along with a favorable economic environment, helped us deliver strong comp sales and gain market share," Walmart's president and CEO, Doug McMillon, said in the press release.

"We're excited about the work we're doing to reach customers in a more digitally connected way. Our commitment to the customer is clear — we'll be there when, where, and how they want to shop and deliver new, convenient experiences that are uniquely Walmart."

Looking ahead, Walmart reiterated its 2020 full-year guidance. The retailer sees consolidated net sales growth of at least 3% on a constant-currency basis and adjusted earnings per share declining by a low-single-digit percentage range. Walmart expects e-commerce sales to grow by about 35% during the fiscal year.

Walmart shares were up 4.6% following Tuesday's results. They were up 7.4% this year through Friday.

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NOW WATCH: Meet the three women who married Donald Trump

• On Tuesday, Redis Labs announced it closed $60 million in Series E financing. 
• Last year, Redis Labs changed its license in response to Amazon taking Redis Labs' database software and selling it on its cloud — a move that proved controversial among open source developers.
• Despite the competition from Amazon, Redis Labs showed investors that it was able to grow quickly, and investors agreed with the licensing change, says Ofer Bengal, co-founder and CEO of Redis Labs.

Redis Labs has been living under the spectre of Amazon for some time.

Redis Labs is best-known as the creator of the free, open source Redis database, which has only grown more popular among developers since its introduction in 2011, thanks in large part to the speed with which it gives results. 

That popularity has translated into fast growth: In 2018, Redis Labs saw 60% revenue growth from the year before, from sales of its paid enterprise edition with more features. In November, it hired its first CFO, Rafael Torres, ahead of an IPO that it plans to hold in about two years, says Redis Labs CEO Ofer Bengal. 

However, because Redis is open source —  meaning that anyone can use, download or modify the software in any way they want, for free — it also means that Amazon Web Services was completely within its rights when it took Redis, packaged it up, and sold it as a service for a profit, as it did starting in 2013. 

"We lived with the Amazon competition from day one," said Bengal. "All this time we learned to live with it, although it hurts because they make hundreds of millions of dollars each year on Redis alone. These are revenues that are taken from us. Redis is the fruit of our development efforts...They didn't add any significant functionalities to it and basically just packaged the open source into a fully managed service which they offer over AWS."

Still, Bengal says that its fast growth offset investor concerns about Amazon. And on Tuesday, Redis Labs announced it closed $60 million in Series E financing led by Francisco Partners, as well as participation by existing investors, Goldman Sachs, Bain Capital Ventures, Viola Ventures, and Dell Technologies Capital.

"We are building our company to be a leading database company," Bengal said. "The landscape has changed a lot. Ten to twenty years ago, it was insane to build a new database company because of the dominant position of Oracle. Today, everyone understands that there's a market that's open, and there's room for several database companies."

Competition from Amazon

Just because Redis Labs has grown on its own merits, it doesn't mean the company is taking the competition from Amazon lying down. 

Last year, Redis Labs made ripples in the open source community when it announced it would adopt the Commons Clause — a controversial new provision in its software license that would prevent Amazon, or any other large cloud provider, from taking components of Redis' code and selling it for a profit. 

Read more: Two software companies, fed up with Amazon, Alibaba and other big cloud players, have a controversial new plan to fight back

When Redis Labs first added the Commons Clause, open source developers were divided, fretting that putting provisions on how the software was used could undermine the very meaning of open source. But Redis Labs was soon joined by companies like Confluent and MongoDB in taking similar stands. 

"I think people understand we need to update the open source concept," Bengal said. "I think today people are okay with it. In terms of the business itself, it has no impact on our business whatsoever. We didn't see any deduction."

In fact, Bengal says, it will help Redis Labs become more competitive with Amazon. While AWS is still free to use the older versions of Redis, which are still under the previous license, it means that it's blocked by the license from taking advantage of features in any future releases.  

"Our newest innovation is not open to them anymore," Bengal said. "They can't adopt them anymore because of our new license. We base our potential future growth on those new innovations which we constantly bring to the market…And the competition from Amazon will become less and less."

Risks and rewards

This approach does have its risks, though, and the new licenses aren't a silver bullet. Although its new license prevented Amazon from selling MongoDB's own open source database software, it didn't stop Amazon from creating its own version based on the same concepts. 

"MongoDB just now feels the power of the Amazon competition," Bengal said.

Still, he says, the time is right for change in the way that open source and cloud computing work with each other.

"Everyone understands that what happens with cloud providers and open source today is unfair," Bengal said. "If it will continue without change, there is no reason for anyone to distribute open source code without Amazon picking up the code at the expense of the creator. We were the first company to really do it."

Bengal says that only time will tell whether the new license will actually help Redis Labs in terms of its business. However, he says the logic of changing the license resonated well with investors.

"Most investors in open source, they have the same interest as the company, which is to protect the assets of the company, and this license is very much what it is," Bengal said. "It's very constructive in this approach."

Read more: Here's why investors are throwing money at startups that give away their software for free

With the new funding, Redis Lab plans to invest in its global go-to-market strategy, the Redis community, and more high-performance features in the software. To date, Redis Labs has raised $146 million.

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NOW WATCH: How Apple went from a $1 trillion company to losing over 20% of its share price

• Sixteen states filed a lawsuit to challenge President Donald Trump's national-emergency declaration, which he made to access extra funding for his border wall.
• The emergency declaration last Friday allows Trump to divert around $6 billion from other federal budgets. It came after Congress approved $1.357 billion for the wall, far less than he asked for.
• The states — all but one of which have a Democratic governor — say that Trump does not have grounds to declare an emergency, and that his declaration is unconstitutional.
• Trump himself said last week that he "didn't need to" declare a national emergency but did so "to get [the wall] done faster."
• The president tweeted on Tuesday that he "predicted" this lawsuit and specifically attacked California over it.

Sixteen US states are jointly suing President Donald Trump's administration over Trump's declaration of a national emergency to unlock funds for his border wall.

The 16-state coalition, led by California, filed a lawsuit in the Federal District Court in San Francisco on Monday.

The suit alleges that Trump cannot declare a national emergency because he has insufficient grounds. It says his claim that illegal immigration at the US-Mexico border constitutes a crisis is unfounded.

Trump has repeatedly referred to the situation at the border as "a crisis" and "an invasion."

The states involved in the lawsuit are: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Virginia.

All those states have Democratic governors, apart from Maryland, which has a Democratic attorney general.

Last Friday Trump declared a national emergency in order to unilaterally build barriers along significant portions of the United States-Mexico border. It came after Congress granted him $1.375 billion for barrier construction, less than a quarter of the $5.7 billion he originally requested.

Trump's declaration, under the National Emergencies Act, would allow him to take some $6.1 billion from Title 10 funding for the armed forces.

This would be made up of $2.5 billion under Department of Defense funds for counter-drug activities, up to $3.6 billion from Pentagon military construction projects, and $601 million from the Treasury's forfeiture fund.

Read more:Trump could tap the military's construction budget to build a border wall — here's what projects could be affected

The states behind the lawsuit said that Trump's declaration of a national border crisis was fabricated, and that the emergency declaration and diversion of funds is unconstitutional and unlawful.

"President Trump has veered the country toward a constitutional crisis of his own making," the lawsuit said.

The president himself said during his national emergency declaration last Friday: "I didn't need to do this. But I'd rather do it much faster ... I just want to get it done faster."

The states said in the lawsuit that Trump had been calling for a wall along the US-Mexico border since at least August 2014, and that it had been a major talking point throughout the 2016 presidential election and other campaign rallies.

They added that the reasons Trump gave to justify a wall — that it would prevent drugs, gang members, human traffickers, and unauthorized immigrants committing crimes from entering the US — are unfounded.

"The salient facts regarding the ostensible 'crisis' that President Trump repeatedly invoked in these numerous statements have not significantly changed since his inauguration as President in January 2017," the lawsuit said.

Trump tweeted on Tuesday that he "predicted" the lawsuit and specifically attacked California for spending money on its high-speed-rail project rather than on the wall.

"As I predicted, 16 cities, led mostly by Open Border Democrats and the Radical Left, have filed a lawsuit in, of course, the 9th Circuit!" he tweeted, incorrectly referring to the 16 states as cities. "California, the state that has wasted billions of dollars on their out of control Fast Train, with no hope of completion, seems in charge!"

"The failed Fast Train project in California, were the cost overruns are becoming world record setting, is hundreds of times more expensive than the desperately needed Wall!"he added.

Trump last week accused of California of "having spent and wasted many billions of dollars" belonging on the federal government on the project. California Governor Gavin Newsom called Trump's statement "fake news," saying that it was California's money allocated by Congress.

Read more:California's newly elected Gov. Gavin Newsom schools Trump on the state's high-speed-rail project in one brutal tweet

In order to get a judge to hear the emergency declaration dispute in court, the 16 states also have to show that they will suffer from the national emergency declaration.

The lawsuit said that the redirection of funding from military construction projects located in some of the states would damage their economies and affect National Guard operations.

California and New Mexico also said in the lawsuit that the construction of a wall on their borders "will cause irreparable environmental damage".

Xavier Becerra, California's attorney general, said in a Monday statement: "President Trump treats the rule of law with utter contempt. He knows there is no border crisis, he knows his emergency declaration is unwarranted, and he admits that he will likely lose this case in court."

California Governor Gavin Newsom also said: "President Trump is manufacturing a crisis and declaring a made-up 'national emergency' in order to seize power and undermine the Constitution."

"This 'emergency' is a national disgrace," he added. "Rather than focusing on fighting the real vulnerabilities facing Americans, the President is using the powers of America’s highest office to fan the flames of nativism and xenophobia."

A number of watchdog groups are also suing, or planning to sue, Trump over the national emergency declaration. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a lawsuit against him four hours after the declaration.

The American Civil Liberties Union and Protect Democracy, a non-partisan watchdog group, are expected to file separate lawsuits against Trump's emergency declaration this week, The New York Times reported.

Read the full lawsuit here.

SEE ALSO: A $1.37 billion border-security deal might save SpaceX's launch site in Texas, where Elon Musk hopes to fire off moon and Mars rockets

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NOW WATCH: Michael D'Antonio reveals Donald Trump's 'strange' morning ritual that boosts his ego

• Digital trust is the confidence people have in a platform to protect their information and provide a safe environment for them to create and engage with content.
• Business Insider Intelligence surveyed over 1,300 global consumers to evaluate their perception of Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
• Consumers’ Digital Trust rankings differ across security, legitimacy, community, user experience, shareability, and relevance for the six major social networks.

If you feel like “fake news” and spammy social media feeds dominate your Internet experience, you’re not alone. Digital trust, the confidence people have in platforms to protect their information and provide a safe environment to create and engage with content, is in jeopardy.

In fact, in a new Business Insider Intelligence survey of more than 1,300 global consumers, over half (54%) said that fake news and scams were "extremely impactful” or “very impactful” on their decision to engage with ads and sponsored content.

For businesses, this distrust has financial ramifications. It’s no longer enough to craft a strong message; brands, marketers, and social platforms need to focus their energy on getting it to consumers in an environment where they are most receptive. When brands reach consumers on platforms that they trust, they enhance their credibility and increase the likelihood of receiving positive audience engagement.

The Digital Trust Report 2018, the latest Enterprise Edge Report from Business Insider Intelligence, compiles this exclusive survey data to analyze consumer perceptions of Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

The survey breaks down consumers’ perceptions of social media across six pillars of trust: security, legitimacy, community, user experience, shareability, and relevance. The results? LinkedIn ran away with it.

As the most trusted platform for the second year in a row – and an outlier in the overall survey results – LinkedIn took the top spot for nearly every pillar of trust — and there are a few reasons why:

• LinkedIn continues to benefit from the professional nature of its community — users on the platform tend to be well behaved and have less personal information at risk, which makes for a more trusting environment.
• LinkedIn users are likely more selective and mindful about engagement when interacting within their professional network, which may increase trust in its content.
• Content on LinkedIn is typically published by career-minded individuals and organizations seeking to promote professional interests, and is therefore seen as higher quality than other platforms’. This bodes well for advertisers and publishers to be viewed as forthright, honest, persuasive, and trustworthy.

Want to Learn More?

Enterprise Edge Reports are the very best research Business Insider Intelligence has to offer in terms of actionable recommendations and proprietary data, and they are only available to Enterprise clients.

The Digital Trust Report 2018 illustrates how social platforms have been on a roller coaster ride of data, user privacy, and brand safety scandals since our first installment of the report in 2017.

In full, the report analyzes key changes in rankings from 2017, identifies trends in millennials' behavior on social media, and highlights where these platforms (as well as advertisers) have opportunities to capture their attention.

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• Google's former chief financial officer, Patrick Pichette, will invest in European startups as a general partner at Canadian venture capital firm Inovia Capital.
• Pichette will lead Inovia Capital's new London office after the company raised $600 million across two funds.
• Pichette wants to help Europe fund the next Facebook or Google, before its most promising startups are acquired by US tech giants.
• Pichette pointed to DeepMind, a British AI company acquired by Google while he was CFO, as an example of a company that could have been a "UK champion."

The European tech scene is thriving by most measures, with startups raising $23 billion in funding in 2018 and more public floats last year than in the US.

But there is one constant sour note spoiling the generally positive tune. Europe doesn't have anything to rival the Silicon Valley giants, a world-leading tech company on a level with Facebook, Google, Amazon, or Microsoft. The closest the continent has to a global household name is Swedish music streaming service Spotify.

There are various schools of thought on whether Europe can ever produce its own tech giant but according to Patrick Pichette, there's one avoidable problem: "Let me argue that there are 25 Facebooks and Googles in the UK today. The fundamental issue is that they get taken out before they have a chance to become Facebook or Google."

Pichette ought to know. He was Google's chief financial officer for seven years and helped negotiate its $500 million acquisition of British artificial intelligence company startup DeepMind in 2014.

"I was on the other side of the transaction," Pichette told Business Insider. "Everybody's celebrating that DeepMind was sold to Google. But if you take a step back, ask yourself, had it had the right set of support what would DeepMind look like today as a UK champion?... At the end of the day, it’s not a UK company any more. They are part of an American company."

DeepMind, for its part, has maintained it is a UK company with its headquarters in Kings Cross, London, and its founders remaining in the UK. That narrative has become harder to sustain after Google consolidated a part of DeepMind's business into its own health unit.

The post-Google Pichette wants to help European startups stay independent and grow into companies that could rival his old employer. To that end, he has joined Canadian venture capital fund Inovia Capital and will lead its first European office in London.

Read more: Facebook was destroyed by British lawmakers for its disastrous year, but new laws should not be narrowly focused on the social network

Inovia is a decade-old investment firm and has closed $600 million across an early-stage fund and a growth fund, mostly from Canadian institutional backers. It describes itself as a "full-stack" investor able to invest at multiple stages of a company's lifecycle, writing checks ranging between $2 million and $50 million.

The company specialises in infrastructure and applied services companies, and its portfolio includes commerce platform AppDirect and mobile robotics firm ClearPath Robotics.

The new fund has enabled the expansion to Europe, where Pichette will scout out promising European startups. The goal is also to help Canadian startups launch in Europe, and to bring European startups to north America.

"It resonated with me," Pichette told Business Insider. "At Google, on average we bought two companies a week for the seven years I was there. If I didn't take them out, Amazon would, Microsoft would. Both Canada and the UK have great early-stage ecosystems, but not a robust growth ecosystem."

He is, for now, relatively unconcerned about Brexit. "Inovia invests in companies that are global in nature — you can literally park yourself anywhere. If I ran an automotive company with an integrated supply chain in Europe, I'd reak out. But it's not what I do, and really it's about IP and tech. We’re obviously much less affected."

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NOW WATCH: Here's how to use Apple's time-saving app that will make your life easier

• Stop putting chocolate in the fridge, says three-Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse.
• As well as dozens of restaurants, Ducasse now owns 10 chocolate shops and a chocolate factory in the heart of Paris.
• He told us that chocolate should be kept between 15°C and 18°C (59°F – 64°F) in a dry place.
• The best temperature for consumption is around 20°C (68°F).
• If chocolate is kept in the fridge, water condenses and the chocolate whitens.

I always put my chocolate in the fridge.

I like the snap and crunch that the cold conditions facilitate.

It turns out I've been doing it all wrong, though, according to three-Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse who just opened a chocolate shop in London.

After opening more than 40 restaurants across seven countries and three continents, Ducasse decided to get in on the chocolate business.

Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse in London is the chef's 10th chocolate outpost, including a factory in Paris where the goods are made.

Since I have no Michelin stars, no chocolate shops, and no chocolate factories, I decided to hear him out.

Read more: Here's why you should never put vodka in the freezer, according to the creator of Grey Goose

"Storing in the fridge should be avoided," Monsieur Ducasse, who is one of only two chefs to hold 21 Michelin stars throughout his career, told me.

"Chocolate should be kept between 15°C and 18°C (59°F – 64°F) in a dry place," he continued.

"The best temperature to enjoy it is approximately 20°C (68°F).

"Ganaches must be eaten within two or three weeks, pralinés within maximum three to four weeks, and bars can be eaten within a few months."

Who knew there were so many rules?

Damien Couliou, Managing Director of Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse, explained why room temperature was optimum for chocolate consumption.

"If we go too cold," Couliou says, "water condenses and the chocolate whitens.

"If we go too hot (over 20°C), the chocolate melts and becomes soft."

According to Couiliou, when condensing, water reacts on a microscopic level with the sugar contained in chocolate and crystallises on the surface, whitening the colour.

"The water condensing will not affect the flavour of the chocolate itself," Couiliou stipulates; "It is more about the visual."

So there you are — if you want your chocolate to remain the colour you bought it, keep it out of the fridge and in your cupboard, and make sure you consume within a month. That shouldn't be too tricky.

SEE ALSO: The creator of Grey Goose vodka has revealed whether the perfect martini should be shaken or stirred

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NOW WATCH: Sea cucumbers are so valuable that people are risking their lives diving for them

• A viral campaign on Twitter has Saudis defending a government app under fire for hosting a feature men use to control women.
• US politicians and rights groups criticised Absher, hosted by Google's Play Store and Apple's App Store, after INSIDER reported extensively how it let men control where women travel.
• The app lets men grant and rescind permission to travel, and offers alerts when women use their passports to leave the country.
• A counter-campaign has sprung up under the hashtag #I_support_Absher.
• Its supporters reflect an official Saudi government talking point, which praised Absher's role eliminating bureaucracy.
• They largely ignore the way Absher is involved in the Saudi "guardianship" system which gives men legal authority over women.

A viral Saudi Arabian campaign is defending a government app which has features that let men in the country dictate and track where women travel.

Thousands of Saudi accounts responded to criticisms from politicians and rights groups, who condemned the app, called Absher, after INSIDER reported that it was used by men to get SMS alerts when women crossed the border, and withhold permission for them to travel.

The posts, which appear mainly to be by Saudi men, use the #I_support_Absher hashtag, and its Arabaic equivalent, #انا_ادعم_تطبيق_ابشر.

One popular video is this subtitled explainer for westerners.

It features an unnamed man, tweeting under the handle @farooi, saying that Absher offers 160 services. He did not mention that these features include managing travel permissions for women.

He says: "People have the right to criticise and we have the right to answer and explain."

He also describes US Senator Ron Wyden — who wrote to Apple and Google on February 11 demanding they "immediately remove" Absher from their app stores— as a man who "hates our country."

He says: "Absher is an online service website which makes life easier for people."

Many encouraged people to leave positive reviews of the app to increase its rating.

It follows a rival campaign by critics of the service, who downloaded the app and left one-star reviews to drag the rating down.

This tweet claims that a slew of almost 70,000 reviews increased the app's rating from 4.8 out of 5 to 4.9 out of 5.

One of the most popular responses was this widely-shared video, showing what it was like queuing outside the Jawazat (passport office) before the process was digitized through Absher. 

Saudi Mohamed al-Khaldi shared this image of the Absher app with the heading "Not a means of monitoring." 

He captioned it: "The application of ABSHER not to impose restrictions on women has nothing to do with women's freedom, but it helps us to accelerate getting our things done."

INSIDER's reporting has established that Absher can be used to both impose restrictions on women and to monitor them.

Hundreds more tweets defended the app and claimed it has had a positive impact on Saudi society.

Read more: Q&A: The hurdles and obstacles Saudi women runaways face

This one, from Ahmed Alisa, said:"The best government application ever, wonderful and great technology services for citizen and resident, thanks to @Absher #i_support_ABSHER."

Another Saudi, Faris al-Faris, tweeted: "Can you imagine that you can do all your government things by an Application with out physically going there?"

"For example renewing your passport and your driver license and your passport and your ID and business agreements? This is what #Absher do basically #i_support_ABSHER."

The Saudi Interior Ministry, who made the app, have also responded to the wave of negative media coverage, criticizing attempts to "politicize" the app.

A Ministry statement, via the Saudi Press Agency on January 17, said:

"The Ministry strongly condemns the systematic campaign aimed at questioning the purpose of (Abshar) services, which is provided on smart phones to facilitate the services to its beneficiaries."

"The Ministry of Interior at the same time confirms its rejection of the attempts to politicize the systematic use of technical instruments which represent legitimate rights to the users, and its keenness to protect the interests of the beneficiaries of its services."

Apple and Google are yet to offer a justification for their role hosting the app.

Both have pledged to investigate the app last week, but have yet to comment further or establish a timescale.

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NOW WATCH: Watch President Trump announce deal to end the government shutdown for 3 weeks

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• Bose's $250 Sleepbuds are tiny wireless earbuds that mask external noise for a better sleep.
• They're smaller than the size of a penny, can play for 16 hours off a single charge, and are comfortable to sleep on — even for side sleepers.
  
• The Sleepbuds have cons worth considering but are ultimately a good option for better, more consistent sleep.
• You shop Bose Sleepbuds on Amazon and Best Buy for $249.99.

Your partner snores, your AC sounds like an avalanche, and your neighbor’s yappy dog isn’t getting any closer to realizing its reflection isn’t an animated being. No matter which sound is most to blame, at least one of them is probably keeping you awake at night. 

Unfortunately, noise is the trickiest sleep complaint to solve. For an environment that’s too bright, buy blackout curtains. For one that’s too hot, change your sheets or add a mini tabletop AC. But if it’s too noisy, you can’t build thicker walls overnight, shut down traffic, or replace your neighbor’s dog with an identical but far more solipsistic cat.

That's why Bose's $250 Sleepbuds sound so intriguing. The company largely famous for noise-cancellation technology (think: cult-favorite QuietComfort headphones) has recently designed tiny in-ear buds meant to mask nighttime noise for better, more consistent sleep. The Sleepbuds are smaller than a penny (without their wingtips), and they're comfortable enough to sleep on — even for side sleepers. After one full charge, they'll deliver 16 hours of play time. Even the magnetic carrying case was specially designed to be attractive enough for the prime real estate of a nightstand, and it's slim and portable enough to take on trips. 

The Sleepbuds are a good option for those who want a noise solution that can travel easily and inconspicuously, don't bother a partner, and don't require any change in sleeping habits.

However, there are some caveats. $250 is a lot of money to spend on earbuds, and the Bose Sleepbuds play 10 preloaded soothing sounds but do not stream music. When asked why the Sleepbuds don't include the ability, Bose's Sleepbuds product manager explained to Business Insider that the necessary technology would have pushed the design to something too bulky to sleep on — rendering the end product pretty much useless. So, you can't play your sleep playlist in your tiny Sleepbuds, but you can sleep on top of them without waking up or affecting your quality of sleep. 

Bose sent Insider Picks a set of the Sleepbuds to test, and I've been sleeping in them for the last week. All in all, they deliver on their promises — but whether or not they're worth $250 to you will depend upon your lifestyle and the severity of your noise complaints.

First of all, the Bose Sleepbuds are really tiny. I've tried plenty of sleep-friendly headphones in the past, but these are the first in-ear buds that are truly small and unobtrusive enough to go unnoticed by me throughout the night. They deliver on being comfortable enough to sleep on (yes, even on your side) and I never woke up in the middle of the night unconsciously trying to take them out. Some reviews reflect a less comfortable experience, but I didn't experience pain or annoyance at all. In fact, comfort was likely the Sleepbuds' best feature for me given how difficult it is to find. 

In terms of tech, I was initially disappointed by the fact that the Sleepbuds don't stream music. In the interest of versatility and value, I suspect many will feel similarly. I nearly always fall asleep to music or audiobooks, and I was reluctant to forgo that the first night I popped them in. Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised by how relaxing I found the soothing sounds, and how well they worked. There are ten tracks total, and some are designed for relaxation while others are focused on lulling you to sleep. I fell asleep quickly, stayed asleep through the night, and woke up feeling refreshed. The next night, I went home actually excited to put them in. 

In terms of volume, the Sleepbuds go loud enough to mask the noise of my AC and the honking cars on the busy NYC street outside my window, and they make your own voice sound muffled if properly fitted.

The Bose Sleep app is easy to use, and it offers sparse but helpful features like an alarm. Despite being a notoriously deep sleeper, I woke up on time every morning I used one. This in-ear alarm is another potential benefit for those sleeping with partners that have different schedules. 

Now, if you don't feel like spending $250 on a pair of earbuds, there are other options. There are cheap, universal ear plugs for less than $15. And if you really want a solution that lets you stream music and you don't mind placing function over form, there are AcousticSheep's Bluetooth SleepPhones ($100). I found them comfortable to sleep on top of as well, though far less stylish, much warmer to wear, and with a less impressive battery life. (If you don't mind cords, there's also a cheaper non-Bluetooth version for $40.) 

Overall, though, Bose's $250 Sleepbuds are a solid option. They're uniquely comfortable, attractive, easy to travel with, and provide consistent noise-masking that won't bother a partner. 

Shop Bose Sleepbuds on Amazon and Best Buy, $249.99

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• Roger Federer has slipped from third in the ATP world rankings at the start of the year, to seventh, today.
• But the Swiss veteran won't care at all because he is focused solely on titles, rather than rankings.
• Federer recently said he'd rather have a low rank, but win a trophy, than a high rank and do nothing.

Roger Federer is sliding down the world tennis rankings but there's a very good reason why he won't even care.

Federer began the year as the third best male player in the world, but his shock loss to Stefano Tsitsipas in the fourth round of the 2019 Australian Open means he has consequently been punished in the ATP rankings.

In the past six weeks, Federer — who was already behind Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal — has lost ground to Alexander Zverev, Juan Martin del Potro, Kevin Anderson, and Kei Nishikori.

Federer, ranked seventh, is now only marginally higher than Dominic Thiem, who could feasibly leapfrog the Swiss veteran with a strong showing at future events.

But Federer won't care, at all.

This is because Federer is now at an age where rankings and world number one status mean little, as he would rather chase his 100th career title or even a Grand Slam trophy.

"For me, the ranking, at 37 years old, is no longer really the priority," Federer said at a media event in Geneva earlier this month, according to Reuters.

Federer said the idea is "to be in good health," to know he can "win tournaments," and know he can still beat Djokovic and Nadal. "After that, it is a pleasure."

A world number seven rank is the lowest Federer has been in the ATP list since January, 2017. But since then he won eight ATP events and three Grand Slams.

He said that even if he goes on to get ranked lower in the months ahead, it would not be a problem. "As long as I say I can win a Grand Slam as I did two years ago… everything is in place."

Federer finished by remarking that he'd rather a lower rank than be a top player but fail to win titles.

Federer will play the Dubai Tennis Championships next week, before the Indian Wells Masters in March. The Miami Open will be his final tournament in the hard court season before he competes in the clay court circuit.

However, he is yet to decide which tournaments to play before the French Open at Roland Garros in the summer.

SEE ALSO: Naomi Osaka split from her coach because she didn't want to sacrifice her own happiness

DON'T MISS: 10 times the normally mild-mannered Roger Federer went wild in the middle of a tennis match

UP NEXT: Roger Federer has 15 near-perfect qualities but 2 glaring weaknesses, according to a tennis research group

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• JavaScript is routinely ranked as one of the most popular programming languages in the world, and is required for many top tech jobs. 
• And yet, the language is infrequently taught as part of undergraduate computer science programs — leaving some students to wonder why they aren't being taught an incredibly valuable job skill.
• So even graduates from top schools are teaching themselves JavaScript, either on their own or by way of tutorials from tech industry influencers, across Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, and even YouTube. 
• Meanwhile, immersive coding bootcamp programs have emerged as an alternative to the traditional computer science program, getting participants up to speed with JavaScript and other very current technologies. 
• Ultimately, says a hiring manager at tech giant SAP, it's impossible for candidates to know every programming language, and it's more important for a candidate to have a solid foundation in the fundamentals so they can pick up new technologies quickly. 

I talked to a slew of computer programmers who entered the job market within the past five years about the languages and platforms they're learning and using, and there was one that came up over and over again: JavaScript.

Christina Holland, a software engineer at Google who's been in the industry since 2015, calls it "probably one of the most approachable languages for beginners." Scott Woods, a staff engineer at JASK and 2016 college grad, says, "If you have any intent of being a UI developer, JavaScript is a must."

It powers the web, application front-ends, and, thanks to an increasing number of server-side frameworks, back-ends as well. It's topped the Stack Overflow developer survey for six years running.

So you might find it a little surprising that, of US News and World Report's top ten computer science undergraduate programs, exactly zero of them have JavaScript listed as part of their curriculum. Redditors bemoan that they never got a chance to take college JavaScript. As Justin Phan, a site reliability engineer at SAP and 2017 college graduate, put it: "JavaScript was as much expected of computer engineering students as was knowing Latin." 

What's the source of the disconnect? And, if the kids today aren't picking up one of IT's most popular and important programming languages in school, where are they learning it?

What students are learning

JavaScript isn't exactly some brand-new upstart language. It was first developed in the mid-90s as a scripting language for the Netscape Navigator browser; originally called LiveScript, it got its name as a result of an anti-Microsoft alliance with Sun Microsystems. JavaScript was pitched as the "web companion" to Java, Sun's hot new programming language, but despite some similar syntax the two languages aren't otherwise related.

And it's Java, along with Python, that dominates university curricula. These aren't unpopular languages in the industry, although they certainly don't have the cachet and momentum that JavaScript does today. But they do have the pedagogical advantages of being easy to explain to newcomers, and illustrative of many of the core concepts of computer science in a way that JavaScript, often sneered at for a lack of elegance, doesn't.

"My absolute preference is to teach using Python primarily due to its simplicity and relative conciseness — there's no need for verbose begin/end statements or lots of curly braces," says Databricks CEO and adjunct UC Berkeley professor Ali Ghodsi. "It is not as concise as pure functional languages, but those are also harder to understand."

"I do think that Java was a good starting point," says Carolyn Bump, a software developer at Kohactive who graduated from college in 2017. "I learned a lot of great computer science concepts that I use day-to-day, such as object-oriented programming, data structures, and algorithms. I learned a basic mindset a programmer should have: where to start when solving problems, how to solve problems effectively, and what you should keep in mind while building a solution." Today, she's solving those problems in Ruby and JavaScript.

But many of the recent grads I spoke to felt a keen disconnect between what they learned in college and the real world. Kevin Wakatama, who got his CS degree in 2014, noted that Java was taught more or less divorced from any relevance outside the classroom. "Our undergrad professors didn't really present Java as being either particularly useful, or exclusively as a teaching device," he says. "It was mentioned on occasion that it was one of the most popular, and why it became so, but not much more than that."

And Brandon Sheehy, a software developer in Dallas who recently graduated with a Business Computer Information Systems degree, complained that his professors "had no idea what languages would be profitable to pick up. They more or less just taught whatever technologies Microsoft released. I had an entire course around writing Windows 8 Metro apps. When was the last time you've seen someone use an application from the Windows App Store?"

Some are turning to coding bootcamps

If there's an institution that stands at the opposite philosophical pole from the computer science department at a four year college, it's the coding bootcamp. Offering intensive courses that last weeks, not years, bootcamps like Hack Reactor or General Assembly have rapidly become a huge business since the first one launched in 2011. And one thing they're relentlessly focused on is the practical. And for wannabe computer programmers, practical often means JavaScript.

David Jackson, CEO of custom app developer FullStack Labs, explains the incentives thusly:

"There's a lot of demand from employers for JavaScript devs, and JavaScript devs tend to make more than other types of devs, so that's probably why bootcamps are focusing mostly on JavaScript. The bootcamps measure themselves primarily on the number of graduates receiving jobs and their starting salaries, so it makes sense that they would focus on JavaScript to boost these metrics."

Google's Holland graduated from a bootcamp in 2015. She credits the fact that bootcamps are nimbler than CS academia for the solid grounding she received in web technologies, which are "where the majority of the explosion in job demand is." In fact, she points out that bootcamps have already gone through a shift: "For a while in the late '00s that meant Ruby, but now it's mostly JavaScript, especially since you can use it on the server side."

Of course, the differences in approach between academia and the bootcamp world means some people take extreme positions: Holland says that on one side, you have an attitude like "I would never hire a bootcamp grad unless I wanted my product ruined,"and on the other: "CS grads are great if you want obscure math problems solved that don't apply to real life."

The truth, as always, is somewhere in the middle. Holland found her bootcamp experience invaluable, and feels she got a decent grounding in CS fundamentals. But, she says, "a lot of bootcamps are driven by demand of students to 'just give me what I need to get a job,' so they're just jumping straight into how to build JavaScript web apps using certain frameworks. If you lean too much on this, you get people who know how to do a specific thing and don't know the concepts behind it, and aren't very flexible in adapting to slightly different circumstances."

Making it on your own

Google's Holland sees a counter-tendency to this pigeonholing: "A lot of people who go to bootcamps are very self-motivated and kind of take it on themselves to fill in the gaps." But the truth is that many young developers who came up through academia — and who are hungry to learn JavaScript and other platforms they aren't getting in their classes — do the same.

Wakatama, the recent grad, remembers hearing "whispers" of what was popular in the industry during his undergraduate years, which helped students guide their career planning. "There were also things that I wouldn't exactly call research," he said, "but something like community information — JetBrains's 'State of Developer Ecosystem,' for example — that might give us an idea of what the popular and 'up and coming' languages were."

Sheehy may have been learning Windows 8 development in his classes. But at an internship at a city government office, he snagged a JavaScript programming job.

"I was able to fumble my way around it until I actually knew what was going on and eventually fell in love with the language," he said. "I learned pretty much everything I know from internet tutorials, reading code, and a lot of trial and error. I was lucky to have an environment where I was free to grow and make mistakes."

Many turn to the community for guidance

Finding tutorials and boilerplate code online has a long and honorable history in computer programming. However, one interesting twist that many of the young developers I talked to brought up is that they prefer to find put a human face on that information nowadays, via various social media sites. 

"If you want to get your foot in the door now," says Holland, "people seem to know that you should get on Twitter and follow famous devs — authors of popular open source libraries, people in developer relations at big tech companies, speakers, bloggers, 'thought leaders' with nebulous credentials, etc. You should have a web page to showcase your projects and make blog posts on." Sheehy has turned to Reddit not only for programming advice, but for career advice as well.

Another perhaps-unexpected site that serves as a locus for young developer community is YouTube, says Parth Jhaveri, a front-end developer at the EGC Group.

"A junior developer can seek out mentorship and tutorials from popular developers like Fredrik Christenson, Telmo Sampaio, Programming with Mosh, and Code with Tim," he explains. "I view their content on a variety of topics, including react.js, Redux, coding best practices, and industry norms. Christenson, who is my personal favorite, answers subscriber-submitted questions pertaining to coding or on related topics like looking for your first programming job."

The long road ahead

So JavaScript and its various frameworks rule the roost — for now. But that could change. Holland notes that a source of great anxiety for many young web developers is how the state of the art is a moving target.

"React came into existence in 2015 and now it's the standard in front-end. Then there's bundlers that get replaced by the hot new thing every two years or so.  This drives job hunters crazy because what if the thing you're learning goes obsolete once you've finished learning it? There's fights about frameworks and tools that get hot because people are scared that the thing they learned yesterday is going to die tomorrow, or the future thing they're learning now isn't actually going to be the future," says Holland. 

But perhaps these new developers should have faith in themselves.

"Most employers don’t expect students to know every language," says Heike Rees, Senior HR Business Partner at SAP, who has done a lot of hiring over the years. "It's impossible to know every language because they change so quickly. We look for people who have a basic understanding of how languages work the ability to quickly learn new ones. We want someone who can independently research how to learn a new language — someone who can ask good questions."

Many young developers, emerging from an educational system that doesn’t spit them out ready-made for the job market, have already proven that they can meet this challenge.

Josh Fruhlinger is a writer and editor who lives in Los Angeles.

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• For someone who wants to join the US Army, the first step is calling a local recruiting office.
• The path to enlistment includes an aptitude exam, medical screening, and career counseling — all before taking an oath or making a commitment.
• Once enlisted, recruits head off to basic combat training, the Army's boot camp.

The Army also has options for those who want to serve as commissioned officers. Which option is best depends on your education level, where you want to go to school, and your age or family status.

Enlistees can also join the Army Reserves or Army National Guard directly.

SEE ALSO: Military pay: This is how much US troops are paid according to their rank

First, you'll need to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB.

The ASVAB is a multiple-choice exam that will help determine what jobs you qualify for in the military. Each service has its own minimum standards, according to Military.com, which provides practice tests for those who want to prepare.

You'll eventually meet with a recruiter.

If you're not sure where your nearest recruiting station is, you can submit an application online, and the recruiter will come to you.

Otherwise, it's important to remember a few things when you're at the office:

You have no obligations until you sign a contract.

Make sure you understand whether the job you want has openings — if not, you may want to consider waiting until it does.

You'll eventually need to pass a medical exam.

Once you decide to enlist, the recruiter will take you to a Military Entrance Processing Station, or MEPS.

If you haven't taken the ASVAB already, you'll take one when you get to the MEPS. 

If you have, you'll undergo a medical exam, speak with a counselor about job opportunities and the enlistment contract, and take the enlistment oath.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• I wear this $74 pair of jeggings from Nordstrom all the time, but when I saw a similar pair for $12 at my local Walmart, I couldn't resist buying them to see how they compared.
• Walmart's Time and Tru jeggings are $62 less than Nordstrom's Jag Jean jeggings, but it turns out they look and feel practically identical. Now I wear them both to work all the time.
• Buying a pair of pants from an unknown brand at Walmart felt like a bit of a style risk, but I was pleased to find that they were a fantastic alternative to my more expensive pair. 

In a world of long commutes and meetings that last well over their scheduled time, the last thing I want to worry about is the annoyance of uncomfortable clothing. From itchy sweaters to ill-fitting pants, finding clothes that check off the boxes of comfortable and work-appropriate can be more difficult than you'd think.

There are certainly mixed feelings about the "jeggings" trend that hit its peak after the comeback of the ever-popular skinny jean. Some claim that leggings and jeans should be kept separate from one another, but I was there for the trend when it started and I don’t plan on eliminating them from my wardrobe any time soon.

Finding a pair of jeggings is not difficult — but finding a pair that fits nicely and stands the test of time comes down to a long process of trial and error. I've been an avid Nordstrom shopper for years, so following my instinct, I found a dependable pair of $74 Marla Stretch Denim Leggings there made by Jag Jeans.

These super-skinny cut pair of pants are flattering and versatile. I can wear them to work or while going out to dinner with friends — which is exactly the kind of adaptability I want out of my clothes. It wasn’t until I was browsing my local Walmart that a similar pair of jeggings, coming in at a mere $12, caught my eye and made me question my original choice to spend $74.

Let’s talk looks

One of my biggest concerns about purchasing an inexpensive pair of pants from a generic brand was the overall appearance. I’m not opposed to buying wardrobe essentials from unknown companies, but I typically rely on recommendations from friends or colleagues prior to making an uncertain buy. Despite my hesitation, the fact that the Time and Tru jegging capri pants (which can be un-rolled) looked almost identical to the pair I purchased from Nordstrom was the selling factor.

Both pairs lacked a button on the front waistband which never posed a problem since I regularly wear a belt. In fact, the ones from Walmart worked better with my regular workwear because they included belt loops — unlike the Jag Jeans pair.

On the website, the Time and Tru jeggings are advertised as capris but I'm 5-foot-8, and I found them to extend longer than I expected based on the ad. The ones I purchased from Nordstrom reached my ankle as advertised and were flexible enough to roll if I wanted them to fit like capris.

The main difference between these pairs of pants and your go-to pair of leggings is that each of these have pockets on the front and back. This subtle detail turns an extremely casual outfit into something you could wear to a dressier event — without looking like you just came from the gym.

What about quality and fit?

Both pairs fit well and were comfortable enough to wear throughout the day without any noticeable irritation. The Nordstrom pant is slightly more rigid to the touch and the Walmart ones had a softer feel, similar to a pair of cotton leggings. However, I tried on both pairs and couldn’t decipher much of a tangible difference between the materials.

Whether you’re purchasing from Nordstrom or Walmart, you’ll find that both jeggings are advertised as a skinny-fit, but Walmart’s Time and Tru ones were definitely more fitted from the knee down. This wasn’t a huge deal because both pairs primarily looked the same, but if you want the classic legging feel, the Walmart ones are the way to go.

The bottom line

There are some slight differences between the Jag Jeans jeggings from Nordstrom and the Time and Tru pair from Walmart, but if you are looking for a really great value, the pair from Walmart shouldn’t give you any reason to complain.

I've worn the $12 pair for over two months and they've withstood multiple washes, the occasional coffee spill, and a wipeout on the stairs heading up to my apartment. I will continue to wear both pairs simply because I can’t do enough laundry to keep up with my black pant obsession, but I will most definitely be purchasing more Time and Tru jeggings in the future.

Time and Tru Women's Jegging Capri, available in six colors, $11.96

Jag Jeans Marla Stretch Denim Leggings, $74

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• Hiccups are downright annoying, especially when they don't go away after a couple of minutes.  
• There are few research studies dedicated to hiccup remedies because they remain such a mystery.
• There are, however, several evidence-based methods that stand a better chance of making you hiccup-free such as the Valsalva maneuver, the ice cube trick, or eating a lemon wedge.

At one time or another, you've had the hiccups and likely have desperately tried to get rid of them. And sometimes, they last longer than you want because none of the home remedies seem to actually work.

Unfortunately, there is no official cure for the hiccups that works for everyone. Hiccups remain a mystery in the science community — both their cause and their cure. However, research speculates several evidence-based remedies for the hiccups, and INSIDER gathered a few that have been shown to work.  

Hold your breath

Hiccups are involuntary spasms or contractions that occur in your diaphragm, according toDr. Janette Nesheiwat, Medical Director at CityMD. As you breathe in, the opening between your vocal cords closes quickly causing a "hic" sound. The "tightening" sensation people feel in their throats during a hiccup is their vocal cords closing.

One of the most common remedies for hiccups is holding your breath, and it's one of the first methods you should try, Dr. Nesheiwat explained, as well as other physical maneuvers. This technique allows carbon dioxide to build up in your lungs, which may relax your diaphragm.

Drink sips of cold water

Drinking ice cold water is another home remedy you can try if the above methods don't work, Dr. Nesheiwat told INSIDER. Cold water helps to stop the irritation produced in the diaphragm.

As you drink the cold water, it essentially helps to relax the diaphragm, allowing the muscle to function normally again.

Pop your ears

If you have ever tried to pop your ears, you likely have performed the Valsalva maneuver. It's the act of exhaling while also pinching your nose and keeping your mouth closed. And while yes you can use it to pop your ears, it's also a very useful technique for getting rid of the hiccups.Research suggests that this maneuver can interrupt the hiccup reflex.

It must be maintained for about 10 to 15 seconds. Just be careful not to do it too forcefully, and don't keep repeating this method if it doesn't work, Brett Comer, an ear, nose, and throat doctor, and surgeon at the University of Kentucky toldTonic.

Use the ice cube trick

Another tried and tested method is the ice cube trick, according to Allen Conrad, BS, DC, CSCS, and owner ofMontgomery County Chiropractic Center.

"The key is the interruption of the vagus nerve," Conrad told INSIDER. "The vagus nerve, also known as cranial nerve X, causes the diaphragm to contract, making you hiccup."

To interrupt the signal temporarily, place an ice cube on the back of your neck, right where you find the top protruding bone. At the same time, place another cube two inches below your jaw for 30 seconds. This temporary interruption of the nerve flow will stop the signal for your body to hiccup, Conrad explained.

Swallow a spoonful of sugar

Per Mary Poppins' prescription to help the medicine go down, swallowing a spoonful of sugar may also help to get rid of your hiccups.A 1971 study found that a teaspoon of sugar cured the hiccups for 19 out of 20 patients.

The hypothesis for why it works has to do with how the sugar affects the vagus nerve, connecting your brain and stomach. Thesugar irritates the back of the throat, and in turn, interrupts the spasms.

Bite on a lemon with bitters

Oddly enough, this hiccup remedy waswell-known amongst bartenders first before being passed on to the science community. The remedy involves eating or chewing on a lemon wedge topped with a few drops of bitters.

Dr. Jay Howard Herman and bartender David S. Nolan experimented with this cure and found that 14 out 16 patients got rid of their hiccups in less than a minute. Theirstudy was later published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Breathe into a paper bag

Similar to holding your breath, breathing into a paper bag has also been reported to help with a hiccup problem, according to theUK National Health Service. This remedyraises levels of carbon dioxide in the blood, which prevents spasms in the diaphragm.

Pull your knees to your chest

Another physical maneuver you can try is to pull your knees up to your chest. Hold or hug them there and then release to repeat this process. In doing so, it helps to relieve pressure on the diaphragm, Dr. Nesheiwat told INSIDER.

One of the most unusual remedies is a rectal massage

For a more serious case of the hiccups, also known as chronic hiccups, there is the digital rectal massage method. A tube is inserted in the rectum and moves in a slow, circular motion. Seven out of seven patients werecured of their hiccups using this method.

The theory behind why it works is because the massagestimulates the nerves present in the rectum, which leads to the termination of hiccups.

Medications can also help with hiccups

Most of the time, hiccups go away on their own without medical treatment. However, if your hiccups persist longer than 48 hours, you should see a doctor, according to Dr. Nesheiwat. Long-term hiccupscould be a sign of an underlying medical condition and may require medication to treat long-term hiccups.

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The healthcare industry is facing disruption due to accelerating technological innovation and growing demand for improved delivery of healthcare and lower costs. Tech startups are leading the way by seizing opportunities in the areas of the industry that are most vulnerable to disruption, including genomics, pharmaceuticals, administration, clinical operations, and insurance.

Venture funds and businesses are taking notice of these startups' potential. In the US, digital health funding reached $1.6 billion in Q1 2018, according to Rock Health — the largest first quarter on record, surpassing the $1.4 billion in venture funding seen in Q1 2016. These high-potential startups provide a glimpse into the future of the healthcare space and demonstrate how we’ll get there.

In this report, a compilation of various notes, Business Insider Intelligence will look at the top startups disrupting US healthcare in four key areas: artificial intelligence (AI), digital therapeutics, health insurance, and genomics. Startups in this report were selected based on the funding they've received over the past year, notable investors, the products they offer, and leadership in their functional area.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

• Tech startups are entering the market by applying the “Silicon Valley” approach. They're targeting shortcomings and legacy systems that are no longer efficient.
• AI is being applied across five areas of healthcare to improve clinical operation workflows, cut costs, and foster preventative medicine. These areas include administration, big data analysis, clinical decision support, remote patient monitoring, and care provision.
  
• Health tech startups, insurers, and drug makers are rapidly exploring new ways to apply digital therapeutics to the broader healthcare market that replace or complement the existing treatment of a disease.
• Health insurance startups are taking advantage of the consumerization of healthcare to threaten the status quo of legacy players. 
• Genomics is becoming an increasingly common tool within the healthcare system as health organizations better understand how to extract the value from patients’ genetic data. 

 In full, the report:

• Details the areas of the US health industry that show the greatest potential for disruption.
• Forecasts the industry adoption of bleeding edge technology and how it will transform how healthcare organizations operate.
• Unveils the top five startups in AI, digital therapeutics, health insurance, and genomics, and how they're positioned to solve big issues that key players in healthcare face. 
• Explores what's next for the leading startups, providing a glimpse into the future of the healthcare space and demonstrating how we’ll get there.

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• Controversial blood-transfusion startup Ambrosia had allegedly been charging $8,000 to fill your veins with the blood of young people, despite little to no hard evidence that the procedure had any benefits.
• On the heels of a warning from federal regulators on Tuesday, Ambrosia allegedly stopped giving the treatments, its website said.
• Last month, Business Insider reported exclusively that the startup claimed to be up and running in 5 cities.
• As Business Insider previously reported, several researchers — including those whose original science inspired the procedure — have warned that such a procedure is dangerous.

On the heels of a warning from federal regulators, a controversial startup that had been charging $8,000 to fill your veins with young blood has allegedly stopped providing the procedure.

On Tuesday, regulators with the Food and Drug Administration warned people against getting transfusions of young blood that purport to provide anti-aging and other health benefits.

"There is no proven clinical benefit of infusion of plasma from young donors to cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent these conditions, and there are risks associated with the use of any plasma product," the FDA commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, and the director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Peter Marks, said in a joint statement.

The statement didn't call out any companies by name.

One of the only companies known to offer the procedure, however, is called Ambrosia. Its founder, Jesse Karmazin, previously told Business Insider that he was charging $8,000 for 1 liter of young blood or $12,000 for 2 liters. He also said the transfusions were safe and reliable, despite little to no hard scientific evidence demonstrating either its safety or its benefits. Karmazin didn't immediately return a message seeking comment on the recent FDA statement.

But as of Tuesday afternoon, Ambrosia's website had been changed to read, "In compliance with the FDA announcement issued February 19, 2019, we have ceased patient treatments."

A single employee and a clinical trial with no published results 

Roughly three years ago, Karmazin launched Ambrosia and claimed that infusing older patients with younger blood could help conquer aging by rejuvenating the body's organs.

Read more: A controversial startup that charges $8,000 to fill patients' veins with young blood is opening a clinic in NYC — but researchers whose work inspired it warn that it's dangerous

Karmazin told Business Insider last month that the startup was up and running in five US cities. Ambrosia recently revamped its website with a list of clinic locations and said it was accepting payments for the procedure via PayPal.

In the fall, Karmazin — who is not a licensed medical practitioner but graduated from Stanford Medical School — told Business Insider he planned to open the first Ambrosia clinic in New York City by the end of the year. That didn't happen. Instead, he later said, the sites where customers can get the procedure include Los Angeles; San Francisco; Tampa, Florida; Omaha, Nebraska; and Houston, Texas.

In 2017, Ambrosia enrolled people in a clinical trial designed to find out what happens when the veins of adults are filled with blood from younger people. While the results of that study have not been made public, Karmazin told Business Insider in September that they were "really positive."

There's no scientific evidence to suggest that the treatments could help anyone, however. Several experts who have spoken with Business Insider about the process have raised red flags.

But because the FDA has approved blood transfusions for emergencies like car crashes and other life-saving procedures, Ambrosia's approach was able to continue as an off-label treatment.

There appears to be significant interest in the idea of an anti-aging therapy based on blood.

A week after putting up its first website in September, the company received roughly 100 inquiries about how to get the treatment, David Cavalier, Ambrosia's chief operating officer at the time, told Business Insider in the fall. That led to the creation of a waiting list, Cavalier said.

In January, Cavalier told Business Insider he'd left Ambrosia, leaving Karmazin as the company's only public employee.

Before departing from Ambrosia, Cavalier worked with Karmazin to scout several potential clinic locations in New York and organize talks with potential investors, he said. As of September, the company had infused close to 150 people, ranging in age from 35 to 92, with the blood of younger donors, Cavalier said.

Of those 140 people, 81 were listed as participating in its clinical trial on the government website ClinicalTrials.gov.

The two-day experiment involved giving patients 1.5 liters of plasma from a donor between the ages of 16 and 25. It was conducted with David Wright, a physician who owns a private intravenous-therapy center in Monterey, California. Before and after the infusions, participants' blood was tested for a handful of biomarkers, or measurable biological substances and processes thought to provide a snapshot of health and disease.

Trial participants paid $8,000, the same price as one of the procedures listed on Ambrosia's website.

"The trial was an investigational study," Cavalier said in September. "We saw some interesting things, and we do plan to publish that data. And we want to begin to open clinics where the treatment will be made available."

Young blood and anti-aging: Are there any benefits?

Karmazin is right about the capacity of blood transfusions to save lives. But the science on whether infusions of young blood plasma could help fight aging remains murky at best.

In early experiments in mice, Tony Wyss-Coray, a director of the Alzheimer's research center at Stanford University Medical School who founded a longevity startup focused on blood plasma called Alkahest, found that swapping old blood plasma for young blood plasma appeared to provide some limited cognitive benefits. The 150-year-old surgical technique he used, parabiosis — whose name comes from the Greek words "para," or "beside," and "bio," or "life"— involves exchanging the blood of two living organisms.

But Alkahest's work is very different from Ambrosia's. Their researchers aim to develop drugs for age-related diseases that are inspired by their work with plasma; they are not looking to open a clinic.

Read more:The CEO of a startup aimed at harnessing the benefits of young blood shares his real plan to beat aging

'The results looked really awesome'

Karmazin told Business Insider in 2017 that he got the idea for his company as a medical student at Stanford and an intern at the National Institute on Aging, where he watched dozens of traditional blood transfusions performed safely.

"Some patients got young blood, and others got older blood, and I was able to do some statistics on it, and the results looked really awesome," Karmazin told Business Insider in 2017. "And I thought this is the kind of therapy that I'd want to be available to me."

So far, no one knows whether young blood transfusions can be reliably linked to lasting benefits, however.

Karmazin said that "many" of the roughly 150 people who had received the treatment described benefits including renewed focus, better memory and sleep, and improved appearance and muscle tone.

Yet it's impossible to quantify these benefits as the study's findings have not been made public.

And on Tuesday, regulators urged caution.

"We strongly discourage consumers from pursing this therapy outside of clinical trials under appropriate institutional review board and regulatory oversight," Gottlieb and Marks wrote in their letter on Tuesday.

SEE ALSO: A controversial startup that charges $8,000 to fill your veins with young blood now claims to be up and running in 5 cities across the US

DON'T MISS: Ambrosia says it's opening a clinic in NYC — but researchers whose work inspired it warn it's dangerous

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• Samantha and Bailey Brazzel recently went to Carter Tax Service in Indiana to file their taxes.
• But Nancy Fivecoate, the owner of the business, turned them away because the women are married to each other.
• Samantha told INSIDER that Bailey has used the service for herself for the last four years. In the past, Fivecoate had no issue with Bailey and Samantha dating.
• However, when the women filed as a married couple, Fivecoate said their relationship went against her beliefs.
• Fivecoate stands by her actions.

When Samantha and Bailey Brazzel set out to file their taxes last week, they anticipated it would be business as usual.

The women set out to Carter Tax Services, but when they tried to file their taxes as a married couple they were turned away, Samantha told INSIDER.

Nancy Fivecoate, who owns the business, said that she could not file their taxes because same-sex marriage goes against her religious beliefs, the IndyStar reported. 

"It was not something that we expected," Samantha said.

In fact, the women were shocked. Bailey had filed her taxes with the Indiana business for the last four years, Samantha said. The previous year, Bailey introduced Samantha to Fivecoat as her girlfriend and there was no issue.

Samantha said that Fivecoate took specific issue with the women's marriage. "She said, 'No I'm sorry I can't do that it goes against my beliefs. I'm a Christian. I believe marriage is between one man, one woman. So she just said no I can't do that,'" Samantha recounted.

Apparently, this is not the first time this has happened at Carter Tax Services. Fivecoate told the women that she has turned couples away before and that "she would file gay people's taxes, but not if they were married," Samantha said.

In the moments after being rejected, they were shocked. The women left and later got their taxes filed at an H&R Block. But they were left with an uneasy feeling.

"If our marriage is legal and just as valid as anybody else's, how are we able to discriminated against like this?" said Samantha. "Why aren't their laws forbidding this?" 

Later, the women took to Facebook to share their story, hoping to warn other members of the LGBTQ community. 

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In a statement to the Kokomo Tribune, Fivecoate stood by her actions.

"I declined to prepare the taxes because of my religious beliefs," Fivecoate said. "I am a Christian and I believe marriage is between one man and one woman. I was very respectful to them. I told them where I thought she might be able to get her taxes prepared."

Fivecoate told the IndyStar that she believes that she, too, is being discriminated against because of her religious beliefs.

"The LGBT want respect for their beliefs, which I gave them. I did not say anything about their lifestyle," she said. "That is their choice. It is not my choice. Where is their respect for my beliefs?"

The Brazzel's story is not unique.

In Colorado, a Christian baker refused to make a cake for a same-sex couple, and the case made it all the way to the Supreme Court. Jack Phillips, the baker, refused to bake a cake for Charlie Craig and Dave Mullins on the grounds of religion — and the court found that it was his right to do so. 

In Indiana, in particular, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act was signed in by then-governor Mike Pence. The law says that the government cannot interfere with a person's religion unless it can prove a compelling reason to do so. Critics of the act said that this could lead to discrimination— especially against LGTBQ people by businesses.

"It was upsetting and shocking," Samantha said of her and her wife's recent experience. "You hear about things like that happening, but you never expect it to be you."

• Read more:
• Ariana Grande is being accused of 'queer baiting' in her new music video — but others say it's a representation of self-love
• A Catholic school canceled classes because it feared protests over a lesbian councilwoman's speaking event
• Chris Pratt says he 'believes that everyone is entitled to love who they want' after Ellen Page called his church 'infamously anti-LGBTQ'

Join the conversation about this story »

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• On Tuesday, Senator Bernie Sanders announced he is running for President again.
• On the latest episode of "Business Insider Today" on Facebook Watch, INSIDER CEO Henry Blodget highlights three big challenges the Democrats will face.
• Democrats will need to explain how they're going to pay for new healthcare services, avoid a "socialist" label, and avoid the “Bernie or bust” devotion that helped elect President Trump.

Bernie Sanders is running for President again!

The Senator from Vermont joins an increasingly crowded field of Democratic candidates.

Millions of Americans likely agree with Sanders’ assertion that President Trump is an “embarrassment” to the country. Sanders’ proposed policies — anchored by basic healthcare for all— have also gained a lot of support in recent years.

But Sanders’ entry into the race highlights three big challenges the Democrats will face as they seek to persuade America to fire President Trump.

First, the Democrats will likely need to explain how they’re going to pay for all the new services most of them want to provide — such as basic healthcare for all, subsidized child care, and some form of a “Green New Deal.”

The US fiscal deficit— the amount government spending exceeds tax revenue — has exploded in the past year.  The Republican President and his party have certainly avoided consequences from it. And some Democrats are already arguing that the deficit is irrelevant.

But many Americans do worry about the deficit, so the Democrats will likely have to offer some explanation of where the money will come from. Polls also suggest Americans lose enthusiasm for new services quickly when they learn how much they’ll make their taxes go up

Second, Democrats will have to avoid getting slapped with the “socialist” label.

No mainstream Democrat supports full-blown socialism, in which the government owns and provides everything. But Sanders and other Democrats have previously described themselves as “Democratic Socialists.” And President Trump is already campaigning on the claim that the Democrats want to turn America into Venezuela. So the Democrats will need to work hard to make clear that what they’re advocating is not, in fact, socialism.

Lastly, the Democrats will have to avoid the “Bernie or bust” devotion to a particular candidate that led many young voters to stay home back in 2016. Once Sanders lost the 2016 primary to Hillary Clinton, many Sanders supporters boycotted or lost interest in the election. Their decision to abstain from voting helped hand the election to Mr. Trump.

This time, Democrats will have to unite in their common mission of defeating President Trump.

SEE ALSO: Bernie Sanders thinks he can appeal to women and minority voters in 2020, despite ongoing concerns from 2016 campaign

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NOW READ: Bernie Sanders explains how at 77 he expects to lead a diverse, young Democratic revolution

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• Some homes around the world cost millions of dollars but struggle to find buyers because of their unique decor. 
• In Connecticut, there is a home that's modeled after a castle— and it has its own moat. 
• Down in Florida, there is an overly grand mansion that was inspired by the Palace of Versailles. 
• Other wildly extravagant homes can be found in Los Angeles, China, and Indiana. 

Not all mansions are created equal. 

Though most mansions cost well into the millions, it doesn't mean they're desirable. Builders, architects, and homeowners all over the world have made some pretty questionable choices when building their dream homes.

From the hills of Los Angeles to a private island in China, these are some of the most stupidly extravagant homes in the world.  

Playa Vista Isle is a mansion in Florida that was inspired by the Palace of Versailles.

The mansion went on the market for $159 million dollars but sold for $42.5 million, making it one of the most expensive homes in the country. 

The mansion sits on Florida's famous strip of homes known as “Millionaires’ Mile,” adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean.

The home is nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, giving it beautiful water views from every inch of its 5-acre property. 

The home features 30,000 square feet of lavish decor and extravagant finishings.

The front door of the home is 12 feet high and made of 22-karat gold. The lavish decor continues inside the home where the staircase is made of South African marble. 

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• OUAI Haircare just released its latest celebrity-approved hair product: the Hair & Body Shine Mist, which can be used on hair or body to add softness and shine. Consider it the all-over answer to dewy, luminous skin — the one product you need to glow from head to toe.
• It's the latest in a string of dual-action hair and body products from the brand, which was founded by celebrity hair stylist Jen Atkin (known for working with Khloé Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Chrissy Teigen).
• The spray features crushed diamond powder to refract light, amaranth oil to condition, and squalene to add shine. It sinks into the hair and skin quickly without leaving behind a greasy residue, and delivers a subtle shimmer.
• OUAI Hair & Body Shine Mist is available at Sephora for $32.

If you've ever scrolled through Instagram, kept up with the Kardashian-Jenners, or obsessed over the Hadid sisters' perfect hair, you're likely already familiar with OUAI.

But for those not yet in the know, OUAI (pronounced "way") is the 3-year-old hair-care empire founded by Jen Atkin, hair stylist to the stars and serial entrepreneur. After making a name for herself in the celeb sphere as the go-to girl for Khloé Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Chrissy Teigen (to name a few), and later launching Mane Addicts, a stylist education platform, Atkin decided to bottle up her mane magic for the masses.

OUAI launched in 2016 with a handful of hair products that made it easy to recreate Atkin's signature messy waves at home (the stylist practically invented the tousled look with her "butterfly" technique).

Viral success ensued.

More recently, OUAI has capitalized on that low-key, effortlessly polished vibe by introducing dual-action hair and body products — the latest of which is the Hair & Body Shine Mist. "The dual action products first started with our Rose Hair & Body Oil, and now we have Scalp & Body Scrub," Aktin tells Business Insider. "Our biggest request was a shine spray for hair and body."

Consider it the all-over answer to dewy, luminous skin — the one product you need to glow from head to toe.

"The inspiration came from our community — our Instagram Live conversations during product development meetings, our polls on IG stories, and comments in our DMs," Atkin reveals. It's a pretty genius development technique that feels completely aligned with the brand's social-first approach to marketing and customer service: Ask customers what they want, iterate and improve on the concept, then deliver a product that not only works, but looks great in a #shelfie (that's a #selfie for your beauty products, FYI).

For the $32 Hair & Body Shine Mistthat translates to a metallic, rose-colored can of aerosol spray, that lightly dusts strands and skin with light-refracting diamond particles and glimmer-giving oils. If diamonds were a girl's best friend in the 1950s, the diamond-spiked Hair & Body Shine Mist is a millennial girl's best friend.

"Avoiding roots, lightly mist dry hair from mid-length to ends for a shiny finish," Atkin instructs. "It provides a lightweight, light-reflecting, silky shine to hair." Once your hair has achieved peak shine, "Spray from neck to toes," the stylist says. 

Now, you might be thinking that a "dewy glow from head to toe" is nice in theory but sounds a little… sticky. Greasy. Oily, even. I'm happy to report that is not the case with OUAI's Hair & Body Shine Mist. At all.

The product utilizes an aerosol spray function that's reminiscent of at-home spray tan cans, but instead of getting tan, you're getting glossy. The formula sinks into the skin almost immediately. It doesn't feel — or look — greasy or oily, and there's zero residue left behind; just a subtle shimmer that glistens every time your hair or body catches the light. The effect is real: I spent a solid minute and a half rotating my arm back and forth in a patch of sunlight, mesmerized by how it shone.

Of course, that's all by thoughtful design. "Our production team worked really hard to create the perfect blend of diamond powder, amaranth oil, and squalene," Atkin says. "Diamond powder contains shine properties that brighten dull skin and hair through reflection of light, amaranth oil is a nutrient-rich oil that conditions skin and hair, and squalene provides hydration and moisture for a healthy shine."

The glow is buildable, so you can spritz just a touch for everyday shimmer or go all-out for evening. But the best part about OAUI's new dual-action spray? As with every product the brand puts out, the scent is to die for.

In that sense, it's not really fair to call Hair & Body Shine Mist a two-in-one — it's a veritable three-in-one, since it can stand in for your usual perfume, too.

"The fragrance is [called] Melrose Place, a velvety rich rose fragrance with hints of bergamot, lychee, cedar wood, and white musk," Atkin says. "It's the same fragrance found in our Rose Hair & Body Oil and Scalp & Body Scrub." The scent was such a cult-hit with customers when it was first introduced to the product line, OUAI later branched out into actual fragrance with the release of four perfumes, among them the rosy, musky Melrose Place.

Buy OUAI's Hair & Body Shine Mist at Sephora for $32

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• As of December 2018, nearly 430,000 Americans served in the US Army and Air National Guard, according to Department of Defense data.
• Guard members sign up to commit one weekend a month and two weeks per year for training — but are often asked to sacrifice much more in service to their state and country.
• Between September 2001 and September 2015, some 428,000 members of the National Guard were sent on deployments.
• These troops also answer the call when disaster strikes their home states, like the recent fires in California and during Hurricane Harvey. 
• When it comes to capabilities, no two states are alike — we ranked the top six, measuring everything from sheer size of force to whether the state has special forces, strike, and a brigade combat team. Overall, we found Texas has the most capable National Guard.

1. Texas

Don't mess with Texas' National Guard.

Texas has a number of capabilities that elevate the Lone Star State to the #1 position.

Its sheer size is a significant factor — the Texas National Guard is host to nearly 21,000 troops, including its army and air components.

Texas is also home to two companies of the 19th Special Forces Group and Air Guard fighter and attack wings that provide strike and drone capabilities.

2. California

California's National Guard forces nearly equal those found in Texas, including Green Berets in the 19th Special Forces Group.

But because the nation's most populous state only yields roughly 18,000 troops, they fall in at #2.

3. Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania hosts more guardsmen than California, with a force almost 18,500 members strong. 

But because the state does not have Special Forces troops — the most elite forces in the Army, who are called upon for the most dangerous missions — it slid back to take the #3 spot.