After missing a chance to capitalize on the AI boom, "Samsung's profit has plunged," reports CNBC, and "around $126 billion has been wiped off its market value, according to data from S&P Capital IQ." It's gotten so bad that "an executive issued a rare public apology about the company's recent financial performance." [A]s AI applications such as OpenAI's ChatGPT rose in popularity, the underlying infrastructure required to train the huge models they rely on became a bigger focus. Nvidia has emerged as the top player in this space with its graphics processing units (GPUs) that have become the gold standard used by tech giants for AI training. A crucial part of that semiconductor architecture is high-bandwidth memory, or HBM. This next generation of memory involves stacking multiple dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips, but it had a small market before the AI boom. That's where Samsung got caught out and failed to invest... SK Hynix saw this opportunity. The company aggressively launched HBM chips which were approved for use in Nvidia architecture and, in the process, the South Korean firm established a close relationship with the U.S. giant. Nvidia's CEO even asked the company to speed up supply of its next generation chip, underscoring the importance of HBM to its products. SK Hynix posted record quarterly operating profit in the September quarter... Analysts said that Samsung is lagging behind competitors for a number of reasons, including underinvestment in HBM and the fact that it is not a first-mover. "It is fair to say that Samsung has not been able to close the gap with SK Hynix on the HBM development roadmap," said Kazunori Ito [director of equity research at Morningstar]. Samsung's ability to make a comeback in the short term appears to be closely linked to Nvidia. A company must pass a strict qualification process before Nvidia approves it as a HBM supplier — and Samsung has not yet completed this verification. But a green light from Nvidia could open the door for Samsung to return to growth and compete more effectively with SK Hynix, according to analysts.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Wednesday Cuba was hit by a major hurricane which took down its entire power grid again, this time for about 24 hours, according to CNN: Videos of the aftermath showed power infrastructure turned into a mangled mess and power poles down on streets. Hundreds of technicians were mobilized Thursday to reestablish power connections, according to state media... Operations at two electrical plants were partially restored and parts of eastern and central Cuba had electricity back up by Thursday afternoon, state media reported... The country's power grid has collapsed multiple times, including when Hurricane Oscar hit in October and killed at least 7 people. In the capital of Havana, where 2 million people live, power had been restored to less than 20% of the city by late Friday afternoon, . "Authorities had not yet given an estimate for when power would be fully restored..." Then tonight, CNN reported: A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of eastern Cuba on Sunday, causing material damage in several regions as the island continues to recover from widespread blackouts and the impact of two hurricanes over the past few weeks. The earthquake was reported about 39 km (24 miles) south of Bartolomé Masó before noon local time, about an hour after a 5.9 magnitude quake rocked the area, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. "There have been landslides, damage to homes and power lines," Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said, adding that authorities are evaluating the situation to start recovery efforts.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

‘For young people to thrive, they need strong ties to their community and easy access to mental health services,’ says NCI’s Dr April Hargreaves.

Read more: How this neuropsychologist is tackling the loneliness epidemic

Episode four of The Leaders’ Room’s season two features outgoing SAP Ireland managing director, Liam Ryan. This series is created in partnership with IDA Ireland.

Read more: A life of tech leadership with SAP’s Liam Ryan

The European Space Agency has given the go-ahead for initial work on a mission to visit an asteroid called (99942) Apophis. If approved at a key meeting next year, the robotic spacecraft, known as the Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses), will rendezvous with the asteroid in February 2029. Apophis is 340 metres wide, about the same as the height of the Empire State Building. If it were to hit Earth, it would cause wholesale destruction hundreds of miles from its impact site. The energy released would equal that of tens or hundreds of nuclear weapons, depending on the…

This story continues at The Next Web

In 1991, Sony brought the first rechargeable lithium-ion battery to market. The unique chemistry proved a game-changer in energy storage. Today everything from EVs to smartphones depends on it, with demand skyrocketing.  But lithium is rare, most of it comes from unstable markets outside Europe, and its extraction can cause extensive pollution. We need more lithium to enable the green transition and yet, currently, its use is unsustainable — both environmentally and economically. We’re stuck in a paradox. Munich-based startup Tozero believes that battery recycling offers a way out. Recycling batteries is far from a new concept, but the German venture…

This story continues at The Next Web

This might be a better solution to lower your GPU fans' noise while still getting the required performance.

Many online shopping sites offer free international shipping, which can save you a fortune when shopping online! Here are 20.

Scammers are using photos of your house to encourage you to send them money, but here's why you shouldn't.

Look around a jobsite, and you’ll likely see many crew members wearing Red Wing boots.

The saw tooth roof of the International Precast Solutions building in Michigan proved challenging for spray foam installation, but installers with Spray Tight Foam Insulators rose to the challenge.

Not only did this project renovate a California church with a durable new roof, it earned third place in the 2019 ATAS Project of the Year competition.

A Texas roofing contractor relies on the protection that Owens Corning's Duration shingles offer to battle extreme weather in the Houston market.

Atlas General Contractors in Illinois turned to Atlas Roofing products to help reroof and improve ventilation for a century-old church.

When cedar shingles proved to be unfeasible for a historic structure in New York, roofing contractors turned to a CertainTeed shingle to match the site's harmony with nature.

Petrini Custom Builders focused on creating a high-performance residential home, which included elevating design and performance using Atlas Roofing EnergyShield.

In this session, learn about an exciting new nationwide apprenticeship program that addresses the workforce shortage plaguing the roofing industry.

The BBB International Torch Awards for Ethics recognize businesses that maintain outstanding dedication to upholding ethical business practices and promoting trust in the marketplace.  

Hilcove comes to Stronghouse with more than 15 years of investment banking and corporate development experience, leading mergers and acquisitions throughout the U.S.

Good leadership is the result of practicing good habits, from planning and visualizing realistic goals to effective communications.

Most people aren’t stupid, but just fail to think things through, and short-term decisions can turn into long-term nightmares. Here are 10 of the most frequent poor business decisions.

Here are some the smart things contractors do to make their businesses succeed, and tips on how to do those things if you aren’t already.

Taking the time to properly train employees instead of throwing them into the deep end and expecting them to swim will help alleviate labor shortages.

Learn more about the state of the coatings industry in 2023 with this Q&A featuring Kyle Stavish, national business development manager with Mule-Hide Products Co. Inc.

Philadelphia is set to receive a $1.3M federal grant from the Department of Energy to boost energy efficiency, including cool roof tests in areas most prone to the urban heat island effect.

How a Fortune 500 company reduced the need for frequent roof replacements and repairs while promoting sustainability with more energy-efficient materials.

IKO expands its Dynasty Cool Colors Plus line with five new shades that meet California's Cool Roof requirements, exceed reflectivity standards, boast impact resistance, and feature ArmourZone technology for high wind durability.

Face masks aren’t the only way to stop the spread of COVID-19. Here are some viable alternatives that can keep workers safe.

OSHA and Noble Texas Builders have entered into a one-year partnership to enhance worker safety during construction at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – McAllen Independent School District Collegiate Academy in McAllen, Texas.

The founder and owner of Red Dog’s Roofing wants to encourage the next generation to explore the rewarding careers roofing has to offer.

Helping Neighbors and Exceeding Expectations in the Heartland

From Melbourne to Montana, RC Young Gun Samuel Brokenshire has traveled the globe for love and started a career in roofing that is budding at just the right time.

DensDefy Liquid Flashing is a part of Georgia-Pacific's first foray into water management, used to create an elastomeric flashing membrane that is highly durable and eliminates the need for joint reinforcing tape.

PABCO Roofing manufactures a broad line of asphalt shingles to meet the unique needs of homeowners throughout the Western U.S.

671 Karna-Seal Silicone White Roof Sealant resists weathering, hardening, chalking, and cracking and can be used to repair all roof types. IRE Booth #5725.

The recent plan to forgive student loans is shining a light on the disparity between four-year college programs versus careers in skilled trades.

In addition to its partnerships with Tradepost LLC and Stonecutter Ventures, Feazel is now offering GAF Energy's Timberline Solar Shingle.

The team at Feazel raised $400,000 for children’s charities at its second annual Chip in Fore the Kids golf tournament.

The hiring of a new CFO and COO comes on the heels of Bone Dry Roofing's financial performance in 2023, which included revenue exceeding $183 million.

If roofing contractors don’t think train derailments will have an impact on workplace safety regulations, they should think again, said Legal Insights expert Trent Cotney.

The new synthetic underlayment from Veer Plastics achieved certification to the nail seal standard of ASTM D1970, making it one of the most reliable and high-performance underlayments on the market.

The partnership is a significant step forward in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the roofing industry while providing resources to Hispanic roofing professionals.

Madsen Roofing & Waterproofing’s Christian Madsen and Elizabeth Sanford discusses the keys to their success developing and maintaining a profitable roof service department.

This year’s International Roofing Expo emphasizes the many outreach efforts dedicated to supporting the Hispanic roofing community for its 2024 event next month in Las Vegas.

The International Roofing Expo returns to Las Vegas Feb. 6-8, 2024. Take a sneak peek into what's in store for attendees returning to the 'Entertainment Capital of the World.'

Owens Corning is touting its progress toward a "circular shingle economy" through recycling efforts, including partnering with the National Center for Asphalt Technology to study the use of recycled shingles in asphalt pavement.

Holcim US announced a planned investment of around $100 million in its flagship Ste. Genevieve, Mo., production plant, expanding capacity by over 600,000 metric tons of cement while also reducing net CO2 emissions. 

Summit Energy's Peak Roofing division has chosen CertainTeed's Solstice Solar Shingle System as its new go-to line in expanding solar use among residential customers throughout the Northeast. 

Students pursuing a post-secondary education in college or vocational programs in roofing or a similar field are encouraged to apply for the annual scholarship program.

RAFTR Roofing + Exteriors partnered with RoofMarketplace to streamline the roof claims process, using remote data and contractor feedback to simplify and reduce costs for homeowners.