industry

Coke vs. Pepsi: The Battle for University Soda Machines 

Coke vs. Pepsi: The Battle for University Soda Machines 

Nutthaseth Vanchaichana via iStockPhoto The age-old rivalry that has long divided the nation: Coke vs. Pepsi. Some claim they taste the same, while others say they are incomparable. Those with a strong preference for one of the two find themselves in unfortunate situations when the waiter replies, “sorry, we don’t carry [preferred cola drink], just [undesired cola drink].” For the consumer who enjoys both Coke and Pepsi alike, this poses no real inconvenience. But for consumers on either end of the spectrum, the lack of their favorite cola turns day into night. Now imagine a die hard Coke-lover coming to…
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GLP-1s: A Game Changer. But for Whom?

GLP-1s: A Game Changer. But for Whom?

PeopleImages via iStockPhoto What are GLP-1s? The emergence of GLP-1 drugs as effective treatments for obesity has dominated the recent news. Top headlines from Bloomberg, CNBC, The New York Times, People, and numerous other publications illustrate how this product has quickly become a mainstream part of our culture.  GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide-1, is a peptide hormone antagonist that blocks glucagon secretion to prevent excess glucose from entering the bloodstream. Initially developed over 15 years ago for lowering blood sugar for Type 2 diabetics, GLP-1 drugs are now also clinically proven to reduce weight significantly. Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk led…
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The Consolidation of Online Streaming

The Consolidation of Online Streaming

mphillips007 via iStockPhoto The way we watch TV and movies is changing. Before the 1980s, people often relied on broadcast TV for their shows and movies. This free, ad-supported television broadcasted to homes and typically included three-to-four national and two-to-three local channels. Next, cable was invented, and for a monthly subscription, users could access hundreds of channels and additional content for a paid subscription.  The Shift to Streaming  As recently as 2016, almost 100 million homes had cable TV. Then, streaming emerged, significantly changing how we consume TV and movies. When streaming started to dominate, the first main platform was…
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The Evolving World: Music and Artificial Intelligence

The Evolving World: Music and Artificial Intelligence

Devrimb via iStockPhoto One good thing that came out of the COVID pandemic was the increase in the understanding and development of technology, specifically artificial intelligence. Generative AI, such as ChatGPT, became popular overnight. An example is programs that create music based on different inputs or examples provided to the AI. This resulted in a large earthquake — a disturbance — in the music industry. One example is the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, in which students dedicate the entirety of their time as an undergraduate working towards a degree in music. As a result, these students are…
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