WHAT’S INSIDE:

• Top consumer tech news this week, Alexa+, foldable iPhones, Fairphone 3

• Feature: Luxury Wellness Retreats Fighting Aging with Longevity Travel

• Latest food and dining and food technology news

• Arts and culture news, intersection of tech and entertainment

• The latest sports news and sports tech

• Futurism, the latest in future concepts and cutting edge deep tech

• Latest news in wellness and wellbeing tech, biotech, medtech and more

TOP CONSUMER TECH NEWS

AI Alexa — Amazon showcased Alexa+ with generative AI and smart home features, a "complete re-architecture" of the AI assistant as more of a serious productivity tool.

CME's Micro Contracts — CME Group launched small agricultural commodity contracts for retail traders and farmers, democratizing access to commodities trading without physical delivery risks.

Apple's 2026 Plans — Apple prepares to launch a foldable iPhone alongside another innovative design in 2026, with the foldable device reportedly nearing final development stages.

Fairphone (3a) Series — The leading open-source modular phone brand revealed its new devices being unboxed by a NEO Gamma humanoid robot.

Phone Photoshop — A new iPhone app offers free and premium ($7.99/mth) editing tools, with an Android app coming soon.

MWC 2025 — The world’s largest mobile event next week is expected to highlight industry shifts due to telecom policies, AI, and increased AI infrastructure spending.

Planck SSD — A compact 2TB creator-focused drive delivers 1050 MB/s speeds in a rugged, water-resistant design perfect for mobile content creation.

FEATURE ARTICLE

Luxury Wellness Retreats Fight Aging 

For decades, luxury travel meant five-star resorts, private islands, and Michelin-starred dining. Today, longevity travel is redefining the high-end market combining cutting-edge biotech and relaxation for elite travelers willing to spend big in pursuit of a longer, healthier life.

From bespoke stem cell treatments in Costa Rica to precision medicine retreats in California, longevity tourism is attracting a new class of health-conscious, affluent travelers eager to optimize their lifespan. The luxury travel sector is no longer just about escaping reality—it’s also about extending it.

The Evolution From Wellness to Biohacking

Luxury wellness retreats have long catered to travelers seeking relaxation and rejuvenation, but the latest evolution goes further. Longevity tourism focuses not just on well-being but on measurable biological age reversal, tapping into the latest advancements in cellular regeneration, genetic testing, and biohacking therapies.

Booking.com’s 2025 Travel Predictions reveal over 52% of US travelers would invest in a vacation designed explicitly to extend their lifespan. Elite travelers are looking beyond the spa and yoga to IV drips, cryotherapy, red light therapy, and experimental biotech. A range of destinations are offering state-of-the-art medical diagnostics, longevity-focused treatments, and lifestyle optimization programs.

The Top Longevity Travel Destinations in the Americas

For Americans looking to invest in their health, several locations have emerged as hotspots for longevity-focused tourism.

1. The Longevity Clinics of Miami & California

In the U.S., Miami and Los Angeles are at the epicenter of longevity medicine, home to elite clinics offering bespoke anti-aging treatments. The Ageless Clinic in Miami provides custom-tailored regenerative medicine programs, including exosome therapy and NAD+ infusions, aimed at slowing cellular decline.

Meanwhile, in Silicon Valley, Sensei Porcupine Creek (a former private estate of Larry Ellison) is partnered with biotech firms to offer longevity protocols based on genetic sequencing, AI-driven health diagnostics, and cellular repair therapies.

2. The Blue Zone Retreats – Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, one of the world’s five Blue Zones, has become a mecca for longevity-focused retreats. Luxury resorts like The Well at Hacienda AltaGracia integrate local longevity secrets—diet, natural movement, and community connection—with cutting-edge biohacking therapies like hyperbaric oxygen therapy and stem cell rejuvenation.

3. Aspen’s Altitude Biohacking

High-altitude retreats like Aspen’s The Little Nell are incorporating hypoxic training, altitude exposure, and VO2 max testing into their longevity programming. These programs mimic the benefits of restricted oxygen environments, shown to enhance mitochondrial function and increase lifespan.

4. The Biohacking Labs of Mexico

For those looking for next-level biotech interventions, high-end medical retreats—like The BioScience Institute in Tijuana—offer controversial but sought-after treatments such as stem cells, telomere extension, and plasma exchange therapies. These treatments, often restricted in the U.S., are attracting an elite clientele willing to cross borders for access to the cutting edge of anti-aging science.

The Rise of Longevity Resorts: Where Biotech Meets Luxury

Longevity travel is also about the experience. Longevity resorts combine science, AI-driven diagnostics, and personalized health protocols with five-star luxury.

The Ranch Malibu (California)

A favorite among Silicon Valley elites, The Ranch offers custom DNA testing, longevity-focused nutrition, and monitored fasting protocols. The retreat’s 5-day longevity reset has become a staple for biohackers and health-conscious executives looking for a mid-career cellular recharge.

Sensei Lanai, Hawaii

Another Larry Ellison property, Sensei Lanai is an exclusive health optimization retreat blending machine learning, data-driven fitness coaching, and AI-powered longevity analytics. Guests undergo full-body scans, metabolic testing, and custom wellness plans overseen by top longevity experts.

Palmaïa, The House of AïA (Riviera Maya, Mexico)

This high-end retreat is attracting wellness-driven tech founders and celebrities. With an on-site longevity research team, the retreat integrates plant medicine, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and advanced metabolic testing into a beachfront luxury setting.

The Science Behind the Hype: Does Longevity Travel Work?

Recent breakthroughs in cellular aging research suggest that longevity travel isn’t just a luxury indulgence—it actually works.

• Harvard researchers have identified AP2A1, a protein involved in cellular senescence, as a potential key to reversing aging at a molecular level. Several longevity retreats are now offering interventions aimed at activating regenerative pathways linked to this discovery.

• Travel itself has been shown to reduce stress biomarkers, improve cardiovascular health, and increase neuroplasticity, all linked to longer lifespans.

• IV therapy, telomere treatments, stem cells, and NAD+ infusions, common at high-end wellness clinics, have all been shown to restore mitochondrial function and reverse biological age markers.

While many longevity treatments are still in experimental stages, the integration of personalized medicine, biotech, and high-end travel experiences is creating a new frontier in health tourism. With major tech players like Ellison, Peter Thiel, Bryan Johnson, and Jeff Bezos investing billions into longevity research, it’s clear that anti-aging travel is more than just a fad—it’s the future of high-end tourism. For those willing to invest in their lifespan, the next great adventure isn’t just about where you go—it’s about how long you can stay.

FOOD AND DRINK

Coffee Crisis — Severe droughts in Brazil and Vietnam drive coffee prices higher; climate change threatens long-term supply and quality.

Sensei Struggles — Larry Ellison's farming venture faces technical and management challenges, highlighting tech-to-agriculture transition difficulties.

Luxury Bagels — A Caviar Kaspia x Baz Bagels collaboration brings caviar-topped bagels to NYC via DoorDash daily and RESY weekends.

Celsius Soars — The energy drink maker's stock is up 27% on $332.2M revenue and its $1.65B Alani Nutrition acquisition; analysts are cautiously optimistic.

Luxury Shrimp — Upscale restaurants are charging $30+ for shrimp cocktails as diners embrace premium seafood and midcentury dining nostalgia.

ARTS & CULTURE

Fyre Festival 2 — Billy McFarland plans a second festival in Mexico (May 30-June 2, 2025), tickets are $1.4K-$1.1M, with no confirmed artists yet.

007 Changes — Amazon MGM takes creative control of James Bond franchise as Wilson and Broccoli steps back from leadership.

UK Media vs AI — British newspapers launched the blue cover campaign protesting government's AI copyright proposals, demanding fair compensation.

Silent Protest — 1,000 musicians released a silent studio recording album to protest the UK's AI copyright changes, supporting Help Musicians charity.

Netflix Mexico — The streaming giant committed a $1B investment into the Mexican AV sector over four years to boost local production.

Ancient Maritime Tech — Southeast Asian stone tools revealed an advanced 40,000-year-old seafaring civilization, predating European developments.

SPORTS DESK

ESPN-MLB Split — ESPN and MLB will end their partnership after 2025 due to rights fee disputes; MLB seeks new deals amid rising attendance while ESPN eyes other summer sports.

Jordan's Healthcare — Michael Jordan opened a fourth NC health clinic for uninsured patients, expanding access to essential primary care services following previous successes.

PGA-PIF Talks — The PGA Tour's Monahan, Tiger Woods, and others met White House officials for Saudi PIF tour merger discussions described as "constructive".

4 Nations Final — Team Canada defeated the U.S. in an overtime thriller at the 4 Nations Face-Off in Boston; Connor McDavid netted the winner in a 3-2 victory with stellar goaltending on both sides.

F1 Sims — Motorsports have long been a pay-to-play arena, but four-time F1 champ Max Verstappen sees a way to change that through virtual sim racing.

FUTURISM

CR450 Speed Record — China's latest high-speed train prototype hits 281 mph in testing, aiming for 248.5 mph operational speeds with advanced monitoring and safety features.

AS700D Green Airship — China's AVIC debuts zero-emission electric airship carrying 10 passengers, reaching 3,100m altitude with successful maiden flight.

Transatlantic Tunnel — A $19T underwater maglev train tunnel connecting London-NY in 54 minutes may be closer to reality with Elon Musk able to lower costs.

Brain-Computer Leap — Chinese scientists developed a two-way adaptive BCI with 100x efficiency gain, enabling enhanced control accuracy and reduced energy use in medical applications.

The Line Megacity — Saudi Arabia's 170km-long city project faces construction challenges, cost overruns, and worker safety concerns as it pursues Vision 2030 goals.

WELLBEING TECH

Cancer Vaccine — MSK's RNA neoantigen vaccine shows lasting effectiveness against pancreatic cancer recurrence through sustained T cell activity in a Phase I trial.

AI in Disease Control — AI revolutionizes infectious disease tracking with improved data integration and predictive modeling.

Blood-Based AI Diagnostics — A new AI tool analyzes immune-cell gene sequences to diagnose multiple conditions including COVID-19, diabetes, and HIV from blood samples.

NVIDIA Signs Platform — A new interactive ASL learning platform uses 3D avatars and real-time feedback, aims to build a comprehensive sign language dataset.

Hair Loss Research — Advanced studies explore genetic factors and innovative treatments including PRP and stem cells for addressing baldness.

Cell Age Control — University of Osaka discovers AP2A1 protein's role in cellular aging, offering potential treatments for age-related diseases.