No. 1098: It’s a kinder Friday the 13th edition, with unique elections, Esther Takeuchi and (racist?) pudding

 

Fear factor: Welcome to Friday, dear readers, and not just any Friday but Friday the 13th – the third of 2026 (the maximum amount you can enjoy in a single year) and the last until next August, when sufferers of friggatriskaidekaphobia and/or paraskevidekatriaphobia will confront their intense fear of Friday the 13th for the only time in 2027 (every calendar year is mathematically guaranteed to have at least one, sorry).

Of course, there’s nothing to fear from your favorite innovation newsletter, unless you suffer from prosophobia (the fear of progress) or cenophobia (the fear of new ideas). And if you do, well, read on – might do you some good!

Kind regards: Today is November 13, to be precise, and as such, we’re allaying anxiety first with a nod to World Kindness Day, when random acts of empathy, warmth and goodwill set the tone.

Speaking of tone-setting, change your tune and shiver some timbres as we pitch National Hug a Musician Day, a love note to music-makers.

He said, she Sadie: Love is also in the air on Sadie Hawkins Day, which intends to flip the script on traditional romance by having women take the lead and ask out their male crushes – somewhat trite these days, but there it is. (For the record, the sexual-switcheroo concept was introduced in the “Li’l Abner” comic strip on Nov. 15, 1937, and strip creator Al Capp later named Nov. 26 as the official Sadie Hawkins Day, but posterity had other plans.)

And dig into a classic on National Indian Pudding Day, a not-entirely-PC observance that’s not really about Native Americans (it’s a colonial English invention) but goes all-in on spiced cornmeal and molasses, a sweet combo best served warm every Nov. 13.

Big deal: Other English innovations ringing out today include Big Ben, the iconic London clock bell that bonged for the first time on this date in 1856.

Small change: Also ringing true are college colors, which became a thing on Nov. 13, 1875, when the men of Harvard and the men of Yale established a new tradition by suiting up in coordinated football unis (crimson for Harvard, blue and yellow for Yale).

Perhaps they went to Yale? We don’t know for sure, but designers chose a distinct blue-and-yellow ceramic tile color scheme for the famous Holland Tunnel, the New York-New Jersey connector that first opened to vehicular traffic on this date in 1927.

Good seats still available: Color definitely factored into a U.S. Supreme Court decision handed down 70 years ago today, upholding that bus segregation in Alabama was illegal – a major victory for U.S. civil rights, delivered nearly a year after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat.

Ancient Mariner: And red was the color of the day on Nov. 13, 1971, when the NASA space probe Mariner 9 entered Mars orbit.

The probe – which would map the Red Planet’s surface for the better part of 11 months, well past its planned 90-day mission – lives forever as the first Earth spacecraft to orbit another planet.

Adventure time: Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) – among the most popular writers of the Victorian Era, responsible for “Treasure Island,” “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and other revered adventure-thrillers – would be 176 years old today.

Also born on Nov. 13 were American educator Abraham Flexner (1866-1959), a Kentucky prep-school director who introduced modern medicine and science to American higher education; British aerospace engineer Lewis Boddington (1907-1994), who invented the angled aircraft carrier flight deck with British Naval Rear Admiral Dennis Campbell; British Naval Rear Admiral Dennis Campbell (1907-2000), who invented the angled aircraft carrier flight deck with British aerospace engineer Lewis Boddington (not a typo); American baseball Hall of Famer Buck O’Neil (born John Jordan O’Neil Jr., 1916-2006), who went from Negro Leagues standout to Major League Baseball’s first African American coach; and American actor, comedian, author and television personality Caryn Elaine Johnson (born 1955), known best as Whoopi Goldberg.

“Criminal” intent: And take a bow, Joseph Anthony Mantegna! The Tony Award- and Volpi Cup-winning American actor – a versatile performer known best for playing mobsters, con artists and “Criminal Minds” fed David Rossi – turns 79 today.

Yeah, he’s headlined “Criminal Minds” for two full decades and appeared in major movies like “The Godfather Part III,” but in our estimation, Mantegna peaked right here. Share your thoughts (and birthday wishes) at editor@innovateli.com, where our peak performance relies heavily on your news tips and calendar events.

 

About our sponsor: ZE Creative Communications is a full-service integrated marketing communications agency specializing in public relations, creative marketing, crisis communication and social media. Founded in Great Neck, ZE Creative Communications has been helping clients create compelling and successful messaging campaigns for more than three decades. Learn more here.

 

BUT FIRST, THIS

Where reaccreditation is due: A Farmingdale State College program focused on providing high-schoolers with access to an affordable college-level education has earned national reaccreditation.

The National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships has re-upped Farmingdale State’s University in the High School program – through which the college is providing higher-education credit opportunities to more than 7,000 students from 100-plus regional high schools this academic year – for an additional seven years. The young learners attend college-approved courses taught by qualified high school instructors, giving them a chance to earn college credits at reduced tuition rates, familiarizing them with college-level coursework, accelerating their degree completion and, most importantly, lowering the future cost of their college education.

University in the High School was first accredited by the NACEP in 2020, and to date, Farmingdale State remains the only four-year State University of New York institution to earn the National Alliance’s support. “As higher education continues to focus on affordability, access and degree completion, dual enrollment is playing an increasingly important role,” noted FSC Dean pf Extended and Experiential Learning Dylan Gafarian. “Our reaccreditation reinforces Farmingdale State College’s commitment to preparing students for future academic and career success.”

Take a bow, Takeuchi: One of Long Island’s all-time leading scientists has been immortalized by The Electrochemical Society.

Esther Takeuchi, the William and Jane Knapp Chair in Energy at Stony Brook University and the chief scientist at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, is the namesake of the Esther Sans Takeuchi Innovation Award, announced in October during the historic 250th annual meeting of The Electrochemical Society in Calgary, Canada. Takeuchi, a materials scientist and chemical engineer best known for her pioneering energy-storage and biomedical-power research, holds more than 150 patents – ranking her No. 1 among American women patent-holders – and a boatload of prior accolades, including a National Medal of Technology and Innovation (bestowed in 2008 by President Barack Obama) and a 2011 induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

“I hold this recognition in high regard,” noted the legendary researcher, a member of The Electrochemical Society since 1985 and former president of the international nonprofit scientific organization. “This award is a testimony to accomplishment in electrochemical science and technology that I hope will inspire others to pursue research with meaningful and positive impact.”

 

TOP OF THE SITE

Redistrict this: If there’s one big takeaway from Election 2026, it’s that personalities and policies – not gerrymandering or other political machinations – win elections, according to Voices Law Anchor Michael Sahn, who delivers a detailed post-mortem on the big blue wave.

Still the one(s): Our Friday Newsletters are bigger and better and our subscriber-only Monday Calendar Newsletters are as awesome as ever. See for yourself – Innovate Long Island newsletter subscriptions are always easy, always free.

 

STUFF WE’RE READING

Gotta feel it: Human emotion may be the biggest driver of AI innovation. Fast Co. brings all the feels.

Above and beyond: From imagination to innovation, AI redefines the boundaries of “competitive advantage.” Forbes explores new frontiers.

Quantum leaping: Understanding the “quantum supply chain” and where it goes from here. The Foundation for American Innovation quantifies quantum leadership.

 

BEST OF THE WEST (AND SOMETIMES NORTH/SOUTH)

Innovate LI’s inbox overrunneth with inspirational innovations from all North American corners. This week’s brightest out-of-towners:

From Tennessee: Nashville-based pioneering publisher Abbeville Press duets with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on a lavish book exploring the genre’s rich history.

From Florida: Jacksonville-based caffeine-pouch creator Mojo Energy Pouches teams up with the Wounded Warrior Project on a limited-time, wintergreen-flavored stamina booster.

From California: Los Angeles-based gaming-hardware heavyweight GravaStar deepens its science-fiction aesthetic with the next-generation Mercury Edge headset series.

 

RECENT FUNDINGS

+ Triplemoon, a Texas-based provider of virtual mental-health services in partnership with pediatric clinics, raised $4 million in Seed funding led by LiveOak Ventures and Activate Venture Partners.

+ Finite State, an Ohio-based, AI-driven product security and software supply chain risk-management platform, raised $27 million in Series C funding led by The O.H.I.O. Fund, with participation from CIBC Innovation Banking, Energy Impact Partners, Energize Capital and National Grid Partners.

+ Nidus, a New York City-based industrial AI platform for America’s defense-manufacturing base, raised $30 million in funding led by Kleiner Perkins, Costanoa, Ludlow Ventures, SF1, Absolute Partners, Tau and several angel investors.

+ Mosaic Intelligence Labs, a California-based provider of robotics-enabled surgical infrastructure, raised $47 million in Seed funding led by 8VC, Fundomo, Lingotto Innovation and Obvious Ventures.

+ Index Industries, an NYC-based provider of housing-investment technology and infrastructure, raised $50 million in Seed funding led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from Polychain Capital, Galaxy Ventures and Wintermute Ventures.

+ Path Robotics, an Ohio-based physical AI for autonomous manufacturing, raised $300 million in Series E funding led by Georgian, with participation from Addition, Drive Capital, IronArc Ventures, Tiger Global, Yamaha Motor Ventures, D. E. Shaw Ventures and NAVER Ventures.

 

ON THE MOVE

+ Celia Marshik has been promoted to senior vice provost for graduate education at Stony Brook University. Marshik, who also retains her position as dean of the SBU Graduate School, was vice provost of graduate education.

+ The Garden City-based Long Island Hispanic Bar Association recently announced the election of two new officers:

• Jessica Flores Lynch has been elected to the Board of Directors. She is an associate at Rivkin Radler in Uniondale.
• Edwin Maldonado has been elected treasurer of the Executive Board. He is an associate at Rivin Radler in Uniondale.

+ Joseph Swanson has joined Uniondale-based Forchelli Deegan Terrana as an associate in the Real Estate and Banking and Finance practice groups. He was an associate at Rosenberg & Pittinsky in New York City.

+ Williston Park-based Capetola & Divins has announced two personnel moves:

• Margherita Napoleone has been hired as an associate attorney, pending admission to the New York State Bar Association. She was a law clerk at Morici & Morici in New York City.
• Morgan Rubel has been promoted to associate attorney, pending admission to the New York State Bar Association. She was a legal intern at the firm.

+ Joseph D’Alessandro has been hired as a content specialist at Hauppauge-based Long Island Cares-The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank. He was a reporter at Richner Communications in Garden City.

 

Like this newsletter? Innovate Long Island newsletter, website and podcast sponsorships are a prime opportunity to reach the inventors, investors, entrepreneurs and executives you need to know – on Long Island, and soon, across New York State (just ask ZE Creative Communications). Gregory Zeller can tell you more.

 

BELOW THE FOLD (Doomsday Edition)

To be continued: A circa-1960 “doomsday” scientific study calculated today’s date as the end of the world.

Canned laughter: A bona fide foodie attempts to live just one week on emergency food rations.

Spoiler alert: “Avengers: Doomsday” has shattered ticket-presale records (and that was before this big reveal).

The end is nigh: At least, the end of miscommunication, lame press releases and poorly conceived marketing campaigns – that’s the main mission (and gold standard) at ZE Creative Communications, one of the fantastic firms that support Innovate Long Island. Check them out.