Good morning! It's Sunday, July 20, and in just a few days, San Diego's world-renowned Comic-Con opens, so we explored the pop culture festival's origins and legacy.
Scroll down to learn what happened to murder hornets, why even Tom Brady can't throw a perfect spiral, and more. Or visit 1440 Topics for primers on Fireworks, Consulting, or 200 others.
Have suggestions? Help us better serve our more than 4.5 million readers by sharing your honest feedback or fascinating facts at [email protected].
— 1440 Topics Team |
|
|
Dear Readers—Our Sunday edition delivers deep dives into interesting and relevant topics, helping you explore new ideas and feeding your curiosity.
Instead of the news—which we cover Monday through Saturday—today we’ll bring you deeply researched overviews and the human-curated articles, podcasts, videos, and more that most fascinated us this week. |
|
|
|
What is Comic-Con?
Comic-Con is an annual gathering to celebrate comics, film, TV, gaming, and pop culture. Each year, Comic-Con’s flagship event takes place in San Diego, drawing more than 130,000 attendees over four days and generating around $160M in economic impact.
Comic-Con began in 1970 as a small one-day gathering of a few dozen comic enthusiasts in San Diego. Originally called “Golden State Comic‑Minicon,” the event has transformed from a niche fan meetup into a multimedia juggernaut that shapes fandom and drives entertainment marketing. Cosplay (or costume + play) remains a highlight of any Comic-Con, evolving from basic outfits to stage spectacles with armor, animatronics, and visual effects (see gallery).
While SDCC is the most well‑known event, New York Comic-Con—hosted in New York City each fall since 2006—drew an estimated 200,000 attendees in 2022. Tokyo hosts Comiket twice a year, the world’s largest fan-run convention, drawing nearly 750,000 attendees annually to celebrate self-published manga and fan art.
... Read our full explainer on Comic-Con here.
Also, check out ...
> Marvel Studios president first teased "The Avengers" at Comic-Con. (More)
> The first comic strip appeared in US newspapers in 1895. (More)
> The original "Star Wars" was first showcased at Comic-Con to little fanfare. (More) |
|
|
|
In partnership with Finance Advisors |
|
5 Mistakes That Can Harm Generational Wealth |
|
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
|
|
Critical minerals, explained
Critical minerals are used to build the batteries, computer chips, and magnets that power modern technologies, from personal devices to clean energy sources, and advanced military apparatuses. The US government has identified 50 minerals as “critical,” deeming them to be essential to the national interest but to have a vulnerable supply chain (see the list).
Rare earth elements are some of the most sought-after minerals because their unique atomic structures give rise to various electrical, luminescent, and magnetic properties. Sixteen of these 17 metallic elements clustered at the center of the periodic table are on the US’ latest critical mineral list published in 2022.
Developed nations like the US, Canada, and China are sprinting to control critical mineral mines in Africa and South America. China is currently dominating the race. It accounts for about 70% of global rare earth ore extraction and 90% of rare earth ore processing.
... Read our full deep dive on critical minerals here.
Also, check out ...
> The one location that holds 75% of the world's lithium. (More)
> How your phone is powered by rare earth elements. (More)
> Why seemingly abundant copper can't keep up with demand. (More) |
|
|
|
The National Debt, 101
The national debt is the total amount of money the federal government has borrowed, plus interest. This borrowed money supplements taxpayer dollars to fund government operations, from national defense to welfare programs. Today, the debt stands at over $36T, double the amount in 2014.
The US has accrued debt since its infancy. Only seven years into nationhood, debts from the Revolutionary War totaled $43M. To raise money beyond taxes, the US government primarily sells bills, notes, and bonds (collectively called securities) to domestic and foreign individuals, companies, and other governments (see chart on annual interest payments on the debt here).
Where the nation should cut spending and how much, in order to rein in debt, is an ongoing political debate. While much focus is put on debt, the debt-to-gross domestic product ratio and interest payments on debt relative to GDP are widely considered to be key indicators of fiscal health. The lower a country’s debt-to-GDP ratio and interest rates are, the stronger its economy is likely to be.
... Read our full take on the national debt here.
Also, check out ...
> The time the US fully eliminated the national debt. (More)
> What happens if we hit the national debt ceiling. (More)
> Who owns the federal government's debt? (More) |
|
|
|
In partnership with Finance Advisors |
|
Little-Known RMD Strategy Approved by the IRS |
|
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
Have you checked out our lineup of weekly 1440 Topics newsletters? You can sign up for any (or all) that pique your interest, always 100% free. Here's what's on deck this week:
Science & Technology: This Tuesday, we're remembering how chemist Rosalind Franklin helped figure out the structure of DNA (sign up here).
Business & Finance: On Thursday, we'll investigate the powerful simplicity of the ubiquitous credit card (sign up here).
Society & Culture: Saturday, we dive into the fascinating history of girl groups in pop music, from the Supremes to the Spice Girls (sign up here).
Daily Digest: Our original newsletter focused on what is happening in the world each day Monday-Saturday. Join more than 4.5 million other intellectually curious readers—click here to join for free! |
|
|
|
|
Historybook: Ancient Greek conqueror Alexander the Great born (356 BCE); Radio inventor Guglielmo Marconi dies (1937); "West Side Story" actress Natalie Wood born (1938); Adolf Hitler survives bomb assassination attempt by army officers (1944); Humans walk on the moon for the first time during Apollo 11 mission (1969) |
|
|
|
|
The rise of Comic-Con and fandom is "the story of how the geek at last inherited the earth." |
- Common attendee sentiment |
|
|
Why 1440? The printing press was invented around the year 1440, spreading knowledge to the masses and changing the course of history. More facts: In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. We’re here to make each one count.
Send us your feedback at [email protected] and help us stay as unbiased as humanly possible. We’re ready to listen.
Interested in reaching smart readers like you? To become a 1440 partner, apply here. |
|
1440 Media 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212 Chicago, IL 60654
Copyright © 2025, 1440 Media, All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.png)
