World War II, Ice Cream, and the Dupe Economy

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.

A Sequel to the Great War

World War II, explained

World War II was a global conflict from 1939 to 1945, involving over 50 countries and 100 million mobilized military personnel. The war became the largest conflict in human history in terms of geographic scale (see contemporary maps) and human cost, with an estimated 70 million to 85  million fatalities—including over 50 million civilians.

The roots of World War II lie in the punitive 1919 Treaty of Versailles, which disarmed Germany, imposed steep reparations, and forced it to accept sole blame for World War I. As the Great Depression challenged the liberal democratic order, militant nationalist movements looking to expand their territories emerged: Benito Mussolini's fascism in Italy, Adolf Hitler's National Socialism (or Nazism) in Germany, and Imperial Japan.

World War II’s end launched the Cold War, pitting the United States against the Soviet Union and reshaping global geopolitics into competing ideological blocs. The war’s unprecedented destruction and the horror of Axis war crimes—most notably the Holocaust—sparked a moral imperative to prevent future atrocities.

... Read our full deep dive on the war here.

Also, check out ... 

> The dozens of attempts on Adolf Hitler's life. (More)

> Over 700 civilian "little ships" saved the British at Dunkirk. (More)

> The Soviet "Night Witches" that terrorized the German front lines. (More)

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Taxing Trade

What are tariffs?

A tariff—a word derived from the Arabic "arafa," meaning “to make known”—is a tax imposed by a government on goods that are imported or exported. 

Economically, tariffs aim to protect domestic industries, generate government revenue, and influence trade policy. Tariffs can be specific (a fixed fee per unit) or ad valorem (a percentage of the item's value).

Historically, tariffs have served as a primary source of revenue and a means to protect domestic industries, as they make foreign products more expensive—encouraging consumers to purchase locally produced goods. The tools have a checkered history, famously bolstering US textiles, German steel, Japanese cars, South Korean technology, and more, while arguably contributing to major economic downturns like the Great Depression. 

... Read our full explainer on tariffs here.

Also, check out ... 

> The role of tariffs in ancient Rome. (More)

> Worldwide use of tariffs has trended downward for decades. (More)

> One of America's first acts implemented tariffs. (More)

Frigid Confections

Ice Cream, 101

Whether it’s in a sundae, a cone, or blended into a shake, ice cream is one of the United States’ favorite indulgences—97% of Americans say they like or love the chilly treat. US ice cream production hit 1.31 billion gallons in 2024, with the average American eating a whopping 19 pounds.

Ice cream is the final result of a complex process that blends several ingredients. As it’s being made, the ingredients change significantly throughout the production process, ultimately giving the dish its signature “scoopable” texture.

Ice cream’s celebratory nature brings people together, especially in the days before widespread home refrigeration. In the late 1600s, Paris’s Café Procope first began serving the sweet treat to the public; the trend quickly spread, particularly in Italy, where some parlors have been open since the 1700s.

... Read our full overview on ice cream here.

Also, check out ... 

> America's ice cream obsession began under Prohibition. (More)

> George Washington spent thousands on ice cream one summer. (More)

> Visualizing Ben & Jerry's legendary flavors. (More)

Best of the Week

We uploaded 247 resources to 1440 Topics last week—here are some of our favorites:

The dupe economy: why Gen Z and millennials love a cheap, fake luxury item.

Steffen boarding: the quickest way to board a plane.

Ten spots in the US where the water is sparkling blue.

... and why is some water turquoise?

Examples of the realistic, emotional shift in Hellenistic sculpture.

Earwax, also known as cerumen, is actually good for you.

Gene editing could help stop the next potato famine. 

How Queen Elizabeth embraced "color-blocking" ensembles late in life.

Seven incredible discoveries of long-lost art. 

How do cashews grow, and why are they so expensive?

Visualizing the $5.6T dollar pharmaceuticals industry.

A deeper look at what happened in 1992 at the standoff at Ruby Ridge. 

Wild fan theories about the "Wizard of Oz."

Why is manufacturing so important to an economy?

The obsessive business philosophy of Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari.

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