Good morning! It's Sunday, Aug. 31. College football's top-tier FBS division began play in earnest this weekend, inflaming the fan bases of 136 college towns across the US with hopes for a victorious season. We went deep into what makes the sport so beloved in parts of the US this week.
Scroll down to learn which chatbots are the most popular today, what makes Chicago's Mercantile Exchange distinct from New York's, and more. Or visit 1440 Topics for primers on NASCAR, the Rockefellers, or 200 others.
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Dear Readers—Our Sunday edition delivers deep dives into interesting and relevant topics, helping you explore new ideas and feed 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. |
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College football, 101
College football is one of the most popular sports in the United States, drawing more than 30 million fans in stadiums each season and generating billions in annual revenue through ticket sales, media rights, and merchandising.
Since the first game about 150 years ago, the elite level of the sport has grown to 136 teams in Division I FBS (that is, the Football Bowl Subdivision)—essentially college football’s top league. College football generates major revenue for universities—with total FBS operating revenues amounting to over $11.8B in 2024.
The athletes are amateurs, enrolled as students at their universities while on the football team. College football blends school spirit, deep-rooted rivalries, and regional pride with high-stakes competition and shapes the culture and economies of college towns across the United States.
... Read our full deep dive on the sport here.
Also, check out ...
> Ten of the best tailgating towns in the US as of 2024. (More)
> The Army-Navy rivalry includes mascot heists like chloroformed goats. (More)
> How TV transformed college football into a national spectacle. (More) |
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In partnership with Pendulum |
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*Collado et al 2007
**Based on preclinical studies. Not intended for weight loss. |
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How do labor unions work?
Although they’re most famous for bringing us the weekend, labor unions help workers organize their labor efforts so they can negotiate as a single entity rather than as individuals. Workers in a particular industry, trade, or company form labor unions to improve aspects of their working conditions, such as pay or benefits (learn more here).
The history of labor unions can be traced back to the 18th century, when the Industrial Revolution brought a surge of newly managed workers into workplaces. In the US today, labor unions are popular among transportation employees (such as the Teamsters), government employees, and other tradespeople like electrical workers (see list).
Critics of labor unions argue that unions not only make it more difficult to discipline low performers, but also drive up the cost of labor. Union advocates, however, believe unions are a great tool for increasing workers' pay and benefits (see pros and cons).
... Read our full explainer on labor unions here.
Also, check out ...
> How Labor Day became a holiday, starting in Oregon. (More)
> What do picket lines do? (More)
> "Right-to-work" laws make it legal for a worker to opt out of a union. (More) |
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Stephen Hawking, explained
Stephen Hawking was a theoretical physicist and cosmologist known for his research on black holes, computer-generated voice, and cameo appearances in television and film, where he was often depicted in a wheelchair near a board full of equations.
Despite suffering from ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease, since the age of 21, Hawking published more than 200 academic research articles in his life, including a seminal paper predicting that black holes would "evaporate" over time, a phenomenon called Hawking radiation.
The progression of the disease and a case of pneumonia resulted in him undergoing a tracheotomy, which left him with no means of verbal communication. A speech synthesizer was added to his wheelchair, and its American voice became Hawking's trademark. Through his appearances on shows like "The Simpsons" and "Star Trek," Hawking gained mainstream popularity (see cameos).
... Read our full overview on Hawking here.
Also, check out ...
> How Hawking literally bet on scientific progress. (More)
> The children's books by Stephen Hawking. (More)
> Stephen Hawking's final interview. (More) |
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16K+ Medical Professionals Pick This Probiotic |
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Please support our sponsors! |
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In partnership with Pendulum |
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Here’s How To Hack Your Metabolism |
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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:
1440 Science & Technology: Tuesday, we're exploring the surprisingly complicated phenomenon of turbulence—and its impact on blood flow, climate, and more (sign up here).
1440 Business & Finance: Thursday, we'll trace the fascinating history of startup incubator Y Combinator, the birthplace of Airbnb, Stripe, and DoorDash (sign up here).
1440 Society & Culture: Saturday, we're headed back to school to learn about private education in the US (sign up here).
Monday—Saturday
1440 Daily Digest: Our original newsletter focused on what is happening in the world each day. Join more than 4.5 million other insatiably curious readers—click here to join for free! |
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Historybook: Richard Gere born (1949); Boxing legend Rocky Marciano dies (1969); Princess Diana dies in car crash in Paris (1997); 953 die in bridge stampede in Iraq (2005); Baseball great Tom Seaver dies (2020). |
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"When you win, nothing hurts." |
- Joe Namath, star quarterback at Alabama and (later) the New York Jets |
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