Y2K, Influenza, and the Ever-Present Attorney Billboard

What was Y2K?

Y2K, short for “Year 2000,” was a potential computer bug caused by how dates were formatted in older software. To save memory space, early computers used two-digit years—like “97” for 1997—which in the new millennium risked misreading “00” as 1900 instead of 2000, potentially disrupting systems that depended on accurate dates (read 101).

In the late 1990s, many feared this glitch could cause widespread failures in banking systems, power grids, transportation networks, and other critical infrastructure. This idea took hold of the public imagination, spawning doomsday predictions, a booming survivalist market, and a massive global push to audit and repair vulnerable systems before the deadline—work that cost an estimated $300B-$500B.

Because of the extensive preparations, Y2K passed without significant disruptions (see minor incidents). However, its legacy endures: The crisis helped modernize global IT systems, accelerated the outsourcing of programming jobs, and exposed society’s dependence on digital infrastructure—prompting long-term shifts in cybersecurity and software maintenance.

... Read what else we learned about Y2K here.

Also, check out ... 

> The next computer apocalypse is slated for 2038. (Watch)

> Best Buy placed warning stickers on products for Y2K. (View)

> Computer scientists first theorized the problem in 1984. (Read)

> The US military set up a Year 2000 Operations Center ahead of the event. (Read)

In partnership with Fatty15

Surprising Nutrient Has Lead Longevity Role

A study published in Nutrients shows that a little-known fatty acid, called C15:0, has remarkable benefits that slow aging at the cellular level. Initially discovered while helping older Navy dolphins, C15:0 physically strengthens cells against age-related breakdown and delivers 36+ cellular benefits that support long-term metabolic, liver, cognitive, immune and red blood cell health. 

Backed by a decade of Office of Naval Research funding, fatty15 is an award-winning C15:0 healthy aging with 6,000+ 5-star reviews, 60+ patents, 100+ peer-reviewed studies, and 20+ awards, including Inc. 5000’s #1 Fastest Growing Supplement Company in America! Save 15% on your first order with code 1440.

Give your body a longevity boost for the new year with fatty15 and use code “1440” to get an additional 15% off! 

Please support our sponsors!

What is influenza?

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness that has shaped human history for centuries, with records of outbreaks dating back thousands of years. The term originates from 15th-century Italy, when epidemics were believed to be caused by the “influence” of the stars.

The virus itself wasn’t scientifically identified until 1933. Still, pandemics long predated the discovery, most notably the devastating 1918 “Spanish flu,” which killed an estimated 50 million to 100 million people (2.5% to 5% of the world’s population) worldwide.

The virus mutates constantly through small genetic shifts and, more rarely, major recombinations that can spark pandemics. Seasonal flu still causes up to 1 billion cases and as many as 650,000 deaths annually. While most cases resolve with rest and fluids, complications for individuals at higher risk of serious illness can be deadly. Annual vaccination, guided by global surveillance of circulating strains, remains the most effective defense.

... Read our full explainer on influenza here.

Also, check out ... 

> Human records of influenza stretch back more than two millennia. (Listen)

> The flu mainly spreads through droplets in the air and on surfaces. (Watch)

> Vaccines for the flu are reformulated each year based on predictive data. (Read)

> Explore a 3D model of the flu virus. (View)

Nvidia, explained

Nvidia designs and sells semiconductor chips that companies like Microsoft and Cisco use to run everything from video games to cloud servers and supercomputers. The company is also known as a leader in the AI revolution.

Founded in 1993 by CEO Jensen Huang and engineers Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem after coming up with the idea in a Denny’s, Nvidia scored $20M in funding from Sequoia Capital and Sutter Hill Ventures before going public in 1999. Today, it’s the world’s leading semiconductor company, with a market cap surpassing $2T.

As of May 2024, Nvidia was worth more than Meta, Tesla, and Netflix combined—with value to spare. Virtually every Big Tech company, including Amazon, Meta, and Google, uses Nvidia chips. Nvidia’s stock surged in recent years as AI hype rose to a fever pitch. However, investors may soon demand that companies using Nvidia’s chips to power AI models demonstrate a return on investment.

... Read our full write-up on the company here.

Also, check out ... 

> Nvidia originally made semiconductor chips for video games. (Listen)

> Over half of Nvidia’s revenue comes from outside the US. (Read) 

> More than four-fifths of the GPU market is controlled by Nvidia. (Read)
> Major AI industry companies are creating a web of circular investments. (View)

Best of the Week

We added 199 resources this week to our knowledge collective—here are some of our favorites.

Visualize how Americans spend time together during an average day.

Why attorney billboards are everywhere. 

Tips to improve your attention span.

Where is the best breeding ground for inventors?

Put Alexander the Great on trial and question his legacy.

See a ranking of the world's largest cities.

Imagining the finances of "Seinfeld" characters in 2025.

Salvador Dalí and Coco Chanel were close friends, and potentially even lovers.

Do lottery winners make the case that money can buy happiness?

Watch different wild birds around the world as they feast.

Why some things pique our curiosity and others don't. 

What makes Taylor Swift's songs go viral?

Examine the warning signs behind South Korea’s extremely low birth rate.

How one Arizona man helps defend our planet from doomsday asteroids.

Try a Turkish delight recipe from the Ottoman Empire. 

In partnership with Fatty15

Strengthen Your Cells Against Aging

While we can’t control chronological time, it is now well understood that we can slow our biological aging. Fatty15 contains pure and patented C15:0, an optimized nutrient essential to protecting our long-term health. In a survey of 6,243 customers, over 70% reported feeling or seeing benefits, including better sleep, calmer mood, improved energy and improved blood work within 16 weeks. Try it yourself and get 15% off your first order with code 1440.

Support your long-term health today by using code “1440” to receive an additional 15% off!

Please support our sponsors!

Introducing: 1440 Health & Medicine

Historybook: President Woodrow Wilson born (1856); Comic book writer Stan Lee born (1922); British actress Dame Maggie Smith born (1934); Denzel Washington born (1954); Indonesia AirAsia flight crashes, killing 162 (2014).