Grammys, Jupiter, and the Origins of Bob's Discount Furniture

What's the story behind the Grammys?

The Grammy Awards are considered the music industry’s most prestigious prize. Given by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Grammys—so called because of their gramophone-shaped trophy—honor those who have made a remarkable contribution to the industry over the preceding year.

In addition to prestige, winning a Grammy can have a major effect on an artist’s commercial success—singer Samara Joy’s album sales jumped a whopping 319% after winning best new artist and best jazz vocal album in 2023.

The first Grammy Awards were held in 1959 and included 28 categories, including album of the year, composition, genre performances (like best jazz performance), and more. The number of categories swelled over the decades to an all-time high of 110 in 2008-09. A restructuring in 2012 narrowed it down to 78; as of 2025, there are 94 categories.

... Read what else we learned about the Grammy Awards here.

Also, check out ... 

> The complex process for selecting Grammy nominees and winners. (Watch)

> Winning or losing a Grammy can influence an artist's musical output. (Read)

> The Grammy Awards have seen dozens of ties. (Read)

> A list of the wildest moments in the award show's history. (Explore)

In partnership with Noom

Is the Future of Weight Loss Microdosing?

By now, most of us are familiar with GLP-1 medications for weight loss – but what about their side effects? Studies show that many people who go on a standard GLP-1 dose may experience side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal issues. That’s less than ideal, but Noom has discovered a solution: Microdosing. 

Noom Med’s new Microdose GLP-1^Rx Program is the easiest way to start (and stay) on a GLP-1. The program is designed to minimize side effects¹ and keep pricing affordable (starting at just $99), while still seeing the kind of results that could help you lose up to 17 pounds in 60 days². It’s trustworthy, it’s affordable, but most of all, it’s sustainable – and if there’s one thing we love, it’s long-term results. 

Take this quiz to find out if you’re eligible for Microdose GLP-1^Rx Program through Noom Med.

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Jupiter, explained

Jupiter is the fifth-closest planet to the sun and the largest and oldest planet in the solar system. Named after the king of Roman gods, this gas giant is most easily recognized by its Great Red Spot—a hurricane-like storm larger than Earth that has existed for about 200 years.

Heat from Jupiter’s core moves fluid in convection cells—hot gases rise and cooler ones sink. The planet’s rotation—the fastest in the solar system—spreads these rising and sinking fluids into east-west flows that wrap around it like global jet streams. The coloring of the flows results from differences in convection cell temperature and composition, which vary across three unique cloud layers.

Modeling Jupiter’s interior using observational data suggests that gas gradually liquefies with depth until about 20,000 kilometers, at which point immense pressure turns hydrogen into liquid metal.

... Read our full explainer on Jupiter here.

Also, check out ... 

> When it formed, Jupiter was about twice as big as it is now. (Read)

> Everything you need to know about the Great Red Spot. (Read)

> ... and see a simulated flight through the giant storm. (Watch)

> Io, one of Jupiter's moons, has high volcanic activity. (Read)

What's the point of Social Security?

The US Social Security system is best known for providing income to the nation’s elderly population based on the amount of money they earned during their working years.

The Social Security Act of 1935 established the program amid the worsening poverty crisis faced by older Americans during the Great Depression. By 1934, more than half of those aged 65 and older lacked sufficient income to cover their basic living expenses.

Today, most US workers are familiar with seeing a percentage of their income deducted from their paychecks and contributed to the nation’s Social Security trust funds. Starting at age 62, those who have paid into Social Security for at least 10 years can begin receiving a monthly Social Security benefit. But since 2010, Social Security hasn’t collected enough tax revenue to cover what it’s paying out, leading to concerns about the program’s future.

... Read our full write-up on Social Security here. (This page was first featured in our weekly Business & Finance newsletter on Thursday. To receive our newest breakdowns of key topics in the business world, sign up here.) 

Also, check out ... 

> How roughly 22% of US tax dollars go to Social Security. (Visualize)

> That Social Security is one of the most popular government programs. (Read)

> An estimation of your Social Security benefits. (Interact)
> A look at what privatizing Social Security would mean for Americans. (Read)

In partnership with Noom

Micro Dose for Macro Change

That’s the idea behind Noom Med’s Microdose GLP-1^Rx Program, which manages to combine the best of both worlds: The weight loss aided by standard GLP-1 use, paired with a low-dose personalized plan that is designed to minimize side effects¹ while improving affordability.

Everyday people like you have successfully lost up to 17 lbs in 60 days² on this new program, designed so that people can see real results with minimal side effects. Take their quiz right here to find out if you’re eligible for Noom’s Microdose GLP-1^Rx Program.

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Best of the Week

We added 305 resources this week to our knowledge collective—here are some of the most informative and inspiring. 
 

A Philadelphia bank's CD rate is tied to whether Villanova wins or loses. (Read)

As it looks to IPO, read the quirky, authentic origins of Bob's Discount Furniture. (Read) 
 

Visualize the size of countries on the sun and other planets. (Interact)

Raphael's famous fresco depicting philosophers "The School of Athens," explained. (Watch)

Why is the US taking direct stakes in private companies like Intel? (Read)

Mapping the hundreds of invasive species in the US. (Interact)

Airbus is Europe's major industrial success story, eclipsing an American rival. (Read)

The inside story of Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding's rise and fall as alleged drug kingpin. (Long Read)

Five instances the Monroe Doctrine was used to justify military intervention. (Read)

Museums are optimizing—or jettisoning entirely—wall texts explaining art. (Read) 

India's space program began in a church at Earth's magnetic equator. (Read)

How math whizzes exploit slow models and human mistakes in sportsbooks. (Watch)

How much have White House renovations typically cost? (Chart)

Average annual hours worked have declined significantly since the 1870s. (Chart)

🔥 1440 Explores ... The Science of Wildfires

Historybook: "Oxford English Dictionary" debuts (1884); Poet Langston Hughes born (1901); Film legend Clark Gable born (1901); Harriet Tubman becomes first Black woman on US postage stamp (1978); Harry Styles born (1994); Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates on reentry, all seven astronauts killed (2003).