Iran's 1979 Revolution, Jane Austen, and Alternate Histories

The revolt that still shapes global politics today.

The Iranian Revolution was a popular uprising that overthrew Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi in 1979, ending millennia of monarchical rule in Iran. Mass protests, strikes, and demonstrations swept the country in 1978, culminating in the Shah's flight from Iran in January 1979.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a cleric who led resistance against the Shah's rule from exile, returned to Iran and quickly consolidated power. Within months, Iranians voted to establish an Islamic Republic, replacing the monarchy with a theocratic system of government based on Muslim clerical rule.

The Shah was unpopular for his harsh authoritarian rule and rapid Westernization, which many Iranians saw as a betrayal of their culture and religion. Resentment had been growing for decades—particularly since a 1953 CIA-backed coup removed Iran's democratically elected prime minister and restored the Shah's absolute power. 

The revolution established the world's first modern Islamic theocracy and intensified the rivalry between Shia Iran and Sunni Arab states, leading to proxy conflicts in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen that continue today. It also permanently severed relations with the United States, most notably during the 1979 hostage crisis.

... Read what else we learned about the Iranian Revolution here.

Also, for more context on the current conflict between the US and Iran, check out ... 

> Watch a 2025 documentary on how the rivalry between Iran and Israel has remade the Middle East. (Watch)

> Hear how the US and Iran went from close allies to adversaries after the 1979 revolution. (Listen)

> Learn about "velayat-e faqih," the religious doctrine that has governed Iran since the revolution. (Read)

> Read about Iran's Revolutionary Guard—one of the most powerful forces in the Middle East. (Explore)

In partnership with Zbiotics

Better Mornings with ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol

Dinner parties. Date nights. Weekend gatherings. A drink can mark the moment, but the morning after can linger. ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol is designed to help you plan ahead, not pay later.

Developed by PhD scientists, it’s a genetically engineered probiotic that targets acetaldehyde, a byproduct of alcohol linked to next-day sluggishness. Drink one bottle before your first drink; it works in your gut while you enjoy the evening.

Learn more at zbiotics.com/1440. Use code 1440 for 15% off your first order, backed by a 100% money-back guarantee!

Please support our sponsors!

Recognizing the literary powerhouse.

Jane Austen was an English writer whose 18th- and 19th-century novels—such as "Pride and Prejudice," "Emma," and "Mansfield Park"—are renowned for their exploration of romance, class, and gender.

Austen was the seventh of eight children and the child of a clergyman in the Church of England. She began writing at a young age, often staging plays in her family's barn, though her first published novel, "Sense and Sensibility," did not arrive until she was 35. Three more books were published during her lifetime, though all were published anonymously. After her death, her brother released "Northanger Abbey" and "Persuasion," and publicly identified her as the author for the first time.

Today, Austen is one of the most celebrated novelists in the English language. Her books have also been widely adapted for the screen, helping to maintain a devoted fan base of "Janeites," who celebrate the author's nuanced female characters, clever wordplay, and deftly constructed plots.

... Read our full explainer on Jane Austen here and sign up for our weekly Society & Culture newsletter featuring similar insights here (arrives Saturday morning). 

Also, check out ... 

> Explore a guide to Austen's novels. (Read)

> ... and break down the facts and figures of her novels. (View)

> Winston Churchill said he was comforted by "Pride and Prejudice" during World War II. (Read)

> Austen's first published novel was simply labeled as being "By a Lady." (Listen)

Supplements, explained

Dietary supplements, which are used by roughly 75% of Americans, are products that are marketed as adding nutrients to your diet or boosting health. This industry, worth more than $60B annually, includes vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and herbal mixes.

Doctors may recommend supplements for specific populations with documented deficiencies in key nutrients, such as iron, calcium, or B12, but their usefulness for the general population is contested. Though some supplement claims are backed by solid research, others have outpaced the science.

Legally, dietary supplements are under the umbrella of food, so they aren't regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration before they get to market. Unlike items classified as drugs, there are no inspectors checking whether these products are adulterated, misbranded, or perform their advertised functions before they're sold online or in stores. If consumers buy supplements and become ill or have manufacturing concerns, they can file complaints with the FDA, and the agency can then take actions—including pulling any problematic products off the market.

Several consumer groups independently purchase and test supplements and publish their findings about specific products and brands, including the nonprofit Consumer Reports, the nonprofit US Pharmacopeia (which provides the USP certifications on vitamins), and the private company ConsumerLab.

... Read our full write-up on Supplements here—see more like this every Wednesday via our Health & Medicine newsletter (sign up here).

Also, check out ... 

> Most adults don't need a daily multivitamin. (Watch)

> There is limited evidence supporting the use of probiotics to treat digestive diseases. (Read)

> Taking too many vitamins can make you sick. (Read)
> Search different herbal therapies, including evidence and drug interactions. (View)

In partnership with Zbiotics

Biotechnology Meets Happy Hour

A drink can mark the moment—but the morning after can linger (and not in a good way). That’s where ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol comes in. It’s a genetically engineered probiotic designed to break down acetaldehyde, a byproduct of alcohol associated with next-day sluggishness. Drink one before your first sip and let it go to work in your gut. Wake up the next morning refreshed and ready to tackle the day.

Learn more at zbiotics.com/1440. Use code 1440 for 15% off (every order is backed by a 100% money-back guarantee).

Please support our sponsors!

Best of the Week

We added 445 resources this week to our knowledge collective—share your favorite link or outlet with us to see it featured here next week!

What if the Vikings had conquered America? And thousands of other alternate histories. (Explore)

The scientists learning how to guide your dreams. (Read)

The fate of Americans in Japan during Pearl Harbor. (Read)

Why prediction markets are the newest form of addictive gambling. (Read)

The Aztec skull whistle discovered in the 1990s and mistaken for a toy. (Listen)

Why scientists are firing rockets into the northern lights. (Watch)

A new study claims T. rex walked like a ballerina. (Read) 

Revisiting the short-lived 1960s space-themed park in Alabama. (Read)

A pediatric journal published 138 fake studies to protect patient privacy—but didn't tell readers. (Read)

... and thank you to readers for sending in the (amazing!) gems below.  

NUKEMAP lets you model a nuclear detonation anywhere on Earth. (Interact)

"Thingiverse" is one of the largest collections of free 3D-printing designs in the world. (Explore)

Browse a collection of firsthand accounts of early American exploration. (Browse)

How to safely dispose of every kind of battery. (Read) 

Check your local water source for major contaminants. (Search)
 

Historybook: First stock car race held in Daytona Beach (1936); International Women's Day becomes official United Nations holiday (1977); Baseball player Joe DiMaggio dies (1999); Sam Simon, director and codeveloper of "The Simpsons," dies (2015).