The IRS, PGA Tour, and the Color of Eggs

Why the IRS is necessary

The Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, is a division of the US Treasury Department created in 1862 that enforces the Internal Revenue Code—Title 26 of the US Code, a compilation of federal statutes—and, effectively, oversees tax collection. In 2024, the IRS's roughly 75,000 employees collected roughly $5T in tax revenue.

Given its role in diverting household income streams, it also has a bad reputation. Half of Americans had an "unfavorable view" of the IRS as of 2024 (see data). In a ranking of 16 well-known federal agencies by popularity that year, the IRS came in dead last, behind both the Department of Justice and the Department of Education.

Specifically, the IRS is responsible for determining, assessing, and collecting internal revenue in the US, such as personal and corporate income taxes; excise, estate, and gift taxes; and payroll taxes for the nation's Social Security system (state governments are responsible for collecting state taxes) (read how it's organized). These taxes help pay for government spending on everything from maintaining roads to funding the military.

... Read what else we learned about the agency here. Want more Business and Finance? Sign up here for our Thursday newsletter. 

Also, check out ... 

> What happens when you don't pay your taxes? (Watch)

> Here are 15 red flags that could result in an audit from the IRS. (Read)

> It cost the IRS $0.36 to collect $100 in 2024. (Read)

> The story of the Beatles' "Taxman." (Read)

In partnership with Noom

Is the Future of Weight Loss Microdosing?

By now, most people have heard of GLP-1 medications for weight loss—but jumping straight into a full dosing schedule can feel like a lot. That’s why Noom is taking a different approach: Microdosing.

Noom’s Microdose GLP-1^Rx Program is designed to help you ease into GLP-1 treatment with a lower-dose, personalized plan that’s gentler on your body, and for the month of April, you can get 20% off your first month (starting at $79¹). Even better? Participants have seen results of up to 17 pounds lost in 60 days². Paired with Noom’s evidence-based behavior change platform, the program supports sustainable progress—not just quick wins.

Take the quick quiz to find out if this personalized GLP-1 approach could work for you.

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The space race, explained

The space race was an intense rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union to establish dominance in space exploration during the early Cold War. Both countries aimed to showcase technological skill and gain prestige by reaching milestones in a field once seen as science fiction.

The competition was also a consequence of the larger struggle for political and nuclear dominance, as the US and the Soviet Union each feared the other would gain a military edge through space technology.

The Soviet Union took an early lead, with a series of firsts: launching the first artificial satellite, sending the first animal into space, and then the first human, and performing the first spacewalk. The US then recovered through significant investment and renewed political focus. In 1969, the US reached the race's pivotal milestone when Apollo 11 landed astronauts on the moon—widely regarded as the ultimate victory in the space race.

... Read our full explainer on the Space Race here. Receive our Science & Tech newsletter every Tuesday: Sign up here.

Also, check out ... 

> Today's space race is focused on a permanent lunar outpost. (Listen)

> The first living creatures sent to space were fruit flies, dogs, cats, and monkeys. (Explore)

> How the first moon landing was saved. (Listen)

> A short-lived 1960s space race theme park in Alabama. (Read)

What is the PGA Tour?

The PGA Tour is the premier professional golf organization in North America. Its season consists of weekly tournaments that begin in January and conclude with a three-week playoff in August. Golf's four major tournaments—the Masters, the PGA Championship, the US Open, and the Open Championship—are not operated by the PGA Tour, though they're considered a part of its season. (See a breakdown of the majors.)
 

The Professional Golfers' Association of America was formed in 1916, primarily for "golf pros" who ran pro shops and gave lessons, though touring golfers joined the organization in the 1950s. The two groups soon clashed, with tensions reaching a boiling point in 1966 over a proposed Frank Sinatra-sponsored tournament. The ordeal eventually split the PGA and the PGA Tour, a dynamic that remains today.
 

LIV Golf, a rival league financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, formally launched in 2021, with former PGA Tour champion Greg Norman announced as its CEO. LIV Golf players are prohibited from playing in events operated by the PGA Tour, though they are permitted to compete in the majors, including the Masters.

... Read our full write-up on the PGA Tour here. Check out our Society & Culture email each Saturday by signing up here.

Also, check out ... 

> See the greatest golf shots of all time. (Watch)

> How the original PGA was formed. (Read)

> The dinner menus set by previous winners of the Masters. (Read)
> Breaking down the complex Augusta National course, where the Masters takes place. (Watch)

In partnership with Noom

Micro Dose, Meets Macro Change

That’s the thinking behind Noom’s Microdose GLP-1^Rx Program—a new way to approach GLP-1 weight loss with lower, personalized dosing designed to fit your body and your goals.

The program pairs GLP-1 medication with Noom’s proven behavior-change platform, helping people build healthier habits while seeing real progress. In fact, some participants have lost up to 17 pounds in 60 days² using this tailored approach. Take Noom’s quick quiz to find out if you’re eligible for the Microdose GLP-1^Rx Program and get 20% off your first month.

Please support our sponsors!

Best of the Week

We added 307 resources this week to our knowledge collective—share your favorite link or outlet with us to see it featured here next week!

Eggshell color doesn't matter much when it comes to taste. (Read)

A full gallery of Artemis 2 photos taken during the lunar flyby. (View)

Personality tests use vague flattery to make generic descriptions feel specific—known as the "Barnum effect." (Watch)

Exploring alternatives to polygraphs, which correctly judge truth-tellers 57% of the time. (Read)

What are the world's deadliest animals? (Visualize)

Mapping the 4,000 religious radio stations in the US. (View)

A fascinating look at why cucumber tendrils coil (Watch) and a fact-rich telling of the cool, coiling plant's history. (Read)

Conan O'Brien weighs in on the historical greatness of the Beatles. (Listen)

... and how Abbey Road Studios was the very first dedicated recording studio. (Read)

(Editor's recommendation: The above resource is one of dozens of accessible, high-quality online collections from the London Museum. Browse them all here!)

China's state-owned cigarette industry's vast archive of artistic packaging. (Explore)

A rich visual archive of the Cold War popular imagination. (View)

An interactive sound map of 8,000 locations around the world. (Explore)

LonelyWiki surfaces Wikipedia's least-read—but still robust and knowledgeable—entries on obscure things. (Read)

Read anonymous letters people wrote but never sent. (Read)

Historybook: Patent for first portable typewriter issued in the US (1892); American Red Cross founder Clara Barton dies (1912); Franklin D. Roosevelt dies (1945); David Letterman born (1947); Yuri Gagarin becomes first person in space (1961); Boxing great Joe Louis dies (1981).