Acting Spy Chief, Ancient Paris, and the 2026 Gerber Baby

 Need To Know 

New Acting Spy Chief

President Donald Trump yesterday named Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. He will replace Tulsi Gabbard, who steps down June 30 to care for her husband following his cancer diagnosis.

Pulte currently leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (what's the difference?). He is the grandson of William Pulte, founder of one of America's largest homebuilding companies. The 38-year-old first gained public attention through philanthropic giveaways on social media before Trump appointed him to lead the FHFA last year. Pulte will continue serving in his housing role while acting as the nation's intelligence chief, responsible for coordinating the work of 18 agencies, including the FBI and CIA. 

Critics have raised concerns about Pulte's lack of experience in national security. As acting director, he can serve for up to 210 days without Senate confirmation. The director of national intelligence was created after the Sept. 11 attacks to improve coordination across the intelligence community—an idea first proposed in 1955.

Exploding Immune Cells

Researchers have discovered an immune cell in planarian flatworms that explodes when triggered, releasing toxic chemicals that kill nearby cells. Unlike immune cells produced in bone marrow, these cells—named "ruptoblasts"—are specialized gland cells.

Planarian flatworms are small, aquatic worms with exceptional regenerative capabilities. When cut, the worms can regenerate multiple bodies in a matter of weeks (watch it happen). The hormone activin plays a role in protecting flatworms from foreign tissue during this process. When activin is released, calcium accumulates along the immune cell's cytoskeleton, causing it to rupture within two minutes. As many as 70 nearby cells are killed in the blast, called ruptosis. 

Researchers say the newly discovered cells were capable of destroying E. coli bacteria as well as human and mouse cells in a localized blast without causing lingering toxicity. The discovery could help researchers find new treatments for bacterial infections and tumors.

PS: Want to know the secret to planarian flatworms' regenerative capabilities? One-fifth of their cells are stem cells. Learn about how those cells work in humans. 

Ancient Paris Unearthed

Archaeologists excavating the forecourt of Notre Dame Cathedral have uncovered artifacts dating back roughly 2,000 years to Roman-era Paris. The dig is part of a city project to redesign the plaza in front of the cathedral following a 2019 fire (see photos).

Roughly 20 centuries of history are layered within about 13 feet beneath the site. Work on the cathedral began in 1163, and the site was surrounded by tightly packed medieval homes and narrow lanes. Many of the discoveries come from Lutetia, the ancient settlement that later became Paris (see the city through the ages). Finds include a fourth-century coin bearing the image of Constantine, the Roman emperor who ruled in the early 300s CE, and fragments of medieval pottery bearing symbols that researchers have yet to identify.

The city plans to add 160 trees, improve walkways, and expand shaded areas to better handle millions of visitors while preserving views of the cathedral’s facade. See the strange discoveries found at the cathedral here.

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> The 2026 Stanley Cup Final tips off with Vegas Golden Knights winning Game 1 (More) | See full schedule (More) | San Antonio Spurs face New York Knicks in Game 1 of NBA Finals tonight at 8:30 pm ET, ABC (More) 

> Peabo Bryson, two-time Grammy Award-winning R&B singer best known as voice behind Disney film duets "Beauty and the Beast" and "A Whole New World," dies at age 75 (More) 

> All 48 teams for the FIFA World Cup submit their 26-player rosters; see the full list of players (More) | ... and who do Americans think will win? (More, w/poll)

Science & Technology

> President Donald Trump signs executive order on AI, requesting leading companies submit their advanced models for voluntary government review 30 days before public release (More) 

> Researchers discover key genetic mechanism helping embryos ensure limbs form correctly (More) | How embryos develop (More, w/video)

> Scientists propose a hypothetical orbital "air bag" to defend against solar storms; a satellite fleet would deploy hundreds of tons of gases to cut the intensity of radiation bursts from the sun (More) | What was the 1859 Carrington event? (More)

Business & Markets

> US stock markets close up (S&P 500 +0.1%, Dow +0.5%, Nasdaq +0.0%) (More) | The fascinating 400-year-old history of stock exchanges (More) 

> Alphabet to raise $80B from stock sales to fund AI infrastructure, with Berkshire Hathaway investing $10B; Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon expected to spend over $700B total on AI expenses (More) | Inside the AI spending race (More) 

> US job openings rise to 7.6 million in April, the highest since May 2024 (More) | Explore the data (More) 

Politics & World Affairs

> Steve Hilton (R, 26%) and Xavier Becerra (D, 25%) lead in tight primary race for California governor as of this writing; see results (More) | Incumbent Karen Bass (D, 36%) leads Los Angeles mayoral race, with Spencer Pratt (R, 29%) in second place as of this writing; see results (More) 

> Trump administration to scrap $1.8B anti-weaponization fund (More) | White House Correspondents' Association dinner rescheduled for July 24 after a gunman's attack disrupted the annual event in April (More)

> Russian strike kills at least 22 people in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, wounds more than 130 others in the deadliest offensive in months as peace talks remain stalled (More) 

What would a restaurant menu look like in 1776?

Handwriting style could indicate cognitive decline.

Cities can change weather events due to trapped heat.

The most commonly spoken language in each state, after English and Spanish.

... and the oldest bar in each state, including one visited by Abraham Lincoln.

Comeback win by the St. Louis Cardinals sparks a shirts-off craze.

A Pennsylvania town has been burning for decades.

Who are the men emerging from New York City maintenance holes?

In partnership: This electric flying car company just reserved its Nasdaq ticker.*

Clickbait: Meet the 2026 Gerber Baby.

Historybook: Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto claims Florida for Spain (1539); Singer and actress Josephine Baker born (1906); Ed White becomes first American to walk in space (1965); Tennis player Rafael Nadal born (1986); Muhammad Ali dies (2016).

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