Good morning, it's Saturday, May 16. We're covering a growing Ebola outbreak without a proven vaccine.
Also in today's Digest: ChatGPT wants to be your financial adviser (Quick Hits), a woman proves it's never too late to become a doctor (Humankind), 27 riddles to keep you sharp all weekend (Etc.), and much more.
PS—Did someone forward you this email? Join 4.7 million insatiably curious readers here. Feedback is a gift, and we read every email. Let us know how we're doing at hello@join1440.com. |
|
|
|
|
Africa's top public health officials yesterday confirmed an Ebola outbreak in a northeastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. At least 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths have been reported, with four deaths definitely linked to Ebola via lab testing.
This marks the Congo's 17th recorded outbreak since Ebola was first identified in 1976 in Africa (see outbreak map). Believed to be naturally hosted by fruit bats, Ebola can cause severe gastrointestinal distress and unexplained bleeding. The virus spreads between humans through direct contact with bodily fluids, and past outbreaks have carried fatality rates ranging from 25% to 90%. Go deeper with this video explainer.
Initial tests indicate the strain currently in the Congo does not belong to the Zaire species, the only one of four with a licensed vaccine. Officials say early detection, contact tracing, and isolation will be crucial. However, contact tracing may prove challenging, as people frequently cross into Uganda and South Sudan for mining work and to flee violence from insurgent groups (see conflict 101). |
|
|
|
In partnership with NativePath |
|
Should You Be Taking Daily Collagen? |
|
Unless you’re a teenager or you’ve found the Fountain of Youth, the answer is: Yes, you should take collagen. As we age, our ability to produce this vital nutrient decreases, leading to joint pain, wrinkles, and other classic signs of aging. *Sigh*
But with a daily collagen supplement, you can help restore your collagen levels easily. NativePath’s pure, grass-fed bovine collagen is one of the cleanest, most affordable options available—just add 2 scoops to coffee or water daily for 18g of protein. It supports your cartilage, joint, skin, gut, and nail health. Seriously: One study showed postmenopausal women who took just 5g of collagen daily saw a 7% increase in bone density in one year.
1440 readers get special treatment: Order collagen, get 2 FREE gifts! This exclusive offer won't be available to the general public! |
|
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
|
New York judge declares mistrial in Harvey Weinstein rape retrial.
A Manhattan jury yesterday was unable to agree on whether the disgraced Hollywood mogul raped aspiring actress Jessica Mann. The case has now been tried three times. Prosecutors are expected to announce on June 24 whether they will pursue a fourth trial. Weinstein is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence in California for separate rape and sexual assault charges. |
Russia and Ukraine swap 205 prisoners of war.
Yesterday’s exchange was the first phase in a planned swap involving 1,000 prisoners from each side. The deal proceeded despite one of the deadliest attacks on Kyiv in the four-year war, with at least 24 people killed by a Russian missile strike on an apartment complex Thursday. Russia yesterday said a Ukrainian strike southeast of Moscow killed four people and wounded another 28. |
NASA's Psyche spacecraft slingshots by Mars on its way to a rare metal asteroid.
The spacecraft took thousands of photos as it came within 2,800 miles of the red planet, about the distance between the US' East and West coasts. Psyche is en route to the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter to study an exceptionally metal-rich asteroid, also named Psyche. Scientists think it may be the exposed core of a fledgling planet stripped by cosmic collisions, possibly offering clues into our early solar system. |
OpenAI launches ChatGPT for personal finance.
The AI company yesterday announced a new suite of personal finance tools for US-based ChatGPT Pro subscribers. Users can connect accounts from over 12,000 financial institutions—including Schwab, Fidelity, and Robinhood—to the chatbot and receive personalized financial breakdowns. Over 200 million users already ask financial questions to ChatGPT every month, according to OpenAI. |
The 151st running of the Preakness Stakes is today. (w/odds)
The second leg of the Triple Crown will begin at approximately 6:50 pm at Maryland's Laurel Park as the event's longtime home, Pimlico Race Course, undergoes major renovations. The $2M race will feature a full 14-horse field, but Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will not compete. His trainer said he needs additional time to rest; Golden Tempo is expected to return for the Belmont Stakes on June 6. |
Twenty-five countries vie for victory in today's Eurovision final.
Finland's Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen are heavy favorites to win the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest. (Watch their semifinal performance here.) Another standout contender is Delta Goodrem, a 41-year-old cancer survivor who could make history as Australia's first Eurovision winner. (Watch the performance that sent her to the finals here.) |
Separately, have you heard the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Song by Shakira and Burna Boy that dropped this week? Listen here. |
|
|
|
Three teens stop to help a man fix his flat tire, and they end up saving his life. (More) |
Toddler lights up when her deployed father surprises her at daycare. (More, w/video) |
72-year-old woman fulfills her longtime dream of graduating from medical school. (More) |
2-year-old boy celebrates being cancer-free with strangers on a plane. (More, w/video) |
Twenty-six women, ranging in age from their early 50s to mid-80s, turn an old convent school into a women-only apartment building. (More) |
|
|
|
In partnership with Doroni |
|
Morgan Stanley Calls This a $9T Opportunity |
|
|
|
|
Dear readers— In honor of Mother's Day, we're pausing our usual act of kindness stories this month to share a sampling of submissions about mothers. |
|
"My mom passed away over two years ago, on Feb. 2, 2023. It’s a day I’ll always remember: her 92nd birthday. We were with her in the morning, and the Lord took her home in the afternoon. It was a really tough time, and I think my mom knew I’d need some encouragement to cope with the loss. As I went through her things, I found little notes she’d left for me to discover. These notes were tucked away in books, cookbooks, and even tin cans. I’m so grateful for those loving notes; they’ve touched and warmed my heart in ways I can’t quite put into words." |
|
— Carla B. in Las Vegas, Nevada |
|
'"Which way home?' Mom asked. I set off confidently. Tramping on paths that spread like veins into the woods, I became totally lost. Mom said she was lost, too. I started to cry. Mom didn’t rescue me. I learned that moss grows on the north side of the trees, the sun travels east to west, the neighbor’s hayfield was west of our property, and so we started in a direction. Half an hour later, I recognized the main path. Many more times in my life, by not telling me the way, Mom gifted me the ability to find my way." |
|
— Patricia C. in Fort Mill, South Carolina |
|
"Motherhood's greatest surprise is how much you learn. One afternoon, my 5-year-old brought me a paper airplane with 'sorry' written all over. He confessed he had broken my phone weeks earlier. We talked about honesty and responsibility, explaining it wasn't okay. Distraught, he returned with a bigger airplane and hugs, but I explained it didn't make up for the loss. Later, he returned with three joined paper airplanes colored with 'sorry, I love you's.' Realizing I am just as lacking when asking forgiveness, I hugged him and let it go. We both were better for it." |
|
Humankind(ness) is a reader-built corner of joy. So, what act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here. And if this story made you smile—share our email (copy URL here). |
|
|
|
|
🦅 1440 Explores ... The US Presidency |
|
America was founded to escape a king. So how did the executive office end up with more authority than the founders intended? 1440's Editor-in-Chief, Sony Kassam, and presidential historian H.W. Brands trace how 250 years of crises—from Jefferson to Lincoln to FDR—quietly expanded the most constrained office in government into the most powerful. Watch the episode here or click below. |
|
|
|
"(Kids) don't remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are." |
|
|
Behind the Name. Why 1440? The printing press was invented around the year 1440, spreading knowledge to the masses and changing the course of history. More facts: In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. We’re here to make each one count.
Need a breather? Snooze this email for 30 days. |
|
*Disclosure: This is a paid advertisement for Doroni Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.doroni.io/. |
|
1440 Media 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212 Chicago, IL 60654
Copyright © 2026, 1440 Media, All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
