Good morning. It's Thursday, March 19, and we're covering new airport safety rules, a mysterious Gallic skeleton, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4.7 million insatiably curious readers. Sign up here.
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🇺🇸 Civics Thursday—The founders enshrined individual rights as enforceable law in the Bill of Rights. This was a genuine innovation that has shaped constitutions around the world ever since. This week, we take a look at two of the most consequential of those rights: free speech and freedom of religion—and the document that codified both. |
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The Federal Aviation Administration issued new rules yesterday mandating air traffic controllers use radar technology to separate helicopters and airplanes. The guidelines impact more than 150 airports, and come after last year’s deadly midair collision near Washington, DC.
Sixty-seven people were killed when an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided near Ronald Reagan Airport in January 2025 (see animation, w/video). It marked the US' deadliest plane crash since November 2001. The FAA found near misses are common, including as recently as this month, when a small aircraft was mistakenly cleared to land at Hollywood Burbank Airport in California, forcing a helicopter to swerve. (A similar incident happened in San Antonio, Texas, last month). The FAA says visual checks are insufficient to ensure a safe distance between aircraft.
Separately, the TSA administrator warned yesterday that at least 10% of agents have called out sick after missing paychecks amid the partial government shutdown; track airport wait times here. |
French children discovered another seated Gaul skeleton this week near their primary school playground in Dijon (see image). Like some other Gallic remains, the figure’s back was pressed against a wall facing westward, hands resting on its lap.
Scientists remain puzzled by the ancient burial practice. Four other Gallic skeletons were discovered in the same position in recent weeks, each at the bottom of a roughly three-foot pit. Gallic tombs in Dijon represent more than a quarter of all Gallic burial sites discovered, suggesting the city held special meaning for the Celtic people. It is unclear whether the seated position was a sign of respect or an indication of punishment—nor whether the deceased were buried alive. All skeletons discovered in Dijon were adult men, except for one child.
Gauls emerged in Western Europe roughly 2,500 years ago, spreading across modern-day France, Belgium, and the UK. They left behind no written records. See a two-hour documentary here. |
Cesar Chavez, cofounder of the United Farm Workers, has been accused of sexually abusing girls and women connected to the farmworker movement in the 1960s and 1970s. An investigation published yesterday described a pattern of misconduct that complicates Chavez's legacy as a US labor rights figure.
Dolores Huerta, UFW cofounder, said she experienced two sexual encounters with him in the 1960s (see her statement). She described the first as manipulative and coercive and the second as forced, in an environment where she felt unable to escape. Both resulted in pregnancies. Huerta, now 95, said she previously stayed silent to protect the labor movement. She is known for coining the slogan "Si, se puede" ("yes, we can"); watch an overview here.
Chavez, who died in 1993, is credited with organizing farmworkers and advancing Latino civil rights, helping to secure better wages, safer working conditions, and legal protections. The revelations come ahead of the March 31 federal observance honoring Chavez's birthday. |
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Sports, Entertainment, & Culture |
> Men's NCAA Tournament first round begins today, starting with No. 8 Ohio State taking on No. 9 TCU; see full slate of games and bracket (More) | Women's NCAA Tournament First Four matchups conclude today, with the first round starting tomorrow (More) |
> AI-rendered Val Kilmer to appear in upcoming film "As Deep as the Grave" after his estate grants permission for digital replication; Kilmer died of pneumonia in April (More) |
> Reality TV star Jessie Holmes wins the Iditarod dog sled race for second straight year (More) | See photos from the race (More) |
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> The 2026 Turing Award, known as the Nobel Prize of computer science, given to Gilles Brassard and Charles Bennett for their foundational work in the field of quantum cryptography (More) |
> Scientists use CRISPR to produce CAR T-cells inside the body programmed to fight tumors; typical CAR T-cell immunotherapy requires extracting and engineering cells in a lab setting (More) |
> Researchers create the first 3D model of how mosquitoes fly in the presence of various sensory cues; could help improve mitigation and deterrence strategies (More) | Ranking the world's deadliest animals (More) |
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In partnership with Miso Robotics |
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SoftBank CEO Says Robots Could Generate $20T |
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> US stock markets close down (S&P 500 -1.4%, Dow -1.6%, Nasdaq -1.5%) after Federal Reserve keeps interest rates in range between 3.5% and 3.75% (More) | See the Fed's statement (More) |
> Brent crude oil futures—an international benchmark—top $108 per barrel after Iran threatens oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, strikes facility in Qatar (More) | Breaking down oil production by country (More) |
> Disney CEO Bob Iger officially passes the baton to successor Josh D'Amaro during annual shareholders meeting (More) |
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> Israel kills Iran's intelligence minister Esmail Khatib (More) | Explore interactive app designed to look like command center (More) |
> Department of Homeland Security secretary nominee Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) testifies at confirmation hearing; see highlights (More) | ... including exchange with Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) (More) | Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testifies on Iran war (More) |
> Afghanistan, Pakistan agree to pause hostilities through Monday to mark the end of Ramadan (More) | See previous write-up (More) |
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> Drones Are Reshaping War
Reuters Graphics | Staff. An illustrated deep dive shows how cheap drones are rewriting aerial warfare: Attacking is inexpensive, defending costs millions, and America's high-tech aircraft face a new imbalance in the skies. (Read) |
> The Illusion of Time
Big Think | Jim Al-Khalili. How does time flow? Is it even real? And can we time-travel? A physicist reveals the secrets of time—suggesting the past, present, and future might all be happening at once. (Watch) |
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1440 Topics: Civics Thursday |
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In celebration of America's 250th birthday, each week we're sharing what we've learned about key topics that help you stay informed and participate in the world around you:
> You can't yell "fire" in a crowded theater, but you can burn an American flag in protest—and this wasn't always the case. Learn more with our page on freedom of speech in the US.
> The government can't establish a national religion or interfere with an individual's practice of their own faith. Yet, "God" or "the divine" is mentioned at least once in all 50 state constitutions. Explore the complex contradictions that define freedom of religion in the US.
> Three original states did not officially ratify the Bill of Rights until 1939. Learn why and dive deeper into the document that protects you from the power of the government with the best resources we found on the Bill of Rights.
Have a suggestion for our Civics section? Let us know here. |
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Historybook: American novelist Philip Roth born (1933); American actress Glenn Close born (1947); American actor Bruce Willis born (1955); Texas Western, now known as UTEP, is first basketball team to win NCAA Championship with all-Black starting lineup (1966); Iraq War begins (2003).
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