Good morning, it's Saturday, April 25, and today we're covering a long-awaited election in a war-torn region.
Also in today's Digest: the king of the ancient seas (Quick Hits), near-eradication of a parasitic disease (Humankind), a 103-year-old doctor (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. |
|
|
Palestinians in Gaza's Deir al-Balah city are expected to vote in local elections today for the first time in about 20 years. Officials hope the vote will set the stage for broader elections across Gaza (see map).
The elections are being organized by the Palestinian Authority, a rival to Hamas that has coordinated security with Israel. It was forcibly ousted from power in Gaza by Hamas in 2007, after which the militant group appointed local officials. Hamas, which has resisted calls to forfeit its weapons, says it will hand power to the winners. Most candidates are officially politically independent, but some are linked to the Palestinian Authority's ruling party, Fatah (see 101). Others are accused of having ties to Hamas, a claim Hamas denies.
Deir al-Balah residents say they hope elected officials will improve local services, such as water and sewage. However, analysts are skeptical because Israel controls the flow of resources into Gaza, limiting what officials can realistically change. Israel says the restrictions are needed to prevent Hamas from acquiring weapons. |
|
|
|
In partnership with Incogni |
|
Who Gave Scammers Your Number? |
|
You didn't hand your contact info to a call center—but data brokers did. They compile personal details from public records, app sign-ups, purchases, and more, then sell them in bulk to anyone willing to pay. For less than $1. You didn't opt in, but opting out manually could take hundreds of hours.
Incogni automates the whole process. They send deletion requests to hundreds of these brokers, then monitor to make sure your data stays off their lists. Incogni runs in the background so you don't have to think about it.
Ready to get your data back? Try Incogni and save 55% with code 1440DAILY. |
|
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
|
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reveals cancer diagnosis.
Netanyahu said he underwent treatment for early-stage prostate cancer after doctors found a malignant tumor. The diagnosis was included in an annual medical report he delayed releasing for two months, saying he feared Iran would use the information against Israel. The 76-year-old leader is up for reelection in October; his approval rating is at 34%, down from 40% at the start of the Iran war.
Meanwhile, Israel says it struck Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon yesterday, hours after President Donald Trump announced a three-week extension of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire. Hezbollah subsequently called the ceasefire "meaningless." |
Justice Department drops investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
The probe into an alleged cost overrun on a $2.5B renovation was punted to the central bank’s inspector general yesterday. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) had effectively blocked Kevin Warsh’s confirmation to replace Powell unless the DOJ dropped the criminal inquiry. Lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns that the Trump administration launched the probe to pressure Powell into cutting rates or resigning. |
Amazon-backed nuclear startup goes public with near $12B valuation.
X-Energy shares closed up 27% in their NASDAQ debut yesterday. Founded in 2009 by an aerospace veteran, the company developing advanced nuclear reactors has secured backing from Citadel founder Ken Griffin and Amazon, among others. Interest in the company, which is years from building a reactor and obtaining regulatory licensing, is largely driven by artificial intelligence's energy demands. |
... see where the US' existing nuclear reactors are located. |
FDA grants quick review of three experimental psychedelic drugs.
The Food and Drug Administration yesterday awarded priority review vouchers to three unnamed companies developing drugs for major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder that may also have psychoactive effects. Efforts to expand research into these alternative therapies have been driven, in part, by military veterans. The first of these drugs could be approved as early as this summer. |
Tornado barrels through Oklahoma, damaging at least 40 homes.
Emergency crews yesterday worked to rescue trapped residents after a powerful tornado ripped through a rural community on Oklahoma's northern border Thursday (watch here). Only minor injuries have been reported as of this writing, but roofs were ripped off several homes, and others were reduced to rubble. Utility poles and power lines were also knocked down, and part of US Interstate 81 was closed. |
Giant octopus may have reigned over the prehistoric oceans.
A new analysis of fossilized jaws reveals 23- to 62-foot octopuses hunted in the seas roughly 66 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed land. While prehistoric large sharks and marine reptiles are well-documented, octopuses have been harder to study because their soft bodies don't preserve as well. In this case, researchers reassembled images of delicate seafloor fossils into 3D models—a new technique. |
|
|
|
Premature baby who spent over 400 days in the NICU is preparing to head home with his little brother. (More) |
Mental health crisis hotline linked to an estimated 4,400 fewer deaths in American teens and young adults who might otherwise die by suicide within its first 2.5 years. (More) |
Guinea worm disease could become the second disease ever eradicated—after smallpox—and the first to be eradicated without vaccines or medicine, thanks to a nearly 40-year education campaign. (More) |
Berlin Zoo offers specialized tours to people with dementia; caregivers and families describe them as a lifeline. (More) |
Granddaughter surprises her grandmother by buying back the family's former home. (More, w/video) |
|
|
|
In partnership with Doroni |
|
Morgan Stanley Calls This a $9T Opportunity |
If Morgan Stanley’s right, the flying car industry will grow 185,850% by 2050.
They say it will reach $9 trillion, 2X+ more valuable than today’s global car market. And 4,000+ investors believe Doroni will lead the charge. Their H1-X aircraft is designed for everyday life, charging like an EV, fitting in a two-car garage. And it’s no concept. In March, Doroni unveiled a full-scale showroom model FOX Business called the “‘flying car’ set to revolutionize air travel.”
600+ people already reserved one, good for $240M in potential revenue for Doroni. Claim a piece of this growth as a Doroni investor.* |
|
|
|
|
Dear readers—We're taking a brief intermission next month to feature stories about mothers and motherhood. Take a moment to share a memory, lesson, or note of gratitude here for a chance to be featured.
Today, we're sharing a story from reader Janet S. in Chicago, Illinois.
"For my 3-year-old grandson, his Build-A-Bear isn't just a toy—it is a connection to his hero. Known as “Dada Bear,” it wears a San Diego Padres uniform and carries a treasure inside its paw: a voice recording of his father saying, 'I love you.'
"With his father currently deployed with the US Navy, my grandson takes Dada Bear everywhere, including to a recent Padres game where the unthinkable happened. While trying to navigate the crowd in the stadium with two small children, my daughter-in-law realized too late that Dada Bear had been lost. She contacted the Padres' lost and found and posted a photo of the bear on a Padres fan page. The posting caught the eye of a sympathetic stranger who reached out with an incredible offer. She provided the family with a generous Build-A-Bear gift card, covering the cost of a new bear and accessories to recreate the original Dada Bear.
"This act of kindness hit a home run for my son’s family. It served as a reminder that even when a parent is deployed, there is a community back home ready to step up and keep the spirit of Dada alive."
Humankind(ness) is a reader-built corner of joy, so if this story made you smile—share our email (copy URL here). |
|
|
|
|
1440 Explores: Silicon Valley |
|
The real origin story of Silicon Valley is more complicated than you think. 1440's Editor-in-Chief Sony Kassam and historian Margaret O'Mara trace how Cold War weapons contracts and a Stanford real estate gamble turned a patch of California orchards into the center of modern power. Watch the episode here or click below: |
|
|
|
Bookkeeping
> $2.3M: Approximate resale cost of tickets for the FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium.
> 103: Age of the oldest working doctor, a neurologist who practiced medicine for 75 years.
Browse
> Ranking the world's 10 most walkable cities.
> What happens at Gen-Z phone-free parties.
> Burned-out doctors flock to remote New Zealand town.
> Eight signs you're the problem in an argument.
Listen
> Is inflammation the root of all disease?
Watch
> What does "$" mean?
> That time a Pittsburgh Burger King went rogue.
Long Read
> Celebrities are done keeping plastic surgery secrets.
> Did someone tamper with Paris' weather to win $21K on Polymarket?
> Can (and should) we design babies brilliant enough to outsmart AI?
Most Clicked This Week: Items from the 2000s that are now collectibles.
Historybook: Workers break ground on Suez Canal (1859); The US declares war on Spain to begin Spanish-American War (1898); Jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald born (1917); Al Pacino born (1940); Singer, actor, and activist Harry Belafonte dies (2023). |
|
|
|
"My weaknesses? I wish I could come up with something. I'd probably have the same pause if you asked me what my strengths are. Maybe they're the same thing." |
|
|
Behind the Name. In 1440, the printing press sparked a knowledge revolution. We carry that spirit forward, cutting through the noise and algorithm-driven feeds, to bring fact-driven knowledge to everyone.
Want to connect with 4.7 million insatiably curious minds? Become a 1440 partner here.
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
