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03.19.2025

 

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Good morning. It's Wednesday, March 19, and we're covering a teetering ceasefire in Gaza, the end of a monthslong journey for two astronauts, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4 million intellectually curious readers. Sign up here.

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Need To Know
 

Israel Renews Gaza Strikes

Over 400 Palestinians were killed and more than 500 wounded early Tuesday following Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, one of the deadliest bombardments of the 17-month war. The attack came amid stalled negotiations with Hamas to extend the war's two-month ceasefire into a second phase. 

 

Since the ceasefire began Jan. 19, more than 1,800 Palestinians have been exchanged for 33 Israelis abducted Oct. 7, including eight who were deceased. Israeli forces exited much of Gaza aside from some buffer zones, allowing hundreds of thousands of displaced people to return to their homes. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resumed the fighting amid pressure from his coalition not to proceed to a second phase, pointing to Hamas' unwillingness to release the remaining hostages as justification. He has long insisted the war would not end until Hamas is destroyed.

 

The Israeli military called for evacuations across Gaza's eastern border with Israel, prompting analysts to speculate that a new combat operation was imminent. Netanyahu also described the attacks as only the beginning

 

Astronauts Return Home

NASA astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Butch Wilmore splashed down off the Florida coast yesterday, concluding an unexpected nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station. They returned on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

 

Originally scheduled for a 10-day mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner in June 2024, Williams and Wilmore remained on the ISS due to technical issues with the spacecraft, including helium leaks and propulsion problems. While awaiting their return, they integrated into the regular ISS crew rotation, contributing to scientific research and daily operations. See a timeline here.

 

During their extended stay, the pair completed 4,576 orbits of Earth, traveling more than 121 million miles. The mission brings Williams’ career cumulative total time in space to 608 days—the second most among US astronauts behind Peggy Whitson. The astronauts will undergo medical evaluations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to assess the effects of their prolonged spaceflight.

 

(Some) Federal Workers Reinstated

The Trump administration moved to reinstate around 24,500 probationary workers yesterday, who were previously terminated under broad reduction-in-force efforts in recent weeks. The decision spans 18 agencies and follows court decisions that found the administration violated procedural law in carrying out the firings. The long-term status of the group is unclear—the decisions have been appealed, and judges noted terminations are allowed if carried out according to law. See a tracker of federal firings here

 

In related news, a federal judge ruled yesterday that the government's dismantling of the US Agency for International Development—attributed to the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency—was likely unconstitutional. The ruling stopped short of fully restarting the agency's operations.  

 

Separately, individual departments continue to formulate longer-term plans to reduce staff, including reports the Environmental Protection Agency will largely eliminate its 1,500-person research and development office. Among other efforts, the wing helped determine how the 2014 Flint water crisis unfolded. 

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In The Know
 

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Luke Combs, and Tyler, the Creator among headliners tapped to perform at 2025 Lollapalooza in Chicago (July 31-Aug. 3); see full festival lineup (More

> "Fire & Rain" stage musical using James Taylor's music in development (More) | "Happy Gilmore" sequel sets July 25 release date on Netflix (More)

> NCAA men's basketball tournament kicks off with "First Four" matchups; see latest bracket (More) | ... and women's tournament begins tonight; see "First Four" schedule (More) | NCAA to allow athletes to negotiate name, image, and likeness deals with schools before their enrollment (More)

 

Science & Technology

> Meta reports global downloads of its open-source Llama AI model tops 1 billion (More) | How generative AI works (1440 Topics)

> China's BYD says it has developed electric vehicle charging platform capable of recharging cars as quickly as filling a gas tank (More) | How EVs work (1440 Topics)

> New study finds cells lining organs and skin generate electricity when injured; discovery may lead to new wound-healing therapies (More

 

Business & Markets

> US stock markets resume sell-off (S&P 500 -1.1%, Dow -0.6%, Nasdaq -1.7%) following two days of gains (More) | Tesla shares drop 5.3%, down 53% since all-time peak in December (More

> Google to acquire cybersecurity firm Wiz for $32B, the largest acquisition in company history; also marks the largest-ever cybersecurity acquisition (More) | Google 101 (1440 Topics)

> Pharma giant Pfizer sells remaining stake in British healthcare group Haleon, maker of brands including Advil, Sensodyne, and more (More)

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Politics & World Affairs

> President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin hold hourlong call; Putin agrees to 30-day suspension of attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure (More) | Chief Justice John Roberts makes rare public statement rebuking Trump for calls to impeach federal judge who paused deportations (More)

> Paris police remove hundreds of migrants from downtown theater following monthslong occupation of venue (More)

> Family of Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old student who disappeared while on spring break in the Dominican Republic, acknowledge she likely drowned (More) | Development of story captured public attention; see overview here (More)

In partnership with hear.com

You Won’t Believe Your Ears

 

Or eyes, for that matter. The Horizon IX hearing aid by hear.com is not only the world’s first dual processing hearing aid, but it’s also nearly invisible

 

Over 540,000 users (and counting) have upgraded their lives with crystal-clear hearing that’s so discreet, your friends and family may not even notice. But don’t thank us–thank the German engineers pioneering this cutting-edge hearing tech! Try the Horizon IX with a 45-day no-risk trial.

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Etcetera
 

The worst US cities for allergy sufferers

 

Where the original March Madness bracket came from.

 

The secret beginnings of Disney World. (via YouTube)

 

... plus, 1440's Society & Culture newsletter launches this weekend, beginning with the history of Disney. Sign up here!

 

Take a virtual trip to the Galápagos Islands.

 

Photographers capture the lunar eclipse amid an aurora.

 

Mapping European locations with ridiculously long names.

 

The physics of popping a beer.

 

Screen-limiting app makes you literally touch grass

 

Clickbait: Volkswagen sees record-high sausage sales.

 

Historybook: American novelist Philip Roth born (1933); Glenn Close born (1947); 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).

"All that we don't know is astonishing. Even more astonishing is what passes for knowing."

- Philip Roth

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