Hantavirus Ship Docks, Eurovision Winner, and the 4.7% Rule

 Need To Know 

End of the Line

The MV Hondius cruise ship—associated with the recent hantavirus outbreak—arrives in the Netherlands today for its final stop. The remaining crew and medical staff will disembark for quarantine, and the ship will be disinfected. Track the vessel here.

The ship departed Argentina April 1, carrying 147 people from 23 countries to some of the world’s most remote islands. On April 11, Dutch bird-watcher Leo Schilperoord died of what was later determined to be hantavirus, followed by his wife roughly two weeks later. Today, there are at least 10 cases associated with the outbreak: eight confirmed and two suspected (where are the hantavirus cases?). 

Hantavirus is not believed to pose a widespread threat to public health. Cruise ships may be especially conducive to the spread of illnesses due to the gathering of travelers from diverse regions, close eating and sleeping quarters, and potential exposure to local diseases.

Bulgarian 'Bangaranga' Bop

Bulgarian singer Dara won the 70th Eurovision contest with pop banger “Bangaranga.” The win marks the first-ever for the Balkan nation, which first joined the contest in 2005. Watch her grand finale performance here.

The contest is among the most-watched live broadcast events in the world, reaching 166 million viewers last year. This year, five broadcasters—from Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain—boycotted over Israel’s participation amid the war in Gaza. A report also found Israel’s government has invested in ad dollars in recent years to promote Israeli musical acts. This year’s Israeli participant came in second place for his ballad “Michelle” (see performance here).

Eurovision began in 1956 as a post-World War II effort to unite Europe through live broadcasting, with seven countries and 14 songs. Today, it features countries across Europe and some outside the continent, including Australia and Israel, whose broadcasters are part of the European Broadcasting Union. Learn more here.

Oldest English Poem Discovered

Researchers leafing through a ninth-century manuscript have discovered a copy of the earliest surviving English poem, according to a recently published study. Known as “Caedmon’s Hymn,” the short verse is considered to be a foundational text in English literature. 

Purportedly composed by an illiterate cowherd after experiencing a religious vision, the nine-line verse references heaven and praises God for creation (read here). The poem is known for its inclusion in some versions of the medieval “Ecclesiastical History of the English People,” written by the monk Bede the Venerable, which was reproduced about 200 times. While two older copies of the poem have surfaced, they were both written in Latin. The recent discovery was written in Old English and embedded in the main Latin text, suggesting English poetry was valued by Latin readers much earlier than previously thought.

It marks the second major discovery involving an ancient poetic text in recent weeks, after archaeologists found part of Homer’s “Iliad” buried with a Roman-era Egyptian mummy.

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> Aaron Rai takes the Wanamaker Trophy at this year's PGA Championship at Aronimink, marking his first-ever professional tournament win (More) 

> Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins NBA MVP for the second year in a row (More) | Cleveland Cavaliers defeat Detroit Pistons, will play New York Knicks in Eastern Conference finals; see schedule (More)

> Napoleon Solo wins 151st Preakness Stakes, defeating favorite Taj Mahal and 12 other horses—the race's largest field in 15 years (More) | See overhead shot of the breakaway (More)

Science & Technology

> World Health Organization declares Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda a global emergency; more than 80 deaths linked to current outbreak (More) | Visualize an example of a related strain of the Ebola virus (More)

> Scientists use molecule derived from spinach to trigger photosynthesis in mouse eyes; may lead to a simple treatment for dry eye disease (More)

> Predominance of right-handedness may be linked to the evolution of human brain size and the ability to walk (More) | Roughly 90% of people are right-handed; see what predicts whether you'll be in the remaining 10% (More, w/video)

Business & Markets

> US stock markets slide Friday (S&P 500 -1.2%, Dow -1.1%, Nasdaq -1.5%), dragged down by tech-sector losses (More) | Starbucks to lay off 300 corporate employees, closing offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, and other cities (More)

> SpaceX targets June 12 for its initial public offering, will list on Nasdaq, according to reports; company targeting a $2T valuation, would mark the largest IPO in history (More) | What was the first ever IPO? (More)

> Jury deliberations begin today in Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI alleging the company betrayed its nonprofit roots; see trial's biggest moments (More) 

Politics & World Affairs

> Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) loses primary race as Trump-backed Rep. Julia Letlow (R, LA-5) and state Treasurer John Fleming advance to runoff (More) | President Donald Trump turns to tomorrow's Kentucky race, the most expensive House primary in US history (More)

> Senate's parliamentarian finds $1B proposal to fund additional security, White House ballroom fails to meet procedural rules (More) | See renderings (More)

> Rwandan genocide suspect Félicien Kabuga dies in custody at age 93; Kabuga had been accused of promoting and bankrolling the genocide and managed to evade arrest on false passports for two decades before he was arrested in 2020 (More) 

The 4% rule for retirement is being updated to 4.7%.

The best and worst cities to be an introvert.

Body of ancient doctor identified in Pompeii.

Bees wake up 17 days earlier than usual this year.

Nepali Sherpa guide climbs Mount Everest for a record 32nd time.

Air taxis and no security lines—what travel could look like in 2046. 

How a blind taste test launched the US wine industry.

Newly discovered fish resembles Mr. Snuffleupagus (w/photo).

Clickbait: One African lake's deadly burps. (via YouTube)

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Historybook: Supreme Court rules “separate but equal” in Plessy v. Ferguson case (1896); Pope John Paul II born in Poland (1920); Comedian Tina Fey born (1970); India detonates its first nuclear test bomb “Smiling Buddha” (1974); Mount St. Helens erupts in Washington state (1980); Musician Chris Cornell dies (2017).