Hantavirus Tracing, Psychedelic Fish, and a Robot Monk

 Need To Know 

Hantavirus Update

Health officials are tracking roughly 30 people from at least 12 countries who left the hantavirus-infected MV Hondius cruise ship before the outbreak was identified on May 2. 

At least three passengers have died, including a Dutch couple believed to have contracted the virus on a bird-watching trip in Argentina. The country this week reported 101 infections of the rare rodent-borne disease since June 2025, roughly twice the number recorded during the same period a year earlier. Scientists say warming temperatures may be helping rodent populations proliferate, and many have been working for over three decades to develop a vaccine. 

The World Health Organization has identified at least eight cases—five confirmed and three suspected—across the ship and four countries (see map), but says the risk to the public is low. 

Evacuations of the roughly 150 people aboard the MV Hondius are expected to begin Monday. Track the ship en route to the Canary Islands here.

Fishheads

Fish given psilocybin—the active ingredient in magic mushrooms—behave less aggressively than their undosed counterparts, a study published yesterday reveals. The paper is the first of its kind to document the role psilocybin may play in aggression in animals.

Researchers studied the mangrove rivulus fish (Kryptolebias marmoratus), a species that reproduces by self-fertilization, removing genetic variation between specimens. One fish was given a low dose psilocybin dose for 20 minutes before being placed in a tank opposite an undosed fish. The two were separated by a fiberglass mesh barrier, allowing them to see and smell each other without engaging in physical contact. The fish dosed with psilocybin moved more slowly and darted at the undosed counterpart less frequently, indicating reduced incidences of aggression. The research comes as the Trump administration expedites review of the psychedelic for treatment of mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety.

See an eight-minute animation chronicling the life cycle of the unusual fish here.

Attenborough at 100

Sir David Attenborough, the British broadcaster and natural historian whose nature documentaries transformed how audiences see the natural world, turns 100 today.

Born in 1926, Attenborough was interested in nature from a young age, collecting fossils and bird eggs, before studying natural sciences at the University of Cambridge. He joined the BBC and rose to prominence with 1954’s “Zoo Quest,” which introduced viewers to rare wildlife, and then helped shape BBC Two. His 1979 series “Life on Earth” documented more than 600 species across 40 countries and drew an estimated 500 million viewers; later productions, including “Planet Earth,” used advancing technology to showcase wildlife and warn of threats—wildlife populations have fallen 73% since 1970.

He has been knighted twice, won three Emmy Awards, and remains the only person to earn BAFTAs across black-and-white, color, HD, 3D, and 4K formats. More than 50 species have been named in his honor, including a newly identified wasp: Attenboroughnculus tau. Listen to a message from the naturalist.

Take an interactive journey through the Great Barrier Reef with Attenborough here.

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> NCAA men's and women's basketball selection committees unanimously approve expanding March Madness from 68 to 76 teams (More) | Thirty ex-Ohio State football players join sex abuse lawsuit against the university (More) 

> "Saturday Night Live UK" renewed for a second season, with 12 episodes airing from fall 2026 through early 2027 (More) | Former Prince Andrew reportedly threatened by a masked man while walking his dog; a suspect has been arrested (More) 

> American Vogue editor Chloe Malle and actress-turned-talk-show-host Drew Barrymore are named in The Hollywood Reporter's 50 most powerful people in New York Media list (More) 

Science & Technology

> OpenAI unveils three AI models that can reason, translate, and transcribe as people speak (More) | Spotify allows users to create personal podcasts based on existing documents, saved articles, and more (More) 

> Brain under anesthesia understands language, neural activity shows, suggesting the unconscious brain is far more active than previously thought (More) 

> Fossils of long-lost ancestor of centipedes and millipedes that lived underwater already had many legs, challenging the long-held assumption legs developed as an adaptation for land (More) 

Business & Markets

> US stock markets close down (S&P 500 -0.4%, Dow -0.6%, Nasdaq -0.1%) as investors eye developments in US-Iran deal (More) | How does the stock market work? (More, w/video) 

> Elon Musk summoned to France to face preliminary criminal charges, including over child sex abuse images, deepfakes, and disinformation on his social media platform, X (More) | The evolution of X, formerly known as Twitter (More) 

> Shake Shack shares drop 28% after reporting an operating loss of $2.6M (More) | Planet Fitness shares fall 31% after pausing planned price hikes, slashing full-year outlook (More) 

Politics & World Affairs

> US State Department will reportedly begin revoking passports today of Americans who owe $100K or more in child support, impacting 2,700 people (More) | Explore the history of child support via timeline (More)

> Iran and the US exchange fire as Iran considers the US' one-page proposal to end war, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz and 30-day ceasefire (More) 

> Tennessee passes redistricted map that would split the state's only Black-majority district in Memphis (More) 

In-Depth

> Massive Menu Magic

Business Insider | Staff. With over 250 menu items—from sushi to pasta and cheesecake—how does The Cheesecake Factory cook it all? Go inside the kitchen to find out. (Watch) 

> Safekeeping Memories

NY Times | Ellen Barry. A writer processing her late father's dementia meets a scientist on a quest to help dementia patients transfer memories into unaffected parts of the brain. (Read) 

> Embracing the Costco Lifestyle

Taste | Jordan Michelman. After resisting a Costco membership for years, the author finally gave in. His humorously observant ode to the wholesale giant just might leave you with a newfound appreciation for your bulk grocery runs. (Read) 

> Coffee Conundrum 

Short Wave | Staff. You know a good cup of coffee from a bad one when you taste it, but there are few quantitative ways to assess flavor variations. A tool commonly used to measure electrical charge in batteries may help change that. (Listen) 

See a humanoid robot being ordained as a Buddhist monk. (w/video)

... and one attending a Turkish council meeting.

Ranking countries by where wages go the farthest.

The universe is expanding more quickly than we thought.

The brain treats virtual reality wings like body limbs.

Which grocery store chain is considered most trustworthy?

How to spot the International Space Station at least once a month.

NASA releases 12,217 images from the Artemis II mission. (w/photo)

In partnership: Consider this your new favorite shoe brand.*

Clickbait: Who will win the fight over tiny golf players on papaya?

Historybook: President Harry Truman born (1884); Coca-Cola is sold for the first time at a pharmacy in Atlanta (1886); Mount Pelée in Martinique erupts, beginning the deadliest volcanic event of the 20th century (1902); Germany surrenders, ending World War II in Europe (1945); Smallpox is eradicated (1980).

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