HIV Breakthrough, Protecting Playtime, and Your Pet's IQ

 Need To Know 

Promising HIV Treatment

Researchers are due to present a report today finding that a single infusion of HIV-fighting molecules could suppress the incurable virus to undetectable levels. Modeled after a treatment for leukemia, the approach could mark the closest researchers have come to a one-and-done treatment for the disease, but it remains years away from widespread availability.

Scientists extracted and engineered seven patients’ immune cells to carry two molecules that bind to HIV and kill infected cells. One also defends the immune cells from becoming infected. The day the cells were reinjected into their bodies, the patients stopped taking antiretroviral drugs—the standard treatment for HIV often involving multiple pills daily. (How do antiretroviral drugs work?)

Patients who began antiretroviral therapy within months of their diagnosis saw remission lasting up to 92 weeks when switching to the infusion, while those who received initial treatment later appeared to respond less effectively to the infusion.

See a map of global death rates from HIV here.

Eurovision Kicks Off

The 70th Eurovision Song Contest begins today in Vienna, Austria. The event is among the most-watched live entertainment broadcasts, drawing 166 million viewers last year. See standout outfits from the turquoise carpet here.

Now the world's longest-running annual global TV music competition, Eurovision began in 1956 as a post-World War II effort to unite Europe through live TV broadcasting (with seven countries and 14 songs). Today, it features countries across Europe and some outside the continent, including Australia and Israel. The contest has evolved into a mix of pop spectacle, national identity, and over-the-top theatrical performances, launching the international careers of stars like ABBA and Celine Dion. Explore an interactive history of Eurovision here. 

The event has drawn renewed political scrutiny over Israel's participation amid the war in Gaza; Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain have withdrawn from the competition in protest. Meanwhile, a new report alleges Israel sought to influence voting in recent years as part of a broader public diplomacy effort. 

Let the Children Play

The nation’s leading pediatricians group yesterday urged schools to protect free play for children and teens in its first guidance on recess in 13 years.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says recess is critical to academic, physical, social, and emotional development, as many schools cut it back to prioritize test performance. New research suggests downtime helps students retain information, with experts recommending at least 20 minutes of recess daily and additional short breaks. Up to 40% of US school districts have reduced or eliminated recess since the mid-2000s. Among schools offering recess, the duration ranges from less than 10 minutes to over an hour. In countries such as the UK, Japan, and Denmark, students commonly get breaks every 45 to 50 minutes. See what recess looks like around the world here.

About a dozen states require some daily recess. Oklahoma became the latest state last month to expand its recess requirement, passing a law that increases mandatory unstructured playtime to 40 minutes each day.

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> Dua Lipa sues Samsung for $15M for using her likeness to sell TVs without her permission; see the advertisement in question (More) 

> Savannah Guthrie to host new Wordle game show on NBC, produced by Jimmy Fallon and The New York Times (More) 

> Cannes Film Festival begins today; explore 23 of the most eagerly awaited films (More) | Seven-story Beatles museum to open next year at the band's former London headquarters, 3 Savile Row (More) 

Science & Technology

> Google says it stopped one of the first cyberattacks to use AI to identify and exploit a previously unknown software vulnerability; researchers warn AI capabilities may be outpacing cybersecurity defenses (More) 

> Gruesome fatal wounds on gray seal pups—once blamed on ship propellers and sharks—are traced to adult male gray seals, which may be seeking nutrients from high-calorie blubber (More) 

> Suckerfish evade predators by disappearing into a manta ray's rear end, a newly observed behavior coined "cloacal diving"; finding suggests the relationship between the two species may be more parasitic than previously believed (More, w/photos)

Business & Markets

> US stock markets close up (S&P 500 +0.2%, Dow +0.2%, Nasdaq +0.1%) (More) | AI chipmaker Cerebras seeks $4.8B in upsized initial public offering (More) 

> Alphabet to sell Japanese yen-denominated bonds for first time to fund AI efforts; offering size hasn't been disclosed (More) | What are bonds? (More) 

> Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella takes the stand in Elon Musk's lawsuit alleging OpenAI betrayed its nonprofit roots for Microsoft funding (More) | The secret diary that spilled into the feud (More) 

Politics & World Affairs

> Man charged with attempting to kill President Donald Trump at last month's White House Correspondents' Association dinner pleads not guilty to all charges; next pretrial hearing scheduled for June 29 (More) 

> President Donald Trump will travel to China this week, accompanied by 16 CEOs, including Elon Musk and Tim Cook (More) | Revisit the Musk-Trump feud (More) 

> Family of a victim in last year's Florida State University shooting files lawsuit accusing OpenAI of complicity in the attack, citing suspect's use of ChatGPT (More) 

In-Depth

> Where East Meets West in Medicine

NY Times | Avraham Z. Cooper and Jérôme Berthier. In 2021, researchers discovered tattoo ink migrating into the fascia beneath the skin—something that wasn't supposed to happen. The discovery may one day validate the existence of a third circulatory system. (Read) 

> How the World Became a Casino

404 Media | Staff. The days of gambling only in Las Vegas have come and gone. Today, bettors in most states can put money behind anything from the success of a specific sports play to the likelihood of specific acts of war. (Listen) 

Tiger moms are out, beta moms are in.

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Fifty of the 21st century's most underappreciated movies.

Search your first and last name to see how common they are.

Cartel leader captured with his seven tigers. 

Maybe you should sit on the ground for 30 minutes a day.

Ranking NFL logos, from worst to best.

Explore Spotify's most-streamed songs ever.

In partnership: What seemed like science fiction is now transforming the $3T energy storage market.*

Clickbait: An IQ test for cats and dogs.

Historybook: Modern nursing innovator Florence Nightingale born (1820); Actress Katharine Hepburn born (1907); Charles Lindbergh’s son found dead two months after being kidnapped (1932); Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk born (1968); Ex-President Jimmy Carter visits Cuba, the first American president to visit since 1959 revolution (2002).

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