Good morning, it's Thursday, June 4. It is possible to make sourdough extracted from the body of a 5,300-year-old mummy, scientists discovered the bold way.
Also in today's Digest: CBS fires "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley (Sports, Ent., & Cult.), AI music startup Suno's latest valuation (Bus. & Mkts.), Mark Twain's feud with the US Postal Service (Civics), what beer tasted like in 1757 (Etc.), and much more.
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Scientists studying Ötzi the Iceman, a naturally preserved mummy who died roughly 5,300 years ago, have identified yeast living on and within his remains—and even used it to bake a sourdough loaf. The discovery sheds new light on the microbial communities associated with ancient human remains and could reshape how scientists think about long-term preservation.
Ötzi was found in the Ötztal Alps on the Austria-Italy border by two hikers in 1991. He is one of archaeology's most studied individuals, helping researchers reconstruct Copper Age diets, diseases, and migration patterns (see 3D reconstruction of Ötzi). In the new study, scientists identified cold-adapted yeasts in his stomach and on his skin that likely colonized his body shortly after death. One strain was successfully used to ferment and bake sourdough to test whether the ancient yeast was still active. Researchers described the result as "very, very good."
The finding highlights that ancient remains are not static artifacts but complex biological environments, adding another layer to Ötzi's story. Learn about the man behind the mummy, including his suspected murder (w/video). |
The US House passed a measure yesterday directing President Donald Trump to end the war with Iran or get approval from Congress. The vote passed 215-208, with four Republicans joining Democrats in the rebuke.
The resolution is symbolic, though a similar measure in the Senate would compel Trump to end the war if passed. The House vote came hours after Kuwaiti authorities blamed Iran for a deadly drone and missile attack on its international airport. One person was killed and at least 63 others were wounded, officials say. Watch footage from the attack's aftermath here.
Separately, Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire conditional on Hezbollah halting its attacks on Israel and retreating above the Litani River. It is unclear if the militant group will abide by the terms; Lebanon has struggled to rein in the Iranian-backed group in the past. (What is the Lebanese government's relationship with Hezbollah?) |
🫶 Humankind: A US soccer star is using Lego sets and his own experience with anxiety to help children talk about mental health. |
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Bakersfield Hostage Situation |
The FBI killed a 41-year-old man yesterday who held 10 people hostage at an office building in Bakersfield, California. His death ended a 15-hour standoff with all hostages unharmed.
The incident began at around 1 pm PT Tuesday, when police responded to reports of a bomb threat at a building housing a bank and school district office. A nearby live streamer documented part of the incident, including someone waving from inside the building (see the moment). At one point, negotiators secured the release of two hostages. The hostage situation ended at 4:20 am PT yesterday with the suspect killed in an officer-involved shooting. Authorities had not publicly revealed a motive as of this writing.
Hostage negotiation is a 52-year-old discipline that began within the New York Police Department and boasts over a 90% success rate. It involves a communication model including active listening and rapport building. Read tips from a hostage negotiator. |
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In partnership with NativePath |
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What Your Skin Is Trying to Tell You |
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Ever notice that bruises seem to appear more easily than they used to? Or that your skin looks thinner, drier, and less resilient? Most people assume it’s simply part of getting older. But experts say declining collagen levels may be a major factor behind many visible signs of aging.
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Sports, Entertainment, & Culture |
> New York Knicks beat San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, 105-95 (More) |
> "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley fired after criticizing incoming executive producer Nick Bilton and CBS News chief Bari Weiss in staff meeting (More) | See termination letter (More) | See Pelley's return statement (More, via Instagram) |
> Actor Shia LaBeouf pleads guilty to three charges of simple battery for punching bar patrons in New Orleans during Mardi Gras this year (More) |
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> NASA formally ends MAVEN Martian mission after roughly six months without a signal; the orbital probe spent 11 years analyzing Mars' atmosphere (More) |
> Bioengineered hookworms, intestinal parasites that have coevolved with humans for thousands of years, used to produce and deliver drugs in a living host (More) | The entrepreneur who sells hookworms raised in his own gut (Listen) |
> The cradles of queen bee larvae are made using a chemically distinct type of "royal" wax essential for their development (More) | They also need royal jelly—what is that? (More) |
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> US stock markets close lower (S&P 500 -0.8%, Dow -1.2%, Nasdaq -0.1%) as investor hopes over US-Iran deal fade (More) |
> AI music startup Suno Inc. raises $400M at $5.4B valuation; latest funding round doubles Suno's valuation from seven months ago (More) | SpaceX reportedly targeting fixed $135 initial public offering, with a valuation of $1.8T (More) | What is a fixed price IPO? (More) |
> Amazon, Walmart, UnitedHealth Group top Fortune 500 annual list of largest US companies by revenue; see the top 10 (More) |
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In partnership with Fisher Investments |
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Is Your Retirement Plan Built to Last? |
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> Vote counting continues in California primary races, with the race for governor too close to call as of this writing; see live updates (More) |
> Number of suspected Ebola cases drops to 116 as testing rules out hundreds of cases (More) | Two scientists are charged with illegally smuggling deactivated mpox virus into the country; authorities did not share why they allegedly did so in court filings (More) |
> Justice Department investigates former Rep. George Santos (R, NY-3) over allegations of insider trading on prediction market Kalshi (More) |
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> The Dark Origins of Disney Fairy Tales
TED-Ed | Claudia Schwabe. How the gory Germanic stories collected by the Brothers Grimm evolved from dark tales dealing with the harsh realities of life into stories featuring Rapunzel, Cinderella, and other familiar characters. (Watch) |
> The Booming Autism Therapy Fraud Industry
WSJ | Staff. The rise in diagnoses and coverage requirements has fueled a number of predatory autism therapy organizations, overcharging insurers for basic care. This report found a group billing $15K per day for basic care, a family stuck with a $900K bill after claims were denied, and more. (Read) |
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In partnership with NativePath |
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Don’t Ignore These Skin Changes |
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Remember when your skin bounced back faster and bruises seemed to disappear overnight? Many experts now point to declining collagen levels as a hidden factor behind thinning skin, dark spots, and other visible signs of aging. NativePath Grass-Fed Collagen Peptides provide Types I & III collagen in an easy-to-mix daily powder designed to support healthy skin from within.
Learn the warning signs of a collagen deficiency, discover why millions trust NativePath, and claim up to 45% off today + 2 free gifts with this exclusive 1440 offer. |
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1440 Civics: The US Postal Service |
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The US Postal Service predates the Declaration of Independence and carries nearly half the world's total mail volume. It delivers by plane, hovercraft, train, truck, car, boat, ferry, helicopter, subway, bicycle, foot, and even mule.
> From floating post office buildings to a stamp that traveled past Pluto, explore some of the most surprising and fun facts about the USPS.
> Read about Mark Twain's long-standing feud with the Postal Service.
> The USPS delivered over 112 billion pieces of mail in 2024 and spent $3.97B—accounting for just 0.058% of the federal budget.
> Hear about 250 years of the USPS, including its strangest deliveries and most important innovations.
1440 Topics is a continuously updated ecosystem that curates the best evergreen resources we've found across thousands of topics for you to explore. Have a suggestion for our Civics section? Let us know here. |
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Historybook: US Congress passes 19th Amendment, granting suffrage to women (1919); Battle of Midway starts (1942); Angelina Jolie born (1975); Hundreds killed at Tiananmen Square protests (1989); Basketball coaching legend John Wooden dies (2010). |
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"Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable." |
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