Good morning. It's Wednesday, Dec. 31, and we're recapping the stories that moved us the most in 2025 and gearing up for an eventful 2026. First time reading? Join over 4.5 million insatiably curious readers. Sign up here. |
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Dear readers,
As 2025 comes to a close, we want to express our sincere gratitude once again. Not simply for reading, but for your valuable input and thoughtful feedback that have helped shape what 1440 has become. It's been a great year. During 2025:
> We sent more than 1.5 billion emails.
> Readers opened more than 900 million times.
> ... and clicked over 210 million links.
> The 1440 community grew to over 4.5 million readers.
> The Webby Awards also named us a People’s Voice winner.
> 1440 was one of Inc.'s Best Workplaces for a second year.
> ... and earned a spot on Inc.'s fastest-growing private companies in the US.
> We released our curated guide to the internet's best resources, 1440 Topics.
> ... and hit over 200,000 listens on our flagship podcast, "1440 Explores."
Thanks for being part of the journey with us—we're looking forward to a wonderful 2026 and beyond. We wish you a happy and healthy New Year!
Sony
Editor-in-Chief |
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From landmark events to major headlines, a lot happened in 2025. Below is a nonexhaustive list of some of the stories that stood out this year. |
> Los Angeles wildfires: The Palisades and Eaton fires burned nearly 40,000 acres, destroyed more than 16,000 structures, and displaced thousands, making them the most destructive in Southern California history. |
> Trump sworn in as 47th president: Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Jan. 20, beginning a new administration and setting the stage for his agenda, including on trade and immigration. |
> Astronauts return to Earth: On March 18, NASA astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore returned after over nine months aboard the International Space Station, following delays in their original mission plan. |
> Tariffs and trade agreements: The US unveiled a broad set of "Liberation Day" tariffs on most imports and higher reciprocal rates on select countries. The measures, along with ongoing trade negotiations, reshaped global trade flows. |
> Pope Francis passes away: Pope Francis passed away April 21 at age 88 of a stroke and irreversible heart failure, leading to a conclave and the election of Pope Leo as the new head of the Catholic Church. |
> Central Texas floods: In early July, extreme rainfall triggered rapid flash flooding across the Texas Hill Country, killing at least 135 people (including 27 campers and counselors at an all-girls summer camp) and damaging thousands of structures. |
> Nvidia reaches milestones: On July 9, Nvidia became the first company to reach a $4T market valuation (and later $5T in October) as demand for its chips surged, cementing Nvidia's role as the backbone supplier of the generative AI boom. |
> Chicago immigration raids: In early September, Chicago authorities carried out immigration raids with ICE, kicking off multicity enforcement efforts and highlighting tensions between federal policy and sanctuary-city policies. |
> Charlie Kirk assassination: On Sept. 10, conservative activist and Turning Point USA cofounder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University, drawing national attention. |
> Nobel Peace Prize: On Oct. 10, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts promoting democratic rights and peaceful political change in Venezuela. |
> Louvre Museum heist: On Oct. 19, thieves stole eight pieces of French crown jewels from the Louvre in Paris, valued at an estimated $100M, in one of the museum’s most significant security breaches in decades. |
> Federal government shutdown: From Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, the US federal government experienced a 43‑day shutdown, the longest in its history, after Congress failed to pass spending legislation. About 900,000 federal employees were furloughed. |
> Gene therapy breakthrough: A first-of-its-kind gene therapy appears to have reversed Hunter syndrome in a 3-year-old boy, offering hope for treating the rare, fatal genetic disease that current therapies cannot fully address. |
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Below are some important, interesting, or otherwise fun stories that moved 1440 staff in 2025. What was your favorite? Let us know here. |
'The Grandma Stand' offers advice and warmth.
"I’ve lost both of my grandmothers, and there are many moments when I wish I could call one of them for advice. Reading about these women sharing their perspective was a reminder of the value of lived experience." —Ashley L. |
Texas road tripper finds lifelong kindness in strangers.
"Our in-depth section provides me with some of my favorite online reading materials, and this essay about road trips in my home state particularly resonated with me. This story is a journey of its own and sheds light on how pets, travel, and encounters with generous strangers can be so enriching.” —Meher Q. |
Life lessons and wild nights at a honky-tonk.
"One grandmother’s honky-tonk in a small town became a legendary hub for country stars and unforgettable stories. I’m drawn to learning through someone else’s life adventures—they’re fun, bold, and full of surprises." —Sony K. |
Early exposure lowers peanut allergy risk, 10-year study finds.
"This frustrating allergy appears to have a relatively simple fix—enjoy peanuts sooner in life. The news is a great positive story this year, as is the willingness of the medical community to course-correct when the evidence suggests it." —Teddy B. |
The man who stopped a Bondi Beach attacker.
"In a very tough news cycle, I was blown away by the heroism of Ahmed al Ahmed, the Syrian Australian shopkeeper who put his body on the line to intercede and stop one of the attackers in Bondi Beach, Australia. Heroism deserves to be highlighted. Thank you, Ahmed al Ahmed." —Julie S. |
Sick ants sacrifice themselves to save the colony.
"At first glance, the study sounds grim. But, upon reflection, it reads as evidence of how intentional and community-oriented such a small creature can be. I’m continuously amazed and inspired by the intelligence of other species." —Karina A. |
World’s deepest ecosystem discovered. (w/video)
"In July, researchers discovered vast communities of brightly colored tube worms, clams, and mollusks nearly 6 miles under the ocean surface in trenches between Russia and Alaska. It was a reminder of how little we know about the deep seafloor, only 1% of which has been explored." —Drew S. |
Warren Buffett's best advice for living well.
"Warren Buffett has always been one of my favorite founders (and humans). I read his annual shareholder letter every year, and I was especially moved by the words in his final letter: 'Greatness does not come about through accumulating great amounts of money, great amounts of publicity or great power in government. When you help someone in any of thousands of ways, you help the world. Kindness is costless but also priceless.'" —Tim H. |
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Historybook: Arthur Guinness signs a 9,000-year lease, begins brewing at Dublin's St. James's Gate (1759); Thomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting in public for first time (1879); First New Year's Eve celebration held in Times Square (1904); The country of Kiribati skips the day altogether (1994). |
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"Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life." |
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Behind the Name. In 1440, the printing press sparked a knowledge revolution. We carry that spirit forward, cutting through the noise and algorithm-driven feeds, to bring fact-driven knowledge to everyone. |
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