Good morning. It's Friday, Aug. 2, and we're covering the biggest US-Russia prisoner swap since the Cold War, more gold medals for the US, and much more. First time reading? Join over 3.5 million intellectually curious readers. Sign up here. |
|
|
|
Journalist Evan Gershkovich was among a group of Americans and Russian dissidents released from Russia yesterday as part of a seven-nation prisoner swap, the largest involving the US and Russia since the Cold War. The US and Europe released eight Russian prisoners in return, including professional hitman Vadim Krasikov, jailed in Germany in 2021 for murdering a Chechen separatist leader on Kremlin orders.
The complex, monthslong negotiations involved representatives from the US and Russia as well as Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey. Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, had been jailed since March 2023 on espionage charges and was found guilty last month. American Paul Whelan and Russian-American reporter Alsu Kurmasheva were also released, as well as prominent Russian dissident and US resident Vladimir Kara-Murza. See the list of 24 individuals released—and Americans still in Russia—here.
Leaders of both Russia and the US touted the swap as a win, though senior US officials cautioned the deal does not indicate improving relations between the nations. The Americans landed in Maryland late yesterday. |
Simone Biles made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics yesterday, winning gold in the women's gymnastics all-around final. The win marks the 27-year-old athlete’s sixth Olympic gold medal and ninth overall. She also becomes the third woman ever to win the all-around gold twice, with a record eight-year gap between wins, and the oldest all-around Olympic champion since 1952. Teammate Suni Lee claimed bronze, becoming the first gymnast since 1980 to follow an all-around gold with a medal in the same event at the following Olympics.
In the pool, the US women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay team won gold, with Katie Ledecky breaking the record for most medals for an American woman in any sport with 13. Kate Douglass won her first Olympic gold in the 200-meter breaststroke, upsetting South Africa's Tatjana Smith.
Other highlights include the US women's basketball team beating Belgium 87-74 and Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul defeating Britain's Andy Murray—who announced he will retire after the Olympics—and Dan Evans, 6-2, 6-4. See medal count here. |
An endangered shark species was found to have reproduced asexually for the first time, according to a recent study. Parthenogenesis—also known as virgin birth—has been observed in 1,000 invertebrate species, including insects, and in 100 vertebrate species, including in lizards, crocodiles, and birds (see more, w/video).
Researchers studied two female Mustelus mustelus sharks (known colloquially as common smooth-hound sharks) in an Italian aquarium for 13 years—exceeding the three months the species has been documented to store sperm. Despite no access to males, the female sharks managed to give birth annually since 2020. Genetic testing has confirmed the shark offspring were genetically identical to their mothers, implying parthenogenesis, and not the result of long-term sperm storage.
Research into reproductive behavior may help inform conservation efforts for smooth-hound sharks, whose presence in the Mediterranean, eastern Atlantic, and Indian oceans is projected to decrease by 50% in the coming decades. Illegal fishing and overfishing are considered largely to blame. |
|
|
|
|
In partnership with ButcherBox |
... Yes, you read that right. Choose between 1 lb. of premium, grass-fed and grass-finished steak tips, 2 lbs. of grass-fed ground beef, or 3 lbs. of organic chicken bone-in chicken thighs in every box for life—whatever your favorite is, ButcherBox is here to deliver it. Literally.
These days, it feels nearly impossible to find quality and affordable meat and seafood at the grocery store. And figuring out where exactly it came from? Good luck. But with ButcherBox, each box of free-range, antibiotic-free meats is traceable back to the farm it came from, and at rates that won’t break the bank. Grass-fed beef, free-range organic chicken, crate-free pork, wild-caught seafood … ButcherBox lets you pick and choose, and delivers them directly to your door. It’s the ultimate convenience at an incredible value.
For the next 48 hours, sign up for ButcherBox, and you’ll score one of their best deals ever! Choose between 1 lb. of premium, grass-fed and grass-finished steak tips, 2 lbs. of grass-fed ground beef, or 3 lbs. of organic chicken bone-in chicken thighs FREE in every box for LIFE. |
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture |
|
|
|
> Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery to launch standalone sports streamer Venu at $42.99 per month this fall; Venu will include ESPN networks as well as ABC, Fox, TNT, and more (More) |
> Universal Pictures acquires rights to Britney Spears biopic film with "Crazy Rich Asians" director Jon M. Chu to direct (More) |
> Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck reportedly to divorce after two years of marriage (More) | Cardi B files for divorce from fellow rapper and husband Offset (More) |
|
> New 3D-printed Band-Aid can be applied inside the body, in areas ranging from the heart to joints; technology may help internal injuries heal faster and improve drug delivery (More) |
> Researchers discover the evolution of thorns on plants is controlled by a single gene; feature has developed separately at least 28 known times, a phenomenon known as convergent evolution (More) |
> Computer simulations suggest use of self-driving cars could eliminate traffic jams, even if such vehicles were just 5% of traffic; at 60% or higher, flows became more efficient to using traffic lights (More) |
|
In partnership with Incogni |
|
|
|
> US stock markets close lower (S&P 500 -1.4%, Dow -1.2%, Nasdaq -2.3%) after latest round of economic data—including on jobless claims and factory activity—spurs concerns of a slowing economy (More) |
> Intel shares fall over 18% in after-hours trading after chipmaker announces it is cutting more than 15% of workforce, or over 15,000 jobs, and suspending dividends starting in Q4 (More) |
> Apple beats revenue and earnings estimates, sees revenue rise 5% in Q3 (More) | Amazon shares fall in after-hours trading after slightly missing revenue estimates; company still saw 10% year-over-year rise in revenue, partly due to a boost in sales from online advertising unit (More) |
|
> Democratic Party kicks off virtual roll call yesterday to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris as the party's presumptive presidential nominee; delegates have until Monday to return their ballots (More) |
> Israel says Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif was killed last month in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip; Hamas has yet to confirm Deif's death (More) |
> US Justice Department alleges Texas Juvenile Justice Department routinely violated constitutional rights of juveniles at five of its detention facilities; finds instances of sexual abuse, discrimination, and use of excessive force (More) |
|
> Why Mourners Self-Blame
Psyche | Delaney Rebernik. Sudden or painful deaths of a loved one often lead mourners to blame themselves, a natural response experts argue needs both validation and nuance. (Read)
> The Mysteries of Memory
Naturebang | Emily Knight, Becky Ripley. (Podcast) Contrary to popular belief, fish have a sophisticated capacity to remember, even across generations—while human memory is far more fickle than most people think. (Listen) |
> How Team USA Won Gymnastic Gold
New York Times | Staff. A frame-by-frame analysis of the team's dizzying moves in Paris that vaulted Simone Biles and teammates back to the top of the podium. (Read)
> The Changing Color of Earth
Big Think | Robert Hazen. Our blue-and-green planet has a long history of shifting color, from the early period of a black basalt surface to a Mars-like red rust era. (Watch) |
|
In partnership with ButcherBox |
Steak Tips, Ground Beef, and Chicken—Oh My |
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
"Art would not be important if life were not important, and life is important." |
|
Why 1440? The printing press was invented around the year 1440, spreading knowledge to the masses and changing the course of history. More facts: In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. We’re here to make each one count.
Send us your feedback at [email protected] and help us stay as unbiased as humanly possible. We’re ready to listen.
Interested in reaching smart readers like you? To become a 1440 partner, apply here. |
1440 Media 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212 Chicago, IL 60654
Copyright © 2024, 1440 Media, All rights reserved.
J |
|
|
|
|
|
