Good morning. It's Wednesday, July 23, and we're covering new analysis on the evolution of spiders, the reintroduction of cane sugar Coca-Cola in the US, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4.5 million intellectually curious readers. Sign up here.
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Epstein Files Interrupted |
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R, LA-4) is beginning the August recess a day early, with the last votes wrapping up today. The decision prevents a vote forcing the Justice Department to release files on late sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The decision comes after a bipartisan effort sought to call a vote on the issue through the House Rules Committee. At least 10 Republicans supported the measure. By recessing the committee, no votes requiring a simple majority could be added to the docket. Lawmakers pursuing more information on Epstein and his underage sex trafficking ring plan to resume the effort in September. The DOJ this month said it would not release most evidence on the case, a decision President Donald Trump has backed.
Separately, the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee voted yesterday to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, an Epstein associate serving a 20-year sentence in Florida for her role in the trafficking ring. The Justice Department said it will meet with Maxwell in the coming days. |
Rethinking Spider Evolution |
A study published yesterday suggests spiders and their close terrestrial relatives originated from an ocean critter, challenging the assumption that their common ancestor was landbound.
Researchers used advanced imaging techniques to look inside a half-billion-year-old fossil of Mollisonia symmetrica, an extinct aquatic creature long believed to be the ancestor of horseshoe crabs. The fossilized brain and central nervous system patterns they saw more closely resembled those of modern spiders, scorpions, ticks, and other arachnids than today’s horseshoe crabs.
Arachnid and Mollisonia brains are backward compared to other invertebrates, like insects and crustaceans. The regions responsible for dexterous actions are in the back, closer to the neurons that drive leg movements. This formation fosters neural shortcuts that enable swift speed vital to spinning webs and hunting prey.
According to the study's lead author, insects may have developed wings to evade nimble and hungry Mollisonia-like arachnids migrating onto land. In their own evolutionary response, spiders began creating sticky webs. |
Coca-Cola said it will launch a version of its flagship soda sweetened with cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup this fall, following public statements by President Donald Trump about the change. The company said the new edition—already sold in Mexico and parts of Europe—will not replace the existing version.
The move follows a push from Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reduce artificial ingredients and dyes. Both sweeteners contain fructose and glucose, but HFCS typically has slightly more fructose. Because fructose is metabolized in the liver, some research suggests excessive intake may contribute to fat buildup and insulin resistance. Experts maintain HFCS is safe and nutritionally similar in calories to cane sugar.
Critics warn eliminating HFCS could cost thousands of jobs and $5.1B in farm revenue. Coca-Cola originally switched from cane sugar to HFCS in the early 1980s due to rising sugar prices and subsidized corn. |
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Sports, Entertainment, & Culture |
> Ozzy Osbourne, legendary rock star and Black Sabbath frontman, dies at age 76 just over two weeks after performing in his final concert, which raised $190M for charity (More) | See previous write-up on Osbourne's last concert (More) |
> US Olympic and Paralympic Committee bans transgender women from competing in women's sports, complying with recent President Donald Trump executive order (More) |
> "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone sign five-year, $1.5B deal with Paramount for global streaming rights to the animated series (More) |
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> Japan proposes first new nuclear power plant since the deadly 2011 Fukushima disaster; meltdown followed a tsunami that left more than 2,300 people dead post-evacuations (More) | Nuclear provides about 20% of US electricity; learn more (1440 Topics) |
> Brain scan study suggests the COVID-19 pandemic caused brains to age roughly five and a half months faster than prepandemic era; effect was seen regardless of infection status, more pronounced in older subjects (More) |
> Octopuses can be tricked into thinking rubber tentacles are part of their body; findings suggest the creatures have a sense of "body ownership," similar to humans (More) |
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In partnership with Timeplast |
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> US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 +0.1%, Dow +0.4%, Nasdaq -0.4%) (More) | Kohl's shares close up 38% in apparent meme stock rally; trading halts briefly due to volatility (More) | Universal Music Group—owner of record labels behind Taylor Swift, Drake, and Lady Gaga—confidentially files for US initial public offering (More) |
> UK court rules estate of Mike Lynch, who died last year when his superyacht sank off Italy's coast, and his former business partner owe HP Enterprise roughly $945M following an ill-fated deal with their software company, Autonomy (More) | See previous write-up on the superyacht tragedy (More) |
> General Motors says Q2 earnings took a $1.1B hit from new tariffs on imported cars and auto parts, shrinking net income by 35% year over year; America's largest automaker still beat Wall Street estimates on Q2 earnings and revenue (More) |
Credit Cards: Who invented the ubiquitous pieces of plastic, and what actually happens when you tap your card at the register? Tomorrow's Business & Finance newsletter answers these questions and more—sign up here to receive! |
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> President Donald Trump announces trade deal with the Philippines, landing on 19% tariffs; says US goods will not face tariffs in the Philippines in exchange for US military cooperation (More) | ... also announces trade deal with Japan, including 15% levy on imported goods; Japan to invest $550B in the US (More) |
> Columbia University penalizes over 70 students for their participation in Israel-Gaza protests amid negotiations to restore $400M in federal funding; disciplinary action includes two-year suspensions, expulsions (More) |
> Bryan Kohberger due to be sentenced today over fatal stabbing of four University of Idaho students in 2022 after pleading guilty to first-degree murder, burglary charges earlier this month (More) |
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In partnership with Pendulum |
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'The Best Probiotic I've Ever Found' |
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