Good morning. It's Thursday, July 17, and we're covering Israeli airstrikes in Syria, the largest-ever Mars rock sold at auction, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4.5 million intellectually curious readers. Sign up here.
Don’t keep us a secret: Share the email with friends (copy URL here).
And, as always, send us feedback at [email protected]. |
|
|
|
|
|
Syria’s government and Druze leaders reached a new ceasefire yesterday. The announcement came after Israel launched dozens of airstrikes into the country, striking the military headquarters in Damascus and an area near the presidential palace.
Israel says its campaign aims to defend Syria’s Druze population (more, w/video) and keep Syria’s military and Islamist militants from its borders. Tit-for-tat attacks between Druze militias and Bedouin fighters in Syria’s southern Sweida province have killed more than 300 people in recent days, according to a local war monitor. The fighting among religious minorities—and Israel’s involvement—poses the greatest threat to date for Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. See a documentary on al-Sharaa’s rise to power here.
Separately, an Israeli-backed aid group accused Hamas of spurring a stampede yesterday that killed at least 20 Palestinians near a food distribution site in central Gaza. Hamas denied the allegations. |
The largest piece of Mars on Earth sold for nearly $5.3M at Sotheby’s yesterday—the most valuable meteorite ever auctioned. See photos of the 54-pound rock here.
The segment was discovered in November 2023 by a meteorite hunter in Niger’s Agadez region of the Sahara Desert. The rock has a distinct Martian reddish hue and is partially composed of glass (21.2% by volume), believed to have been forged from the heat and pressure applied to Mars’ surface when an asteroid struck it, propelling the chunk 140 million miles through space. It has the scientific name NWA 16788, referencing its discovery in Northwest Africa, and was validated as a Martian rock in the leading journal for meteoritic science earlier this year.
Martian meteorites are rare, composing roughly 400 of the more than 77,000 officially recognized meteorites. Most meteors burn up as they enter Earth’s atmosphere, with remnants largely landing in the ocean. |
Several House Republicans yesterday signed on to a measure directing the Justice Department to release classified documents pertaining to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking ring. The push—which would require a House majority to succeed—comes after President Donald Trump addressed mounting calls over the files, criticizing Republicans who supported their release and defending Attorney General Pam Bondi’s handling of the case.
The Justice Department last week released a two-page memo (read here) saying Epstein left no “client list” of those involved in his abuse of underage girls. The department also said no further evidence would be released and no additional charges would be brought against third parties. The announcement sparked frustration among Trump’s base, many of whom have long awaited a list.
A poll released Tuesday found 3% of Americans are satisfied with the government’s handling of the files. A separate running average of top polls measures Trump’s net approval rating at -7.6, down nearly two points from the beginning of the month. |
|
|
|
|
|
In partnership with Pendulum |
|
Want To Boost Your GLP-1 Naturally? |
|
Picture this—PhD scientists from Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Berkeley, and Stanford get together to master the science of probiotics. They are the first minds to uncover one of the most beneficial strains for gut health, develop the technology to manufacture and deliver the strain in a bioavailable way (so it arrives to your colon, alive), and make such an impact, movie star Halle Berry wants to get involved.
Sound crazy? It is, but that’s the true story of Pendulum. They’ve improved countless lives with their Akkermansia probiotic, which strengthens your gut lining, improves metabolic and digestive health, and increases GLP-1 production.* With hundreds of 5-star reviews, 4,500+ mentions of Akkermansia muciniphila in scientific publications, and 15K+ medical professional recommendations, they’re most certainly living up to the hype. Bonus: it now comes in sleek new packaging!
1440 readers can get 20% off their first month of Akkermansia today (discount auto-applied at checkout and available with HSA/FSA funds!).
*Based on preclinical studies
This product is not intended for weight loss |
|
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture |
> The 153rd British Open kicks off today at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland; see preview and opening-round tee times (More) |
> Main stage of Belgium's Tomorrowland music festival destroyed by fire just two days before the event was set to begin (More) |
> Robin Kaye, longtime "American Idol" executive, shot and killed at age 70 alongside her husband at Los Angeles home (More) | Audun Groenvold, Olympic bronze medal-winning skier, dies at age 49 after being struck by lightning (More) |
|
|
> Researchers confirm a slight difference in the decay of certain types of subatomic particles, a phenomenon known as breaking charge-parity symmetry; may help explain why the universe is filled with matter instead of antimatter (More) | Inside CERN's antimatter factory (1440 Topics) |
> The brain utilizes channels in the lining of its blood vessels to direct blood flow to regions requiring more energy, depending on the task; new study may lead to preventive treatments for neurodegenerative diseases (More) |
> Toxic algae blooms release "antivitamins" into the surrounding environment, inhibiting the growth of other algae species and allowing them to spread more quickly (More) |
|
|
In partnership with Miso Robotics |
|
|
|
|
|
|
> US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +0.3%, Dow +0.5%, Nasdaq +0.3%) after President Donald Trump denied reports he was planning to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell (More) | Ranking all the Fed chairs since 1914 (1440 Topics) |
> Meta begins trial over $8B privacy lawsuit filed by shareholders (More) | Scale AI to lay off 200 full-time employees, or about 14% of its global staff, and cut ties with 500 contractors; comes a month after Meta invested $14.3B in the startup (More) |
> The US plans to send letters to 150 countries, notifying their leaders of tariffs expected to go into effect Aug. 1 (More) | How world trade depends on the dollar (1440 Topics) |
WeWork: This morning's 1440 Business & Finance newsletter unpacks the rise and fall of the coworking giant. Email comes out at 8:30 am ET—sign up here to receive! |
|
|
> Department of Homeland Security expands third-country deportation program, sending five immigrant detainees from various countries to the southern African nation of Eswatini (More) | Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fires two top deputies at the Department of Health and Human Services, reason not immediately clear (More) |
> Senate advances $9B package of spending cuts to foreign aid and public broadcasting; package spares $400M global AIDS relief program (More) | Mandatory versus discretionary federal spending (1440 Topics) |
> Volcano erupts in southwestern Iceland, forcing more than 100 to evacuate; officials say the molten rock isn't threatening infrastructure (More) | See footage (More) |
|
|
> The Tooth Fairy Is Real
NYTimes | Eliza Shapiro. For two decades, Dr. Purva Merchant in Seattle has delighted kids and parents by responding to 6,000 tooth fairy letters, always signing off with her simple, heartfelt message: "Happy growing up." (Read)
> Does Marriage Have a Future?
The New Atlantis | Debora L. Spar, Aryanna Garber. How technology and the modern world are reshaping the idea of marriage, which once symbolized economic stability and social structure. (Read) |
|
|
In partnership with Pendulum |
|
15K+ Medical Professionals Pick This Probiotic |
|
The health nerds have spoken! Pendulum’s Akkermansia probiotic has hundreds and hundreds of 5-star reviews (and 15K+ medical professional recommendations) for a reason. It’s a critical probiotic strain that supercharges your gut health, improves the gut lining, boosts metabolic and digestive function, and increases GLP-1 production.* Plus, it's got a beautiful new look. Almond Moms, take note.
The best thing you can do for your gut? Join the Pendulum Movement. To boost your digestive health, add Akkermansia to your routine and save 20% on your first month right here.
*Based on preclinical studies
This product is not intended for weight loss |
|
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
Dinosaur mating dance floor found in Colorado.
The US states with the most tornadoes.
Dubai to open restaurant run by AI chef. (w/video)
A look at toy crazes over the years.
A longstanding mystery about rivers may have been solved.
What to do if an airline loses your bags.
Astronomers capture birth of planets around baby sun.
Why is color blindness more common in men?
Clickbait: The winners of this year's wife-carrying contest.
Historybook: Disneyland opens in Anaheim, California (1955); Jazz singer Billie Holiday dies (1959); Broadcast legend Walter Cronkite dies (2009); Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 shot down, 298 killed (2014); Politician and civil rights leader John Lewis dies (2020). |
|
|
|
|
"In seeking truth you have to get both sides of a story." |
|
|
*Disclosure: This is a paid advertisement for Miso Robotics’ Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.misorobotics.com. |
|
1440 Media 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212 Chicago, IL 60654
Copyright © 2025, 1440 Media, All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
