Subscribe to the 1440 Daily Digest

The most impactful stories of the day, expertly curated and explained. 100% Free, unsubscribe anytime.

05.15.2025

 

In partnership with

In partnership with

Good morning. It's Thursday, May 15, and we're covering a historic meeting between the US and Syria, a revision to the timeline of when animals walked on Earth, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4 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].

Need To Know
 

US-Syria Meeting

President Donald Trump met with Syria’s leader, interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, in Saudi Arabia yesterday. The meeting was the first between a US president and a Syrian leader since former President Bill Clinton met with Hafez al-Assad in 2000.

 

The encounter comes on the heels of Trump’s announcement this week that he will lift all US sanctions on Syria. Those sanctions were enacted following the start of the civil war in 2011, and correspond with a tenfold decrease in Syria's exports by 2021. Al-Sharaa—the former leader of an al-Qaida affiliate—led rebel factions in toppling the Assad regime. Trump indicated yesterday al-Sharaa is open to joining Morocco, Bahrain, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates in normalizing ties with Israel; no deal has been announced.

 

Trump is approaching the end of his four-day Middle East trip, with a final stop today in the United Arab Emirates. He was in Qatar yesterday, where he signed a defense deal, oversaw a $96B purchase of up to 210 Boeing planes, and was gifted a $400M luxury Boeing 747-8 intended to one day serve as Air Force One. 

 

Overdose Deaths Drop

US drug overdose deaths dropped by 30,000 in 2024, a provisional report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed yesterday. The 27% drop—from 110,000 deaths in 2023 to 80,000 last year—is the largest one-year decline on record, bringing annual overdose deaths to their lowest level since before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019.

 

It is not yet clear what drove the decline. Experts cite the increased availability of the opioid overdose-reversing drug naloxone as a possible factor; the Food and Drug Administration approved naloxone for over-the-counter use in March 2023. Methadone, an opioid treatment, also became more readily available, receiving approval for expanded at-home use last year. Shifts in drug use patterns and preferences may also be driving factors. 

 

All but two states saw a drop in deaths, with Nevada and South Dakota experiencing small increases. Deaths linked to synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, saw the biggest drop. Learn more about opioids in 1440 Topics here.

 

Earliest Reptile Footprints

Scientists have discovered the oldest recorded reptile-like footprints, a study revealed yesterday. The fossilized claw tracks near Melbourne, Australia, date back 354 million to 358 million years. They suggest animals evolved the ability to walk on land much earlier than previously thought. 

 

Animals emerged from the ocean roughly 400 million years ago. Amniotes—ancestors to modern birds, reptiles, and mammals—emerged at some point afterward, with claws (and later, feet and nails) enabling them to live on hard land. 

 

The Australian discovery hastens the timeline and location of this evolutionary jump; the earliest clawed tracks beforehand were discovered in Canada, dating back 318 million years. This latest discovery suggests the jump to land living happened in the ancient southern continent of Gondwana (more, w/video).

 

The reptile-like creature likely measured 2.5 feet long, with long toes and hooked claws, resembling a monitor lizard. Trackways suggest the animal scampered in light rainfall before two others ran the opposite way. See more here (w/video).

In partnership with NativePath

The Body’s Most Abundant Protein

 

Did you know the body produces 1%-2% less collagen protein per year, starting in your 30s? As the most abundant protein in the body, this decline is a major contributor to signs of aging. 

 

Luckily, you can help restore collagen levels with NativePath for cartilage support, joint relief, and skin and nail health—without any fillers or “junk.” In one study,  postmenopausal women who took 5g of collagen a day saw a 7% increase in bone density in one year—that’s just how powerful collagen replacement can be.

 

Simply add two grass-fed, flavorless, easily dissolvable scoops to coffee or your favorite drink for 18g of protein to promote bone health, digestion, and more! 1440 readers can get free collagen with every purchase!

Please support our sponsors!

In The Know
 

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> The 2025 NFL regular season schedule announced, highlighted by seven international games across five countries (More) | NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Round Two continues; see latest bracket and schedule (More) | ... and see latest NBA playoff bracket (More)

> Warner Bros. Discovery to revert its streaming service Max to its original name, HBO Max, beginning this summer (More) | Netflix's ad-supported tier tops 94 million active monthly users, up from 70 million in November (More)

> The 2025 PGA Championship tees off today (12 pm ET, ESPN) from Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina; see first round schedule and tee times (More

In partnership with Death & Co

One of the World’s Most Respected Bar Brands

No, they’re not shutting their doors—quite the opposite. Death & Co is expanding coast to coast and beyond, with plans to double revenue and scale into new markets and categories.

 

With $14M in revenue and a projected 205% increase over the next two years, this award-winning hospitality brand is opening new bars in major U.S. cities, launching a luxury hotel in Savannah, and growing verticals like publishing, education, and e-commerce.

 

But this is your last chance to invest at the current share price—just $1.81. The opportunity closes at midnight.*

 
 

Science & Technology

> Google's DeepMind unveils AlphaEvolve, an AI-powered model capable of developing algorithms to solve general-purpose problems and reduce hallucinations by chatbots (More) | Generative AI 101 (More)

> Investigation uncovers "rogue" communication devices inside Chinese-made solar panel power inverters; source of threat not fully determined, experts say devices could allow outside control of the systems (More

> Engineers develop gel to help speed up coral reef recovery times; the substance accelerated new coral seeding by up to 20 times in lab tests (More

 

Business & Markets

> US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 +0.1%, Dow -0.2%, Nasdaq +0.7%), with Nvidia shares continuing to drive up the Nasdaq following US-Saudi investment summit earlier this week (More)

> Stock and cryptocurrency trading app eToro shares jump more than 30% in Nasdaq debut; public trading values the company at around $5.6B, above $4.2B initial public offering valuation (More) | Tesla stock closes up on news Tesla is exploring a new pay package for CEO Elon Musk (More)

> Burberry says it will cut 20% of its global workforce, an estimated 1,700 jobs, by 2027; shares jump 18% on the news (More

 

Politics & World Affairs

> Direct Ukraine-Russia ceasefire talks begin today in Turkey, reportedly without Russian President Vladimir Putin (More) | See previous write-up (More)

> California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) unveils $322B state spending plan for 2025 fiscal year; he reveals $12B state budget deficit, blames higher-than-expected Medicaid costs, and says he plans to end undocumented immigrants' access to state's healthcare program (More)

> Dozens of people reported killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza this week, including in hospitals; Israel says it notified civilians of impending strike, targeted Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants (More) | See war updates (More)

 

In-Depth

> Chestnuts and the Roman Empire

BBC Science | Sophie Hardach. Chestnut trees, with their ability to quickly regrow under the right conditions, provided the raw materials fueling the rise of the Roman Empire. (More)

> What Is News?

Pew Research | Staff. The rise of social media, podcasts, and other new media platforms has blurred the lines between news, opinion, and entertainment. This analysis reveals what Americans think news is—and isn't—in the digital age. (More)

In partnership with NativePath

Do This Daily For Skin And Joint Health

 

Don’t worry, it’s not a cold plunge or exercise routine (although we’re big fans of that, too!)—it’s NativePath's Certified Grass-Fed Collagen Powder.

 

By the age of 60, most people only produce HALF as much collagen as they did in their youth. But, NativePath can restore collagen levels with one scoop in your favorite beverage, supporting skin elasticity, bone strength, and muscle growth. 1440 readers can get free collagen with every purchase!

Please support our sponsors!

Etcetera
 

New Zealand's unofficial national fruit is not, in fact, a kiwi.

 

The longest words in the English language.

 

A look back at "Final Destination," 25 years later.

 

Welcome to the golden age of the fried chicken sandwich.

 

Is the Southern accent fixin’ to disappear?

 

The surprising benefits of video games.

 

How certain colors affect our taste in food.

 

Working long hours can alter brain, new study finds.

 

Clickbait: "Fowl" play suspected in case of speeding duck.

 

Historybook: National Woman Suffrage Association founded by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1869); Poet Emily Dickinson dies (1886); Mickey Mouse makes first cartoon appearance (1928); Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright born (1937); Soviet Union begins withdrawal of 115,000 troops from Afghanistan (1988).

"We turn not older with years, but newer every day."

- Emily Dickinson

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 intellectually curious readers like you? To become a 1440 partner, apply here.

*Disclosure: This is a paid advertisement for Death & Company Regulation A offering. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please read the offering circular at invest.deathandcompany.com

1440 Media 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212 Chicago, IL 60654

Copyright © 2025, 1440 Media, All rights reserved.