Good morning, it's Saturday, July 18, and we have reason to believe Egyptian princesses were experienced fighters. First time reading? Join over 4.7 million insatiably curious readers. Sign up here.
Also in today's Digest: Major League Baseball restricts iPads in the dugout (Quick Hits), an EMT picks up a second job as a superhero (Humankind), a no-churn watermelon ice cream recipe (Etc.), and much more.
Don’t keep us a secret: Share the email with friends, or share via SMS/social. |
|
|
|
Armed Egyptian Princesses |
Ancient Egyptian princesses were skilled archers and warriors (w/photos), according to an analysis of nearly 4,000-year-old royal remains published this week.
The five princess mummies examined in the study were found in the 1890s, buried with bows and arrows, maces, and a lapis lazuli-adorned dagger. Archaeologists had long been uncertain whether the weapons were ceremonial or used by the princesses. But using modern bone analysis, X-ray imaging, and chemical testing methods, researchers recently reconstructed the women's physical profiles and probed the question. The analysis revealed strong muscle attachment points in the princesses' arms and shoulders—attributes consistent with habitual archery and weapon use. Some remains showed signs of healed injuries, further suggesting intense physical activity and access to skilled medical treatment.
The researchers also uncovered rare spinal and development traits that point to close biological relationships between royal lines. If DNA can be recovered from the remains, it could provide further insight into their family relationships. Learn how ancient DNA is extracted here. |
|
|
|
In partnership with American Home Shield |
|
The $12K Repair Insurance May Not Cover |
|
Most homeowners insurance helps cover sudden, accidental damage—not the everyday wear and tear that causes furnaces, air conditioners and other major home systems to fail. That means a costly breakdown could become an unexpected out-of-pocket expense, even if you've faithfully paid your insurance premiums for years.
That's where a home warranty comes in. Unlike homeowners insurance, it's designed to help cover the repair or replacement of major systems and appliances that stop working from normal use, helping make one of homeownership's biggest financial surprises more predictable.
> Covers everyday mechanical breakdowns
> Major systems and appliances included
> Plans can cost less than $1 a day
Claim a 50% discount on your home warranty today!* |
|
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
|
Andy Burnham prepares to become UK prime minister.
The former mayor of Greater Manchester was installed as leader of the center-left Labour Party yesterday, positioning him to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. Burnham is expected to take office on Monday, after Starmer formally submits his resignation to King Charles III. Starmer had faced mounting pressure from Labour officials to step down since the party suffered losses in May local elections. |
Lettuce at Taco Bell is a confirmed source of diarrhea-causing parasite.
Federal health officials say shredded iceberg lettuce is partly responsible for the cyclosporiasis outbreak spanning 34 states. Investigators traced the parasite to a single supplier in Mexico that supplies lettuce to Taco Bell locations in five states, including Michigan, which has reported over 4,300 cases—the highest total in the country. See a state-by-state outbreak map here. |
Teleprompter operator allegedly made over $100K betting on Trump speeches.
Gabriel Perez, a White House technical assistant to President Donald Trump since 2016, has been put on unpaid administrative leave after prediction market Kalshi alerted federal regulators to suspicious betting activity. Perez allegedly used his insider knowledge of Trump's speeches to place over a dozen bets on which words and phrases would be spoken and which topics would be covered. |
MLB cracks down on iPad use in the dugout to prevent AI decision-making.
Major League Baseball this week restricted teams from accessing generative artificial intelligence on iPads during games. The midseason policy change comes amid reports that up to a third of the league's teams installed custom AI apps to help make strategic suggestions mid-game, including substitutions and pitch calls. The ban does not carry any punishments, as all teams were compliant with the rules as previously written. |
Japan revises succession rules to protect oldest continuous hereditary monarchy.
The Japanese parliament yesterday passed a bill empowering the imperial family to adopt distant male relatives to preserve the male bloodline, which conservatives say underpins the emperor's authority. Of the 16 adults in the family, only five are men, and there are no children. The law also allows female royals to retain their titles after marrying commoners, but they and their descendants still cannot inherit the throne. |
Oscar-winning actress, "Home Alone 2" Pigeon Lady dies at age 81.
Brenda Fricker became the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award in 1990, earning the Oscar for best supporting actress for her performance in "My Left Foot." She later became widely recognized by audiences for her role as the Pigeon Lady in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York." The late actress released a memoir last year chronicling her experiences with child abuse, mental illness, and fame (read review). |
|
|
|
Virginia EMT goes undercover as a superhero to pick up litter, return grocery carts, and hand out water bottles. (More) |
American and Spanish aquariums team up to rehome 30 beluga whales stranded at a shuttered Canadian theme park for two years; they faced potential euthanasia. (More) |
World's largest piggy bank, perched on a giant hill in Colombia, collects donations for animal shelters. (More, w/video) |
Photographer gifts Polaroid portraits to World Cup fans in Seattle and Boston as keepsakes. (More, w/video) |
Single mother gives birth to a baby boy with her two friends as birth partners; one friend stayed for a week to help with chores. (More, w/video) |
|
|
|
In partnership with Cytonics |
|
Targeting a $560B Disease |
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common diseases, with a potential $560B market for a therapy that does more than manage symptoms. But a new approach may finally change that and provide relief for the 500M+ patients suffering from OA.
Cytonics may have discovered what could be the first potential cure for OA. Now they're pushing toward FDA approval on a 200% more potent version engineered for global distribution after clearing Phase 1 clinical trials.***
Potential breakthroughs like this are rare. The chance to invest at the pre-clinical stage is even rarer. Invest before this month’s deadline.** |
|
|
|
|
Today, we're sharing a story from reader Lisa G. in Cary, North Carolina.
"I recently entered a local chain-operated drugstore to pick up a prescription. Upon entry, a young man, an employee working at the front cash register station exclaimed, 'Good morning. Welcome in.' It was refreshing to feel noticed by a store employee. Another customer who entered a few minutes before me said, 'He greeted me the same way. It made my day.' Upon reflection, she was right. His kind and cheerful greeting put a little pep in my step. As I left the store, I told him how his friendly greetings were a positive to customers. He beamed with a beautiful smile in return."
Humankind(ness) is a reader-built corner of joy. So, what act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here. And if this story made you smile—share our email (copy URL here). |
|
|
|
|
🇺🇸 1440 Explores ... What Happened to Congress |
|
The real story behind Congress may be different from the one you learned in school. In our latest episode of "1440 Explores," Editor-in-Chief Sony Kassam traces how Congress evolved over the past century and how a series of moments reshaped the balance of power in Washington. Watch the episode here or click below. |
|
|
"There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart." |
- Jane Austen, from "Emma" |
|
|
Behind the Name. 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.
Want to connect with 4.7 million insatiably curious minds? Become a 1440 partner here.
Need a breather? Snooze this email for 30 days. |
|
*Promotional pricing is available to new customers only. When applicable, discounts cannot be applied to previous purchases or combined with other offers. Not valid in conjunction with a real estate transaction. Coverage available for single-family residences under 10,000 sq. ft. generally, and under 5,000 sq. ft. condos/townhomes. Coverage not available in all areas.
**Source: The Lancet Rheumatology. This is a paid advertisement for Cytonics Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.cytonics.com/. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee of performance. Past performance does not predict future results. All investments involve risk, including loss of principal.
***Phase 1 clinical trials are designed primarily to assess safety and tolerability and do not establish efficacy. Clinical trial results are preliminary, and there can be no assurance that future trials will be successful or that any product candidate will receive regulatory approval. |
|
1440 Media 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212 Chicago, IL 60654
Copyright © 2026, 1440 Media, All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
