Monday, May 26
In The NEWS
The Apollo program, 101
The Apollo program was an American space initiative in the 1960s and early 1970s to land humans on the moon, the first successful attempt in history. Named after the Greek god associated with the sun, the program cost over $200B in today’s dollars, launched 11 crewed missions, and saw 12 American astronauts walk on the moon (see numbers).
Launched July 16, 1969, the crew of Apollo 11—Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Michael Collins—landed in the moon’s Sea of Tranquility July 20 (using a guidance system with less computing power than a modern smartphone).
Roughly 650 million people watched as the pair stepped out on the moon as Armstrong famously declared: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." Watch it here.
Numerous everyday technologies originated or advanced in the program, including cordless tools, scratch-resistant lenses, freeze-dried foods, and early medical scans. Memory foam, created for aircraft crash protection, is now used in bedding and protective gear. Culturally, the program inspired a surge in interest in science and engineering.
... Read our full deep dive on the program here.
Also, check out ...
> The weirdest things astronauts left on the moon. (More)
> AI imagines Nixon's alternative speech had Apollo 11 failed. (More)
> How Apollo gave birth to modern computing. (More)
How to Hack Your Body
What is biohacking?
Biohacking—also known as human enhancement—refers to a spectrum of behaviors and technology meant to improve one's health, quality of life, and life expectancy (read 101).
On one side, the practice involves simple behavior modifications and tools, such as practicing good sleep hygiene, using caffeine, or getting shockwave therapy. On the other side, there's a wide range of extreme behavior and body modifications that are often not clinically tested. Such practices enter the realm of transhumanism—the use of technology to transcend the body's natural limits (watch example).
Some biohackers want to restore standard abilities, while others are seeking to extend their lives or slow (or even reverse) aging. A subcategory of biohackers and citizen scientists known as "grinders" adopt radical, experimental body modifications.
... Read our full deep dive on biohacking here.
Also, check out ...
> The man who turned his leg into a hot spot. (More)
> How mind-controlled bionic arms work. (More)
> Why this guy biohacked a frog. (More)
What is biohacking?
Biohacking—also known as human enhancement—refers to a spectrum of behaviors and technology meant to improve one's health, quality of life, and life expectancy (read 101).
On one side, the practice involves simple behavior modifications and tools, such as practicing good sleep hygiene, using caffeine, or getting shockwave therapy. On the other side, there's a wide range of extreme behavior and body modifications that are often not clinically tested. Such practices enter the realm of transhumanism—the use of technology to transcend the body's natural limits (watch example).
Some biohackers want to restore standard abilities, while others are seeking to extend their lives or slow (or even reverse) aging. A subcategory of biohackers and citizen scientists known as "grinders" adopt radical, experimental body modifications.
... Read our full deep dive on biohacking here.
Also, check out ...
> The man who turned his leg into a hot spot. (More)
> How mind-controlled bionic arms work. (More)
> Why this guy biohacked a frog. (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
Memorial Day
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MEMORIAL DAY is a day to honor all the males and females who have died while serving in the US Militaries.
I served in the military from 1969-1974, voluntarily giving the USA six years of my life. Fortunately for me, I am still alive.
During my military time, I was hated by many Americans who were not in the military because of the controversy over the VIETNAM WAR.
Today, the bitterness for the US Military is not so prevalent but it is still around because of our support for the Israel/Hamas and Ukraine/Russia wars.
What many of us do not seem to understand or want to understand is that our military provides Americans with the protection so that we can continue to live our lives like we are currently living them.
Outside of 9/11, there has not really been a war fought on American SOIL in our lifetimes, like has been the case in almost all of Europe and the Middle East. They cannot remember a time, especially the Middle East when there was not some kind of war, conflict, or violence being conducted by a terrorist group.
Americans are considerably lucky not to have experienced that kind of lifestyle growing up. We got a taste of it on 9/11, but the trauma of that event has long since been forgotten even though we have commemorated that day every year since then.
Today, we need to thank our military for protecting us and honor those who have died trying to protect us.
Dark Matter Could Be Evolving, And The Implications Are Profound
For a while now, there has been a problematic mystery at the heart of the standard cosmological model.
Although all observations support the expanding Universe model, observations of the early period of the cosmos give a lower rate of acceleration than more local observations. We call it the Hubble tension problem, and we have no idea how to solve it.
Naturally, there have been several proposed ideas: what if general relativity is wrong; what if dark matter doesn't exist; what if the rate of time isn't uniform; heck, what if the entire Universe rotates.
Sunday, May 25
Robert Reich
Friends,
I thought I couldn’t be more shocked and sickened than I already was, but what’s happened this week is truly horrifying.
In the Oval Office, before cameras and journalists, Trump openly lied to the president of South Africa about alleged violence against white South Africans. The Trump regime has also granted refuge to white South Africans while continuing to bar or deport people of color who desperately need refuge.
The regime told Harvard it can no longer enroll foreign students and that its existing foreign students must transfer to another university or lose their legal status in the United States.
Trump auctioned off a personal dinner to foreigners who poured money into his own crypto business. He has also accepted Qatar’s gift of a $400 million “flying palace” (it’s also just for him — no other president in future years can use it).
At A Glance
How royal jelly helps anoint the queen bee.
The systems still running on decades-old Microsoft software.
Comparing buy now, pay later with credit cards.
The rise of tattoo removal.
Why does fentanyl feel so good?
Compare grocery store prices with the Cost Index.
What makes HBO different.
The difference between ice cream, gelato, sorbet, and Italian ice.
Only humans and a few other species undergo menopause.
The innovative simplicity of immersed tube tunnels.
How to be like Dickens and Darwin and only work four hours a day.
A locksmith had to break into Prince's music vault after he died.
Why dystopian literature is so popular.
How Hollywood makes money by appearing to lose money.
In The NEWS
House Passes 'Big Beautiful Bill'
House Republicans passed a broad domestic policy bill early Thursday by a 215-214 vote following overnight negotiations and last-minute changes to the legislation. The so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” now heads to the Senate, where expected tweaks may result in a back-and-forth between the two chambers.
The House version renews and expands trillions of dollars in tax cuts first enacted in 2017 and boosts spending for defense, border security, and immigration enforcement while reducing the budget for food assistance and Medicaid programs. Medicaid recipients would see stricter eligibility criteria, including the first federal work requirement of 80 hours a month for able-bodied adults (92% of recipients currently meet the standard). The bill would also create $1,000 child savings accounts and increase the debt limit by $4T ahead of the July deadline. See what's in the bill here.
Passage relied on several eleventh-hour alterations, including the implementation of Medicaid work requirements three years sooner. Senators indicated the bill would likely see significant changes, particularly around reducing the deficit.
Jewish Museum Attack
A suspect was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and murder of foreign officials after killing two Israeli embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, this week. The 31-year-old assailant, who is believed to have acted alone, shouted “Free, Free Palestine” after firing at the victims at close range. More charges are expected as officials investigate the act as a hate crime and act of terrorism.
World leaders condemned the attack, with Israel’s government blaming the violence on a climate of antisemitism and anti-Israel incitement amid the country’s ongoing war in Gaza. Officials were investigating whether a 900-word manifesto released the day before the attack was authentic. The Chicago-based suspect was affiliated with left-wing politics, at one point a member of a local chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
The two victims—Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky—were an interfaith couple who met while working together at the embassy. Family members say Lischinsky planned to propose next week. Learn more about the victims here.
A Penny Saved Is a Nickel Earned
The US Treasury announced yesterday it will stop issuing new pennies, ending more than 200 years of production for the one-cent coin. The Mint has already placed its final order for penny blanks—the metal discs used to create coins—and will continue minting until that supply runs out, likely in early 2026. Consumers can continue using existing pennies, but as circulation declines, banks and retailers will likely round cash transactions to the nearest nickel. Digital payments will remain unaffected and will continue to be processed to the exact cent.
The decision is largely driven by cost. Each penny costs about 3.7 cents to produce, resulting in an $85M loss in 2024. Treasury officials estimate the move will save $56M annually in materials and manufacturing. However, the nickel—which costs 13.8 cents to produce—may see increased demand, potentially cutting into the anticipated savings.
Check out our overview of US currency and all the currencies taken out of print here.
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
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