Beer History, Hacker Arrest, and Scandalous Images Curating the internet, weekly.
In partnership with
Good morning! It's Sunday, Oct. 4, and welcome to our Sunday Edition. Munich's annual Oktoberfest concludes today, so we're exploring the history and evolution of beer, one of the world's oldest human-produced beverages.
After that, read about the US military's formal withdrawal from Iraq (News in Context), why world records are often broken later in the day (Etc.), and much more.
📖 Our Sunday edition digs deep into the context and rabbit holes behind the news. We'll be back with our regular Daily Digest tomorrow through Saturday.
PS—Did someone forward you this email? Join millions of insatiably curious readers here, or click forward to share with friends. Feedback is a gift, and we read every email. Let us know how we're doing at topics@join1440.com.
🥩 In partnership with ButcherBox: Your grill called, it wants better steaks. ButcherBox is here to deliver them. Get your favorite protein FREE in every box for life + bacon!
Prost!
Beer is an alcoholic beverage primarily made from water, grains, hops, and yeast. The drink comes in many styles, flavors, and alcohol levels, with over 100 types of beer consumed worldwide.
> Learn the difference between the most popular styles of beer. (More, w/video)
> See how Oktoberfest is celebrated around the globe, and find out which unexpected US city hosts the biggest festival. (More)
The beverage can be traced back to ancient societies, with some scholars suggesting that the oldest brewery may have been found in modern-day Israel over 13,000 years ago. The drink has a long history in America, too, with the country's first president, George Washington, once inscribing his own recipe for "Small Beer."
> Read a Sumerian poem that many believe provided a recipe for ancient beer. (More)
> During Prohibition, Pabst Brewing Company switched from brewing its Blue Ribbon beer to making cheese. (More)
> Svalbard Brewery is the northernmost brewery in the world, located in a remote Arctic village where there are nearly as many polar bears as people. (More, w/video)
Recent trends and demographic shifts have contributed to declining sales in the beer industry, though the drink remains a cornerstone of celebrations, sporting events, and cultural scenes.
> The craft beer industry has been in decline since 2024 due to changing demographics and a wider variety of alcoholic beverages. (More)
> See if your state is a top-10 beer producer in the US. (More, w/map)
> Explore the history of alcohol and how it impacts our bodies. (More, w/audio)
Discover more:
> For his 1922 Nobel Prize in physics, Niels Bohr was awarded a lifetime of free beer by Denmark's Carlsberg Brewery. (More)
> Jimmy Carter signed a 1978 bill that legalized homebrewing, a move credited with kick-starting the craft beer industry. (More, w/video)
> In the 2010s, Australian researchers turned 220-year-old yeast preserved from a 1797 shipwreck into a new beer. (More)
In partnership with ButcherBox
Free Steak for Life
... Yes, you read that right. New ButcherBox customers will get their choice of top sirloin, NY strip or filet mignon AND bacon for the lifetime of their subscription—for free (up to a $1930 value).
We know that these days, it feels nearly impossible to find quality, affordable meat and seafood at the grocery store. And figuring out where exactly it came from? Good luck. But with ButcherBox, each box of free-range, antibiotic-free meats is traceable back to the farm it came from, and at rates that won’t break the bank. Grass-fed beef, free-range organic chicken, crate-free pork, wild-caught seafood … ButcherBox lets you pick and choose, and delivers them directly to your door. It’s the simpler, stress-free way to feed your family high-quality protein.
For the next 48 hours, sign up for ButcherBox, and you’ll score a mouth-watering deal. Get your favorite protein FREE in every box for a year (choose between ribeye + bacon, filet mignon + bacon or NY strip + bacon). Grab this deal while it lasts.
Please support our sponsors!
News in Context
1440 brings you the knowledge and context behind the week's stories:
US forces formally withdrew from Iraq after over two decades of military presence in the country. (More)
> See photos from the beginning of the Iraq War in 2003.
> The US and allies invaded Iraq based on flawed intelligence about potential weapons of mass destruction.
Dutch police arrested a suspected member of the ShinyHunters hacker group, days before the group reportedly stole FBI employees' personal data. (More)
> Explore an interactive timeline of the world's biggest data breaches and hacks.
> Listen to a cybersecurity expert share tips for avoiding hacks.
SpaceX launches Starship spacecraft into orbit for the first time to test its readiness for NASA's Artemis moon program. (More)
> See how SpaceX compares to history's largest IPOs.
> The Artemis program aims to return humanity to the moon and develop technology for future human space exploration.
Bananas bred to resist browning could reach more supermarket shelves after passing a major regulatory review in the UK. (More)
> Visualize how CRISPR targets and makes precise changes to a gene's DNA.
> Learn about the difference between gene editing and gene modification.
What’s in Your Lip Balm?
Humans have been treating chapped lips for thousands of years, and the basic formula hasn't changed much. But some modern ingredients can actually make dryness worse. 1440's August Moon explores what your lips really need, why some products can keep you reaching for more, and what to look for on the label.
Watch here or click below:
In partnership with ButcherBox
Oh My, Bacon!
If you're drooling as much as we are thinking about arguably one of the best cuts of steak, read closely. ButcherBox, the service that curates high-quality meats and delivers them straight to your door, is running one of their best deals of the year.
Along with their other preservative- and antibiotic-free meats in every box, new customers who sign up in the next 48 hours will also get a choice between ribeye + bacon, filet mignon + bacon or NY strip + bacon FREE in every box the lifetime of their subscription (a $1930 value!). Lock in this deal before it’s gone.
Please support our sponsors!
Etcetera
View a map predicting fall foliage in the US.
Explore 33 images that became central to huge scandals, including a young Charles and Camilla.
World records are often broken later in the day.
Learn about the controversial AI griefbots that generate text or video avatars of the dead.
Revisit when a California city banned rock 'n' roll in 1956, fearing the corruption of its youth.
The world's largest flower smells like rotting meat.
🫶 Humankind: 18-year-old fashion designer goes viral after experiencing encouragement from strangers while filming his outfit.
Cemeteries were once commonly used for picnics and public events.
Read a Yale student's profound essay about the consulting industry's influence on college students, published shortly before she died.
A 1923 Supreme Court decision inadvertently popularized yoga in the US.
How different animals complete some of the most remarkable migrations on Earth.
iPhone sales accounted for more than half Apple’s total revenue in 2024 and 2025.
In 1995, a Chicago Bears fan once leaped from the stands to catch an extra point.
Historybook: Rembrandt dies (1669); Orient Express makes first run from Paris to Romania (1883); Hollywood legend Charlton Heston born (1923); Sputnik 1 is first artificial satellite to orbit Earth (1957); Rocker Janis Joplin dies (1970).
"You can destroy your now by worrying about tomorrow."
— Janis Joplin
Join millions of insatiably curious news readers:
The "1440 Explores" podcast:
Weekly 1440 Topics newsletters:
Science & Technology (Tuesday)
Health & Medicine (Wednesday)
Business & Finance (Thursday)
Society & Culture (Saturday)
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 millions of insatiably curious minds? Become a 1440 partner here.
1440 Media 111 N Canal St, Suite 1210 Chicago, IL 60606
Copyright © 2026, 1440 Media, All rights reserved.
Unsubscribe from this email or update my subscription preferences.