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Good morning, it's Saturday, July 11. An ancient tapestry returns to Britain for the first time in nearly a millennium. First time reading? Join over 4.7 million insatiably curious readers. Sign up here****.
Also in today's Digest: the origins of right-handedness are older than we thought (Quick Hits), a risky engagement proposal in the Maldives (Humankind), a rare goat-sheep hybrid is born (Etc.), and much more.
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One Big Headline
Ancient Tapestry Relocates
An 11th-century tapestry arrived at London's British Museum yesterday after a covert, high-security operation, marking the first time it has left France in nearly 1,000 years.
The Bayeux Tapestry traveled roughly 350 miles overnight by truck and train in a climate-controlled, vibration-dampening crate. Stitched in wool thread on linen, the 230-foot-long embroidery depicts the lead up to William, Duke of Normandy's, 1066 invasion of England—an event that solidified lasting ties between Britain and France (explore here, scene by scene).
Historians believe the piece was made in England and then sent to William's half brother in France, where it has since remained. British officials have asked to borrow it since the 1950s, but France repeatedly refused, citing its fragility. (A recent report found it has 24,204 stains, 9,646 holes, and 30 tears.) French President Emmanuel Macron ultimately approved the loan in 2018 as a gesture of trust and friendship. Learn how Britain and France went from foes to friends here (w/video).
The Bayeux Tapestry will be on display in London from Sept. 10, 2026, through July 11, 2027. The British Museum has already generated about $3.3M in ticket sales.
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Quick Hits
Apple sues OpenAI for alleged trade secrets theft.
The iPhone maker filed a lawsuit yesterday, accusing two former employees who went to work for OpenAI of stealing confidential information. One of the defendants is OpenAI's chief hardware officer, Tang Tan, who previously oversaw product design for the iPhone and Apple Watch. He is now leading the AI company's efforts to develop its own devices. The other defendant is a member of OpenAI's technical staff. As of this writing, neither OpenAI nor the defendants have commented. (More)
Bipartisan housing bill to become law without Trump's signature.
President Donald Trump yesterday let a 10-day deadline to veto or sign a landmark housing affordability bill lapse, meaning the measure will become law without his signature. Trump had canceled plans to sign the bill last month in an attempt to pressure the Senate into passing legislation creating stricter voter ID rules, which he argues are a higher priority. The voter ID bill remains stalled in the Senate. (More)
UK police arrest suspect in killing of a former Parliament member.
A 26-year-old British man was arrested yesterday on suspicion of murdering Ann Widdecombe, a 78-year-old Conservative minister turned TV personality. She was found dead in her home Thursday with serious injuries. Officials have not shared a motive as of this writing, but they said there is no evidence the crime was politically motivated or terror-related. (More)
Foodborne parasite spreads across the US, hospitalizing dozens.
Nearly 3,000 people in 31 states have cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal illness marked by severe diarrhea, according to local health departments. Michigan, which typically sees 40 to 50 cases per year, leads the nation with 1,562 cases, as of yesterday. The federal government has confirmed 86 hospitalizations, as officials race to pinpoint the source and determine if outbreaks across states are connected. The parasite has historically been traced to fresh produce (More).
Wimbledon winners will be crowned this weekend.
Karolína Muchová and Linda Nosková face off in the first-ever all-Czech women's grand slam final at 11 am ET. It will be the first time two women representing the same country have competed in a grand slam final match since Americans Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys in 2017. Then, tomorrow, defending men's singles champion Jannik Sinner of Italy will take on Germany's Alexander Zverev. (More)
Major League Baseball draft begins today.
The top high school and college baseball prospects are hoping to secure spots on one of the MLB's 30 teams today and tomorrow. The Chicago White Sox have the No. 1 pick for the first time in 49 years after winning the annual lottery this winter. They are reportedly considering UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky, high school shortstop Grady Emerson, and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey. (More, w/projections)
Pentagon releases new batch of UFO files.
The fourth batch of files posted on the government's UFO website includes 14 documents, 19 videos, four audio files, and three images from several federal agencies. One document details a 2015 incursion by an unidentified object over a Texas nuclear weapons facility that led to a lockdown. More releases are expected in the coming months. (More, w/videos)
Scientists uncover earliest evidence of behavioral right-handedness.
Animals have favored their right side for over half a billion years, according to fossils of a limbless, leech-like creature. About twice as many fossils show the ancient arthropods bent to the right rather than the left. While it's still unclear why creatures—including humans—tend to favor their right side, favoring a side may have offered evolutionary benefits, such as faster decision-making when fleeing predators. (More)
Humankind
New York Yankees team up with a national nonprofit to provide lawn care to neighbors in need. (More)
Eight-year-old girl fights through tears to complete the final stage of her black belt test. (More, w/video)
Fisherman rescues 220-pound sea turtle tangled in thick ropes. (More, w/video)
England fan who spent his life savings to take his grandfather to the World Cup gets a surprising deposit in his bank account. (More)
Man dives into the Maldives waters to retrieve an engagement ring for his now-fiancée. (More, w/video)
In partnership with Sundays
For All the Good Boys and Girls
39–0. That’s how Sundays’ chicken recipe performed in a third-party taste test against traditional kibble. 39 dogs tried it. Not one turned it down.
It’s not hard to see why. Most dry dog food is cooked at high heat—which destroys natural nutrition, so manufacturers add synthetic vitamins back in. Sundays skips that entirely: Vet-founded, made with human-grade meats, fruits, and vegetables, and gently air-dried in the US to lock in real flavor and nutrition from the start. The result looks more like jerky than kibble—and dogs can tell the difference. No fridge, no prep, no cleanup. Just pour, serve, and let your dog cast their vote.
Humankind(ness)
Today, we're sharing a story from reader Matt K. in Maine.
"My neighbor and I disagree vehemently about almost everything: religion, politics, sexuality, etc. But when I had a water leak, he came over and helped me replace all the damaged flooring. (More accurately, he did most of the work and I helped!) That's what real community is."
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).
Etcetera
Humanoid robots are scrubbing into the operating room.
Are soccer players the most fit athletes? (w/video)
Farmers are shocked to find not a goat or a sheep, but a geep.
Are we living inside a gigantic black hole? (w/audio)
World's most premature baby—born at 21 weeks—turns 2.
Why it's nearly impossible to live past 115. (w/video)
Gen Z explains why iPod Nanos and digital cameras are cool again.
How "Jackass" became a grieving woman's lifeline.
Step into a virtual art museum and meditate.
Test your values against those of other Americans.
Profiteering playbook behind the five largest coffee chains. (w/video)
In partnership: Consider this your new favorite shoe brand.*
Dutch art museum unveils installation made from 800 pounds of peanut butter.
Meaningful questions to cut through the small talk. (w/audio)
Most Clicked This Week: The US cities with the worst bedbug problems.
Historybook: President John Quincy Adams born (1767); Vice President Aaron Burr mortally wounds Alexander Hamilton in duel (1804); "To Kill a Mockingbird" is published (1960); Iconic actor Laurence Olivier dies (1989); Former first lady Lady Bird Johnson dies (2007).
*Please support our sponsors.
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