News for the insatiably curious.
Good morning, it's Saturday, Aug. 8. Scientists may have discovered a new biological pathway to regulate stress. First time reading? Join over 4.7 million insatiably curious readers. Sign up here.
Also in today's Digest: poop transplants for food allergies (Quick Hits); a birthday boy trick-or-treats in the summer (Humankind), the origin of the beach read (Etc.), and much more.
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One Big Headline
The Stress Switch
Experiencing severe stress during childhood can cause lasting damage to brain cells, making individuals more sensitive to stress later in life. The discovery, published yesterday, may reveal a new biological target for mental health treatments.
The study focused on the chemical messenger dopamine, which helps process rewards and adversity (watch 101). Researchers found that mice raised in stressful conditions had higher levels of the enzyme SETD7 than mice raised under typical conditions. SETD7 can make dopamine-producing brain cells more responsive to environmental stimuli, leading to a lower stress tolerance. The mice with elevated SETD7 levels displayed more anxious behaviors throughout their lives. However, when researchers blocked the enzyme, these mice became less sensitive to stress.
Prior studies found that people who experience four or more adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, such as physical neglect or household substance abuse, are at significantly higher risk for mental health disorders. Get your ACE score here.
From the 1440 team
Your Next Rabbit Hole Awaits
Did you know your memories can change every time you recall them? Or that Congress was intentionally designed to frustrate itself? Or that the trillions of microbes in your gut do far more than digest food?
That's the kind of fascinating knowledge you'll gain on our flagship podcast, "1440 Explores," where we reveal the surprising stories behind the ideas, institutions, and everyday phenomena that shape our lives. Every episode leaves you seeing a familiar topic in a completely new way.
Follow 1440 Explores on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen.
Quick Hits
Todd Blanche secures support for attorney general confirmation.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R, LA) said yesterday he would support President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Justice Department, clearing the way for Blanche's confirmation. The Senate aims to hold a final vote in the coming days. The Senate also confirmed 74 other Trump nominees, including former Navy SEAL Cameron Hamilton as the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (More)
Separately, a federal appeals court ruled Trump must get approval from Congress to continue his $400M White House ballroom renovation. Trump said he plans to bring the decision to the Supreme Court.
Puerto Rico yesterday began rationing water amid severe drought.
More than 180,000 customer accounts in the capital city of San Juan and nearby areas will have running water cut off for 48 hours at a time. July was San Juan's driest month on record since 1899. Experts predict the drought will persist until at least September, and officials warn the rationing periods could be extended to 72 hours. The water shortages come after San Juan’s mayor sued the island’s Water and Sewer Authority in May over aging infrastructure. (More)
US employers unexpectedly shed 23,000 jobs in July.
The federal jobs report released yesterday suggests the US labor market is weaker than previously believed. Forecasters had expected payrolls to increase by 83,000 jobs last month. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate ticked down from 4.2% to 4.1%, largely because fewer people participated in the labor force. The share of those working or looking for work fell to its lowest level since February 2021. (More)
Thai student kills grandparents before deadly school shooting.
At least seven people were killed and dozens were injured in a shooting at a high school north of Bangkok yesterday. Police identified the shooter as a 14-year-old boy, who was among the deceased. The boy allegedly killed his grandparents, with whom he lived, before carrying out the school shooting and taking his own life. He is believed to have used his grandfather's registered gun in the attacks. (More)
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan sign defense agreement.
The deal signed yesterday between the three Sunni Muslim-majority states stipulates that an attack on one will be treated as an attack on all three. Iranian officials warned it would not protect Saudi Arabia, whose critical infrastructure has come under fire as part of the war in Iran. Pakistan has an estimated 170 nuclear warheads, and Turkey has NATO's second-largest army. (More)
First poop transplants show promise as a treatment for food allergies.
Six people with severe peanut allergies can tolerate small doses of the nut after receiving gut bacteria from stool samples of nonallergic donors. The results suggest lower levels of certain gut bacteria cause food allergies. However, nine other trial participants did not respond to the treatment. The authors are planning a larger trial to further explore the approach. (More)
Dive into how the gut microbiome affects health with 1440. (w/video)
Pentagon releases fifth batch of UFO files.
The 41 new files come from federal offices, such as the Pentagon, the FBI, and the CIA. The documents span from 1950 to this year and include several phenomena documented by military officials. Among the reports is a military pilot's recount of a massive triangular object that appeared to block out part of the night sky over Afghanistan in 2002. (More, w/rendering)
Humankind
More than 80 families help fulfill the birthday wish of an 11-year-old with autism: trick-or-treating in the summer. (More)
Grandfather and grandson go fishing, fulfilling the 10-year-old boy’s dream before his life-limiting illness prevents him from doing so. (More)
Virginia town's resident Santa Claus wears his signature Santa hat to the hospital as he donates one of his kidneys to an anonymous recipient. (More)
Wendy's manager heads to Yale this fall after his franchise owners helped him attend community college. (More)
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Humankind(ness)
Today, we're sharing a story from reader Bob H. in Anchorage, Alaska.
"While traveling in Europe a few months ago, language was sometimes a barrier. On the back of my cellphone, I carried cards I had made up with common phrases used while traveling, starting with 'Hello' in the local language. Each card's word also had the phonetic spelling, so I could attempt to say it. Using these, and even showing them to the locals, changed our interaction completely. Some looked at the cards and even helped me to pronounce them in their language. It was a fun way to communicate, and people became more friendly. A simple, courteous kindness was exchanged between us that formed a lasting memory."
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).
☢️ Switzerland's Nuclear Bunkers
A country of 9 million has space in a nuclear fallout shelter for every single resident. Join 1440 as we explore how Switzerland has applied state capacity to the apocalypse—and what its recent reinvestment in the bunker system says about the state of the world. Watch the video here or click below:
Etcetera
NASA seeks volunteers for year-long space travel simulation. (w/audio)
Would you eat a $100 hot dog?
A record number of US adults are moving in with their parents.
New dating apps ditch swiping for AI matchmaking.
Ancient Romans used to punish tax fraud with death.
Why do we call some page-turners "beach reads"?
Authorities rescue newborn "cocaine hippo" linked to Pablo Escobar.
How long can humans survive on every planet in our solar system? (w/video)
The five people who have saved the most human lives.
Would Spider-Man's web work in the real world?
What Goodwill does with your donations. (w/video)
Chef returns to the kitchen after losing her limbs. (w/audio)
The backstory behind the saying "pardon my French."
Most Clicked This Week: World's third-smallest country changes its name.
Historybook: Thomas Edison patents the mimeograph (1876); Writer Shirley Jackson dies (1965); President Richard Nixon announces his resignation (1974); Roger Federer born (1981); Olivia Newton-John dies (2022).
"Negative energy is wasted energy. You want to become a master at overcoming hard moments. That is, to me, the sign of a champion."
— Roger Federer
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