News for the insatiably curious.

beacon

View email in browser.

In partnership with

Good morning, it's Tuesday, June 23—and the 100th anniversary of a standardized test you may have stressed over in high school.

Also in today's Digest: Lionel Messi sets a World Cup record (Sports, Ent., & Cult.), younger generations are aging faster (Sci. & Tech.), Amazon Prime Day kicks off (Bus. & Mkts.), and much more.

Need To Know

Starmer Bows Out

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced yesterday that he will resign, paving the way for Britain's seventh head of government in a decade. Starmer will stay on in a caretaker role until his Labour Party selects a new prime minister by September.

The decision comes after Andy Burnham—the former mayor of Greater Manchester—was elected to Parliament in a special election last week. Burnham positioned himself as Starmer’s rival, calling for a change in leadership. Starmer’s decline in popularity came amid uproar over his appointment of a Jeffrey Epstein associate as US ambassador and after the Labour Party suffered losses in local elections. Labour leaders had pressed Starmer to resign as polls show Nigel Farage’s nationalist-populist Reform UK party may defeat Labour in the 2029 general election (see polls).

Next up, the Labour Party will accept nominations to replace Starmer from July 9-16; if Burnham is uncontested, he could assume the role as soon as next month.

Why does Britain keep changing leaders?

🦠 In partnership with Timeline: Timeline’s Mitopure is clinically proven to support cellular energy and muscle strength. Prime deal: Get Mitopure on Amazon for 30% off—just $69 while supplies last.

Farewell to 'The Maestro'

Alan Greenspan, the former Federal Reserve chair known as "The Maestro," died yesterday from complications of Parkinson's disease at age 100. He led the central bank from 1987 to 2006, steering the US economy through a stock market crash, the dot-com boom, the 9/11 attacks, and years of growth that made him the defining policymaker of his era.

After high school, Greenspan enrolled at Juilliard to study clarinet but dropped out to join a touring jazz band. Less than two years later, he pivoted to economics. He went on to become the first Fed chair to explain interest-rate decisions publicly, while investors parsed his convoluted communication style known as "Greenspeak." His reputation dimmed after the 2008 financial crisis; critics argued his support for low interest rates and deregulation had fueled the housing bubble. Years later, Greenspan reflected on what he got right and wrong—watch his interview.

Traders reportedly tracked the size of his briefcase before Federal Reserve meetings, believing a stuffed bag signaled major policy changes ahead. Read more about how Greenspan reached celebrity status.

SAT Turns 100

The first SAT was administered 100 years ago today, with the goal of helping elite colleges identify promising high school students. (Challenge yourself to 1926 test questions here.)

American psychologist and eugenicist Carl Brigham modeled the standardized test on an IQ exam used to evaluate World War I army recruits for officer positions. He said the SAT measured so-called innate intelligence, and Ivy League schools became the first to require applicants to submit their scores in the 1930s. Many schools followed suit, increasing the number of test-takers to about half a million by 1957. However, critics say SAT scores largely reflect socioeconomic background, with higher-income students historically performing better (scroll for visuals).

Over 2 million students took the SAT last year, the most since 2020, when COVID-19 closures disrupted testing. The pandemic also accelerated the test-optional movement, with around 80% of four-year institutions no longer requiring SAT scores.

In partnership with Timeline

Feel Stronger As You Age

Starting in your 30s, your cells begin producing less energy. This decline affects your muscle strength and energy over time. The issue starts in the mitochondria, the tiny powerhouses in your cells that are responsible for fueling nearly every function in your body.

That’s why Timeline scientists developed Mitopure®, a pure and patented form of Urolithin A clinically proven to revitalize mitochondria. Mitopure works by helping your body clear out damaged mitochondria and rebuild new ones, supporting cellular energy, muscle strength and healthy aging from the inside out.* Available in Softgels and delicious Gummies, it’s never been easier to support every step of your longevity journey.

Take advantage of Timeline’s lowest price ever during Amazon Prime Day: 30% off Mitopure—just $69 while supplies last.

*Our clinical study showed that sedentary, middle-aged adults with an average BMI of 29.52 increased hamstring muscle strength.

Please support our sponsors!

In The Know

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> NBA draft starts at 8 pm ET; Washington Wizards expected to take BYU star AJ Dybantsa as No. 1 pick (More) | Watch Dybantsa's highlights (More) | Tennis star Marketa Vondrousova suspended for four years after refusing doping test (More)

> Music executive Clive Davis, who helped launch Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, and Alicia Keys to stardom, dies at age 94 (More) | See all the artists he discovered (More)

> Lionel Messi sets World Cup’s all-time scoring record in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria (More) | England faces Ghana in Boston Stadium at 4 pm ET, and Croatia takes on Panama at 7 pm ET in Toronto Stadium (More, w/schedule)

1440 is partnering with Men in Blazers to bring you the most detailed coverage of the world’s biggest tournament this summer. Sign up here to get daily, in-depth updates.

Science & Technology

> Younger generations are biologically aging faster than their older counterparts, possibly contributing to the rising prevalence of early-onset cancer (More) | How do cancer cells behave compared to regular cells? (More, w/video)

> Human ancestors' body size jumped to roughly 132 pounds with the emergence of Homo erectus roughly 2 million to 2.5 million years ago, challenging the assumption that our ancestors gradually grew larger (More)

> Citizen scientist discovers rare bow-and-arrow-shaped galaxy emitting powerful jets of plasma across nearly 1.8 million light-years of space (More, w/image) | Explore citizen science projects available through NASA (More)

In partnership with hear.com

Experts Recommend This AI-Powered Hearing Aid

When audiologists call something “the future of hearing,” it’s time to listen. Horizon IX isn’t just another hearing device—it’s smart tech for your ears. Powered by dual-processing AI, IX separates speech from background noise for warm, natural clarity anywhere you go.

Nearly invisible and built for modern life, Horizon IX is rechargeable, smartphone-compatible, and trusted by over 670,000 people hearing more clearly than ever. No more mumbling. No more missing out.

Experience the future of hearing for yourself. Claim your 45-day, no-risk trial today.

Business & Markets

> US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 -0.4%, Dow +0.3%, Nasdaq -1.3%) (More)

> Uber-backed Lime, an electric scooter and bike operator, seeks up to $1.7B valuation in its US initial public offering (More)

> Amazon Prime Day begins today and runs through Friday, June 26; Amazon shifted its traditional July sales slot to June this year, citing the timing of the FIFA World Cup and America's 250th birthday celebrations (More)

Politics & World Affairs

> Supreme Court reinstates murder conviction for Pedro Hernandez, the former store clerk found to have killed 6-year-old Etan Patz in 1979 (More) | Patz was among the first kids whose faces appeared on milk cartons; revisit the history (More)

> Vice President JD Vance says Iran agreed to allow nuclear inspectors back into the country, while Iran says it made "no new commitments"; inspectors have had limited access since Israeli strikes on Iran in June 2025 (More)

> Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz," a migrant detention center surrounded by swampland, will permanently close, sources say, after officials evacuated detainees last week over hurricane season concerns (More)

In partnership with Timeline

Better Energy Starts In Your Cells

Aging starts at the cellular level. Over time, damaged mitochondria make it harder for your cells to produce the energy your body needs to perform at its best.

Mitopure® is clinically proven to revitalize mitochondrial health, increasing muscle strength, supporting healthy aging and boosting energy at the cellular level.* Take advantage of Timeline’s lowest price ever during Amazon Prime Day: 30% off Mitopure—just $69 while supplies last.

*Our clinical study showed that sedentary, middle-aged adults with an average BMI of 29.52 increased hamstring muscle strength.

Please support our sponsors!

Etcetera

Kraft Heinz creates TSA-compliant ranch dressing.

South Carolina ends decades-long youth pinball ban.

Oxygen starts messing with your wine long before you uncork it.

Can you pass China's notoriously hard university entrance exam? (w/quiz)

Watch what really happens inside your dishwasher.

Saudi Arabia is betting on astrotourism.

Why are humans the only creatures that sleepwalk?

What an annoyed koala sounds like. (w/video)

In partnership: Audiologists rank 17 hearing aids. The #1 pick isn’t sold at Costco.*

Clickbait: Watch out, dogs. Are raccoons man's new best friend?

Historybook: Computer scientist Alan Turing born (1912); Track and field great Wilma Rudolph born (1940); 1440 reader Bill, also known as Sparky, born (1949); Title IX enacted, banning gender discrimination in public education and sports (1972); Polio vaccine developer Jonas Salk dies (1995); The UK votes to leave the EU (2016).

*Please support our sponsors.

"Forecasting our futures is built into our psyches because we will soon have to manage that future. We have no choice. No matter how often we fail, we can never stop trying."

- Alan Greenspan

1440 Media 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212 Chicago, IL 60654

Copyright © 2026, 1440 Media, All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.

Unsubscribe from this email or update my subscription preferences.


Kill the Newsletter! feed settings