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Good morning, it's Thursday, July 16. No one needs to cry for Argentina after it secured a spot in this year's World Cup final. First time reading? Join over 4.7 million insatiably curious readers. Sign up here.
Also in today's Digest: how a naked mole rat queen maintains a monopoly on sexual reproduction (Need To Know), a new monkey species (Sci. & Tech.), a $1 coin featuring President Donald Trump's face (Bus. & Mkts.), peek through other peoples' windows (Etc.), and much more.
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Need To Know
FIFA's Final Set
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final matchup is set, with Spain facing defending champion Argentina Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Post Malone will headline the closing ceremony beginning at 1:30 pm ET, followed by kickoff at 3 pm ET. There will also be a halftime show. See details.
The final caps the most inclusive World Cup in history, with 48 teams participating in more than 100 games across Canada, the US, and Mexico. This year's final offers Argentina a chance to become the first country to win back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil in 1962. Spain, which last won in 2010, has been undefeated in its past 37 matches. With young stars like Lamine Yamal, La Roja seeks to take on Argentina’s legendary Lionel Messi, who is credited with leading the country to its World Cup victory in 2022. Revisit a photo of Messi holding baby Yamal in a 2007 charity photo shoot.
Before Sunday’s game, runners-up France and England will compete for bronze in Miami Saturday.
A Chemical Crown
Naked mole rat queens release a chemical that temporarily prevents other females from becoming fertile, new research has found. The practice ensures she alone bears the colony’s dozens of babies until she dies or can no longer reproduce.
The compound in question is isopropyl myristate, an ingredient that is odorless to humans and commonly used in personal care products, including makeup, deodorant, and sunscreen (which products have it?). In naked mole rat colonies, researchers discovered the chemical is produced almost exclusively by the queen, with levels fluctuating alongside her reproductive cycle. The chemical’s release stimulates olfactory neurons in the nonbreeding females, leading to increased levels of the fertility-repressing hormone prolactin and a decrease in progesterone. The chemical is so influential that its presence prevents conflicts (and sexual activity among other colony members). Its absence can trigger a succession fight.
Explore the dark, digging world of naked mole rats here (via YouTube).
🫶 Humankind: A trio of dancing grannies is encouraging people to let loose and laugh. (w/video)
Trump Nominees Testify
The Senate held confirmation hearings yesterday for President Donald Trump's nominees for attorney general, director of national intelligence, and director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. See highlights from the hearings.
Todd Blanche, who has served as acting attorney general since April, apologized to Jeffrey Epstein survivors over unredacted files, defended a deal exempting Trump from tax audits, and addressed concerns about his past role as Trump’s personal attorney (w/audio). Meanwhile, lawmakers questioned intelligence director nominee Jay Clayton about the 2020 election and recent subpoenas issued to journalists. CDC director nominee Dr. Erica Schwartz, who reiterated her support for vaccines, is expected to move ahead in her confirmation process.
Blanche's confirmation hearing continues today; the Senate is expected to vote on the nominees in the coming weeks.
In partnership with EnergyX
Why America’s Next 250 Will Look Different
America's first 250 years ran on oil. The next 250 may run on lithium. AI data centers, military drones, and EVs all depend on it. With demand projected to grow 5X by 2040, the company that leads lithium production could lead America’s energy future. That’s what EnergyX aims to do. They’re giving our nation a clear path to a domestic lithium supply, releasing the US from China’s 70% stranglehold on the supply chain.
Until tonight, you can own a piece of this new era of American energy as an early-stage EnergyX investor. They’ve built the technology that can recover up to 3X more lithium than conventional methods. Recently, they opened America's largest lithium production demo facility of its kind in Texas. Next? They’re preparing for commercial production to unlock up to 15M+ tons of lithium to deliver the supply America needs.
General Motors, oil supermajor Eni, and 50,000+ people already invested. Join them as an EnergyX investor by midnight PT.*
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In The Know
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> The 154th British Open begins today, with defending champion Scottie Scheffler favored to win the four-day tournament (More) | Look back at key moments in the world's oldest golf tournament (More)
> CD sales surge 16% to 16.3 million in the first half of 2026, while R&B/hip-hop remains the most streamed genre in the US despite losing ground to Latin and country music (More)
> Comedian and filmmaker Danny McBride is slated to direct a GI Joe film (More) | "Batman 2" delayed to Feb. 18, 2028, six years after "The Batman" release (More) | ... but the director shared test footage of Robert Pattinson (More, w/video)
Science & Technology
> Thinking Machines Lab, AI startup founded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, releases first in-house open-source AI model, called Inkling (More)
> New orange-cream-lipped monkey species identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; "Likweli" is the fifth new African monkey species identified in 75 years (More, w/photos)
> Meteorite that crashed in New Jersey in 2024 found to contain material that predates Earth, preserving clues to the solar system's earliest days (More, scroll for images) | Watch doorbell footage of the meteorite flying across the sky (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close up (S&P 500 +0.4%, Dow +0.3%, Nasdaq +0.6%); Apple shares hit record high after report on the iPhone maker gaining approval to launch generative AI features in China (More)
> Anthropic reportedly setting up investor meetings ahead of possible initial public offering; Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan Chase involved (More) | Why did Anthropic's founders leave OpenAI? (More)
> US Mint produces new $1 coin featuring President Donald Trump's face as part of celebrations for America's 250th birthday (More, scroll to see photos)
Politics & World Affairs
> President Donald Trump will address the nation tonight at 9 pm ET; he is expected to discuss the US voting process (More) | ... and may discuss the war in Iran; see latest updates (More) | Watch here (More)
> Eight Democratic candidates for Maine's Senate race will participate in a debate tonight at 7 pm ET (More) | What happens next? (More) | ... and which races could determine control of the Senate? (More, scroll for Senate map)
> Wildfires in Canada and northern Minnesota prompt air quality alerts and warnings in the Upper Midwest and Northeast US; see orange skies over Niagara Falls (More)
In partnership with USAFacts
Why You Need to Care About Public Data
Without reliable public data, taxpayer money risks being misspent, policy decisions can suffer, and it’s harder to hold the government accountable. Reliable data is what makes government work for the people who fund it … and if that data is outdated and incomplete, we all lose.
That’s why USAFacts is asking Congress to fix America’s outdated data infrastructure and start putting our data to good use.
In partnership with EnergyX
Final Day to Invest in EnergyX
Over 50,000 people have already invested in EnergyX. Global giants like General Motors and POSCO have too. And now, everyday investors like you have the chance to invest before the opportunity ends tonight at midnight PT.
EnergyX’s tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods. Now they’re tapping into up to 15M+ tons. That’s a big deal, as lithium demand is projected to grow 5X by 2040. Invest in EnergyX by midnight PT.*
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1440 Civics: The American Civil War
The American Civil War, fought primarily over slavery (see overview), remains the deadliest conflict in American history:
> Visualize the war's front lines day by day with an animated map of the US. (More)
> Control over Charleston's Fort Sumter was pivotal in the lead-up to the first battle. (More)
> Abraham Lincoln snuck into Washington, DC, in disguise for his 1861 inauguration after an assassination plot was uncovered in Baltimore. (More)
> The Civil War's final shots were fired in the Arctic over two months after the South's surrender. (More)
Want more? Make your own rabbit hole on 1440 Civics.
Etcetera
From Chicago to Coney Island: America's favorite hot dogs.
The amount Americans think they need to retire comfortably.
Why hot nights can be worse for you than hot days.
See the 100-foot wave that changed ocean science forever.
Open a window anywhere in the world.
The business winner of the World Cup: bars.
Explore a 200-year-old US travel guide.
Neil deGrasse Tyson explains why rainbows are actually "raincircles."
Scientists turn mice into tiny bungee jumpers.
In partnership: After midnight PT tonight, investors can no longer join this $1B private unicorn.*
Clickbait: Meet the internet's most ambitious beer challenge.
Historybook: District of Columbia established as capital of the US (1790); Journalist and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells-Barnett born (1862); First successful atomic bomb test (1945); JD Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye" published (1951); Apollo 11 launches with first astronauts who will walk on the moon (1969).
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"The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them."
- Ida B. Wells-Barnett
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.
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*Disclosure: Energy Exploration Technologies, Inc. (“EnergyX”) has engaged 1440 Media to publish this communication in connection with EnergyX’s ongoing Regulation A offering. 1440 Media has been paid in cash and may receive additional compensation. 1440 Media and/or its affiliates do not currently hold securities of EnergyX. This compensation and any current or future ownership interest could create a conflict of interest. Please consider this disclosure alongside EnergyX’s offering materials. EnergyX’s Regulation A offering has been qualified by the SEC. Offers and sales may be made only by means of the qualified offering circular. Before investing, carefully review the offering circular, including the risk factors. The offering circular is available at invest.energyx.com/. Comparisons to other companies are for informational purposes only and should not imply similar results. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Market shortfall are forward‑looking estimates and are subject to substantial uncertainty.
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