Good morning. It's Wednesday, June 17. And according to a recent report, your next Uber or Lyft fare may have more to do with you than traffic.
Also in today's Digest: the Oscars of the food world (Sports, Ent., & Cult.), AI-powered smart glasses (Sci. & Tech.), the Education Department hands off more duties (Pol. & World Affairs), the world's largest Lego hot dog (Etc.), and much more.
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Federal authorities said yesterday they disrupted an alleged plot targeting an Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House, arresting five people and identifying 23 individuals in a related online chat.
Officials say the suspects, from multiple states and allegedly in their teens to early 20s, intended to stage a demonstration on the north side of the White House while detonating explosive-laden drones outside the arena. The blasts were meant to force crowds south, where snipers would attack the roughly 4,300 attendees, targeting politicians and other high-profile guests. Investigators say the group mapped entry points and escape routes. See how consumer drones are changing the US domestic threat landscape here.
Among those arrested was 19-year-old Tycen Proper of Ohio, whose mother alerted authorities June 10. Proper allegedly admitted to helping plan the attack in hopes of sparking a US revolution after connecting with others through TikTok. |
Consumers requesting the same Uber or Lyft route at roughly the same time receive fare quotes that differ by a median of 50%, according to an investigation published yesterday. See how prices varied here.
Unlike traditional taxis, which charge metered rates, Uber and Lyft use dynamic pricing to calculate fares up front based on shifting rider demand, traffic, and car availability. But the report suggests the rideshare companies are also analyzing personal data to predict how much a given customer may be willing to pay—a tactic called surveillance pricing. Uber and Lyft deny the allegation, but acknowledge using customer data to offer personalized discounts. The report's authors say that these discounts are sometimes applied to inflated base fares to deceive customers into thinking they're getting a deal. Both companies reject that claim as well.
Another study published last year found that only one in six riders compares prices across Lyft and Uber, with prices differing by an average of 14%. |
🫶 Humankind: The last 475 beagles from a closing Wisconsin research facility will find refuge with a Florida rescue group that has already taken in about 1,500 of the dogs. |
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Scientists have discovered a new species of walking shark off the coast of Papua New Guinea. Dudgeon's Walking Shark (Hemiscyllium dudgeonae) is a nocturnal species that uses its four fins like legs to move across reef flats at low tide.
There are nine other species of walking sharks, also called epaulette sharks (see short video). They have only ever been found in or near Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia, sparking concerns they could be vulnerable to the changing climate and coastal development. The newest shark is known for the distinctive white and brown pattern on its body. Like other walking sharks, this one eats invertebrates living on the seafloor and is not considered dangerous to humans. Its local name is kadedekedewa, meaning dog shark or lazy shark. Watch it in action (via Instagram).
What makes a shark a shark? The secret lies in the composition of its skeleton. |
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The Science Behind Salt Satiety |
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There’s only one thing we love more than a headline full of alliteration, and that’s learning. So when we heard LMNT had some interesting research on how salt satiety can actually help keep you away from ultra-processed foods, we were all ears.
Here’s how it works: At sufficient sodium levels, your brain will actively suppress your salt appetite. Conversely, when your sodium is depleted, your sodium-appetite neurons activate, driving you to crave salty (and often ultra-processed) foods. In other words, not only does LMNT support optimal hydration and increased energy levels, but it can also help keep you on a healthy diet. Talk about a win-win.
Of course, the only way to know if it truly works is to try it for yourself, so pick up a FREE sample 8-pack of LMNT with any purchase (plus a money-back guarantee) when you buy right here. |
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Sports, Entertainment, & Culture |
> Venus and Serena Williams accept doubles wild card invitation from Wimbledon, which begins June 29; the sisters last played doubles together in 2022 (More) | US sprinter Noah Lyles clocks world's best 150-meter sprint at 14.67 seconds (More) |
> Recording Academy reveals five new categories for 2027 Grammy Awards, including best Asian pop music performance (More) | Thai restaurant in Philadelphia wins James Beard's outstanding restaurant award (More, w/full list) |
> England replaces injured player ahead of World Cup opening match (More) | Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal to play Democratic Republic of the Congo in Houston at 1 pm ET; Colombia faces Uzbekistan in Mexico City at 10 pm ET (More, w/schedule) |
1440 is partnering with Men in Blazers to bring you the most detailed coverage of the world’s biggest tournament. Gear up for the US squad's second match Friday against Australia with the best daily, in-depth updates. |
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> Snapchat parent company unveils smart glasses, now available for preorder at $2,195; glasses use AI to answer questions about objects in focus, play multiplayer games, watch videos, and more (More) |
> Tropical butterfly tribe shows little to no age-related decline and lives three times longer than its closest relatives, offering clues to slowing aging (More) | Why grip strength is one of the best predictors of death (More) |
> Astronomers discover third galaxy lacking dark matter, challenging the assumption that dark matter is an invisible glue needed to hold galaxies together (More) | If we can't see it, how do we know dark matter exists? (More) |
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In partnership with Doroni |
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Morgan Stanley Calls This a $9T Opportunity |
If they’re right, the flying car industry will grow 185,850% by 2050.
They say it will reach $9 trillion, 2X+ more valuable than today’s car market. And 5,500+ investors think Doroni will lead the charge. Their flying car is designed for everyday life, charging like an EV, fitting in two-car garages. It’s no concept, either. In March Doroni unveiled a full-scale showroom model of the H1-X aircraft 600+ people already reserved, good for $240M in potential revenue.
Now they’ve reserved the Nasdaq ticker DRNI in preparation for a potential public listing. Invest at $3.10/share by tomorrow at midnight ET.* |
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> US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 -0.1%, Dow +0.6%, Nasdaq -1.2%) ahead of Fed's interest rate decision today (More) | Bank of Japan raises rates to 31-year high at 1%, up from 0.75%, as energy costs amid Iran war fuel inflation (More) |
> Yum Brands sells Pizza Hut chain for $1.5B to private equity firm LongRange Capital; Yum China to acquire Chinese locations for $1.2B (More) | How Pizza Hut pioneered food delivery (More) | ... and visualize the world's top 50 PE firms (More) |
> SpaceX to acquire AI coding startup Cursor for $60B worth of stock, marks largest-ever acquisition of a VC-backed startup (More) | SpaceX overtakes Amazon as world's fifth-largest company (More) |
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> Iran says Israel has to withdraw from Lebanon under the terms of its tentative deal with the US; the Trump administration hasn't commented as of this writing (More) |
> Education Department transfers certain responsibilities—including oversight of civil rights, special education—to the Justice Department and Department of Health and Human Services, respectively (More) |
> Infant mortality in the US falls to an all-time low of fewer than 5.4 infant deaths per 1,000 live births but remains higher than other high-income countries (More) | San Marino tops list of countries with lowest infant mortality (More, w/graph and map) |
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This LMNT Deal Has the Competition Salty |
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Historybook: Battle of Bunker Hill fought (1775); Statue of Liberty arrives in New York as gift from France (1885); Tennis star Venus Williams born (1980); Rapper Kendrick Lamar born (1987); Juneteenth established as US federal holiday (2021).
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*Disclosure: This is a paid advertisement for Doroni Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.doroni.io/. A reservation of the ticker symbol is not a guarantee that we will be listed on the Nasdaq. Listing on the Nasdaq is subject to approvals. |
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