Good morning. It's Thursday, Dec. 1, and we're covering a positive GDP report, an update from Elon Musk's Neuralink, and much more. First time reading? Sign up here.
You share. We listen. As always, send us feedback at hello@join1440.com. |
|
|
|
|
Are you still enjoying 1440? The best way to let us know you're still reading is to click on links within the newsletter. To avoid being removed from the list, click here to let us know you're an active subscriber. Thanks! |
|
|
|
|
The US economy grew faster than previously estimated during the third quarter of this year, according to new data released yesterday. The country's gross domestic product, which measures the value of goods and services produced (see 101), grew at a 2.9% annualized rate from July to September, up from an earlier estimate of 2.6%. Economists had predicted 2.7%.
The latest figure marks a rebound from 0.6% and 1.6% decreases in the first two quarters of the year. The upward revision is due to growth in consumer spending and business investments as well as declines in imports, though low private investment inventories offset some of the growth. See data here.
While the report shows signs of a strengthening economy, analysts say ongoing high inflation and interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve may slow growth in the fourth quarter, highlighting investments in housing, which shrank at a 26.8% annualized rate. |
At least two people were killed and several more injured after severe storms swept across the southeast late Tuesday into Wednesday, with reports of two-inch chunks of hail (see video). At least 11,000 homes were left without power in Alabama, and one county saw at least 30 homes damaged by the high winds.
Over 40 million people were under tornado and severe weather warnings Tuesday as humid air from the Gulf moved northeast across several states. At least 37 tornadoes reportedly tore across Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, with initial reports claiming tornado wind speeds of 115 mph in some places—a reading of EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale (see overview). One community in Mississippi saw a steeple blown off a church and a grocery store destroyed, and damage to trees was also recorded in Tennessee and Georgia.
The severe weather had cleared up by mid-Wednesday. See drone footage of the damage here. |
Neuralink's Show and Tell |
Elon Musk's Neuralink revealed last night an updated version of its prototype brain-computer interface technology, including showing a monkey controlling a prompt via thoughts and sending out a short message. The company says the technology may be tested in humans as early as next year.
Establishing an interface between the brain and a computer is not novel itself. Other companies have demonstrated both surgically implanted connections and noninvasive links by recording brain waves, while an ALS patient recently used a prototype from a separate company to control his iPhone and send text messages. Neuralink's advantage reportedly lies in a device with more than 16,000 electrodes on a quarter of an inch-sized chip that allows direct connections with groups of neurons (see overview).
Neuralink's stated vision is to cure neurological disorders and allow seamless two-way communication between human brains and computers. Watch a video of the demo here. |
|
|
|
|
|
In partnership with Droplette |
|
|
|
|
The Future of Skincare, Simplified |
|
|
|
It's a little-known—and important—fact: 90% of traditional skincare products aren't absorbed by our skin. Take collagen, for example. It's 300x (yes, you read that correctly) larger than what our skin can topically absorb. But Droplette has a solution.
And it doesn't involve cryogenics, needles, or other complicated and scary solutions. Droplette takes popular ingredients like collagen and makes them small enough for our skin to absorb as a mist, infusing 20x deeper than traditional topicals without needles or pain. It's futuristic hardware, with simple and potent formulations. And that combination earned Droplette a place in TIME Best Inventions of 2022 and CES 2023 Innovation Awards in digital health. This skincare system pairs an upgraded device model with the Droplette mobile app to unleash the most powerful, deeply penetrating results yet, and lets you personalize your skincare routine with targeted treatment modes (like the recently launched Blemish Mode, with astonishing 24-hour before and after photos).
Today only, Droplette is extending its Cyber Week Sale, exclusively for 1440 readers—perfect for gifting to yourself or a loved one. Try the Droplette device for 30 days, risk-free. Plus enjoy a whopping 40% off, 2-year warranty, and a free gift with device purchases. Use code 1440CYBER40 at checkout for Droplette's biggest sale of the year! |
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
|
> Christine McVie, two-time Grammy-winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter for Fleetwood Mac, dies at 79 (More) |
> Argentina, Australia among countries advancing to World Cup knockout stage; see full Day 11 recap (More) | See today's schedule (More) | ... and latest standings (More) |
> People magazine taps Jennifer Hudson, Mila Kunis, Matthew McConaughey, and Quinta Brunson as its People of the Year (More) | Mistrial declared due to hung jury in rape trial against "That '70s Show" star Danny Masterson (More) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
> Hawaiian eruption disrupts operations at the Mauna Loa Observatory, which has provided high-quality daily measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide for more than 60 years (More) | What is the Keeling Curve? (More) |
> Archaeologists discover what is believed to be a roughly 1-million-year-old homo erectus skull in good condition in central China; specimen may give insight into how human ancestors spread throughout ancient Eurasia (More) |
> Researchers discover new pathway to prompt cells to regrow cartilage; may provide new nonsurgical treatments for joint injuries, arthritis, and more (More) |
|
|
|
|
> US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +3.1%, Dow +2.2%, Nasdaq +4.4%) as Fed Chairman Jerome Powell signals smaller interest rate hikes, potentially as early as the December Federal Reserve meeting (More) |
> DoorDash to lay off 1,250 corporate jobs, 6% of workforce (More) | Cryptocurrency trading firm Kraken lays off 1,100 employees, roughly 30% of workforce (More) | CNN begins layoffs (More) |
> Salesforce shares fall over 5% in after-hours trading after co-CEO Bret Taylor announces he will step down in January (More) |
|
|
|
|
> Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D, NY-8) to lead House Democrats as first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress, succeeds House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D, CA-12), who led party for two decades (More) | House approves bill forcing contract agreement between railroads and labor unions ahead of potential Dec. 9 strike; bill heads to Senate (More) |
> Georgia sees record-breaking early voting turnout in a day, ahead of Dec. 6 Senate runoff between incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) and Trump-backed Republican Herschel Walker (More) | Indiana Sen. Mike Braun (R) plans governor run in 2024 (More) |
> Japan court upholds ban on same-sex marriage but raises issue of human rights violation; Japan is the only G-7 country to not recognize same-sex marriage (More) | Islamic State group says one of its leaders was killed in battle (More) |
|
|
|
|
> A Gilded Age Tale of Murder and Madness
Narratively | Kay Adams, Nancy Markey. In October 1885, in the town of Newport, Rhode Island, a wealthy and beloved business owner turned up dead—and the prime suspect was his son-in-law, a dashing medical student. (Read)
> The Secret Life of Videocassettes in Iran
MIT Press Reader | Staff. How Iranians forged an informal underground video distribution network when their government banned all home technology in 1983. (Read) |
|
|
|
|
|
Skincare Can Finally Get 'In' |
In partnership with Droplette
The results are in: Everyone from NASA to Harvard Medical School to Time Magazine to CES supports Droplette, the world's first skincare infusion device. And today only, you can shop their biggest sale of the year.
Founded by MIT scientists, Droplette feels like a gentle mist, infusing skincare ingredients deeply into skin. The breakthrough device turns super-actives like collagen into fast-moving micro-drops that pass painlessly through your skin 20x deeper than messy serums or creams. It's a far more effective way for a huge molecule like collagen to reliably absorb into your skin topically (it's proven that 90% of traditional skincare just goes to waste), and now you can use it at home for hydrated, glowing, youthful skin. Droplette is giving 1440 readers an exclusive extension to the Cyber Week Sale, but only for today. Try the Droplette device for 30 days, risk-free. Plus enjoy a whopping 40% off, 2-year warranty, and a free gift with device purchases—use code 1440CYBER40 at checkout! |
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
|
Don’t keep us a secret: We reach more than 2 million inboxes with fact-focused news because our readers spread the word to their community. Help us grow:
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." |
|
|
|
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.
Send us your feedback at hello@join1440.com and help us stay unbiased as humanly possible. We’re ready to listen.
Interested in reaching smart readers like you? To become a 1440 partner, apply here. |
|
|
|
1440 Media 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212 Chicago, IL 60654
Copyright © 2022, 1440 Media, All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
|
|
