Good morning. It's Tuesday, Oct. 20, and we're covering charges against an elite Russian hacking group, the World Series, and a cosmic rendezvous. Have feedback? Let us know at hello@join1440.com.

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NEED TO KNOW

US Charges Russian Hackers

US officials unveiled charges yesterday against six Russian military intelligence officers alleged to be behind some of the biggest cyberattacks in recent years. According to documents, the group is part of a larger effort collectively known as Sandworm. 

The unit first popped up on security officials' radar in late 2015 after gaining control of the Ukrainian electric grid, collectively shutting off power to almost a quarter-million customers. It was the first known successful cyberattack on a power grid. The group is also said to be responsible for a 2017 attack that targeted Ukraine but ultimately spread globally, paralyzing banks, governments, companies, and more. Known as NotPetya (see deep dive, $$, WIRED), the cyberattack caused economic losses pegged at $10B. The charging document also describes interference in the 2017 French election and targeting the 2018 Winter Olympics. 

The six are believed to be in Russia and are unlikely to be turned over.

Dodgers vs. Rays

Baseball's best meet tonight in the first game of the 2020 World Series (8pm ET, Fox), with the Los Angeles Dodgers (43-17) taking on the Tampa Bay Rays (40-20). Coronavirus restrictions have resulted in all games being played at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers—the first time in history the series will be played at a neutral site. It's also just the fourth time since the Wild Card era began in 1995 that both teams had the best regular-season records in their respective leagues. 

Both teams enter having just finished a pair of thrilling seven-game league championship series. The Dodgers, who enter as favorites, are seeking an elusive title—they've won eight straight division titles and made the World Series in 2017 and 2018, but haven't won a championship since 1988. Los Angeles also led the league in roster payroll this season ($96M), while the analytics-driven Tampa Bay sat near the bottom ($29M). 

Cosmic Fist Bump

NASA's OSIRIS-REx space probe is scheduled to make brief contact with the surface of the asteroid Bennu today, scooping up dust and rocks for a few seconds before departing. The mission is the agency's first-ever attempt to collect and return asteroid samples to Earth. 

The craft launched in 2016 and has spent the past two years circling Bennu—which circles the sun in orbit roughly between Earth and Mars—taking measurements and searching for an appropriate landing spot. The asteroid is considered primitive, meaning it has undergone minimal geological change, with its properties essentially frozen in place since formation. Studying its composition may reveal insights into the early formation of the solar system, nearly 4.5 billion years ago—something not possible with meteorites, which get contaminated during their fall to Earth.

Take a tour of Bennu here. (w/video)

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IN THE KNOW

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> Jeffrey Toobin suspended by The New Yorker; takes leave from CNN after accidentally exposing himself during Zoom call (More)

> Former Netflix and ABC Entertainment exec Channing Dungey named chairperson of Warner Bros. TV (More) | China’s 2020 box office tops $2B, passes North American box office; both still see 75% decline from last year (More)

> Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes becomes fastest in NFL history to 90 career touchdowns, besting Dan Marino by three games (More) | Tennessee Titans to receive fine, but no additional penalties, after NFL reviews handling of COVID-19 outbreak (More)

Science & Technology

> CRISPR gene therapy shown to restore retinal and visual function in mice with inherited blindness (More) | How does CRISPR work? (More)

> Researchers map the human proteome, or the near-complete set of proteins produced by the human body (More)

> Archaeologists uncover a giant picture of a cat etched into the hills, part of Peru's ancient Nazca Lines; the geoglyph is dated to 200-100 BCE (More) | What are the Nazca Lines? (More)

Business & Markets

Brought to you by The Ascent

> US stock markets down (S&P 500 -1.6%, Dow -1.4%, Nasdaq -1.7%) as skepticism builds on pandemic stimulus deal (More) | IBM reports third consecutive quarter of revenue declines, shares down 2% in after-hours trading (More)

> ConocoPhillips to acquire shale oil producer Concho Resources for $9.7B (More)

> American Airlines to fly Boeing 737 MAX by end of year, assuming regulatory approval is granted (More)

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Politics & World Affairs

> Supreme Court agrees to hear two cases on Trump administration border policy (More) | The high court leaves in place Pennsylvania ruling allowing late mail-in ballots to be counted until Nov. 6 (More) | Nominee Amy Coney Barrett could be confirmed as early as Monday (More) 

> House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D, CA-12) sets deadline of tomorrow for agreement on a preelection stimulus package (More) | President Trump criticizes Dr. Anthony Fauci during call with campaign staff, media (Listen) 

> Thursday presidential debate to feature a mute button, cutting candidates' mics if they go over time (More) | Republicans see edge in voter registration numbers in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Arizona (More)

IN-DEPTH

Dying Inside

Reuters | Staff. Suicide, inmate violence, botched healthcare, and other maladies have led to almost 5,000 deaths of people inside US jails over the past decade—before any received their day in court. (Read)

A New Generation of Headache Drugs

Nature | Marcus Woo. Despite one in seven people reporting symptoms, debilitating migraines remain poorly understood. Only with the advent of advanced treatments has the neurological disorder slowly been unraveled. (Read)

Editor's note: Check out this visual guide for more. 

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ETCETERA

How one of San Francisco's most famous ghosts helped change America.

... and the 30 most haunted spots across the country.

Americans are growing weary of social distancing.

The story of 2020 as told by its memes.

Missing Zion National Park hiker found alive after two weeks.

Los Angeles is converting shipping containers into homes for the homeless.

Meet the black heron and its amazing hunting tactics.

World War II vet celebrates her 102nd birthday with a skydive.

Clickbait: Take a spin in the "blue-collar limousine." (w/video)

Historybook: Baseball great Mickey Mantle born (1931); Congress investigates "Reds" in Hollywood (1947); Tom Petty born (1950); HBD Sen. Kamala Harris (1964); RIP President Herbert Hoover (1964); Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi killed (2011).

"Do something you really like, and hopefully it pays the rent. As far as I'm concerned, that's success."

- Tom Petty

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