The gift of the mad guy
In a new study, bird flu is found to be one mutation away from becoming more easily transmitted between humans. / Scientific American
The European Space Agency has launched a pair of satellites capable of creating artificial solar eclipses, which could help scientists better understand geomagnetic storms. / AP
Sally Rooney: "A handful of voters in US swing states have more power to determine the speed and scale of planetary overheating than billions of other people on Earth." / The Irish Times
Following the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, other major health insurance companies take their leadership pages offline. / 404 Media
See also: Responding to online vitriol after the UHC murder, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield cancels a policy change that would limit surgical anesthesia coverage. / NBC News
A Black farmer who reclaimed the plantation where his ancestors were enslaved has now forces to contend with, among them the USDA: "It really is modern-day sharecropping." / Bitter Southerner
Notre Dame has reopened five years after a fire damaged parts of the cathedral—here are before-and-after visualizations of what's changed. / The Washington Post [+]
For your weekend wanderlust: A 10-day long bike ride through Italy. / The Radavist
Atlas Shrugged (Part II) on Blu-Ray, a truly deranged planter, and more recommendations in a heinous gift guide for sworn enemies. / ¡Hola Papi!
Just because you can deep-fry Coca-Cola, should you? / The Takeout
"This was not the classic 18th-century 'old, corpulent, port-and-pheasant' gout but 'young, cool' gout, if such a thing exists." New books on diet, health, and identity. / Los Angeles Review of Books
Unrelated: On inadvertently turning a cat into a turkey fiend. / Defector
Rooster fans: The shortlist, judges, and Zombie poll for the 2025 Tournament of Books, presented by Field Notes, is now live! / Field Notes, the Tournament of Books
For better and certainly for worse, the 10 moments that defined podcasting in 2024. / Vulture
"There is nothing more poignant than an end of year death for a Christmas hitmaker." Wham!'s "Last Christmas" at 40. / The Quietus
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Your headlines are sourced and composed by Rosecrans Baldwin and Andrew Womack (☜), Monday through Friday. View this edition and the latest headlines at TMN.