|
Good morning. Today we're learning:
-
💨 The most recent theory explaining where the oxygen we all breathe everyday came from.
-
💰 What The Blackstone Group and a couple former Disney execs want with Reese Witherspoon.
-
📺 How many people watched the most-watched TV episode of all-time.
⏰🚀 Ready, Set, Go: Today’s newsletter takes 4.75 minutes to read. (With the 360° view: +3.76 minutes.)
|
|
👇📰 Quick Bits
|
 |
🌎 The Great Oxygenation Event
|
🎁 DONUT Headline: A new scientific theory could explain the sequence of events on Earth that led to humanity – namely, that oxygen became widespread in the atmosphere because the planet slowed down and days got longer. Don't worry, we'll connect the dots. 👇
|
One of the great mysteries in science is how Earth went from an inhospitable planet with minimal oxygen to the breathable air we have now. Scientists long figured microbes called cyanobacteria were involved, but couldn’t tell what started the great oxygenation event.
-
Now, there’s a new theory, outlined in Nature Geoscience on Monday: It’s because the planet slowed down and days got longer.
📝 Breaking it down… Let’s begin with the understatement of the century: the Earth was a lot different 2.4 billion years ago. There was so little oxygen in the atmosphere it could barely be measured; instead, lots of microbes breathed in carbon dioxide, and in the case of cyanobacteria, produced oxygen in the earliest form of photosynthesis.
-
But something happened over the next 400 million years. Earth's atmosphere jumped to one-tenth the amount of oxygen we have now — a (relatively) quick, gigantic leap. That oxygen burst allowed plants and animals to evolve, leading to the proliferation of other plants joining the oxygen-making party.
-
Now, what caused this leap? That’s where the moon and University of Michigan oceanographer Brian Arbic enter the story. At what was probably a riveting lecture about cyanobacteria, he noticed the oxygen event coincided with the timing of Earth’s days increasing from six hours to our current 24-hour days.
-
The specifics are above our paygrade, but it has to do with the physics of tidal friction and interaction with the moon.
🧪 It’s testing time... U of M and German researchers needed to mimic the conditions of 2.4 billion years ago, so they snagged cyanobacteria living in a sinkhole nearly 80 feet deep in Lake Huron (pictured above).
-
They exposed the cyanobacteria to varying amounts of light, up to 26 straight hours – and more continuous light caused the microbes to produce more oxygen. Bingo.
🔭 Zoom out… This is just one possible explanation for Earth’s oxygen increase, according to the study’s authors.
-
But the idea is impressive because it doesn’t require any big biological changes in bacteria or the world’s oceans, Tim Lyons, a professor of biogeochemistry at the University of California, Riverside (who wasn’t part of the research team) told the AP.
|
|
|
📺 There’s Some New Competition in Town
|
🎁 DONUT Headline: Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine sold a majority stake worth a reported $500 million to a new streaming company run by two ex-Disney execs and backed by Blackstone that aims to compete with the established streaming giants.
|
A literally no-named streaming company founded by two former Disney execs and backed by a financial giant with $649 billion assets under management has entered the streaming wars.
-
Reese Witherspoon’s media business, Hello Sunshine, is selling a majority stake to a firm run by Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs and backed by The Blackstone Group at a reportedly $900 million valuation.
🤝 Why the deal went down… Witherspoon’s star power and her ability to turn books into successful TV series was the main draw for buyers, sources told Deadline.
-
Hello Sunshine creates scripted and unscripted television, feature films, animated series, podcasts, audio storytelling, and digital series – including Big Little Lies, The Morning Show, and Little Fires Everywhere. It’s also home to Reese’s Book Club – one of the largest book clubs in the world with many of its best-selling picks developed and produced for screen by Hello Sunshine.
-
“I started this company to change the way all women are seen in media,” Witherspoon said. “Today, we’re taking a huge step forward by partnering with Blackstone, which will enable us to tell even more entertaining, impactful and illuminating stories about women’s lives globally.”
📸 The big picture… There’s been an uptick in consolidation in the streaming space. Amazon announced the purchase of MGM Studios for $8.45 billion in May – a deal being investigated by the FTC for potential antitrust issues. WarnerMedia and Discovery announced plans to merge operations around the same time, and Comcast and ViacomCBS are also exploring ways to work together.
-
But that’s where this no-named company sees opportunity: “The big guys aren’t licensing their content outside of their own closed walled gardens,” Mayer told the WSJ. “And that’s where a scaled, independent entity like ours can really have an advantage in the marketplace.”
Translation: You don’t see Netflix Originals on HBO or Hulu. As traditional media companies start streaming platforms, like NBCU did with Peacock and The Office, for example, they pull back content licensed to other streamers, like Netflix. This drives demand for new sources of independent programming, like what Hello Sunshine produces.
+P.S.: There’s no word yet on when this company will have a name.
|
|
|
🔥💸 Sponsored by Alternative Assets 📈💰
|
|
This is your sign to invest in alternative assets.🔮✨👇
Oracles are busy predicting the financial future right now. Don’t you want a piece of that action? You could be like Biff in Back to the Future after he steals the Sports Almanac.
Okay maybe not exactly like that... but you get it.
Sign up for the Alternative Assets newsletter to receive predictions that cut through the noise, like a knife straight from mystical beings. 🦄
All of their recommendations are based on insightful, thorough research so you can make informed decisions. You’ll be well-informed to build wealth in dozens of unique markets beyond the stock market, including cars or comic books. And if those don’t float your boat, you can follow a category you like.
You can join Alternative Assets for free, or if you’re looking for a serious portfolio edge, become an Insider and receive exclusive updates.
We predict you’ll love it. 😉
Sign up for free today.
|
|
|
🗣👂 Dose of Discussion
🗳️ A Tale Of Two Parties
|
Over the next two days, we'll be examining a pair of special election primaries in Ohio scheduled for today that have shaped up as proxy battles for the future of the Democratic and Republican parties.
-
In the interest of fairness, we flipped a coin to see who went first. So, without further ado…
🔴 'Right' Off The Bat
Former President Trump shaking hands with Ohio congressional candidate Mike Carey; Image: Jabin Botsford/WaPo
|
🎁 DONUT Headline: A special election primary for a vacant Ohio House seat is regarded as a test of former President Trump's political influence within the Republican party. What does the future hold for the GOP?
|
A special election to fill the House seat from Ohio's 15th Congressional District - vacated by Steve Stivers (R), who resigned to become the President and CEO of Ohio's Chamber of Commerce - will occur this November.
-
Stivers won the previous six elections for this seat by an average of more than 24 points – meaning the Republican primary, which takes place today, probably decides November's ultimate winner.
🤿 A deeper dive... The race is seen as a test of the continuing political influence of former President Donald Trump, who has a strong history of his endorsed candidates winning Republican primaries and special elections. Trump and allies will be looking to avoid a repeat of last week, when a Texas state representative beat a Trump-endorsed candidate in a special runoff
election to fill a vacant House seat.
-
In June, Trump endorsed Mike Carey, a local energy executive facing off against 10 other Republican challengers (including three current state lawmakers).
Notable challengers to Carey include:
-
State Rep. Jeff LaRe, who's backed by the incumbent Stivers.
-
Former state Rep. Ron Hood, who's backed by a political action committee supportive of Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).
-
State Sen. Bob Peterson, who has the backing of Ohio’s leading anti-abortion group, Ohio Right to Life.
✋ Yes, but... Republican and Democratic analysts say the GOP candidates in the Ohio election are largely indistinguishable when it comes to their views on political issues.
-
Moreover, special elections typically draw lower turnout, meaning the results are not necessarily a reflection of the overall sentiment in that area.
👁️ Looking ahead... Voting in the Ohio primaries occurs today.
-
In tomorrow's Dose of Discussion, we'll be looking at the Democratic primary for Ohio's 11th Congressional District. The race is framed as a struggle between the party's progressive faction and its centrist leadership in Washington.
|
|
|
🛸🌄📲 Calling from the Future…
|
🔮 Fortune Teller
Image: icholakov/Getty Images
|
🎁 DONUT Headline: The Pentagon is developing a system that could use machine learning to predict the future (think Minority Report, but without the precogs).
|
The U.S. Northern Command, a division under the Department of Defense, recently conducted a series of tests combining artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and global sensor networks to predict events “days in advance.”
-
Known as the Global Information Dominance Experiments (GIDE), they relied on machine learning to observe changes in raw, real-time data - such as satellite or drone imagery - and forecast possible trouble.
Although military analysts can comb through this information on their own, it can take them hours or even days. The GIDE technology can alert leaders to potential problems within seconds.
Keep reading.
|
|
|
🤗 Daily Dose of Positive
🎹💸 You’re the Piano Man...
|
Image: Instagram
Imagine this:
-
You’re a motivational speaker and Instagram influencer on your way out of town for a business trip when, during your layover, the conference gets cancelled.
-
Now, you’re unexpectedly stuck in a random city, and spend the afternoon in the airport rerouting your flights to somehow get back home.
When all that is figured out, you take a seat to grab a bite in the airport before your trip back. It’s been a rough morning.
-
That’s when you hear the sound of a piano – and decide to change someone’s life with the help of your Instafamilia. You ask your followers, "What if we could give that man the biggest tip he's ever gotten?"...
Keep reading.
|
|
|
💡 Dose of Knowledge
📺 Grand Finale
|
Which TV series finale attracted the most viewers in the U.S.?
A) M*A*S*H
B) Seinfeld
C) Friends
D) Cheers
|
(keep scrolling for the answer) |
|
|
🍩 Share The DONUT
|
Access exclusive rewards and even an all-expenses-paid round trip to Austin, TX, just for sharing this newsletter.
Simply:
1. Copy your unique referral link below.
2. Post said link in the department Slack channel, DM a friend or two, make it your new legal name, etc.
3. Watch the rewards roll in.
|
|
|
|
Ambassador Rewards and Progress → |
|
💡 Dose of Knowledge Answer
|
|
A) M*A*S*H
The most-watched season finale is also the most-watched TV episode of all time – the 1983 finale of the CBS war/medical dramedy M*A*S*H, titled "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen."
-
The finale held the record for most-watched telecast - with 105.9 million viewers - until it was edged out by Super Bowl XLIV in 2010.
-
It remains the only single TV episode to be watched by at least 100 million viewers for a single telecast.
+Note: The ratings game has completely changed with the advent of streaming services. Most don't report numbers on shows exclusive to their platforms.
|
|
|
🍩 Daily Sprinkle
"Not everyone will understand your journey. That’s fine. It’s not their journey to make sense of. It’s yours."
–Zero Dean
|
|
|
