Good morning. In today’s edition:

• 🥊 Humanity’s ambitions for Mars received a major kidney punch
• 📺 Netflix wants to bring its content to life
• 🤖 Jumping robots

… and more.

🚀⏰ Ready, Set, Go: Today’s news should be a ~5.07-minute read (1,349 words).

P.S. Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe here for free.

“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”

–Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

NASA will likely have to rethink its current plans for placing the first astronauts on Mars, according to a new study that found human kidneys tolerate long-distance space travel about as well as a strict diet of salt, painkillers, and sleep deprivation (aka not very well).

The researchers, led by experts from University College London, analyzed samples from 40+ space missions involving humans and mice, marking the largest space-related kidney health study to date.

• Scientists found that both human and animal kidneys were 'remodeled' by the combination of weightlessness and cosmic radiation in space, with specific kidney tubules responsible for calcium and salt balance starting to shrink after less than a month in space.
• The study also included simulations where mice received doses of space radiation equivalent to what humans would experience on a future Mars mission. When the mice were exposed to 2.5 years worth of space radiation, they wound up with permanent kidney damage and loss of function. (For context: NASA estimates a manned Mars mission would take 2-3 years round-trip with current technology.)

Yes, but: While the study identified major challenges for future manned missions to Mars, it didn’t rule them out completely.

Researchers say it’s possible to develop technology or drugs to protect astronauts’ kidneys from harmful radiation – and if such preventative measures don’t materialize, they suggest adding dialysis machines or other recovery treatments to Mars-bound spacecraft.

👀 Looking ahead… NASA has a stated goal of placing the first humans on Mars as early as the 2030s, after first setting up a long-term human presence on the Moon.

Founded by Autumn Smith, a Holistic Nutritionist, Paleovalley makes nutrients more accessible than ever. They avoid synthetic/harmful ingredients and harness the power of whole foods instead...

• 🍄 Boost focus, memory, and mental clarity with a blend of 8 organic mushrooms in the best-selling Neuroeffect.
• 🍊 Boost health and immunity with the most powerful vitamin C product on the planet, Essential C Complex.
• 🐟 Easily incorporate high-quality omega-3s into your diet with Wild Caught Fish Roe.
• 🧬 Support natural, healthy aging with the science-backed Tumeric Complex.

Paleovalley’s complexes are designed to maximize bioavailability, so they don’t just end up going down your drain.

NEW DONUT EXCLUSIVE: save 30% for life when you subscribe or 20% off a single purchase at Paleovalley.

🇹🇭 Thailand passed a landmark bill legalizing same-sex marriage. Lawmakers officially approved the marriage equality bill in a 130-4 vote on Tuesday, making Thailand the first Southeast Asian country, and third Asian country overall, to legalize same-sex marriage. The law will take effect 120 days after being endorsed by the king, which is largely a formality that’s expected to be granted this year.

🥑🇺🇸 The USDA suspended avocado and mango inspections in a top-producing Mexican state over security concerns. A USDA spokesperson said its temporary suspension of inspections in Michoacán, Mexico – effectively halting new exports from the state to the US – came in response to an incident last weekend where two local USDA officials were assaulted and briefly held by the attackers while inspecting avocados. The pause isn’t expected to significantly affect Mexican avocado shipments to the US, since many fruits are already en route and Michoacán’s neighboring state Jalisco is also a major exporter.

🇬🇧 Climate protesters were arrested after painting Stonehenge orange. Two people associated with the environmental protest group Just Stop Oil sprayed orange paint powder on several of the British landmark’s stones yesterday, with the group demanding the UK government "sign up to a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030.” Bystanders quickly intervened to stop the two protesters, who were arrested on suspicion of damaging the monument.

Inside activities and air conditioning are like Sabrina Carpenter (very popular) this week, as a record-temperature-bringing heat dome parks itself over the Midwest and Northeast regions, affecting millions of Americans.

• Chicago hit 97°F on Monday, breaking an all-time daily temperature record that had stood for 137 years (daily temp record = the highest recorded temp on that date in history).
• In Scranton, Pennsylvania, the temp hit 94°F yesterday, beating its old record of 93°F set in 2018. Pam and Angela also teamed up to throw an office party in the parking lot, complete with kiddie pools and sprinklers (Dwight was the only one to show up in a Speedo, thanks to Jim).
• In total, ~78 million Americans – nearly a quarter of the population – were under extreme heat alerts as of yesterday.

What is a heat dome? Not to be confused with the Thunderdome, a heat dome is a weather phenomenon where a high-pressure area is formed in the atmosphere, trapping hot air beneath it like a lid traps air in a pot and preventing milder weather systems – like ones that bring rain – from coming through.

🥵👀 Looking ahead… Dangerous levels of heat are expected to continue across many areas of the contiguous US through the weekend, and potentially into next week.

120/Life combines natural ingredients shown in countless studies to lower blood pressure – especially in tandem.

• 💗 Pomegranate prevents blood vessels from constricting
• 🌺 Hibiscus acts as a natural ACE inhibitor/controls cholesterol
• 🍒 Tart cherries and cranberries fight inflammation
• 💓 Beetroots dilate blood vessels
• 😊 Magnesium helps your muscles relax

The result? A delicious and synergistic juice blend that’s helping thousands control BP – an issue 1 in 2 Americans struggles with. If you don’t see lower numbers in two weeks, 120/Life will refund your money, no questions asked.

Take control of your BP today – save 15% on 120/Life with code DONUT.

Like a construction tradesman, Netflix is delving into brick and mortar. The streaming giant this week announced that Dallas, Texas, and King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, will host the first two locations of its “Netflix House” in-person entertainment concept.

These entertainment venues are slated to open in 2025, and will occupy former department store locations in two of the most popular malls in America (King of Prussia Mall and Galleria Dallas), each spanning 100,000+ square feet. Visitors can expect dining, live events, and interactive experiences based on some of Netflix’s most popular content.

More specifically (per the streamer’s announcement):

• “Imagine waltzing with your partner to an orchestral cover of a Taylor Swift song on a replica of the Bridgerton set – then walking around the corner to compete in the Glass Bridge challenge from Squid Game.”
• On-site dining will feature cuisine inspired by Netflix shows from around the world.
• And because cash rules everything around us (s/o Wu Tang), there’s also a gift shop featuring Stranger Things merch and Hellfire Club t-shirts, among other things.

📝 Bottom line: Netflix, which has already hosted live experiences for shows like Bridgerton and Money Heist, is working to deepen ties with fans and expand its revenue away from streaming.

“Jumping provides an effective way of traveling around locations where the terrain is very uneven, or where there are a lot of obstacles.”

• Engineers at the University of Manchester have created a new system that enables robots to channel their inner Superman Superbot and scale a 40-story building in a single leap – or nearly 4x higher than the current robot-jumping record (~400 ft vs ~110 ft). Their breakthrough design opts for a leg-based propulsion system similar to how kangaroos hop, which helps maximize the energy of each jump. Manchester researchers say their improved robot-jumping technique has a wide range of applications, including planetary exploration, disaster rescue, and monitoring hazardous or inaccessible spaces.

💳 Stat of the Day: Credit-card chargebacks have surged in popularity over the past few years. US consumers disputed ~$11 billion worth of credit-card charges last year, up from $7.2 billion in 2019, according to research firm Datos Insights. At the same time, North American merchants reported a 69% increase in chargeback misuse last year, while merchants globally estimate that “friendly fraud” (when people misuse the process to chargeback legitimate purchases) accounted for 20% of all disputes in 2023.

🤔 Did You Know? Pistachios are prone to spontaneous combustion when stored together in large quantities, leading to strict regulations when transporting shipments of the nut.

📰 Worth a Read: A story of greed, corruption, and cartel fights: Inside Mexico's anti-avocado militias → (The Guardian)

• ☝️ Americans across the country gathered yesterday to commemorate Juneteenth, a federal holiday marking the date in 1865 when the last enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed two years earlier by the Emancipation Proclamation. (Dive deeper: The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth)

BUSINESS & MARKETS

in partnership with Simplify Wall Street

• 💰 US markets rose across the board on Tuesday (S&P: +0.3%; Dow: +0.1%; Nasdaq: +0.03%); markets were closed yesterday for Juneteenth. | 📈 Nvidia ended Tuesday’s trading session as the world’s most valuable company for the first time ($3.335 trillion).
• ✈️🏛️ Boeing CEO David Calhoun testified before a Senate investigative panel on Tuesday, answering questions from lawmakers about safety lapses in Boeing’s production line as well as the company’s handling of whistleblowers.
• 🚗 EV maker Fisker, which went public in 2020 at a $2.9 billion valuation, filed for bankruptcy after reportedly failing to secure investment from Nissan. (Background: Fisker is in an Ocean of trouble)

*From our partners: 📈👍 Make stocks simple again with simplified investing ideas, news, setups, and insights... Of 1,124 members who participated in Simplify Wall Street’s poll, 67% are profitable investors/traders. Unlock your market edge for the unbeatable price of $0. Subscribe FREE to Simplify Wall Street newsletter.

SPORTS, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

• 🙏 Willie Mays, a Hall-of-Fame MLB outfielder widely regarded as one of the best baseball players of all time, passed away at 93.
• 🚨 Justin Timberlake was arrested for driving while intoxicated in the Hamptons early Tuesday morning; Timberlake pleaded not guilty to the charge.
• 🏀 The Detroit Pistons fired head coach Monty Williams one season after he signed the largest coaching contract in NBA history (six years, $78.5 million fully guaranteed).

SCIENCE, SPACE & EMERGING TECH

in partnership with Asutra

• 🚀 Starliner delays keep on coming: The crewed return of Boeing’s Starliner space capsule has been delayed a second time, with officials now targeting June 26 at the earliest; Starliner’s first crewed mission was initially supposed to run from June 5-12.
• ⭐🛰️ NASA is planning to launch a toaster-sized “artificial star” satellite into space by early 2029.
• ⚛️⚡ The US Senate passed a bipartisan bill to accelerate the deployment of nuclear energy capacity, including a faster permitting process and new economic incentives; President Biden is expected to sign the measure into law shortly.

*From our partners: 🤔 Is magnesium deficiency responsible for your chronic pain?... 2 in 3 people are deficient and it’s responsible for 300 bodily functions. Melt Pain Away Magnesium Cream from Asutra works when other products have failed. Save 20% on your first Asutra order with code DONUT20.

MISCELLANEOUS

• 🏫📵 The Los Angeles Unified School District voted to ban cellphones and social media in schools for the entire day, becoming the largest US school district to do so. | 🏫📜 Louisiana enacted a first-of-its-kind law requiring every public-school classroom to display the Ten Commandments (including state-funded universities); the measure is expected to face legal challenges.
• 🌀 Tropical Storm Alberto, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, officially formed in the Gulf of Mexico yesterday; Alberto is projected to make landfall in northern Mexico later today.
• 🌐🚗 A cyber incident at data provider CDK Global, whose software is used at ~15,000 auto dealers, hampered operations yesterday at US and Canada dealerships.

CLICKBAIT

• 🪐 Planet Nine: Is the search for this elusive world nearly over?

We bring you the most unusual, off-the-wall and occasionally laugh-out-loud headlines from this week.

• Photographer Disqualified From AI Image Contest After Winning With Real Photo → (PetaPixel)
• No one showed up for San Antonio's World Naked Bike Ride on Saturday → (San Antonio Current)
• Aliens, artists, or pranksters? Another ‘mysterious’ monolith appears → (CNN)
• Idaho man breaks his own fist-bumping record → (UPI)
• Woman busted smuggling 350 Nintendo Switch game cards in her bra → (Tom’s Hardware)

Elementary school bus driver Larry Farrish Jr. loves his job. "It’s my passion because I get to build bonds with the children,” the driver shared. “I truly love every minute of it.”

So when Larry noticed that one of his first-grade students, Levi, looked especially down one morning on his way to school, he couldn't help but ask what was going on. Turns out it was Pajama Day, and Levi didn't own any pajamas to wear to school.

🤔 Quick thinking: As soon as Larry dropped off the kids, he rushed to the dollar store to buy Levi a new pair of PJs.

• Levi cried tears of joy and disbelief when his bus driver showed up at the school soon after with his new pajamas. “I can tell Mr. Larry is nice and his heart is filled with joy,” Levi told Today.com. “When he got me the pajamas, I did a happy cry.”

What's the largest US city in terms of landmass?

👆 Check out the referral prizes you can get, just for introducing people you know to little old us. 

What to do: Copy your unique link below, then send it to anyone who you think would like the DONUT. Once you hit each milestone, you'll get an email with a link to claim your prize.

Start referring.👇

Sitka, Alaska, which covers 2,870+ square miles