Is Christopher Nolan the Homer of our time? The storyteller’s latest epic is an adaptation of perhaps the most famous one in history, The Odyssey — and it premieresin theaters today. Filmed across six countries over six months, the 2-hour and 52-minute film (hey, shorter than Oppenheimer) has been highly anticipated to say the least. Find a showtime near you and check out more by-the-numbers stats related to the movie.
ICYMI, the ESPY Awards, one of the biggest nights in sports, took place Wednesday — see a list of all the winners
Health
FDA Greenlights New Cholesterol-Fighting Daily Pill
NEMES LASZLO—Science Photo Library/Getty Images
Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration approved a daily cholesterol-lowering pill that appears to be significantly more effective than statins alone. Enlicitide, sold under the brand name Lipfendra by pharmaceutical giant Merck, is the first oral drug that blocks PCSK9, the protein that regulates LDL cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol, in your blood. Until now, PCSK9 inhibitors were only available as expensive injectable medications. In clinical trials, the pill was shown to lower LDL levels to 50 or 60 after 24 weeks of use — a 56% reduction compared to the placebo group. Participants started with their levels in the mid-90s to 110s, roughly in line with the average U.S. adult not taking drugs for cholesterol. The approval comes about four months after the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology released new cholesterol guidelines that suggest patients who have an above-average risk of heart attack or stroke should aim to lower their LDL levels to below 70. And for those at high risk, the recommended target is under 55. “This is a pivotal moment,” Dean Y. Li, president of Merck Research Laboratories, said in a news release announcing the approval of the drug, which is set to be available in a few weeks at a list price of $315 for a 30-day supply, per The New York Times.
Together With Miso Robotics
Why Food Robotics Investors Keep Going Back for Seconds
Most investors write one check and wait. But like a great restaurant, Miso Robotics’ supporters keep coming back for more. With 40,000 investors and over $133 million raised to date, Miso has built something rare: a base of true believers who return round after round, and are poised to reap the rewards. It’s easy to see why. Miso’s Flippy Fry Station AI robot is now powered by a unique NVIDIA collaboration, backed by industry powerhouse Ecolab, and targeting more than 100,000 U.S. fast food locations in a $1 trillion market. And Miso just acquired around 300 patents from Zume Pizza, growing its IP portfolio by a whopping 10X to protect its moat. As one Miso investor put it: “This is my fourth investment in Miso. Progress seems to be moving exponentially now.” Another added: “Truly believe that this technology will expand into all fast food restaurants worldwide. Steady growth and frequent communication kept me coming back.” Join these everyday investors like you as a Miso shareholder today to be part of the restaurant AI and robotics boom. Hurry to earn bonus shares.
This is a paid advertisement for Miso Robotics’ Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.misorobotics.com. The testimonials presented are the opinions of the individuals providing them. They may not represent the experience of all clients or investors and are not a guarantee of future performance or success. No compensation was provided for these testimonials unless explicitly stated.
Humanity
Make Yourself Comfortable: West Virginia City Is Moving Away From “Hostile Architecture”
Tatiana Stepanishcheva—iStock/Getty Images Plus
Benches with dividers and slants, uneven pavement, and other hallmarks of “hostile architecture” are on the outsin Morgantown, West Virginia. The city council voted last week on a resolution to prohibit the city from installing physical design features that “operate as a deterrent through discomfort, exclusion, or restriction rather than through legitimate safety, security, or operational necessity,” per West Virginia Watch. Hostile architecture, also sometimes referred to as anti-homeless architecture, is intended to deter people from having a place to sit or lie down comfortably. Critics of the designs (which are sometimes subtle, sometimes not so subtle) argue it’s a tactic that especially targets unhoused people and other vulnerable populations, like disabled people and older adults. It became a topic of discussion in Morgantown after the city installed a small bench with a divider in the middle. “I don’t think you could even lay down on it as a full-grown man,” Brian Butcher, one of the council members who sponsored the resolution, told the outlet. “But it still has a divider at the center, right? And I was just like, ‘That is so silly.’” Nick Ward, the legal director for Disability Rights West Virginia, a nonprofit that advocates for disabled people in the state, added: “We are encouraged by the city’s proactive approach to making the community more accessible, welcoming, and accommodating for everyone.” The opposite of hostile architecture is “sympathetic architecture” — see some examples.
Environment
Everyday Birders Will Soon Boost Conservation Efforts, Thanks to Popular App
Thank you in advance if you’re among the millions of birders using the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Merlin Bird ID app! An upcoming update to the free app, which uses machine learning to identify birds, will integrate user-uploaded sightings and sounds into the lab’s eBird database, providing scientists with real-time, worldwide bird intel. “This data helps create tools that can be used to further conservation, inspire support, and inform ecological management strategies,” Jessie Barry, with the Merlin project, told The Guardian earlier this month. That’s vital, as bird populations are dropping — a sad reality captured poignantly in this birdsong re-creation. For the app update, users won’t have to do anything special to contribute to the database. They’ll simply go about learning what feathered friends are in their neck of the woods (and recording their songs) while helping conservation efforts for birds around the world and improving the app’s reliability, a feedtwo birds with one scone approach, if you will.
Global Good
🇬🇧 A voluntary social media curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds is in the works in the U.K. (read more) 🇦🇹 Mini Mozart statues are sprinkled about the composer’s Austrian hometown to honor his 270th birthday (read more) 🇳🇴 One of the largest street art festivals transformed Oslo, Norway, into a vibrant, open-air gallery (read more) 🇮🇹 Researchers found new clues shedding light on how Roman concrete has endured for millennia (read more) 🇵🇰 In Pakistan, a wildlife rescue center is stepping up efforts to help birds survive increasingly harsh summers (read more)
Inspiring Story
Baby steps add up
Like many of us, Mona Su, a 24-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, was afraid of public speaking. But she decided this was her year to get over that fear, challenging herself to take on daily challenges, like speaking on a randomly generated topic for a minute straight, and then uploading the videos to social media using the handle @babystepstothemic. She’s since added dozens of videos and even started a website to help others get over their fear of public speaking. “I think it’s really just about practice,” she said. “You have to put yourself out there over and over again.”
Photo of the Day
Warren Little/Getty Images
Cutest caddie ever! Golf pro Scottie Scheffler and his 2-year-old son Bennett hit the links during a practice round at the Royal Birkdale course ahead of the 154th Open Championship in Southport, England, which is now underway through Sunday. You can watch the championship on NBC and the USA Network or stream it on Peacock.
Merit’s Two Mascaras, Together — One to Lengthen, One to Volumize
Why get one when you can have two?Merit’sMascara Duo Set, pairing the Clean Volume and Clean Lash products, gives you options for lengthening and volumizing. The first is an everyday tubing mascara that defines and lengthens lashes for a wide-awake look, while the second lifts and separates lashes for precise, buildable volume. It’s the best of both worlds, in one set.
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Up This Weekend
Gion Matsuri: The famed summer festival in Kyoto, Japan, is celebrated throughout July, but today is the Saki Matsuri Yamaboko Junko, a massive procession of floats often considered the grandest event of the monthlong festivities
National Ice Cream Day: This “holiday” on Sunday is just what the doctor ordered (literally) — here are some deals to take advantage of
World Cup Final: It’s here! The World Cup final, which includes a history-making halftime show, takes place at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, but don’t miss the third place matchup tomorrow at 5 p.m. ET
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